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Chapter Text

If anyone asked Jin Ling, he would say it was Jingyi's fault.

If anyone asked Jingyi, then yes, for this incident he will admit that it was his fault, which he had admitted to the man in black who was laughing his ass off infront of them.

The man had no mercy for them as he was practically rolling on the ground with a guffaw.

"You're telling me a Lan attempted to escape old man Lan's punishment by using an experimental transportation talisman and somehow ended up here"

"Yes" Jingyi answered looking gloomy

The man in dark robes threw another fit of laughter

It was an honest mistake.

Earlier that day he had visited their senior Wei and found the man fully engrossed in his work. Jingyi wanted to see if he had some transportation talismans. But the man was to busy and so Jingyi helped himself

When they got back home, a new rule on the wall that said not to touch a mad genius stuff was boundto be there.

Anyway...

GusuLan Sect were giving lectures once more and they all had decided to come together and study. Jin Ling was kicked out of his own sect by his juijui to go study. He was Sect Leader he didn't need to study... but nope, to gusu he went.

Ouyang Zizhen on the other hand haf more or less ran away from home to do so. When he was safely tucked away in the Lan Sect, he sent a letter to his father saying he was already there and would not be returning home until the lectures were over

His father nearly qi deviated

Lan Qiren nearly qi deviated as well when he learnt the disaster quartet was together.

He dealt with a Nei Huaisang and Wei Wuxian in the past but this was double the trouble. And with one of the original trouble makers still around, it was worse

It had only been 1 week into the lessons and more than a dozen rules had been broken

A good number of students were doing handstands at the end of the week

Lan Qiren noticed all the handstands and rule copying weren't doing much and so he begrudgingly asked for assistance from the original trouble maker

Only way to find out what a trouble maker would hate would be from one. An off comment about listening to old master Lan's droning lectures was punishing enough. Wei Wuxian laughed it off but stopped when he noticed that the old man was considering it as he strocked his beard.

Later he would apologize to the Juniors of the sect but for now he ran away.

And so that was a new method of punishment

Handstands but this time instead of copying the rules, someone would recite the rules out loud until the time was up.

It was pure torture. Jingyi would rather copy the rules hundreds of times than having to handstand through the recital.

That day they had been sneaking back into cloud recess after an impromptu night hunt. Their beloved senior Wei had showed them a few tips and tricks and they wanted to test it out. And so they all agreed to sneak out and do so.

Well three of them did, Sizhui went with them so he could keep them out of trouble. He was the only one with a functioning brain cell.

The impromptu night hunt went unexpectedly well. It was the sneaking back in part that failed and led to them to ending up here. They heard the patrol guards anf tried to make an escape the other way but another patrol gaurd was making their way towards them and so they panicked, Jingyi remembered the Talisman from earlier and used it.

And thats how they ended up in a cave with a big bang, ended up being held at flute point by a man in black and then explaining to said man what had transpired, which led to the man rolling on the ground and laughing at their misery

The man finally stopped laughing and looked at them with a curious glint in his eyes. He then sat up straight and began stroking his chin

"You see young ones this old man has been here for sometime now. Can one of you younguns tell him what year it is" the man asked them in a faux voice

The four teenagers looked at eachother. They simply shrugged. After looking around, they figured they had some how transported themselves to a Yilling Patriach enthusiastis that was probably a hermit. The man who had previously been hostile because of the sudden arrival, had listened to their tale and then laughed his ass off at them.

So Sizhui being the more diplomatic one answered.

The man hummed with a look and then clapped his hands as he came to a conclusion

"Well young masters, it seems you have transported yourselves to the past!" The man cheered with a cheeky grin

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There was silence

And then

"Huh!?" Three of them scream

"That's impossible! Time travel isn't real!" Jingyi yelled

"Oh but it's possible" the man says while nodding and stroking a non existent beard "as proof, you lot a here"

"Oh yeah, what makes you say so!?" Jin Ling pointed a finger at the man

And so the man decided to list the facts he had while tapping his dizi on his shoulder.

"One. You some how got through my wards without alarming me"

The Juniors looked confused

"And two, as far as I'm aware the cloud recess aren't holding any interclan lectures at this point in time and point number three is the fact that you guys didn't try to kill me on sight. Especially you" the man pointed at Jin Ling

Jin Ling looked stupefied

"What!? Why would I kill you? Who are you anyway!?" Jin Ling shouted

"See, see! You don't know me!" The man cheered

"Gongzi, you don't seem to be making any sense" Sizhui tried. The man was a bit familiar to him but he couldn't place where he had met him

The man reminded of him of his baba though, but that could be because the man was a Yilling Patriach copycat. He couldn't really believe the man. Time travel shouldn't be possible

"If you don't believe me, then let me show you" the man stood up and walked out
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The man was aware of the Juniors following and that's when they saw a small village or settlement perhaps of mostly old people and non-cultivators.

They looked confused

"What's with this small village? Who are they?" Asked the Jin. The man hummed nonchalantly then answered.

"The Wens"

The man watched are number of different emotion flit through their eyes. Then their eyes grew wide in shock. He noted none of them went for their swords which was a good thing

"The Wens" the one in Ouyang clan robes chocked out looking faint.

The Jin one went through a number of emotions and finally rested on anger as he grabbed one of the Lans by the collar and started shaking him while yelling

Said Lan looked like he lost his soul and the last Lan decided to leave the land of consciousness.

Yup.

Even the man has convinced himself that this was time travel because this was not the usual reaction Cultivators of this time should have

Wei Wuxian has done are bunch of stupid shit(experiments) in his life with varying results. Most failed or blew up in his face, so when a failed transportation array suddenly lit up, he took cover.

The array exploded with light, the blast thundered and shook the mountain they lived upon.

Once the light cleared and the ringing in his ears stopped, he stood to access the damage, instead he found four disgruntled looking teenagers

Oh shit!

Wen Qing was going to kill him!

There was a Jin, two Lans and one Ouyang. It took him a while to place the last one though.

"Huh?" Said the Ouyang as he looked around "where are we?"

"Jingyi you idiot! What have you done!?" Screeched the Jin

"What!? Say that again, I can't hear you!" One of the Lan called back

That one's hearing must have been ringing like his were earlier

The last Lan finally set up looking disoriented and that's when he made his presence known

"You dare trespass into my territory!" He demanded

The teenagers turned around to him. All alert, Wei Wuxian was ready for a battle. He gripped Chenqing and glared at them menacingly, he was not going to let these Cultivators touch the Wens.

But their actions shocked him greatly

One of the Lan's immediately bowed down to him, startling him so much that he was stuck frozen at where he stood.

"This one apologizes. We did not mean to intrude" he shot a look at his companions and they immediately followed. The Jin reluctantly did so but he still did.

A Jin bowed in apology to him!?

To him! Wei Wuxian, the Yilling Patriach!

This was not normal. It truly wasnt. And two Lans were also bowing in apology. Nope! This was not normal. And he panicked a bit.

"Aiya! It looks like this was an accident, why don't you guys tell me what happened and so we can figure this out" he says. Forcing himself to be calm. He carelesslywaves his hand about and urged them to sit back up.

He sensed no hostility from the young Cultivators. They all looked young. The oldest, the Ouyang one, looked to be a year or two younger than him. The youngest one, the Jin, looked about fifteen.

Which meant they should be old enough to know who he is and yet none of them recognized him.

They all looked relived in their own ways and so the responsible looking Lan explained what happened. Which greatly confused him but also the hilarity of it was out of this world. He couldn't help but laugh.

The one that caused the mess, Jingyi, looked red as a tomato which made him laugh harder. If they were serious -and from the looks of it, they were- then Wei Wuxian would pay a fortune to see Lan Qiren's face. But it was time to get serious.

He set up and studied the kids. They all looked sheepish, guilty and worried under his gaze. The Jin looked a bit familiar and so did the responsible looking Lan but he couldn't place were he saw them and filed that thought away.

The two Lans looked to have headbands of the main family, but as far as he knew, the only ones who should about this age should be Lan Zhan and Zewu-jun. A random theory popped up in his head and so in an old man voice he asked for the year

The Juniors looked confused but answered anyway

Ah...

So that's what it is...

Wei Wuxian can't believe it himself.

He hummed and thought of the years and calculated. About sixteen or so years he thought, and so he decided to see their reaction to his theory.

And just as he expected they didn't believe him. Well if they didn't belive him and he didn't belive himself then what hell were they supposed to belive, so he decided to take the chance and show them.

He showed them the way out, tightening his grip on chenqing, ready for a fight. He observed their reactions, he was suprised but glad that none of them reached for their swords. They were looked confused instead. As if they didn't recognize these people.

To be honest if his theory was right, they should recognize at least may be a few of them.

Unless-

"What's with this small village? Who are they?"

The Jin did not recognize them. And so he told them

"The Wens"

A number of emotions flashed through their eyes. The Ouyang chocked on his words

The Jin processed to many emotions before settling on rage. But instead of lashing at him or the Wens he turned to the loud Lan and started shaking him

And the last Lan fainted

Yup!

This was definitely not something Cultivators of this day did

"Welcome to the Burial Mounds" He cheerfully welcomed them to his abode

Chapter Text

Panic

That's what he described the scene before him

Wei Wuxian felt bad for dropping a bomb shell on these kids

"We're dead! We are so dead!" One Lan JingYi panicked as he ran about in the cave.

Wei Wuxian brought them back before the Wens spotted them

This was the first time Wei Wuxian had come across such a loud Lan.

"Sizhui wake up please! We need you, our braincell please!" Ouyang Zizhen cried as he tried to rouse Lan Sizhui

And Jin Ling was in the corner wallowing in despair muttering something along the line of 'Juijui is seriously going to break my legs now... I might die this time. I didnt even get to arrange Fairy's wedding'

They didn't really introduce themselves. Wei Wuxian just picked up their names along the way.

"Hanguanjun is really going to make sure we get punished for this!" Jingyi cried

This piqued his interest. What was Lan Zhan like in the future?

"Oh Hanguanjun?" He mused

"Yeah he- wait" Jingyi turned him

Oh

Did the kid finally figure out who he was.

His grip on chenqing tightened again. Even if these kids didn't recognize him, stories about him were perhaps told. He doesn't mean to brag but he was quite a grand figure and there was a bunch or malicious rumors about him already.

The fact that they didn't recognize him probably meant-

"Senior Wei?" Lan Jingyi asked

Wei Wuxian was now just as startled as before. Senior?

"Senior Wei?" Ouyang Zizhen asked looking up

"Senior?" Wei Wuxian asked while pointing at himself

The two looked at him, then at chenqing. Did some sort of calculation in their mind and came to a conclusion.

"Senior Wei!" The boys cheered in delight. Zizhen shot up like an arrow. The boys rushed at him with bright smiles, but tripped and smacked into each other and toppled over.

Wei Wuxian couldn't help but let a snort escape. But that didn't stop them. The two shot up again and tackled an unsuspecting Yilling Patriach into a hug

They were time travellers alright.

This was not normal

"You're Senior Wei!?" Zizhen asked with a smile

"Senior Wei, I can't believe it's you! You're so tall!" Jingyi cheered

"Tall? What do mean tall? I have always been tall" he says trying to squeeze out of their hold. These kids were really strong

"Oh yeah, yes you are!" They quickly let him go and looked at each, as if they were trying to read each other's minds.

Now they were acting suspicious. Now that the panic had passed it was time to think.

Sizhui groaned and seemed like he had finally returned to the land of the living

"Sizhui!" Zizhen and Jingyi were immediately by his side

"Oh guys, I had the weirdest dream. We were at the burial mounds in the demon slaughtering cave again" Sizhui says and the other two grimaced

Again? Okay that was concerning.

And Demon Slaughtering Cave! That was the name of his cave, he didn't even tell Wen Qing about that yet. They had only been here for a short while. Another solidifying fact that these kids weren't of this time.

"We time traveled and Senior Wei was in his original body and-" he cut himself off the moment he saw Wei Wuxian but to late

"Original body?" Wei Wuxian asked, internally panicking. Was that why they didn't recognize him?

Sizhui looked like he wanted to leave the world again

"Oh no little Lan, you can't leave like that again!" Wei Wuxian called and then grabbed the young Lan's hands and pulled him up

Not even a flinch from his touch.

Who were these kids?

Lan Sizhui looked like he was about to cry but he held it together

"This one truly apologizes for the trouble!" He resolutely says as he got back on his knees

"Wait-"

"We're really sorry Senior Wei!" Zizhen and Jingyi chorused. On their knees as well.

"Sorry" little Jin Ling had silently made his way to them and joined them. But instead of kneeling he just sat cross-legged and huffed his apology

Again a Jin is apologizing to him!? This was putting him in an awkward spot and he didn't know how to react.

"It's Alright, that's enough. You kids probably didn't even mean for things to end up like this" Wei Wuxian says as he settled down in front of them and studied them once more.

It was already late and from what the kids had said they had just got back from a night hunt and were probably tuckered out.

"Why don't we all get some rest and figure this out in the morning? We can also see if this was just a dream" He says with an encouraging smile

The quartet nodded and looked around for where to sleep. And with that they turned in for the night.

And once again, these kids didn't protest. They trusted him immediately upon realizing who he was.

They trusted him!?

He looked at all of them once more and turned in as well.

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"It wasn't a dream!" A shout woke him up

Damn these Lans and their bloody rule about waking up an 5am. He to was hoping it was a dream but he guessed some things were to good to be true.

Wei Wuxian couldn't get any sleep because of the damn nightmares and when he thought he could finally sleep in peace, one Lan JingYi abruptly woke up with a cry

"Shut up!" Jin Ling groaned out and kicked him

Zizhen also groaned out something but continued to sleep

"Yes please, not all of us a Lans" Wei Wuxian also groaned and turned away.

"You will be to, just you wait!" Jingyi shot back

"What!?" That woke Wei Wuxian up completely

"Jingyi!" Sizhui Scolded.

He was putting his bed rolls away. They always had ready packed supplies for a night hunt with them just in case any impromptu night hunts with one of their favorite senior occurred.

Wei Wuxian shook his head and stood up.

"Okay, I know it's a bit to early for most of us so let's get this sorted out"

Something he had said must have startled all of them because the other two were suddenly awake

"Are you really Wei Wuxian!?" Jin Ling accused "Since when do you wake up so early!"

Wei Wuxian blinked, a bit confused

"Since the war... did I manage to fall back into my old habits in the future" he asked

"Are you feeling alright Senior Wei?" Sizhui asked after quickly making his way to his side

"I-" Before he could even begin his sentence he was cut off

"Of course he's not alright he doesn't have a core right now!" Jinyi wailed

This caused Sizhui and Zizhen to suddenly fret over him.

The yilling patriarch eyes widened in shock. How did they know. Nobody But him, Wen Ning and Wen Qing should know about this!?

"Hold it right there! How do you know about this!?" He gritted his teeth and stepped away from them

"You told us" Jin Ling says almost sounding bored. Wei Wuxian was dumbstruck. The boy had been staring at him the whole time

"In the future, where we come from, you told everyone that was close to you. Hanguanjun knows, we know and-" Jin Ling went silent and looked away

"Se- sect Leader Jiang knows" Zizhen finished

Wei Wuxian's body went lax with dread. He was almost afraid to ask

"How... how did he take it?"

The Juniors looked away.

The man huffed a bitter laugh then rubbed his face. He shook the thought of this away and looked back to the Juniors

"Okay, it's too early for such doom and gloom. Let's figure out what to do with you lot. Let's start with introductions!"

The Juniors brightened up and quickly surrounded the man again. They must really love their senior Wei to be able to trust any and all versions of him

"Okay let's start with you!" He pointed at Sizhui

"I am Lan Yuan, courtesy Sizhui."

"This is one is Lan Jingyi" Jingyi says cheerfully

"I'm Ouyang Zizhen, senior Wei!" Zizhen greeted

"Jin Ling" Jin Ling says simply

Wei Wuxian nodded in understanding but then

"Wei Wuxian!" A voice roared shocking the lot. The man quickly stood up and looked panicked.

The sound of footsteps approached them and entered the cave. The man panicked and so did the Juniors. They all stood and straightened up when the intruder appeared but froze in their place

"Wen Qing!" Wei Wuxian greeted with a smile

The woman walked in then froze. Startled at the sight of the Juniors. She tensed up and in one swift move, she had her needles in her hands. The Juniors huddled together and unconsciously hid behind Wei Wuxian.

"Wait, Wen Qing they're not a threat!"

Wei Wuxian cried and stood in front of the boys

"Wei Wuxian explain yourself! Who are they!?" Wen Qing shouted

"You see that's sorta of a funny story" the man says sheepishly "you know how I like to experiment and stuff. Well you see, one of my talismans suddenly activated last night and somehow brought those four here but don't worry, they're not a threat and for some reason they seem to really like me!"

He spoke quickly and laughed at the end. Wen Qing looked like she was about to Qi deviate on the spot.

Jin Ling couldn't help but face palm and Sizhui sighed and shook his head

"Wait senior Wei, what do you mean your talisman brought us here?" Zizhen asked

Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing turned their attention to him. Wen Qing still on guard.

"Well kiddo you see, yesterday when I was working on my other experiments, one of my failed talismans started glowing and then it exploded and next thing I see is you four"

"Oh so the talisman I had connected to yours and so when I activated it, it brought us here!" Jingyi sorted out

"That probably sums up how you got here!" The man confirmed with a smile

"So how do we get back?" Asked Jin Ling

The man twirled his dizi in his hand with a thoughtful look. Wen Qing was still there looking utterly confused. Wei Wuxian then smiled brightly while looking at the Juniors. Hope began to fill their hearts

"I have no idea" he says with a laugh

Hope crushed, Zizhen dropped to his knees and held his head in despair

"Ahhh!" Jingyi and Jin Ling cried "why are you always the same!"

To many times they had fallen for this man's tricks

Wei Wuxian gave a hearty laugh at their reaction. Seeing this Wen Qing finally lowered her needles but looked at all of them sternly

"That's enough! Someone explain what is going on right now, or else I'll stick a needle in all of you! I have enough for every single one of you" She ordered

Part of her enjoyed how they all paled at the sight of needles.

"Well you see, I may have acquired some ducklings from the future!" Wei Wuxian cheered

Chapter Text

"So you're telling me that these four are from the future" Wen Qing asked gesturing to the four

Her stern gaze never leaving them. They squirmed uncomfortably and tried to not look her in the eye so not face her wrath

"Yeah, I wouldn't have belived it if I didn't see it myself or come to that conclusion. I mean 'attempt the impossible' right!" Wei Wuxian recited his clan motto

Wen Qing snapped and started her scolding

Jin Ling felt like he was getting scolded by a female version of his uncle.

Jingyi thought of Lan Qiren

Zizhen thought of his mother

And Sizhui.... the boy looked like he wanted to cry. Not out of shame of being scolded but because of the nostalgia. He hardly remembered the days he lived here in the burial mounds. Just snippets of memories that were blurry to him.

His Xian-gege was here, tall, proud, silly and all. His Aunt Qing, stern, stubborn but the most caring. He knows just beyond the cave walls, he knew there was probably a little him running around, uncle four farming and his granny...

Oh his granny.

Sizhui recalled the blood red corpse from the blood pool that tried to give him the blood soaked toy. The corpse that made his heart ached when he laid his eyes upon it.

A tear was shed and suddenly the cave was quiet.

"Wen Qing, look what you've done! You made one of my ducklings cry!" Wei Wuxian says as he made his way to the boy

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to... it's nothing" Sizhui tried

He recited the Lan rules. Do not show excessive emotion. Do not grieve excessively and a bunch of other rules.

"This one apologizes. The events have been quite overwhelming" he quickly puts on a mask.

His friends looked at him worried. They do not know. They don't know yet. They don't know that he was a Wen. He was never sure how to tell them

He keeps his head down. He can't bare to look at his Xian-gege or his aunt right now. His heart felt heavy. He may have got his Xian-gege back who was now his baba but the pain of loosing him was still there.

A version of his baba that he barely remembers but it was all he could recall during his time here.

"Yeah, it's only been about a day and it's been overwhelming" Zizhen says directing the attention away.

Away from his inner turmoil

Sizhui thanked the gods that they had Zizhen. The most emotionally stable one out all of them and probably the only one who could speak clearly right now. He may be the braincell but Zizhen was the heart and Jingyi and Jin Ling was their driving force. The hands and feet of their quartet.

Always at odds with each but would always stand up for each other against those who wish them harm

"How so, from what that idiot explained you brats aren't old enough to know who he is!" Wen Qing grunts

"We may not know this version of Senior Wei but we know of the future Senior" Zizhen began "Back then or in the future, Senior Wei saves us when we were in trouble. He had saved us a number of times actually when he had returned"

"What do you mean returned?" Wen Qing asked

"He-" but Zizhen couldn't continue. The tale he had come to learn of their senior was a tragedy that made his heart ach. He looked down with a somber expression which answered the question of the adults

"We can change that!" Jingyi suddenly spoke up

Everyone turned to him

"We can change everything!" He says once more.

Sizhui thought about that for a moment. They could change everything. Save this version of his baba. His Aunt, granny and the rest of the Wens!

"Now hold on, if you change something than what about the future you came from?" Wei Wuxian asked

That shocked and froze the Juniors on the spot. What would happen to their future. Their senior . Sizhui thought about Hanguanjun. He knew the man wouldn't be able to loose his Wei Ying again.

He himself knew that he wouldn't be able to bare loosing both of them, or his friends, his uncle and old master Lan.

"But senior Wei-"

"No buts" the man says with a sigh "I barely know you kids and it's been a couple of hours at most and gods it's clear as day how much you care"

He gave a smile.

It was a sad one.

"You're all good kids. I don't want you to ruin your future for little old me. I'm not worth it"

"Wei Wuxian!" Jin Ling and Wen Qing shouted. Both mirroring each other's emotions.

Jin Ling just got his Wayward uncle back and in the short two years he has known him, he had come to begrudgingly care for him and he also realised the man lacked self preservation.

They looked at him desperately but he looked away. Sizhui felt like he wanted to scream.

Why!?

Why did his baba, his Xian-gege always look down on himself. Whether it was this version of him or the one they knew, he was still the same.

"Excuse me" Sizhui says and ran out the cave

He needed air. He couldnt breath.

He ran out.

He ran and ran and then stopped. He sucked in as much air he could but he still felt like he couldn't breath.

The sound of leaves crunching underfoot came and he spun around and found Jin Ling. He to looked like he was fighting through a number of emotions. He looked angry, but tears welled up in his eyes.

"Why?" He asked "Why is he like this?"

Sizhui didn't have an answer. Nobody knew how the mind of the Yilling patriarch worked. The man who was said to eat children, rob Graves, defile virgins, was the same man who had upon his return had saved a bunch of immature teenagers and continued to do so going forward.

"I don't know. But he's Senior Wei through and through. He never changed" Sizhui huffed a laugh.

They spent the moment together. Gathering themselves after the reeling emotions they had gone through.

They walked back, avoiding the Wens. They didn't want to cause a panic. They found Jingyi and Zizhen outside the cave looking somber. Jingyi absent-mindedly rubbing a sore spot on his head.

"Wen guniang and senior Wei are discussing what to do with us" Zizhen says as he slumps down onto the ground

"I tried to tell him some stuff but he hit me on the head with Chenqing and threw us out" Jingyi says looking like a kicked puppy

"Can't we tell them" he asked once more "save him, save them!"

"We don't know what it will do to our time. What if we make a mistake and things end up worse. What if more people get hurt" Sizhui tried. Tried to see the reason that Wei Wuxian saw.

But he out of all of them wanted to change everything.

"Who are we going to hurt?" Jin Ling scoffed "my clan is hanging by a thread because of the actions of my uncle, that idiot and my uncle hardly speak to each other and Zewu-jun is still in seclusion!"

"And I know for a fact that Hanguanjun hates to see his brother like that and that idiot hates to see him in pain" Jin Ling may be emotionally constipated but he still has eyes and he uses them to see

"But then what if we tell them but end up changing things to much. What if things get out of control and we make matters worse?" Zizhen asked

The Juniors stayed quiet for a moment. All of them trying to make sense of what was happening and arguing within themselves to see reason or find some sort of solution to their problem

Their thoughts were disturbed when one grinning Wei Wuxian stepped out. Sizhui looked at the man for the first time that day. Actually looked and saw the man before him.

He was pale and gaunt. The man had high cheek bones, his jaw line sharper. He had sharper features compared to the softer and rounder features of Mo Xuanyu. But he still had the same eyes.

"Come in and we'll tell you kids what's going to happen"

They followed the man that was their Senior, but also wasn't. Wen Qing stood on the side glaring at them and Wei Wuxian. She clicked her tongue, pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed

"We'll let you brats stay for now, but on the condition that you hand over your swords. Wei Wuxian will help find a way to get you back to your world or time or whatever it is but it won't be for free"

The Juniors gulped. Not sure what they could pay with but would willing do so anyway

"You'll help with the labor around here. Everyone is pulling their weight and so you lot better pull your own to" And with that Wen Qing leaves

The boys looked at each other. Glad they could stay and for the hospitality. They wouldn't demand anything else. They were the ones and intruded in the first place.

....

It had been a couple of days since then. Jin Ling had stole a ratty looking outer robe from Wei Wuxian and had Zizhen alter it so that he could wear it.

Nobody told him to do so. He did it himself.

He had mumbled something incoherent about his sect as he shoved his golden robes into his qiankun pouch. Zizhen the lovable lug hugged the boy with tears. Sizhui promptly followed and then Jingyi joined in to annoy the boy.

Though the three older boys couldn't help but feel proud of their youngest. They then followed his lead and also stored their sect robes away but Sizhui and Jingyi still wore their forehead ribbons.

"Ling-gege! Ling-gege! Let's play!" The only child upon this gods forsaken mountain cheered as he ran to Jin Ling

"Hey you brat be careful! You're going to trip and fall!" Jin Ling shouted but ran to catch the child

Little A-Yuan was estatic to have found more friends to play with. The young Cultivators went through a number of different emotions again when they saw the bright eyed child.

Jin Ling had looked sick.

"Ya! Why are you looking like that!?" Wei Wuxian called him out "You look like you're twelve. Why are you feeling guilty for something that's not even your doing?"

"I'm Fifteen!" Jin Ling had shot back "and-"

"Exactly, you aren't even born yet" Wei Wuxian states firmly cutting the teen off. He pats the boy's head. Usually Jin Ling would swat his hands away but with everything happening, the boy was distraught.

Wei Wuxian smiled at him

"You remind of my brother, ya know" Jin Ling looked at him but didn't say anything. "His always quick to anger. He always finds it hard to express himself"

You can say that again. I was raised by him.Jin Ling wanted to say but said nothing.

The four of them didn't tell anyone about their relations. Just their names and that was it. They didn't want to risk anything. Especially when one of them wasn't even born yet.

Even Wen Qing came along and berated him about his spiraling thoughts and guilt.

"If you say that any of this is your fault than you're a Jin through and through" She had said. Jin Ling looked furious and was about to retort but Wen Qing wasn't done

"The Jins insist on persecuting my family just because we all have the last name Wen. My family who is innocent, my family who hardly has any blood on their hands, do you believe they should be judged and damned because of the name they have?"

Jin Ling gritted his teeth. His whole body trembling as he answered

"No"

"Then you, who is not even born yet, shouldn't take the blame for the crimes of those of this time" She had snapped at him

But how could he not feel anything. The events of the Guangyin temple played through his mind. The confessions and revelations all playing through his head on loop like some twisted nightmare. And after that day, he had been handed a seat covered in blood.

The blood of innocents.

It made him feel sick.

The more time he spent here, the more he couldn't take it.

"Let's do it!" He says one night "Let's change the past"

They were huddled together in one corner of Wei Wuxian's cave. Said man looked to be sound asleep. Wen Qing knocked him out earlier than usual because he was running himself ragged. He appeared to be cozy at first glance, thanks to Zizhen who had given him his extra blankets which led to all of them giving him their extras. The man had tried to refuse but...

"You hardly ever change. We know your habits. Shut up and take the blankets or we'll go get Wen Qing!" Jin Ling had snapped

"Excuse me but I'm the adult here. Children should keep warm!"

"We're Cultivators with strong golden cores. You don't have one so take the blankets and shut up!"

Jin Ling felt a tiny bit guilty about using that stone cold fact againt him, but the boy - all of them actually- were very close to smacking this man for not taking care of himself.

And they're on a mountain. It's cold and this idiot didn't have a proper blanket. He was sacrificing to much.

And with that the man accepted defeat and took the blankets. He sneakily wrapped one around little A-Yuan the night before when he had snuck into the cave to be with his Xian-gege. Sizhui was so close tears at that point.

Today after he was knocked out, he was wrapped up and sound asleep.

"We can deal with the consequences when they come. I cannot go another day knowing what will happen" Sizhui laments

The Wens, though apprehensive at first opened up to them and let them in. All they know was that they had defected from their sects and were seeking refuge

Sizhui couldn't let them die. He couldn't loose them again. Not his granny, uncle four, his aunt Qing and his Xian-gege. He can't loose them again.

"So how do we do this?" Jingyi asked. But he had that determined glint in his eyes. The one that they knew would get them in trouble but they would make treasured memories together

"We can't just tell them everything that happens. Things might suddenly change along the way. Let's focus on changing the main events" Zizhen muses

"The ambush then... but that's a bit to far from now" Jin Ling says

In a year or two he would be born and then his one month anniversary would be held. They had time to plan.

Hopefully, they thought. They hoped Wei Wuxian would take his time in figuring out how to send them back. They got a chance to save him and they weren't giving it up

"So what are some things that will happen before the anniversary" Asked Jingyi

"If I remember correctly, then it should be around this time that Sect leader Jiang will banish senior Wei" Sizhui mused

Most of the things they knew of this time was from history books, idle chatter and so fort. Their seniors never wanted to go into detail about these events because it brought alot of pain and the Juniors wouldn't dare to inflict such pain upon them.

"Then we have to convince sect leader Jiang not to banish him!" Jingyi cheered

"Sshhh!" The other three Shushed the loud Lan.

They threw a glance at Wei Wuxian and saw the man was having a fitful sleep. His brows creased in discomfort. He was pale and shivered under the blankets they had given.

Sizhui's lips pressed into a thin line at the sight. He silently made his way near and from his qiankun pouch he summoned his guqin and began to play a melody he knew would help.

The same melody Wei Wuxian played for little A-Yuan. The same melody he had played for him.

They watched the man's breathing even out. The crease on his brows disappear and the fitful sleep was no more. But the man still shivered in the cold.

Sizhui took out his outer robe from his pouch and draped it over the man. In the future, they were all already taller than their senior. Now, they were maybe a tad bit shorter but they were still growing.

He then turned back, guqiin now silent but a look of determination on his face

"It's not going to be easy" he says

"Yeah, Uncle is more stubborn than a bull in the worst of times" Jin Ling admits

"Wouldn't it be best if other sect leaders see what is happening" Zizhen asked "I mean seriously. Things would have gone better if those prideful sect leaders came and saw all this themselves"

"You'd think they would drity their boots to do so" Jin Ling scoffed "there all just a bunch of hypocrites

"Okay then instead of the sect leaders then why not others like Hanguanjun" Jingyi states and Jin Ling grimaced

Suddenly remembering the confession at the temple. As he thought of the insistent pinning.

"That's a good idea. Then Hanguanjun, sect Leader Nei as well"

"Yeah! I know he would do anything to keep his brother alive"

Well he did do everything to get his revenge,Thought Jin Ling.

"We need someone from Lanling Jin then" Zizhen says. They needed someone on the inside.

Jin Ling thought of someone, but it hurt to think about him. He knew he was alive. He was alive in this time and he honestly couldn't belive it.

"Jin Zixuan" he finally says the name

His friends looked at him with a somber yet understanding expression.

"I know my uncles didn't like him much, but I know they belived he was a good person. Otherwise I probably wouldn't even exist" he huffed a laugh. It was sad but he knew it was the truth

"The Jiang clan is still probably in the midst of being rebuilt. Politically, it would look like they're going against the other sects if they take the Wens and senior Wei" Zizhen pondered

"The Jiang clan needs allies to be able to stand against the Jin Sect"

"Then YumengJiang and GusuLan can become allies" Jingyi says suprising the others

"And how do we do that?" Jin Ling asked with a roll of his eyes

It was Jingyi's turn to roll his eyes. Sizhui urged himself not reprimand him. It wasn't worth it

"Through marriage obviously. Just wrap him up an deliver him to Hanguanjun"

That was actually are good idea except

"Urgh... this is the time when their communication was the lowest" Jin Ling groaned out

And with that they all sighed. It was almost nine now and so they decided to turn in for the night. They would make a better plan when the new day arrived

Chapter Text

"So how do we do this?" They were awake bright and early the next day to plant radishes

Jin Ling did not like radishes

Anyway

They all got down and dirty with the Farmwork, the Wens around them going about their own business as they began their strategy meeting.

"If we're going to do this, we have to be subtle. Senior Wei doesn't want us messing up anything that will cause us danger" Zizhen sighs

"You know, I've been thinking" Jingyi starts

"You thinking? Okay that's dangerous" Jin Ling snarks

Jingyi just threw him a look but continued on

"Will the time or world we came from really change?"

They all looked at him suprised. Jin Ling was about to make another snarky comment but held back and thought about what the other boy meant

"Now that you mention it" Zizhen says with a smile. A wide manic looking smile that he gets whenever senior Wei shows him a new invention.

He picked up a stick and drew line in the dirt. The others gathered round. Sleeves and trousers all rolled up, dirt on their hands and faces

"Let's say this is the time line. And we a here" he stabbed at one end "then we got sent back here"

He swiftly moved and stabbed a center point of the line

"If we change something, then it should change or break the time line" he slashed the line down the center "this would the worst case scenario"

"But my other theories that I just came up with is that we may have created an alternate time line"

Zizhen drew another line. But this time instead of slashing down the middle, he dragged out another line branching from the original that now ran parallel with it

"The fact that we are here and not in the bodies of our younger selves also solidifies this fact"

"But what happens if we somehow came in contact with our past selves. Would we merge and become one or something?" Jingyi asked

Zizhen made a face of contemplation while Jin Ling gave Jingyi a look

"What do you mean merge together? Are we a ghost or something to just merge and posses are body!?" Jin Ling asked incredulous

"What I'm just giving ideas" Jingyi shot back. Before they started a brawl Sizhui added

"I don't think that would happen"

Sizhui had a smile of understanding on his face. He knew of Jingyi's concerns but it had come a bit to late. Afterall, little A-Yuan decided to join them half way through their strategy meeting. He was now seated on Sizhui's lap.

Humming a familiar tune

It was Awkward at first to see his younger self, but then he grew to realize that after coming here, they were separate people. Still the same person, with the same heart but still different people

"Hmm... what makes you so sure!?" Jin Ling asked while looking at him suspiciously

"You look like you already know that merging with our past selves isn't a possibility!"

"Oh um well...." Sizhui looked for a way out. He sheepishly looked away, anywhere but here but no.

Some days his friends were unnecessarily smart and sharp

Jin Ling looked at him. Then looked down to the toddler in his lap. His face scrunched up in confusion then he looked back up. The other noticed and did the same

"You!" Jin Ling shouted and fell back while pointing a finger. His eyes wide with shock

"Ah Jin Ling wait! I can explain!" Sizhui tried but then

"A-YUAN!" Zizhen and Jingyi cried. They let out laugh and attempted to grab Sizhui and little A-Yuan. But the Lan escaped

The commotion drew attention to them. Wen Qing walked out and snapped

"What are you brats doing!? What's with all the ruckus!"

"A-Yuan is just so adorable!" Jingyi laughed. He was being held an armlenght away. Sizhui pushing him away by the face with A-Yuan in his other hand.

Zizhen was smiling stupidly on the ground while rocking back and fort. Jin Ling came out of his shock but he looked like death. Everyone instantly took notice. He was pale, looked at Sizhui and A-Yuan in horror and perhaps guilt.

Before Wen Qing could even ask what was going on, A-Yuan was handed to her

"Apologies maiden Wen" Sizhui spoke quickly. He avoided looking at her

He knew a bunch of his mannerisms where breaking the rules but he couldn't risk anything right now. Wen Qing had long taken notice to this

Out of all the boys he avoided her almost like a plague. But he had taken to granny instantly and later A-Yuan. He cared for Wei Wuxian on a far deeper level than the others and everytime when he thought nobody was looking, she would see a pained expression on his face.

One of loss.

And the fact that she knew his face the moment she him. The face of her late cousin. Now the face of her baby cousin in her her arms. The face of A-Yuan. Everyone knew.

They don't know where the boys had come from. They know the fabricated story but they know their family. And A-Yuan's friends were their friends. His family was their Family.

It was a bittersweet feeling. Knowing that only one person of her family would survive. But if it was for their youngest, one that has hardly seen the world, their last shining little sun, then she would not jeopardize anything.

She watched the older version of the child in her arms drag away his friend. And watched the other two follow. It appeared that being here was causing much pain for them.

She then noticed the drawings in the dirt. She wasn't a mad genius like Wei Wuxian. She was a genius when it came to being a doctor, but after spending a bit to much time with that mad genius and witnessing the turmoil in the Juniors she knew they wouldn't sit still

And if they were anything like their so called senior Wei, they would surely attempt the impossible

Jin Ling felt sick. He truly did. He couldn't breath.

Sizhui was a Wen.

Wen Yuan

Wen

The Wens that the Jin clan persecuted.

He knows none of this is related to him. He wasn't even born yet. And he was also a victim because he had lost his parents but he was still a Jin.

A Jin.

Sect Leader Jin. The youngest sect leader in history who was handed a seat covered in blood

His body felt heavy. His chest felt tight. Tears welled up and blured his eyes. He felt like he was choking. He distantly heard someone calling his name.

"Jin Lin!" Sizhui caught him by the shoulders and shook him hard

"Look at me! I need you to breath!" The Lan took a deep breath. Jin Ling mimicked. The Lan let out his breath and Jin Ling followed

They did so a few more times and then Sizhui pulled him in for hug. Jin Ling froze. He was not one for emotional affection. He took after his uncle a bit to much at that but it felt like he needed this.

He needed someone to hold him in place so he wouldn't loose himself to his spiraling thoughts.

Slowly but surely he wrapped his arms around the older boy's torso and hugged back with a death grip

"I hate them! I hate the Jins. I hate my little uncle, I hate all of them" He grumbled into Sizhui's shoulder

He wished his father had married into the Jiang sect instead. There was to much corruption, to much bloodshed done by the Jins. In their time, if Jin Ling didn't have Jiang Cheng or Wei Wuxian, who knows what would have happened to him.

One of the reason he had been sent to Gusu for the lectures was because they discovered poison in his tea. Jiang Cheng had managed to hold himself back from storming the Lanling Jin Sect only because he was stopping Wei Wuxian from razing the place to the ground.

They had a huge fight about his sect. But came to an agreement in the end.

"I'm taking him to Gusu! You fix those old bastards or I'll just level this place to the ground" It would have looked like Wei Wuxian was ordering Jiang Cheng if together they weren't staring at the gathered Jin elders.

His eyes glowing red and resentment curling around him like a pet willing to please their master

"Glady!" Jiang Cheng had answered, murder in his eyes and Zidian crackling by his side. It helped that with Wei Wuxian, Hanguanjun was on his side, and with him, GusuLan was on his side. Nei Huaisang was also supporting Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian in that matter

And so that's how he had ended up in Gusu. And now here, seeing the bloody crimes of his clan in person.

"I know. I know" Sizhui says rubbing circles on the younger ones back

Jingyi and Zizhen stood by them. Their presence giving them support

"Now we have even more reason to change the past!" Zizhen says looking serious

"What was the Jiang clans motto again" Jingyi asked with a smile

"Attempt the impossible" Jin Ling grumbled. His face still hidden in Sizhui's shoulder. He was just leaning there now. Feeling exhausted

"Then let's do it! We'll change everything!"

"I mean we already did the impossible. We're here. Let's all become a Jiang and Attempt the impossible"

Jin Ling bristled at that

"You can't just become a Jiang" he looked at all of them and found they all had a smile on their face. Glad to see that Jin Ling was back

"So what, Senior Wei was a Jiang once and he's our teacher, so that also makes us Jiangs. So to be a Jiang we must Attempt the impossible"

"That's not how it works!" Jin Ling and Jingyi was back to their banter

Zizhen then clapped. Getting their attention

"Then first order of business we have to make sure that Senior isn't banished"

"Should we tell sect leader Jiang about us then?" Asked Sizhui.

"Uncle is headstrong but if there's one thing that will make him move then it's family"

"They have been using me as an excuse to check on each other and won't admit they care for each other" Jin Ling grumbled.

"Ah that's it! We have to save your parents!" Jingyi added "Everything started spiraling out of control, when your dad died and then your mom-"

"Jingyi!" Sizhui Scolded

"No his right" Jin Ling says after taking another breath

"Yeah- wait what?" Jin Ling never agrees with Jingyi. But he shook the thought away for now

"From how my uncles spoke about her, my mom was the glue of their family. We have to keep her safe so my uncles will also be safe. And if we save my dad then ghost General and Wen Qing won't have to turn themselves in"

They remembered Wen Ning who was sealed in one part of the cave. Honestly, that was another reason why they had taken residence inside the cave

"You kids sure you want to be near a fierce corpse?" Wei Wuxian had asked

"But it's Senior Wen" they had said as though it was the most obvious thing.

They were worried about their undead senior who would never hurt a fly. They knew he was dangerous of course but they had been around the solf and gentle version of the ghost general that they couldn't see the man as anything else.

Wei Wuxian had promptly grabbed them all and hugged them.

"So we tell sect leader Jiang?"

"Hmn... it might be the only way" Sizhui says

And so they waited for the day he would come

The day the man arrived was like any other

Jingyi pulled out a tough weed from the ground. He fell back and the dirt flew through the air and into Jin Ling's face. This caused a brawl. Zizhen tried to play peace maker and Sizhui who was on A-Yuan duty lost sight of the boy

When he found him he made a strangled sound that caught the attention of the other three.

Standing not far from them, clad in purple with A-Yuan clutching his leg was Sect Leader Jiang Cheng. Sizhui looked like he was going to faint. He did not remember this but knew this was definitely something he had done. Because his baba had told him that story.

Wei Wuxian made his way out and picked up A-Yuan. He scolded the little boy but he had smile on his face

"Whose that?" Jiang Cheng asked

"Oh A-Yuan?" Wei Wuxian had that cheeky smile on his face "this is my son. Isn't he adorable"

Wei Wuxian nuzzled the toddler. The boy giggled as the sect leader rolled his eyes. Sizhui wanted to cry. The men began to speak again. Wei Wuxian handed A-Yuan to Sizhui and they entered the cave.

Jiang Cheng looked at him for a moment, confused but ignored him and walked in. Sizhui sighed, good thing they had decided to put away their forehead ribbons for now. It would look to suspicious if they wore it.

He looked to his friends. They nodded and stood up. Sizhui and Jingyi wore their ribbons again to help steel their nerves. After sending A-Yuan off to granny, they made their way to the cave which they found blocked by Wen Qing

They stood frozen.

"A-Yuan" Wen Qing spoke

Sizhui tensed up but sighed. He knew they couldn't hide it for long

"This one greets Aunty. I apologize for the late introduction" he says as he finally face her.

He looks at with longing and a smile.

Wen Qing nodded. Tears in her eyes, gone was the stern look and now she wore one of understanding. She placed a hand on his cheek, taking a good look at the young man the little rascal that was running around had become.

She knew what they were trying to do

"Are you sure about this" she asked

He nodded

"We are sure"

The woman sighed then looked at all of them

"You all take after that idiot to much. I don't know whether that's a good thing or not but please be careful" she says and steps aside.

She knew she's couldn't stop them.

They all grew a smile, having great respect for the woman infront of them. They clasped their hands together and bowed in respect to her then entered to confront the brothers

To change the past

To attempt the impossible!

Chapter Text

They decided to tell Sect Leader Jiang

How the hell are they going tell sect leader Jiang!?

They heard shouting within the cave, they looked at each other. A nervous and fretful bunch they were but they powered through

Sect Leader Jiang was shouting at senior Wei. He looked almost like he was begging him.

"If you do this I can't protect you Wei Wuxian!" He cried

"Then banish me. So-"

"No!" Jin Ling shouted as he ran in head first

"Who?" Jiang Cheng asked. A scowl on his face

Wei Wuxian looked shocked to see them

"What are- no you kids can't interfere" he spoke sternly

"Apologies senior Wei but we can't allow this to continue in good conscious" Sizhui the ever diplomatic one says

"Wei Wuxian who are they!?" Jiang Cheng's anger was slowly growing by the second

This sect leader Jiang was different from the one they knew. The one who could control himself. One that had years of experience being a sect leader.

This one was young, his anger lashing out violently and freely and alone. This sect leader Jiang felt alone. Senior Wei had confided in Sizhui once, telling him he had felt guilty for leaving his brother alone.

Making him choose between his family and sect.

Why were they separate things. Why couldn't they both be the same. Sizhui had thought bitterly.

"It doesn't matter. You kids need to leave" Wei Wuxian spoke.

He looked angry but there they would know when their senior was truly angry. He may have a different face but this Wei Wuxian was their Senior Wei just as their Senior Wei was Wei Wuxian, the Yilling Patriach.

"No we will not!" Jin Ling shot back.

Thank the gods they had Jin Ling. Though he to may cower from his uncle's wrath, he was the one that knew Jiang Cheng best and would move accordingly.

And they have Jingyi here as well to sass their way through.

"This one greets Sect Leader Jiang. I am Lan Sizhui" Sizhui speaks up and introduces himself

The others bow in respect and greeting to the sect leader but before Jiang Cheng could get a word in, Sizhui continues. He looked Jiang Cheng in the eye spoke his words clearly

"Sect Leader Jiang, if you continue down this path with Senior Wei you are bound to loose the family you have known the longest and you'll be left alone"

Silence

Complete dead silence

Sizhui had said it.

They gave it to him straight. No sugar coating, no hiding behind lies and half truths.

Wei Wuxian's eyes grew wide in shock. What do mean Jiang Cheng would be all alone. What about Shijie-. Wei Wuxian dropped to his knees. Realizing the implications of what the boy had said.

"What?" Jiang Cheng gritted. Zidian sparking in his hand. They knew he wasn't far from lashing out.

"You dare threaten my family!?" Jiang Cheng roared. Zidian was released and crackled by its side. They could feel the hair on their body stand on end

"Jiang Cheng wait-"

"It is not a threat sect leader Jiang. We have knowledge of what will happen in the coming future. The tragedy that would come if you and senior Wei go down this path"

"And what is that, the loss of my family!? How dare you speak of such nonsense infront me! Or have you no fear!" Jiang Cheng stalked towards Sizhui but Jin Ling blocked his path.

"It's the truth!" Jin Ling roared back "if you leave that idiot alone now, he'll have no one. He'll have no one to belive him when he's ambushed, no one to fight for him when he looses everything! All of this!"

Jin Ling threw his hands out as if to show what he meant. His anger nearly mirroring the sect Leader's. His out burst shocked both men. Startled to see Jiang Cheng's attitude thrown right back at him

He may be afraid of his uncle but this was not his uncle. What he had always been afraid of was disappointing his uncle. This uncle did not know him so if he was lashing out at his friends he'd throw his attitude right back

"I know you listened to the words of that bastard Jin Guangshan and LianFeng-zun, I know he told you that Wei Wuxian didn't see you as a sect leader but all that is bull shit!"

"Isn't Jin GuangShan your sect lead-"

Wei Wuxian started but was cut off

"He can go rot in a cesspool for all I care!"

Once again everyone stood still in shock

Everytime someone brought up his paternal grandfather, Jin Ling couldn't help but feel his skin crawl. That man was beyond vile and somedays it made him sick whenever he remembered his blood ran through his veins

Something he shared in common with his Da-jui in the future. Now if they manage to change the past, his Da-jui can keep his original body and Mo Xuanyu-

Mo Xuanyu will be safe. Nei Huaisang had revealed somethings about the young man after the Guangyin temple fiasco.

Mo Xuanyu had been forced into Demonic Cultivation when he had showed an affinity to it. He was a meek and skittish thing compared to the lunatic that Wei Wuxian tried to play. Mo Xuanyu had found out some secrets then he was driven mad and chased out of Lanling Jin.

If given the chance, Jin Ling wanted to apologize to him. To the real Mo Xuanyu. To do that he needed to figure out what to do with his maternal uncles.

Sizhui placed a hand on Jin Ling's shoulder. Attempting to calm him down. Wei Wuxian did the same with Jiang Cheng. He looked torn from wanting to know more but not wanting to learn of their tragedy that would come

"Sect Leader Jin-"

"Don't call the bastard that!" Jin Ling snapped

Sizhui conceded. He wanted to be polite. He was a Lan, but screw it. He had no respect for such a disgraceful sect leader

"Jin Guangshan wishes to isolate Senior Wei in hopes that he will be able to corner him and take control of the stygian iron amulet. If you banish Senior Wei this will lead to unnecessary bloodshed. We belive he has been showing interest in the amulet already"

All this for the stygian iron amulet, We Wuxian thought. Jiang Cheng slowly nodded. Seeing the sense in what these strangers were saying. He was utterly confused on what the hell was going on but a small nagging part of him told him to listen.

He didn't want to loose his brother.

"Even if your words are true, I've already caused a mess when I rescued the Wens" Wei Wuxian says

"You rescued the old, women and children! None of which a Cultivators! And what gives the Jins the right to persecute them!" Jingyi added "From what we know they didn't even do much or suffered as bad as the other clans. We only know that Jin Zixuan and Jin GuangYao and few of the Jins played a part in the war"

"They only have any power now because Jin Guangshan was coward and all the smaller sects a kissing his foot!"

Leave it to Jingyi to talk shit about a sect leader. It was his specialty.

"Are you also going to listen to him and banish Wei Wuxian"

Sizhui didn't know whether Jingyi was brave or stupid to take a jab and sect leader Jiang.

Jiang Cheng looked like he wanted to strangled Jingyi. Sizhui can't belive that this wasn't the first time he had left the sect leader speechless. Jingyi honestly had one hell of a guardian angle on his shoulders

"Sect Leader Jiang, we understand your concerns. Lotus pier is still in the midst of being rebuilt and the Yumeng Jiang sect is not as strong as it once was. We know that if you support senior Wei that it would put you in a rather un-ideal position but we ask you, the both of you to think this through and look for another solution" Sizhui states.

His heart had been beating like a startled rabbit in a cage. Part of him wanted to throw up. Back then they had Hanguanjun to back them up when they faced Jiang Cheng. Now it was just them and with a younger and lacking self restraint version of the sect leader.

"Then what are we supposed to do!?" The man in purple yelled

"You gather allies, show them the truth about the Wens that the Yilling Patriach had taken" Zizhen began "We know that the sect leaders of this time are biased right now but if you can gather people that can sway their minds then you will have a chance"

"You can get the head shaker on your side. If you have him on your side, you might as well have the whole Cultivator world in your hands" Jingyi added

"Head Shaker?" Jiang Cheng asked

....

Jiang Cheng wanted to strangle someone

The man was confused. He had come to confront his idiot brother and hopefully drag him back to Lotus pier but no. He had to be the stupid hero and told him to banish him and next thing he knows four random Cultivators show up. Jiang Cheng noticed them on the way in, they were in old rags, dressed like the Wens but he knew Cultivators when he saw them.

Two had the Lan ribbons on the forehead. One dared to snap back at him and now the last is telling him to find allies?

Who the hell were they anyway?

He had enough!

"Who the fuck are you all exactly!?" He snapped

"Who we are isn't important right now! What's important is that we have to find a way to save that idiot!" The one that threw his attitude right back in his face snapped back

"Why do you care about him!?" He stalked closer to boy attempting to loom over him. But the boy stood his ground and glared right back

"The same reason you do!"

This was getting more confusing by the second

"Okay that's enough!" Wei Wuxian finally cried out and got between them. Things were getting out of hand.

"This is my life, don't I get a say in this?"

He shouldn't have said that. Two identical glares were thrown at him making him gulp and shrink back.

"Shut up you idiot!" Jiang Cheng and the stranger shouted back, unconsciously in synch

"You don't get a say in this!" Jiang Cheng

"You're a self sacrificing idiot! This is for your own good so be quiet!" The stranger

"If you weren't you so headstrong, we wouldn't be here!" Jiang Cheng

"If you didn't keep everything to yourself then all this shit wouldn't have happened!" The stranger

Wei Wuxian was getting backed into a corner. He looked to the others for help but that was the moment they found the cave wall, the ground and the sky more interesting.

Traitors! All of them!

"Why must you be so stupid! Why do you always have to play the hero" Jiang Cheng asked desperately. His heart was breaking, why couldn't this idiot see that he didn't want to loose him

"Why do you always sacrifice yourself? Why can't you just for once in your life, put yourself first!" The boy was in tears now. But he held them back, not letting a single tear drop.

From being on conflicting sides to suddenly being on the same side. It was quite a random turn of events and Wei wixian didn't know what to do.

"I..." he didn't know what to say "I'm sorry" all he could do was apologize

....

Jiang Cheng stayed for dinner

After all the screaming and high strung emotions, he was left exhausted and was invited to dinner by Sizhui

Wei Wuxian sighed. They hadn't archived anything. He looked at his time traveling ducklings and sighed once more.

"Are you guys sure you want to do this?" He asked after the Lans had finished eating

They sat in a circle. Their gaggle are rather odd sight. Jiang Cheng tuned in, wanting to finally get to the bottom of this.

"Yes. We have discussed things and we decided that we cannot ignore the tragedy that is come, knowing that we can change it" Sizhui says

Sometimes when he looked at the young Lan, he couldn't help but be reminded of Lan Zhan. Part of him missed the man. And their time in cloud recess. He wondered what he was doing now.

"May I know exactly who you are?" Jiang Cheng asked. He sounded so done with everything though.

"Yes of course, but it might be difficult to belive who we are?"

"They're from the future" Wei Wuxian blurts out.

"From the future?" Jiang asked. He looked at Wei Wixian like he grew a second head "And you expect me to belive that?"

"Well they know a bunch of things they shouldn't know. And honestly I wouldn't belive it if they had told me. I was the one that figured they weren't from this time!"

"So you trust them" Jiang Cheng scoffed

"Yes, they seemed quite determined to save my hide" Wei Wuxian retorts

"Time travel isn't real Wei Wuxian!"

"Then what do you want me to say? The truth is that these four just showed in me cave with a bang after my talisman exploded!"

"We were in cloud recess before that and then ended up here after we activated one of Senior Wei's talismans" Sizhui explained

"Wait you said I lost him. How is he in the future you're from?" Jiang Cheng asked confused once

He does not believe them though.

"He died and came back with the use of a sacrificial ritual" Jin Ling droned. He was done with all this. He just wanted to go to sleep.

"Are you his son?" Wei Wuxian suddenly blurted out while pointing at his shidi

Jiang Cheng's face nearly matched the colour of his robes. Everyone else just froze on the spot

"No really. The both of you are like the same person!" Wei Wuxian tried

"You- how the hell would I have a son this old!?"

"But they're from future! It's a possibility!" Wei Wuxian tried to reason

Jiang was just about to snap back at him but Jin Ling spoke

"He's been black listed from all the match makers in Lotus pier, it would be a miracle if he got married! Especially with that list of his!"

Jiang Cheng's brows rose so high they nearly touched his hairline.

How did he knew about that list!

He turned to Wei Wuxian, but he had his hands up in surrender and shook his head furiously.

"So no I'm not his son" Jin Ling says but sounded so bored with it

"Thank you" Jiang Cheng sarcastically thanks, with a roll of his eyes.

"But he's still the one that raised me. I'm his nephew"

That was it

Jin Ling dropped the bomb on them

And with that he got up and went to turn in for the night.

Chapter Text

Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian were frozen where they sat

"Nephew?" Jiang Cheng was the first to ask

They turned to the other time travellers. They had somber expressions, answering a few unsaid questions.

"His a Jin-" Wei Wuxian trailed off making Jiang Cheng turn to him sharply

"That's why he looked familiar, his peacock's son" Wei Wuxian starts. His shoulders began to shake. Breathing became labored

"But he said he's my nephew" Jiang Cheng says. He began to feel numb

"Shijie!" Wei Wuxian cried "what happened to my Shijie!?"

He threw himself onto Sizhui. His knees felt weak and he nearly dropped. Sizhui's heart shattered upon seeing the broken look on him.

He shook his head.

Wei Wuxian's knees finally buckled. Sizhui caught him and let him down slowly.

"This is ridiculous!" Jiang Cheng roared. He didn't want to belive it

"If you cannot belive our words then we can show you proof. Senior if you please give us our swords" Sizhui asked

Jiang Cheng tensed up, not sure what he would see. Wei Wuxian felt lost. A part of him wished this was just a nightmare. He didn't know what kind of proof he would see and was afraid to see it. But he tentatively gave the Lan the qiankun pouch that held their swords

Sizhui dug through it, looked to the cave then steeled himself. From the pouch he presented a sword with a golden sheat. Jiang Cheng froze upon laying his upon that sword.

It was suiha!

But he was sure the sword was with Jin Zixuan. Ever since getting it back from the Wens, it never left his side. But why was it here.

"The Peacock's sword" Wei Wuxian's breath hitched. He knew it was familiar but he couldn't remember where he saw it.

Jiang Cheng hovered a hand over the sword. The sword had a spirit and so it should be impossible to replicate. He didn't like Jin Zixuan but for his sister he would attempt to be civil. So he may not be familiar with the spirit but it was enough to recognize it.

The sword was real. It was no replica.

"That's not all" Sizhui looked grim. He didn't want to show them the last item

They had discussed this before hand. If they wanted physical proof than Jin Ling's sword and clarity bell would be enough. Jin Ling trusted those items to Sizhui.

It was painful.

To painful to think about the parents he could have had. So he trusted Sizhui with sharing this.

And so with a breath to steel his nerves once more, Sizhui brought out Jin Ling's clarity bell.

Jiang Yanli's clarity bell

This time Jiang Cheng's breath hitched. He walked closer and inspected the bell. It was the same. It appeared to be an exact replica but this one came with age.

"This can't be real" Jiang Cheng fell to his knees.

Logically it was impossible. But his heart told him it was true.

"I loose everyone?" He asked. He sounded so broken.

It felt like the burning of lotus pier all over again. He can't! He couldn't go through that again!

There was a moment of silence then

"Tell us what you know" Jiang Cheng finally relented

Sizhui nodded, he sat up straight. Despite the raggedy clothes he wore, his Lan up bringing shown through. Once again Wei Wuxian thought of Lan WangJi but he pushed that thought to the side.

"As we have discussed we wish the change the past in order to avoid these tragedies, however we fear that if we were to list down these events and make a drastic change we may loose the advantage of knowing what will happen" he explained

He looked to Zizhen. The eldest nodded and came fort

"I am Ouyang Zizhen. Sect heir of the Ouyang Sect in the future" he introduced himself to Jiang Cheng

The man nodded and motioned him to continue and so he explained his theories

"We belive that our arrival here has created an alternate timeline"

"How can you be sure?" Wei Wuxian asked

"We cannot be sure but to ignore what is infront of us would bring shame to our beliefs. We discussed our theories and the reason why we believe that we had created an alternate timeline is due the fact that we a here within our own bodies and not that of our younger selves"

Zizhen drew a line then drew another running parallel, a short line between the two connecting them as though it was a branch

"We belive that this alternate time Line will have the events of the existing timeline. So to keep the advantage of knowing what will happen we let a few of the events play through. We chose to interfere with Senior's Wei banishment because this is where things fall into Jin Guangshan's hands"

"But if we change this won't things change?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"Back then, in our time when Senior Wei was banished you both staged a fight. Sect Leader Jiang stabbed Senior Wei and he broke your arm" Jingyi added with a huff "And with that the whole Cultivator world knew that Senior had defected and the Jiang clan banished him"

Jiang Cheng knew within his core that this brat definitely gave him headaches in the future

"So what do you want us to do?" Jiang Cheng scoffed

"Banish him!" Zizhen says with a grin

"What!?" Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng barked. Completely baffled

"Aiya, just listen to this" Zizhen was getting way to comfortable with being close in age to the two

"Like I said, we need things to play through like in the original time line, but this time instead of the fight, you stage the entire banishment. If the Jins can lie to the entire Cultivator world then so can Yumeng Jiang. So unlike before, Senior Wei will still have the Jiang sects support in secret"

"And how do we do that. We don't have any manipulative bastards like Jin GuangYao"

Jiang Cheng quipped, brows furrowed and all but truly considering the ploy.

And questioning his other self why he didn't think of that!?

"Oh that's were you're wrong!" Jingyi had a manic grin on his face and so did Zizhen

Sizhui sighed and shook his head

"We mentioned him before, the Headshaker!"

"And who the hell is that?" Jiang Cheng was getting annoyed

"Nei Huaisang" Sizhui states.

And once more the twin prides of Yumeng were shocked and sat in silence

"Nei-xiong!?" Wei Wuxian asked incredulous

"In the future he is Sect Leader Nei" the twin prides eyes almost bugged out of the sockets

"What happened to his brother? We know for a fact the Nei Huaisang wouldn't dare to pick up that mantle if he was there" Jiang Cheng was suprised that another one of his peers had become a sect leader as well.

"Sect Leader Nei Mingjue passed away a few years after senior Wei dies and so Nei Huaisang became sect leader after. However it was that tragedy that led to senior Wei's return" Sizhui explained

"Sect Leader Nei had orchestrated the down fall of the Jin Sect Leader which led to the broken reputation of the Jin clan. Jin Ling had also become the youngest sect leader in history due to this"

Dread filled their stomachs. The Jin clan was large and one of the strongest sects right now. And it was definitely corrupt and it was pushed onto the shoulders of that young lad. Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian feared greatly for Jin Ling.

"Why would Nei-Xiong do that?" Wei Wuxian asks

"Because sect leader Nei Mingjue was murdered on the orders of Jin Guangshan and carried out by Jin GuangYao" Jingyi states

Another shock!

"We only learnt of these details a year after the events. Sect Leader Nei had suddenly become more competent and the Nei sect had become stronger than it ever was under the previous sect leaders. It was as though he had been hiding his true colours"

"It was quite a shock actually. Sect Leader Nei had gathered a bunch of us and our seniors to pay compensation for what happened in Yi City" Zizhen huffed tiredly

"Hanguan-jun then explained to us that it was Sect Leader Nei that led us there and the whole mystery and everything was his doing" Jingyi said with a shiver

"I always knew Nei-xiong had it in him!" Wei Wuxian grinned. The look in his eyes were sad.

Of course this gremlin would be happy for that other gremlin. Their relationship may be a bit tense in the future but the two gremlins were close to becoming friends once more.

"Yes, with sect leader- I mean with young master Nei on your side, we may have a chance avoid these tragedies"

"But how can we convince him to join our side"

"We decided that we will tell the truth to a number of people. We know that it might cause problems but the more support we have the better chances there are and to avoid conflict, we belive it is best that the truth was shared"

"Sect Leader Nei wouldn't want his brother to die so he'll obviously join us! And you don't have to worry about him being afraid of you senior Wei! His the one that orchestrated the whole thing that brought you back!" Jingyi revealed

"Nei-xiong, oh Nei-xiong... I'm impressed" Wei Wuxian says but he still couldn't belive it "But then how do we get him to come here?"

"That's were you come in Sect Leader Jiang!" Zizhen chirped "We need you to find a way to bring Sect Leader Nei here!"

Jiang Cheng nearly groaned. But his eyebrow twitched as he took a deep breath to calm himself

"Fine I'll figure out a way. We'll also come up with a plan on staging the banishment but I can't go back and fort from the burial mounds. It will look too suspicious. We need someone else"

The Juniors thought of that as well. They needed someone they could trust. Someone who knew everything. Someone who could slip by undetected, with no rules holding him back and someone nobody knew.

Four out of five sets of eyes slowly but surely landed on the perfect candidate.

Zizhen looked behind him. Then back at them. His eyes wide with shock as he pointed at himself

"Me!?" He asked the obvious

.....

Jin Ling was startled awake by the wailing of Zizhen early next morning

He remembered leaving the gaggle and turning in early. The screaming match with his uncle had drained him completely and so he had dropped like a rock upon reaching his bedroll.

He marched out, very much annoyed with the wailing to see Zizhen hugging his Da-jui's thighs and begging him not to be taken.

Taken?

Who's taking who?

Jiang Cheng stood on the side pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. Wen Qing who wasn't far shook her head but went on with her work

Sizhui was trying to calm Zizhen down. Though he actually looked like he was holding himself back from prying Zizhen's hands off Wei Wuxian. Sizhui may look like the sanest but he was raised by Hanguan-jun.

Their sanity goes out the window if someone dares to harm Wei Wuxian. Jin Ling was glad he was family, who knew what would happen if he wasn't.

"Ya! Didn't you want to save senior Wei!? Why are you making a fuss now!?" Jingyi scolded

"You don't understand!" Zizhen cried "if I'm not here I might not witness the moments shared between Hanguan-jun and Senior Wei!"

Why must that romantic part of him come out in the most random times. Sizhui sighed. Also why was he obsessed with the love story of his parents!?

Wei Wuxian barked a laugh

"Kid what moments? Why would Lan Zhan come here?"

This only caused Zizhen to cry louder. After ten more minutes of Zizhen's wailing, Sizhui politely as he could detached -ripped off- Zizhen from Wei Wuxian.

Jingyi patted his back with a smile

"Don't worry, I'll tell you everything that happens!"

Jin Ling was utterly confused

"Jin Ling?" Sizhui called upon seeing him.

Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng looked up to him. And yes what they saw was a mini peacock but they saw their sister in the soft curves of his face and his eyes.

Jin Ling was their nephew

They looked conflicted. Jiang Cheng didn't know how to approach him. Wei Wuxian as well. The air felt heavy.

"It's to early to start moping! Jin Ling come and say good bye to Zizhen!" Jingyi called out

Thank the gods for the loud Lan. The atmosphere quickly lifted as Jin Ling made his way forward

"What? Where is he going?"

"Well it would be to suspicious if sect Leader Jiang were to go back and fort with our planning and we needed someone that could go undetected and that no one knew" Sizhui explained

"And Zizhen is our best and only candidate!" Jingyi added proudly

"I'm going to Lotus pier with sect leader Jiang" Zizhen moped

"What's wrong with lotus pier!?" The three that grew up in lotus pier snapped at him

Zizhen just gave them a look then huffed grudgingly

"Fine, fine! I'll go.. hmph!" He sniffles

There was nothing wrong with lotus pier. It's that he was going with sect leader Jiang. By himself!

He packed his stuff and said his goodbyes to the Wens.

"I'm going to miss you A-Yuan!" Zizhen cried as hugged the little boy

"What? Is Zhen-gege going away? Why is Zhen-gege going away?" A-Yuan asked looking up to his Xian-gege

"Don't worry my little radish" Wei Wuxian says as he picked up the boy "Zhen-gege is going to be back soon. He's just being fussy"

The man held the toddler on his hip like a mother and patted Zizhen on the back

"Senior Wei" Zizhen mumbled

"Aiya, don't be so upset. Yumeng is really fun, but I bet you know that!"

"Yeah, Jin Ling invites us all the time when he's free. He made us practice swimming because he didnt want us to drown if we fell into the lakes. Well mostly Sizhui and Jingyi. The later almost drowned once" the moping junior recounts. But smiled at the memory

This made Wei Wuxian cackle. A-Yuan giggled along.

"Ya! I didn't drown!" Jingyi shouted

"You did! Not even your freakish Lan arm strength could save you! Uncle had to fish you out!" Jin Ling snapped back

"Headachs. All of them" Jiang Cheng huffed

They were ready to depart. Zizhen hugged all his friends. His sword was returned and he was ready to make the journey. Wen Qing had joined them to see the boy off.

"Young Maiden Wen, Senior Wei" he bowed in respect to the two "I promise I will not fail you"

"Take care of yourself" Wei Wuxian pats the boy on the shoulder

"Thank you" Wen Qing adds. She won't admit it but these four had wormed themselves into her heart. Just like their senior.

Sizhui was already there though. He was their A-Yuan. Wei Wuxian had yet to figure that out.

Jin Ling once again turned to his uncle. It felt rather awkward after what happened yesterday but he was calm enough today and so was his uncle.

Who was going to say the first word was the question.

"It's nice to meet you Jin Ling" the sect Leader was first to say. His eyes looked soft but somber. It held grief for a sister who was lost in another time

Jin Ling could read his uncle like a book

"You to uncle" he greets with a bow

The man looked like he wanted to ask more but right now no words came to him. Jin Ling felt the same

"The both of you are really emotionally constipated" Zizhen grumbled at them breaking the building tension.

"Shut up! You say that again and I'll break your legs!" Jin Ling angrily shot back

And with this Wei Wuxian barked another laugh. A-Yuan who was still in his hands laughed with him

"This is exactly what I meant! Jin Ling you're a real mini Jiang Cheng!" He says. He adjusted A-Yuan again and walked over to pat his nephew's head

"You! Enough, why are you always like this! You're such a mom! You even look like a mother" the boy snapped

But Wei Wuxian was the king of being shameless

"Why of course I am, I birthed A-Yuan!" The man says proudly

Sizhui was ready to die from emberassment. Jingyi and Zizhen was dying with laughter on the side. Wen Qing and Jiang Cheng rolled their eyes in synch

"Enough, we'll depart now" Jiang Cheng ordered and so they were finally on their way

The Juniors looked at the retreating backs of the sect leader and their friend. They were all worried but they were all determined

"He'll be fine. We all will be" Suzhui says.

They stayed till their friend was finally out of sight then returned to finish discussing with their senior

The journey was silent. Nerve wrecking so.

When they had reached Lotus pier, Zizhen was baffled to see the damage. They were rebuilding here and there but the reconstruction was taking time

Seeing the state that Yumeng was in, a plan started brewing in his mind

Jiang Cheng showed him the way and he found that the parts of the residence that he knew were still in construction.

"If what you lot say is true, then I don't have to tell you the rules here"

"Yes, we provided for our selves" Zizhen states and Jiang Cheng nodded. It was one of the first things he learnt upon entering Lotus pier with Jin Ling and the others.

"This will be where you're staying, after your settled we'll begin planning"

And with that Zizhen was left to unpack. The junior sat down on the bed and took a deep breath.

This was it.

They were going to change the future.

Chapter Text

Jiang Cheng didn't want to believe the time traveling nonsense but here he was with a time traveller in his presence.

The first day after they got back, Ouyang Zizhen told him of his plans. A breakdown of it. They still needed Nie Huaisang.

First, stage the banishment, then get Nie Huaisang to spin up lies and long tales to hide the fact that Yumeng Jiang was aiding the Yilling Patriach.

Second, collect allies. Start with small struggling clans or up and coming clans. They needed the numbers. The particulars of this would be discussed later. Once again with Nie Huaisang who for some unknown reason is in the know of all the gossip.

No wait, Jiang Cheng thought. That was actually quite Nie Huaisang like to be in the know of any and all gossip. Ouyang Zizhen says that he'll know what this small clans will want and the Jiang sect can provide accordingly creating ties and connections.

"And you guys can make a brotherhood alliance with each other!" Zizhen had added cheerfully

"Current sect leader Nie is going to break his brother's legs" Jiang Cheng retorted "But that's a good idea, let's do that"

The gremlin part of him was resurfacing. The gremlin trio will be back.

"May be a marriage alliance with the Lans as well" he had mused which made the time traveller rejoice.

"Yes! The sooner they're together the sooner everyone is saved!"

Jiang Cheng didn't have to ask. Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian have been pinning for each other for years.

And the last stage of the plan was to gather evidence of the crimes of the Jin clan. Specifically Jin Guangshan. Jin GuangYao was yet to commit any of the crimes but if they could some how manipulate him onto their side then they would have two puppet masters.

Jiang Cheng had asked why they wanted to prevent the man's crimes and the answer he got was that it was for Jin Ling.

Jin GuangYao had a hand in raising Jin Ling and even though he tries to hide it, Jin Ling still cared for him. But the pain of betrayal was to much and so he bottled up all these feelings.

His friends knew that he wanted to at least try to save this other version of the man even if he didn't say anything.

Anyway, as for Jin Guangshan's crimes, Jiang Cheng almost looked like he was slapped with a fish when Zizhen presented him a list.

"I alphabetized the list, please take a look"

"How do you-" Jiang Cheng didn't know what to say

"Oh well you see, in the future, Jin Ling has to fix the mess his predecessors left and we were digging through the Jins dark history and found all of this"

"And so you keep a list"

"Yes! We cross something off the list everytime we help Jin Ling make amends"

Jiang Cheng let his face fall into his hands and rubbed it in exaggeration. If these kids were doing this, there was bound to be some sort backlash.

"How many times was there an assassination attempt on your lives?"

"Oh Jin Ling by far has the highest number. About five attempts now. The last attempt was by poisoning which the future you found out and he had to stop the future Senior Wei from leveling the Lanling Jin sect" Zizhen recounted cheerfully. As though this was the most natural thing.

Should have let him. Jiang Cheng thought bitterly. And gremlins, the lot of them.

"I've had about three and half. The half because I was with Jin Ling one time. And Sizhui and Jingyi had two attempts. That's mostly due to the fact that Sizhui is more less the son of Hanguan-jun and the Yilling patriarch. Jingyi by association"

"Wait his Wei Wuxian's son!?" Jiang Cheng asked confused and shocked

"Yeah, didn't he introduce him to you?"

Jiang Cheng thought of the small child in Wei Wuxian's hands the day he went to meet him

"He hasn't figured it out yet. We're betting to see how long it would take to realize. Just don't tell Sizhui, he'll make us copy the rules if he finds out"

Which meant that, that Lan Jingyi was in on this. The gremlin part of him was rearing its head. He wants to be in on the bet.

Jiang Cheng shook his head then took the list. Some of the crimes involved smaller clans, the other major sects. Murder, extortion, some of the Jin elders were involved. But there was a whole lot of rape cases and assassination to cover it up.

Jiang Cheng felt sick. Then he thought of his sister

He can't let his sister marry into this sect while the bastards on this list were still breathing

But she loved Jin Zixuan. And he - after finally getting his head out of his back side - loves her to. And he begrudgingly knows the peacock was a good person.

Thank the gods Madam Jin was the one that raised him.

"We just need to collect evidence to all these crimes!"

That was what Zizhen told him two days ago. He had sent a message to Huaisang and waited for a reply. The message detailed -

And in the two days he has had the future Ouyang Sect heir, he has recognized the influence his brother had on him. And more facts that stated that time traveling was real.

This was his reality. As absurd as it was, it was real.

Zizhen recounted tales told by the future Wei Wuxian as he ogled at all the sights of Lotus pier - Tales of which when the sect leader meets Wei Wuxian again his going to slap him. Not only that but Zizhen could find his way around the place like it was the back of his hand. He was not shown around.

But-

"Ack!..." Zizhen shrieked and the sound of him plunging into the waters followed.

-Whenever he's lost in thought he walks right off an unfinished pathway.

Jiang Yanli smiled and giggled at the sight of him.

"Ignore him A-jie. He's the disciple of an idiot"

"Don't be so mean A-Cheng. He reminds me of A-Xian though"

Exactly. Jiang Cheng thought but did not say.

Jiang Yanli had been pale with worry. She had dark circles under her eyes as she couldn't sleep well at night. She was worried for her other little brother. But she had brightened up upon meeting Zizhen.

Jiang Cheng said that he was a new recruit. When Zizhen met Jiang Yanli, the boy had burst into tears. When Yanli had given a bowl of her famous soup, the boy began to wail.

Jiang Cheng prayed to whatever gods that could hear him, to give the strength to hold himself back so he doesn't toss the kid into the lake.

A man in red who was accompanied by the a man in white had walked up to and told him to "Just do it" one day.

Jiang Cheng was confused but took the advise and kicked Zizhen into the lake when he caught him with his sister.

The kid was telling her all about his friend who was raised by an uncle that was an angry purple grape.

He watched Zizhen floundered in the water and when he caught sight of his glare, he watched as the time traveller give a sheepish smile as he sunk into the depths, disappearing from sight.

A weight was lifted of his shoulders after that. He was also thankful to the kid, apparently after listening to his tales, his sister had brightened up considerably.

Then he got a reply

Jiang Cheng found him at an inn near Lotus Pier. It was just him, just as he had expected. They better hurry before someone sees them and think they're acting suspicious.

Jiang Cheng regrets introducing the time traveling gremlin to gremlin number two. He had barely introduced them when Zizhen commented on Huaisang's fan.

"That's a beautifully painted fan!" He had said with starry eyes and from there they started talking about things he has no idea about.

Great! Now he's with a first generation gremlin and a second generation gremlin.

"May I ask for what purpose I was brought here?" Nie Huaisang asks

Finally!

"We need your help" Jiang Cheng started

"My help?" Huaisang asked confused

"With Wei Wuxian"

"Wei-xiong!" Huaisang asked with wide eyes

"How is he!? I've been worried sick! We couldn't see eachother during the war and all but still!"

Jiang Cheng and Zizhen let out a breath they had been holding. Glad that the young master Nie wasn't afraid or hostile to Wei Wuxian.

"The idiot is fine. But his situation is not and that's why we need you help"

Huaisang began to look nervous

"As much as I want to help, I'm not a fighter so I don't know how I could. I really don't know" Huaisang says while shaking his head

Jiang Cheng could see where the name 'Head Shaker' came from.

"I know where your true skills are, if you help us we'll give you information that can help your brother" Zizhen baited

Huaisang was suspicious for a moment. There was a moment of calculation and then he took the bait.

Jiang Cheng watched the two and watched as Huaisang's parlor became paler by the moment

"Are you saying that if my brother continues like this he'll die!?"

"No! This can't be! You're lying! How do you even know this!"

And so they told him the truth about the time traveling. Jiang Cheng confirming Zizhen's words and Zizhen also stating facts about Nie Huaisang that only Nie Huaisang knew.

The young master Nie was gobsmacked. But he still couldn't believe it.

"Let me confirm with my brother first. If it's true that his cultivation is what's driving him to his death then I'll help you"

And with that he left

A couple days letter. Jiang Cheng was having tea, Zizhen was training the new recruits - Jiang Cheng had discovered that this second generation gremlin knew the basic Jiang sword forms and decided to put him to work. Zizhen told him that future Jiang Cheng had beat it into him and Jin Ling after the joint assassination attempt on their lives - when Nie Huaisang burst into his office.

He dropped his cup of tea in suprise. The tea scalding hot, burning him. He was just about to shoot a glare at the man when he saw how disheveled he looked.

Eyes red as though he had been crying but there was well hidden rage within them. He looked slightly manic, which stunned and shut the sect leader up.

"I'll help you!" He snapped "Let's go to Wei-xiong now. I also need his help"

And so with that, they have managed to get the head shaker on their side.

Chapter Text

"Wei-xiong!" Cried Nie Huaisang upon reaching the burial mounds

"Nei-xiong!" Cried Wei Wuxian when he saw his old friend behind the wards

They ran towards and hugged each other in a bear hug. Smiling and laughing, goofy and all.

"Here comes the headache" Jiang Cheng bemoaned the moment the Gremlins reunited

"Guys!" Zizhen also cheered the moment he saw his friends. He all but tackled the three to the ground which resulted with amused to annoyed grunts.

"More Gremlins" Jiang Cheng muttered once more

"Nei-xiong it's been so long! And here I thought you forgot about me!" Wei Wuxian says with that bright cheeky smile upon releasing his friend from the hug

"Wei-xiong, oh Wei-xiong, how could I forget about you. I would have visited you sooner if it weren't for Da-ge" Huaisang says as he flicked open his fan and fanned himself

But the mentioning of his brother made a sour look appear on his face

"Now that I think about it, how are you here? If your da-ge catches you-"

"Ya, don't even talk about him to me right now! I don't want to hear it!" Huaisang huffed angrily as he snapped his fan shut and squeezed it

Suprised by his outburst, Wei Wuxian held his hands up in surrender. He looked to Jiang Cheng for an answer, but all he got was an eye roll in reply

Wei Wuxian frowned.

"If you keep rolling your eyes like that, it will get stuck up there in the back of your head!"

Wei Wuxian dodged a kick.

He then looked to Zizhen for an answer

"We told Sect Leader Nie the truth, but sect leader Nie didn't believe us so sect leader Nie went to confront sect leader Nie. Sect Leader Nie and sect leader Nie had a fight and so sect leader Nie ran away from sect leader Nie and now Sect Leader Nie is here!" Zizhen reports with a grin

There were different reactions to this

Wei Wuxian balked. His jaw was dropped and he looked like he got slapped with a fish

Jiang Cheng looked like he was having an aneurysm

Nie Huaisang and Lan Jingyi barked a laugh

Jin Ling groaned and shook his head

And Sizhui hid his laugh politely, but was happy to see his friend.

"Why are you like this? I know what you mean but saying things like that is okay when it's coming out my mouth compared to others- who thought you this!?"

Wrong question

His time traveling ducklings, Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang "You did"

Wei Wuxian was stooped once more

"Ah!" He cried dramatically and fell like a damsel in distress "how could you do this to me! After all I've done to raise you? Sizhui aren't I are good senior to you?"

He cried pathetically

Sizhui shook his head in amusement and kneeled beside the drama queen.

"Senior Wei has thought us well. Senior Wei has raised us well as well" he says while patting the man's knee.

It wasn't technically a lie. The Senior Wei of their time had given them alot of practical lessons to the point were they could go on a night hunt, just the four of them and come out with no scratches. Well perhaps nearly dying occasionally but that was on special occasions.

Wei Wuxian looked at the boy, at the young man as though he was his world.

"Sizhui!" The man wailed and hugged the boy "You perfect little radish you! This is why you're my favorite!"

"Ya!" Cried Jingyi "his opinion doesn't count! He's biased bec-"

Jin Ling shoved a radish into his mouth

He bet good money into this gag. He ain't loosing it. Luckily for him, nobody paid mind to him and Jingyi, who was now choking on the radish

"Enough, let's get started!" Jiang Cheng ordered and with that they moved to the Demon Slaughtering Cave where Wen Qing was waiting for them.

Huaisang nervously eyed the sealed Wen Ning, cautiously standing away the furthest. It was a normal reaction so no one paid mind. Though in the future where the juniors had come from, Wen Ning found a place for himself in the world. Though always with the Juniors, he was happy with them and they were happy with him.

The Juniors couldn't wait to meet this Wen Ning!

Though they wished they had time traveled a bit further back so they could save him. But what was done was done and it was time to change things.

The meeting began.

In the cold damp and eerie cave, the plans to change the coming future commenced.

"We have narrowed down and made mention of the main events that will come in the future" Zizhen started

"We can think of these events as plot points. The banishing of Senior Wei, the ambush at Qiongqi path, then the battle at nightless city and then the siege of the burial mounds" Sizhui added

"Do you wish to change these events then?" Asked Huaisang.

He fidgetted with his fan as he studied the time travelers and hummed in thought. They looked young. Mid to late teens he figured.

"Yes. These events had made the history of the future we come from. It's a future in which we had what we needed and the truth but we wish to change the future of this world so that you would have more"

"Wouldn't this simply benefit us more if things go well" Asked Wen Qing.

She still thought that this was all too dangerous. What if something goes wrong? What if things become worse or one of these kids died!?

"Yes. We believe that our future- our time will not change since these events have already occurred. Even though we know it's a must that we return to our time, we simply cannot turn a blind eye to what is in front of us" Sizhui laments with a sad smile

He looks at Wen Qing, conveying a hidden message. She looked to Wei Wuxian who was deep in thought and sighed. The boy wanted to pay him back. Even though he didn't need to.

"So the banishment plan?" Wei Wuxian asked. He was curious about the plans his future ducklings came up with

"We intend to set up a small business in Yilling!" Zizhen began cheerfully

Everyone apart from Huaisang looked at him with a look. And for good reason to.

Yilling was a dreary place. Afterall, with the burial mounds so near, attacks from fierce corpses happened often. So not alot of travellers or tourist ventured towards the area.

"Aiya, don't look at him like that. Leave the details about that business to us" Huaisang says. He flicked open his fan to hide a smirk. The business plan is meant to be suprise.

"Yes, yes. The business is simply a front to collect funds. It's hard life here afterall. Since senior Wei can't get any funds from sect leader Jiang directly, we need a middle man in which the sect leader Jiang will act as a sponsor for!"

"Wouldn't it still be suspicious if juijui started sponsoring a business in Yilling" Jin Ling asks trying to make sense of what his friend was saying

"Yes, but that's were I come in! Let's just say Sect Leader Jiang managed to stumble across a hidden talent in Yilling and that young Cultivator couldn't leave his family's business and the two made a deal"

"Come to Yumeng, your talent will be of great benefit in my sect!" Zizhen attempted to imitate Jiang Cheng

Wei Wuxian burst out laughing while everyone else tried not to. Wen Qing simply shook her head.

"But sir, I promised my grandfather on his death bed that I would run this store. I cannot simply abandon it" Zizhen dramatically weeps

"Fine then I'll become your sponsor!" Zizhen imitates Jiang Cheng once more ending the dramatics and getting cuffed on the head.

Jin Ling wondered how he was not dead yet.

"All we have to do is forge an identity, come up with a story and discuss the management of the business. But you can leave that to this one" Huaisang says with smile while snapping his fan shut

After confronting his brother about their cultivation path and how far along his brother was, they had quite a fight. Normally Huaisang would avoid such tense situations with his brother but after learning that his Dage dies and he's left alone, he had panicked and went straight to Nie Mingjue for an answer.

As he had dreadfully expected, Mingjue attempted to avoid the topic. There was screaming and threatening, crying and begging, then one brother snapped and the other brother ended up with a metal fan hitting him bullseye on the forehead. The owner storming out and yelling at the other to not look for him.

Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng looked at their friend in a new light. They knew he was a devious little runt but the way he made forging an identity and setting up a fake business sound easy was on a different level of being just devious.

"Okay then whose gonna run the store, while you're gone?" Asked Jingyi

"My youngest brothers of course!" Zizhen cheered

"Who?" Jin Ling and Jingyi asked together

"Congratulations, you both are my new brothers!" Zizhen hugged them

"Ah! Get of me!" Jin Ling cried

"What! I don't know anything about running a business!?" Jignyi cried

"It's all good, you just have to watch the store" Huaisang chided the squabbling trio

"Give us two weeks to set up and in that two weeks, you both plan and stage your fight" Zizhen decided to end "but no grievous injuries!"

The Juniors glared at one particular senior

"Aiya don't look at me like that" Wei Wuxian tries but Wen Qing also gives him a look

They were about to settle things but Jiang Cheng who had been quietly listening to everything drew their attention.

"Jiang Cheng?" Wei Wuxian asked

"It feels like we're lacking information. You brats aren't telling us everything" the sect Leader accused

The Juniors who had been trying to make their way out froze where they stood. It was true, they weren't telling them everything. Specifically how certain people died, who killed who, where, when and why.

"Sect Leader we-" Sizhui began

"Didn't you want us to trust you? Tell us everything!" Jiang Cheng cut him off

"You say an ambush will happen and Jin Zixuan dies. There will be a battle at Nightless city and my shije dies and then there will be seige where this one dies!" he points and Wei Wuxian "how and who are responsiblefor these deaths!?"

Wei Wuxian was quiet for once, also realizing that the Juniors had withheld these details. He knows he can trust the kids but-

"Tell us what you're hiding" Jiang Cheng ordered. Zidian sparked in his hands

Wen Qing glared at the man. Her needles ready just in case.

"Haha! Are you sure you want know!" Jingyi tried to laugh it off "it's not a pleasant story and we also don't have all the details and-"

"Jingyi" Wei Wuxian says solemnly. The boy snapped his mouth shut and looked at him pleadingly

He turned to his friends who were also looking at the seniors, begging them. Begging them not make them give them pain.

"Please tell us" their senior Wei asks once more

They all sighed and attemptedto steel themselves. Their shoulders heavy with the weight of the truth and knowledge of the future

"Things started going wrong after the ambush at Qiongqi path" Sizhui began "Jin Zixun had accused senior Wei of casting the hundred holes curse on him and he used it as a basis to ambush him. Senior Wei was innocent of the accusations of that time but Jin Zixun with members of the Jin clan and Lan clan attacked senior unprovoked"

"The Lan clan?" Jiang Cheng growled. He can't believe he was discussing a marriage alliance a few days earlier. The rage made his blood boil

"Ya, those guys went of on their own. Hanguan-jun, Zewu-jun and Master Lan had no knowledge of that. Those guys also had the audacity to go make a clan of their own basing everything on the original and that's us!" Jingyi ranted

"If only Hanguan-jun was there" Zizhen sighed

"What so he could drag me back to cloud recess and punish me?" Wei Wuxian challenged. His grip on his dizi tightening. He was not going back there

The Juniors simply gave him a look and then they gave him a long suffering sigh. Jin Ling's eyes twitched as he turned red with rage but he held back from screaming. He felt slightly offended - not sure on whose behalf - after sitting through that confession at Guanyin temple.

"Anyway" Sizhui continued "Senior Wei was on his way to Jin Ling's hundredth day anniversary. He was formally invited by young master Jin Zixuan"

"The peacock invited me?" Wei Wuxian asked. He was about to add a snarky comment but

"Because my mother wanted you there" Jin Ling snapped, silencing the man

Wei Wuxian looked a bit guilty as Jiang Cheng glared - with no real heat. Just annoyed that he was disturbing Sizhui - at him. He figured the peacock really did change.

"Young Master Jin found out about the plan to ambush Senior Wei from Lianfen-zun and so he rushed there to prevent it. But that's when tragedy struck. Senior Wei lost control and within the chaos senior Wen- the ghost general Wen Ning, who accompanied senior Wei attacked indiscriminately. By the time senior Wei regained control, it was to late. Young Master Jin had already been killed by-"

Sizhui couldn't continue. His head was lowered and his voice had strained during the recount. His eyes closed in grievance for a man he never met but would have been a great pillar to his friends. To Jin Ling.

Wei Wuxian had gone pale as a ghost as he stubled back and Jiang Cheng trembled with rage

"You said you had it under control" Jiang Cheng muttered

"I-" Wei Wuxian tried but

"Wei Wuxian!" The sect Leader yelled "you said you had it under control!"

"I do! I just-"

"Can you promise you can keep it under control then!?" Jiang Cheng grabbed him by the robes and shook him.

Wei Wuxian flinched. He usually never flinched but the shock of the revelation shook him to his bones. He knew he had it under control, he knew but he couldn't be sure anymore. The revelations the deaths or his shijie and everyone else had shaken him.

He was afraid. He was afraid of losing them. Jiang Cheng saw the crestfallen look on his face and pushed him aside, taking the man's silence as answer.

"It was Wen Ning! He killed Jin Zixuan!" Jiang Cheng demanded an answer The Juniors didn't answer. Wen Qing could feel her heart break as dread filled her stomach

"Fine then! I'll end it all here!"

Everything happened all at once. Zidian sparked to life as the deadly whip was summoned. Wen Qing cried out for her brother but was held back by Huaisang.

"Jiang Cheng!" Wei Wuxian tried to pull his shidi back but was pushed aside and fell roughy on the ground. Without a core he could hardly stand a shove. He couldn't help but feel so weak as dread coursed through him.

"Senior Wei!" Jingyi and Zizhen cried and rushed to his side

Jiang Cheng turned to Wen Ning's direction but was met at sword point by two swords

Sizhui and Jin Ling stood against him.

Everything suddenly came to a stand still, shocked at what they saw. Sizhui was understandable, it was within his character. And Wen Ning was his family.

The one that shocked them all was Jin Ling.

Jin Ling, whose father was killed

"You?" Jiang Cheng growled "isn't he the one that killed your father!? You dare side with him!?" The man roared

"He did, but he was just a blade!" Jin Ling shot back

Jin Ling felt torn. To save his father or to save the blade that killed the man. The same blade that saved him and his uncle at Guanyin temple. The same blade that took care of him and his friends on nights. The same blade that thought him to always see the good in everything. The same blade he had begrudgingly came to care for and look up to.

The boy closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. There was no two sides to this. He snapped his eyes to his uncle before him. The uncle who was still fresh from the war and didn't have any time to reflect on the decisions he had made.

"Wei Wuxian losing control and him killing father was not their fault-" Jin Ling tried but all Jiang Cheng felt was rage

"But he still-"

"Would he have if you remembered your debt to them!" Jin Ling snapped back. Finally silencing the man.

"Jin Ling wait-" Wei Wuxian wasn't sure what the boy was about to say but

"They- he saved your lives!" The boy yelled as he pointed at the sealed fierce corpse "And what did he get in return!?"

"Just because he's name was Wen. Just because he was distantly related to Wen Rouhan, does that make him guilty of his crimes. Did he deserve the torture and death!"

"You don't understand, lotus pier was burned my mother and father were killed by the Wen!" Jiang Cheng argued as he stalked forward pushing the sword to side

"And you killed who was responsible! You killed and killed and continued to do so till you were left with nothing! You listened to the words of a bastard and was to afraid to stand for what was right! Then you lost everyone you ever cared for!"

Zidian crackled as Jiang Cheng grabbed Jin Ling by the front of his robes and pulled him up

"Jin Ling!" His friends cried but he motioned for them to stay were they were

"What the hell do you mean by that!?"

Jin Ling was afraid. He was deadly afraid but he wasn't backing down

"It will be you who will lead the seige against Wei Wuxian and you'll watch as he dies before your eyes" Jin Ling says with all the certainty he could muster "Da-jui played off his death as if it wasn't a big deal- he didn't have a corpse to be buried! He was ripped apart by the backlash after destroying the stygian iron amulet and you saw it all!"

Jiang Cheng dropped the boy as he paled and stumbled back. He's the one the led the seige?

"Jin Lin that's enough" Wei Wuxian says as he he was struggled against Jingyi who held him back from stopping the young Jin.

"No! If he wants the details, than he can have them"

"After father dies, Wen Ning is the one that brought him back here. The Jin Clan sent a message telling them to hand over Wen Qing and Wen Ning and they'll spare the rest. Da-jui refused at first saying he'll go instead but Wen Qing put him to sleep. The two turned themselves in but the Jin clan lied and they gathered people to lead a seige on the burial mounds"

Jin Ling huffed then took a breath. His whole body shook with rage, adrenaline and grief as he told the true story about what really happened.

"That was the battle at nightless city. They said he killed about three thousand but it was all lies. It was all the clans against one man" Jin Ling choked on his words

Jiang Cheng felt like he was going to throw up. Three thousand against one man, and he was amongst them.

"But no one could see that, no one but my mother and Hanguan-jun" the boy sobbed

"Shijie and Lan Zhan? Jin Ling my Shijie how-" Wei Wuxian dreaded the words

"She died protecting you" Jin Ling confessed his eyes filled with tears "but her sacrifice went to waste because you died anyway!"

Because I led the seige, Jiang Cheng thought. That's how I lose everyone.

Jin Ling couldn't say anymore, tears ran down his cheeks freely and he couldn't stop them. He wanted to turn and bolt but his knees felt weak and body felt heavy, so he turned to the closest person. Sizhui stood waiting for him.

They had received these details from Lan Wangji with permission from their senior Wei. Neither he or Jiang Cheng would give them answers to their past.

The youngest of the group wailed into the boys shoulders, no longer able to contain his emotions.

Sizhui turned to Wei Wuxian and continued

"You broke that day after young maiden Jiang died and you lost control. Hanguan-jun saved you after that but in doing so he went against the elders of the clan and was punished severely"

"Lan Zhan" Wei Wuxian says the man's name, confused on what he was feeling as he wondered for what reason why the man would go against his clan members for him.

"When the final seige occurred, you tried to hold them off but their forces was to great and the Wen's were slaughtered. They didn't put up a fight. Believing you lost everyone, you destroyed the stygian iron amulet which resulted in your death"

"So in the other end, I just ended up making everything worse" Wei Wuxian concluded

Hearing this Jin Ling wanted to snap once more but the sound of palm against flesh suddenly echoed through the cave. Startled by the sound everyone turned to see that it was Jiang Cheng

"A-Cheng!?" Wei Wuxian cried out, accidentally switching back to to the childhood nickname he used to call his shidi by.

Part of the sect Leader's face had started to turn red. Wei Wuxian ran to him and took him by the shoulders. The man was shaking. He felt numb and sick. He tried hitting himself to feel something. Pain and anything else instead of the sickening dread with his heart.

"I can't lose you" He says. Eyes wide in terror "I can't lose you or shijie please! I can't, its my fault I'll lose you! I don't want to lose you!" He begged

He was going to lose them. It was all Jiang Cheng could think about. All because of his rage and insecurities he was going to lose them and he couldn't help but feel at fault.

All because he was angry and weak and couldn't stand-

"You won't! Okay, shidi look at me!" Wei Wuxian yelled and shook the man. Jiang Cheng was erratic. He grabbed Wei Wuxian by the collars not fully registering what he was doing

Wen Qing took out her needles but Huaisang blocked her path and forced her hands down. The Wen glared at the Nie, but he simply shook his head. This was something the brothers had to come to terms with.

Wei Wuxian dragged his brother into a hug to ground him. But Jiang Cheng was panicked. Memories of flames and blood flashed through his mind. He couldn't bare to lose his family again. He already lost his parents, he can't lose his siblings.

Wei Wuxian held onto him and stayed that way for his brother.

Slowly but surely he came to himself and hugged his brother as though this was the last time. He can't lose him or their sister. Wei Wuxian hugged back as hard as he could, part of him knew he would get bruises from the hug alone but it would be worth it.

"You're not going to lose us" Wei Wuxian says making sure that his shidi felt that he was here "You're not going to lose any of us"

Jiang Cheng choked on a sob and buried his face in the other man's shoulder.

.....

After calming down, the rest of the details was shared

Huaisang was shocked that Jin GuangYao was the mastermind behind many of the crimes in the future. He still couldn't believe it. Though he did believe that Jin Guangshan was the main culprit behind everything.

"Then we just kill the bastard!" Jiang Cheng snapped

The Juniors gave a long suffering sigh again

"I want to save my uncle" Jin Ling says. Nobody had the strength to argue with him.

He then turned to Huaisang

"To save him, I need your help. The future you managed to manipulate him which resulted in his downfall. I know you care about him in this time, that's why you can't believe what we say and so before it's to late for him please help me save him. Make him see the man his father truly is. If possible turn him to our side"

Jin Ling did not sound like the boy that was arguing with his uncle. He sounded like a sect leader. And as a sect leader he knew that despite all the crimes that his shushu had committed, the man was an asset. Something he would willing admit, something Jin Guangshan did not which resulted in his death.

For his brother and for what he believed Huaisang agreed

"I'll do my best"

The Juniors had looked in awe at the Nie Huaisang who was not touched by grief and revenge. They knew the Nie Sect Leader of their time wouldn't think twice about slitting Jin GuangYao's throat. A Nie was still a Nie once their trust had been broken. A trust that was near impossible to repair.

"You make a fine sect leader" Wen Qing says to Jin Ling. It took all the boy's will power to not preen at the praise

"Thank you young maiden Wen" Jin Ling thanks "I had great seniors to teach me"

"That's us right!" Wei Wuxian asks as he threw an arm over the boys shoulders, attempting to lift the mood. He still needed a drink after this. Him and Jiang Cheng.

"You thought me to fight all those I want to fight while I was still young and jujui thought me to break the legs of whoever crossed me!" Jin Ling huffed at his uncles.

"Yeah, I doubt these two would teach you anything that didn't involve violence" Huaisang snarks causing the Jingyi to laugh

"Yeah, the senior who thought me how see the good in people and be a decent person is apparently him" Jin Ling pointed to the sealed fierce corpse "you idiots thought me violence"

It felt like an arrow struck the two uncles. Jin Ling was getting really brave calling this version of Jiang Cheng an idiot. If his actual uncle appears there is no doubt that boy would flee on sight.

And so the plan begun.

Two weeks later, Wei Wuxian defected from the Jiang sect. It was declared after a fierce battle, Jiang Cheng had stabbed the Yilling patriarch, however he to suffered a blow from the Yiling Patriach's ghost General Wen Ning.

"I told you no grievous injuries!" Zizhen threw a fit in the main hall of the Jiang residence

"He threw himself on my sword! Literally!" Jiang Cheng yelled

Jiang Cheng was just going give a slash wound- a small one- but they had witnesses and so the idiot had literally stabbed himself!

Thank God for the sect Leader's quick reflexes and he avoided all organs and the bastard had the audacity to wink at him before they retreated.

The moment he's healed he was going to slap his brother silly!

Chapter Text

Burial Mounds

It's been a few months since the banishment. Wen Qing had to hold herself back from throttling Wei Wuxian and Sizhui had to hold back Jin Ling from also throttling the man.

The plan had gone of smoothly, the burial mounds was gaining a steady allowance. The Wens had better clothes and food supplies, but today was one of those days in which Wen Qing was out for blood.

Usually it's Wei Wuxian but today she just wanted to strangle someone else. Specifically one Ouyang Zizhen and Nie Huaisang. Apparently the business those two had come up with was a book store. Just a small inconspicuous store that obviously would have failed if it didn't have a steady sponsor.

Nie Huaisang had bought it off from an old man who had no family, forged an intricate yet mundane tale about the man having a secret son and that son having a son - which was Zizhen - then spread the tale around till it became common knowledge and so now no one would question the ownership and reason of why a young man had taken over the old shop.

Unexpectedly, business was booming. It's customers mainly women who have apparently traveled far and wide to get their hands on a newly published piece of literature.

It was called 'Yearning For But Cannot Chase After You'. A tragic tale about two soulmates who were forced apart because of the world and then death. One soulmate was the bearer of life and light and the other soulmate was the bearer of death and darkness.

Any resemblance to people in real life was purely coincidental, Zizhen had said with a grin when he handed a copy of the book to Wei Wuxian.

But the man was to busy looking for a way to send his ducklings back, returning Wen Ning's consciousness, helping with the farming, taking care of A-Yuan and completing his other experiments to read so he handed it to Wen Qing telling her to take a break.

Life was a bit easier now with the supplies so she had enough time for herself. So she gave in to boredom and read the novel. She's not much of a person that gets sentimental over these kinds of things like characters in a book but she could understand why the business was booming.

The tale was heart wrenching and she was going to strangle Zizhen or Nie Huaisang the next time she saw them. She had to take a drink.

She wanted to relax in her free time, not stress over characters in book!

Why, oh why did the bearer of darkness not listen to the bearer of light. And why didn't the bearer of light not communicate his feelings well! Why did they have to be so complex characters.

"Aunty is there something wrong?" Sizhui asked her upon finding her with one uncle four's fruit wine.

The woman looked at her nephew, then at the Lan ribbon, a thought came to mind.

"A-Yuan who gave you your courtesy name?"

Sizhui tilted his head in confusion but answered

"It was Hanguan-jun, he saved me and raised me as his son or younger brother when I lost my memories after the- you know" Sizhui says nevoursly

Wen Qing looked as though she had an epiphany

Si - Longing and Zhui - pursue or chase... Wen Qing took another shot of the wine.

Sizhui looked bug eyed and concerned as she stood up with a goal. The goal to throttle Wei Wuxian for giving her unnecessary heartach.

It was her fault that she fell for the temptation because of the boredom but still, she was going to strangle the inspiration - perhaps wrap him up and send him to his soulmate later - and then strangle the authors which were undoubtedly Zizhen and Huaisang!

"Where's Wei Wuxian?" She asked

"Washing little A-Yuan's clothes" Sizhui answered

"Thank you" Wen Qing left to archive her goal

Sizhui looked confused, then turned to see the book she had been reading. He first turned red, then shook his head and huffed a sigh and then realization struck.

"Maiden Wen Wait!" Sizhui cried and ran out "Please he doesn't know!"

The boy ran to save his oblivious baba.

....

Yilling Town

"Urgh! Why do we have to watch this stupid shop!?" Jin Ling grumbled as he wrapped up yet another 'Yearning For But Cannot Chase After You' novel and handing it to a customer.

"Oh come on, it's not that bad!" Jingyi says as he restocked the shelves with some stationary supplies

It wasn't a just a simple book shop, they had stationary and other simple essentials like fans, brushes and even talismans of different kinds and art pieces. Courtesy of Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang. But their best seller was apparently the novel.

Jignyi read it and was moved to tears but unlike the other readers he knew the characters had a happy ending so he was enjoying the suffering of the other readers.

One should not indulge in the suffering of others was definitely a rule somewhere on the wall but this was not the cloud recess and there was no seniors around to tell him what to do. And Sizhui was up there in the mounds to! He could be the gremlin he was born to be!

"I still don't see the point of the two us being here!" Jin Ling snapped

"Well I'm sorry young Mistress, but there isn't much for us to do just yet" Jignyi snarked "And one of us needs to be here to watch the shop just in case a message is needed to be delivered to senior!"

"I know that, just why do I have to be stuck with you and don't call me that!"

"What's with wrong me! Im great company!"

"Are you boy's fighting again?" A voice from the back came, disrupting the bickering.

It was Huaisang. The young man came into view with a huff

"Can't you tell I'm doing delicate work back here!?" He scolded

"What delicate work? All you're doing is painting fans and writing novels!" Jin Ling snapped at him

This Nie Huaisang was so much easier to talk to compared to his future counterpart. A young and innocent Nie Huaisang who knew not of grief and vengeance. A Nie Huaisangthat didn't send shivers down their spines.

"Yes novel's and fans that are keeping this business afloat" Huaisang chided

Jin Ling groaned and went back to his post. In the tale that was spun, he and Jingyi were Zizhen's younger brothers. They were Cultivators like their brother but they had seen the horrors of the recent war and wished to live a quiet life.

"I can't believe this is working" the Jin says once more as he wraps yet another copy of that damned novel

"You should be proud! Young Master Zizhen has a way with words. He makes a fine author!" Huaisang defended his partner in crime

Part of him wants to somehow get his hands on that boy now and raise him as his own. His Da-ge would no doubt kill him first before he dabbles in kidnapping.

"It's selling out just as fast as 'Regret of Chushan'" Nie Huaisang says

Regret of Chushan was a novel that Nie Huaisang had somehow had gotten copies of and was in the restricted section of the book aisles. It wasn't of local origins and so it was strictly under his supervision. Not even Zizhen had looked at those books.

Jin Ling and Jingyi had been curious and Nie Huaisang being the gremlin he was let them have a peek.

Screams were heard that day as innocence was lost and eyes were burned.

"Don't ever mention that vile thing!" Jin Ling raged

Huaisang cackled.

The man had been dropping in and out of Yilling. Checking in on his brother, watching over his secret spy networks, taking care of the business, spinning tales to hide Wei Wuxian, attaching puppet strings to certain people and way more. Since the time travellers and his friends already knew of his true self, he didn't bother putting up a facade around them. He embraced the gremlin within.

But if there was one thing he hated, it was the damn hike up to the damn burial mounds.

He always makes sure to visit his gremlin accomplice and then do their gremlin shenanigans only to be struck with a needle by an annoyed Wen Qing.

For now he was editing the next part of 'Yearning For But Cannot Chase After You'. Zizhen had given him the manuscript on his last visit.

Unknown to them, that very novel that they had released would help turn the tides of fortune.

......

Gusu Cloud Recess

A song could be heard from the Jingshi. Not a day has gone by had Lan Wangji not worried for Wei Wuxian.

His Wei Ying.

His heart ached every time he witnessed the man use resentment. Watched him destroy himself as the world scorned him. After learning of his banishment, it took all his will power and his brother to stop him from running to the man his heart belonged to.

He sighed. Hands resting on the strings of Wangji, his guqin. He felt restless. He needed to do something to distract himself - distract him from the urge to run off to the burial mounds. He decided to take a walk and on his walk he came across his brother.

Said brother was busy reading a novel. He was not one to read novels and then there was the rule 'Do not indulge in life pleasure and comfort' but if anyone needed a break, it was probably his brother.

Lately he had noticed that his brother, Lan Xichen had been stressed. He felt a bit guilty at the fact that he may also be part of that stress. Afterall his brother could read him like an open book and it was no secret between them that he had feelings for Wei Ying.

Part of the stress was also the Nie brothers. Lan Wangji wasn't sure and never pried about others but he learnt from his Xiongzhen that Nie Huaisang had a fight with Nie Mingjue and then Huaisang had ran away.

Huaisang did return eventually but he has been ignoring his older brother. The Nie would only speak to Lan Xichen and Jin GuangYao and then disappear without a trace making the older Nie grow mad with worry and anger. Which resulted in the stress his own brother was feeling because he had to calm Nie Mingjue.

Then there was Sect business and for some unknown reason the Jiang sect leader had been requesting an audience. Perhaps for him, his brother had put off replying to the sect leader. Once again he knew Lan Xichen could read him like a book and he knew he could see that he was not currently happy - nor will he ever be at this point - with the Jiang sect leader.

"Oh Wangji what brings you here?" His brother asks with a smile

"Mn" he says "Xiongzhen" he greets and eyes the book

Not much verbal communication needed

"Oh this, let's keep this a secret between us okay. It's just something Huaisang had given me"

Before he disappeared again, was left unsaid. His disappearing act was a shock to them all

"It's quite a tragic tale really. I couldn't help but feel for the characters. They reminded me of you and young master Wei"

"Xiongzhen" Wangji chided, his ears going red

"Huaisang said to give you a copy as well. He said that it would help you"

And with that Lan Wangji ended up with a copy of 'Yearning For But Cannot Chase After You', not sure what else to do and in need for a distraction he takes the book.

Abliet confused on why Huaisang says that it would be of help to him. Bidding his brother goodbye he makes his way to the Jingshi.

The moment he unwrapped and opens the book two notes slips out. Unsure yet curious the Lan takes up the notes and reads it

Thought we would let you know and to make things easier for us but we have a plan to fix things. Read this book and learn from the characters mistakes so you would not make the same with your beloved - Headshaker

Lan Wangji's ears had grown red and he was beyond confused.

His beloved!?

A plan to fix things!?

Who is Headshaker?

Wait- the answer was obvious. It was Nie Huaisang. But how did he know of his feeling for Wei Ying. He shook his head, he'll get answers soon. Then there was the second letter

For Fuck's sake tell your brother to send a god damn reply or something. I'm trying to help that idiot here and you're just making things harder! Read the damn book and learn a thing or two then go find that idiot or else you'll never see him again! - San Angry Grape

Lan Wangji did not need to even think about who the sender of the second letter was, though the signing off was written in different hand writing that was identical to the first letter. He was perplexed, annoyed but greatly shocked. Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang were scheming against the whole of the Cultivation world to save Wei Ying.

Why the hell didn't they tell him sooner!?

Oh wait, he doesn't interact with anyone else and because of him, his brother may have been avoiding sect leader Jiang. It felt like two arrows struck him now that he thought of it and it was all his own shortcomings.

His heart began to fill with hope and so he decided to take heed of the letters instructions and read the novel.

Instantly he realised the resemblance of the characters towards him and Wei Ying were uncanny.

.....

Yumeng Lotus Pier

Jiang Yanli was gifted an interesting book. Despite the tragic tale it had become one of her favorites. She especially loved the character of the lord of death and darkness.

She saw too much of her little brother in him.

Lately she wasn't allowed to go to LanLing Jin, but she didn't question her brother. And for her, A-Cheng had literally kidnapped A-Xuan and made him stay at Lotus Pier.

"Jiang Cheng why am I here- no as a sect heir why am here" Jin Zixuan asked looking disgruntled

They were sparing and it looked like Jiang Cheng was attempting to indoctrinate the Jin

Jiang Yanli giggled at his expression

She had gone to visit her fiance and then her little brother had come to escort her back. But he had also dragged a confused Jin Zixuan back with them.

"If you're going marry our A-Jie you need to be able to protect her and yourself. I can't let you slack off, not even for a moment!" Jiang Cheng barked and charged

Jin Zixuan didn't have time for a reply. They were evenly matched but for some odd reason Jiang Cheng was acting suspiciously vicious as though he was training him.

And Jiang Yanli had noticed things. Very small things that would fly over the heads of others. The way A-Cheng had just referred to her.

Our not my. The way one young Zizhen would tell her tales about a senior he greatly admired and the way the boy would look when she told him of her brothers.

It was not a secret who her brothers were. And to see the young lad filled with awe and aspiration for one her brothers made heart fill with hope.

She noticed how her brother and the boy would discuss things in private. Noticed when the boy would go off to check on his little brothers that she had recently come to learn he had. And the way he would immediately report back to Jiang Cheng when he returned.

She wasn't as smart as A-Xian. Wasn't as confident as A-Cheng but she was very perceptive. And so when Zizhen decided to slink into her vision with a shy smile, she decided to test if her theory was true

"Hi Young Maiden Jiang, I was wondering if you liked the book I gave?"

"It's wonderful A-Zhen" she says. The boy smiles brightly at the name

He then goes off with his recount of his latest visit with his brothers. Specifically the youngest one before he told her about his senior who buried his adoptive son in dirt. Jiang Yanli had noticed this to. She also noticed that he never said any names.

He never named his younger brothers or the others. He never named this particular senior he was so fond off and looked up to but Yanli had noticed how the boy had looked the same when she spoke of A-Xian's adventures.

She wasn't sure if she was truly perceptive or if Zizhen was simply very open

"Thank You A-Zhen" she says with a smile

Zizhen looked at her confused but she had a look of understanding in her eyes.

"Thank you for staying by his side"

Zizhen couldn't help but blush and sputter at that

"It's nothing really! No- I mean who do you mean?" He tried but Yanli looked at him with understanding and praise. The boy sighed in defeat, his shoulders sagging.

"Senior was right when he said you were really perceptive. But please don't tell Sect Leader Jiang he might punish me again" Zizhen groaned

Yanli simply giggled at his antics

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me"

She was glad and greatly relieved. Her brothers were still in it together.

Chapter Text

Sizhui didn't remember much of his early childhood. Though most of his memories was that of him being with his baba. His Xian-gege.

Granny was old and didn't have the energy to keep up with the energetic toddler. The others as well were also old and some frail from long lasting sickness or disability that they had received from the torture at the labor camps.

Wen Qing was often busy over looking all of them and treating them and Wen Ning was still sealed. He now understood why most of his memories was that of being with his Xian-gege.

Wei Wuxian had taken up the role of being a pseudo older brother or father to the young toddler to help the others. It helped that Wei Wuxian was also a natural teacher and caretaker to.

It reminded him of how his baba had instantly taken care of him, Jingyi and the other Lan disciples back during the night hunt at Mo manor.

He couldn't help the fond yet sad smile that would take place upon his face when he looked at the past version of Wei Wuxian and his younger self.

Said tiny toddler was chewing on chenqing

"Aiya, A-Yuan you can't just put random things in your mouth" the man chided "you're lucky I keep this clean because I know you like is so much"

The little one simply laughed happily at him.

Little A-Yuan was barely three right now. Just coming into words and understanding but knowing full well that as long as his Xian-gege was there, no harm would come to him.

Just as Sizhui had known.

"Look at this A-Yuan, your Sizhui-gege is being all mopy again" Wei Wuxian teased the boy after seeing that same look he had been seeing on the boy again.

"Apologies senior Wei, I was simply reminded by old memories" the boy says.

They were in the demon slaughtering cave, Wei Wuxian attempting to figure out how exactly the Talisman that brought the Juniors here worked

Months of experimenting and nothing happend. The Juniors had begun to worry. What if there was no way to get back? But a part of them was glad, as long as Wei Wuxian didn't figure it out, the longer they can be here to change things.

It was frustrating but they were patient

"Old memories? Is it okay to share?" Wei Wuxian turned to face him. A bit excited.

"Is Zhui-gege going to tell a story?" Little A-Yuan asked excitedly

Wei Wuxian wanted to learn more about the future but was hesitant so he didn't pry. Afterall, they had gone through enough shock and heartach with the terrible recounts of what would happen in the nearest future.

Sizhui thought about sharing. But he also remembered his friends bets. He had sighed upon discovering their bet, and then once more after learning that sect leader Jiang and Young master Nie had also became part of it.

Jingyi had bet that Wei Wuxian would realize who he was in a couple weeks. Poor boy had lost. Nie Huaisang had bet it would be in a few months. Sadly it had been more then just a few now and so he had ultimately lost. Jin Ling bet he wouldn't notice until the end of everything or if someone told him so. So he was still in the game. Zizhen bet that he would realize upon meeting Hanguan-jun and finally Jiang Cheng had bet that Wei Wuxian already knew but he was to much if an idiot to accept it. This could only be confirmed by the man himself.

He looked at the man before him and at his younger self. Wei Wuxian was dense. Extremely so, but he was sometimes perceptive. To be honest Sizhui wouldn't be suprised if Jiang Cheng won the bet.

In the future, the only people who understood Wei Wuxian the most was his husband and brother.

Plus, he was always with Little A-Yuan and Wei Wuxian had been dragging him along and getting Sizhui involved in his and Little A-Yuan's shenanigans.

Sizhui smiled at the man, wondering where he should begin and what he should say.

"Tell me what it was like growing up with all the stuffy Lans and their three thousand rules" Wei Wuxian grinned. Little A-Yuan giggling along, interested in the story.

Sizhui held back a laugh.

"We actually have about four thousand now" he says

"Fou- Four thousand!?" Wei Wuxian balked "oh no, what has happened!?" The man dramatically feigned distress. He unconsciously hugged A-Yuan closer.

Causing the toddler to laugh

"Ah, how can my little radish survive there!?" He says then freezes. He pursed his lips and tried to look anywhere but Sizhui

Sizhui simply smiled and tried not laugh, he was right. Jiang Cheng's pockets were about to get heavier.

"Xian-gege if you knew who I was, why didn't you say anything" he asked with the brightest smile he had

"Why didn't I say anything!? Ya, A-Yuan why didn't you say anything?" The man shot back

"What should I say?" Little A-Yuan asks causing Sizhui to finally let go of his laugh

"The others placed bets" he says.

This caused the brows of Wei Wuxian to rise high

"Isn't gambling against the rules. My A-Yuan does take after me!" The man laughs and Little A-Yuan laughs along abliet slightly confused

Sizhui laughs once more before clearing his throat

"It was actually Jingyi who had placed a bet. Sadly he lost. The winner is apparently sect Leader Jiang. Though I must ask when you realized"

"Tch.." Wei Wuxian clicked his tongue "Listen here my big radish never bet with that uncle of yours, you'll end up with empty pockets!"

The man said as though it was the most serious thing. However Sizhui had choked on the word uncle.

"And if you must know, I knew from the start. If you want to know how, it's because you told me so" the man grinned while fondly patting the head of the toddler in his lap.

"He told you?" Little A-Yuan asked but not really knowing what the two older ones were saying. He tilts his head in confusion.

"I told you?" Sizhui asked also tilting his head a bit. An identical gesture shared with the little one.

Wei Wuxian couldn't help but laugh at this

"Yes you did, your friends had taken time to figure out who I was after their panic and I believe it's because of the history you knew. And they only started piecing things together when I asked about Hanguan-jun. You on the hand woke up after your shock and instantly knew who I was"

Sizhui blushed a bit at that

"Not only that but after observing you a bit more, I knew it was you" the man had a small yet sad smile on his face. He looked down to Little A-Yuan who simply looked at him with large curious eyes

"So how did my little radish become a stuffy Lan" he huffed with a pout

Sizhui didn't know how to answer but-

"Did Lan Zhan come to find me after the- you know?" Wei Wuxian asked. He had a sad and pained look in his eyes

Sizhui simply nodded with a sad smile of his own

"He cares. Way more than you think he does. But Hanguan-jun has a hard time expressing it" Sizhui tries

"You can say that again" Wei Wuxian huffed once more "with all those rules and all. I'm not surprised Lan Zhan is like that"

Indeed. Sizhui couldn't help but agree.

"But you're also pretty dense" Sizhui defended his A-die

"What!?" Wei Wuxian balked dramatically "Ya, how could you say that to me, my big radish you take after your Hanguan-jun way to much"

"Listen here my little radish, you must be a filial child to me or you might become a fuddy duddy!"

All his dramatics kept jostling the tolder making the small child laugh

"But Zhui-gege is really cool! I want to b like Zhui-gege!"

"Ah this must be fate then" the man says but a small and grateful smile graced his lips.

"I'm glad you have grown up so well. I'm sorry I wasn't there to see it though"

The junior shook his head and then took the man's hand

"You will see it!" Sizhui says with a determined look in his eyes. Eyes that oddly resembled his.

Wei Wuxian couldn't help but smile at the boys determination.

"Now you owe the both of us story or two" the man says as he moved closer with little A-Yuan.

And so Sizhui began.

Sizhui told him of how he was buried under all the bunnies. Wei Wuxian couldn't help but laugh at that. A part of him felt like he was falling. Well falling faster and the reason for this feeling was the man who buried a child under a bunch of bunnies. It was a good feeling. Somewhat bittersweet.

Sizhui told him of how he first met Jingyi. The boy was the grandson of Lan Qiren's first cousin but his parents had died in the war. And since neither Jade was married in the future he was taken into the main family and was Zewu-jun's ward and sect heir.

Sizhui told him of how little Jingyi had escaped his caretakers and found himself in the clearing with A-Yuan and the bunnies. His loud voice scaring the bunnies and shocking the newly named Lan Yuan. And how they had from that day on grew up like brothers. And of how Lan Qiren thought Jingyi was Wei Wuxian incarnate.

"Ya! Why is he still blaming me after I'm dead! He should be proud to! Jingyi is a gem compared to all those plane fuddy duddy rocks!" Wei Wuxian huffed indigently.

If Jingyi was here he would either be preening at the praise or crying ugly sobs of joy. Poor guy was always told he wasn't an ideal Lan. Those comments always weighed heavily on his shoulders but ever since Wei Wuxian came into their life, Jingyi was able to hold his head higher and be proud of himself thanks to all the reassurance from their senior.

"You're not included with those fuddy duddies though A-Yuan. Your my radish" the man clarified after remembering his radish was also a Lan

"You don't have to worry, Senior Wei always makes sure to reminds us to be who we are and be proud of ourselves"

"As he should. If my counterpart had been alive during that time, I'm pretty he would have smacked anyone who dared say such words to any of my ducklings!"

We weren't even your ducklings yet when you started defending us, Sizhui thought with a smile.

Sizhui told him of how he first met Jin Ling. How haughty and prideful the boy had been and how he was always quick to anger

The man simply sighed dramatically and shook his head at that "he takes way to much after his father and uncle. Oh Shijie what should we do"

Then the boy told them about how they met Zizhen. Which included the tale of Yi City and then their kidnapping and how they ended up at the burial mounds. How Zizhen spoke for Wei Wuxian and how he seamlessly fitted in with the others.

"He's a good friend" Wei Wuxian says with a smile

The current generation was filled with hatred, pain and grief. All this accumulated from the war. The new generation to come looked like a ray of light and hope and Wei Wuxian had proof of that.

Sitting before him was his A-Yuan. A tall, confident young man who was the embodiment of hope. His version of that hope had fallen asleep in his arms. It was getting late now.

Two of his ducklings was down in Yilling running the book shop that had become popular. And his other duckling was in Yumeng.

"It's almost nine now, it's time to rest my Radishes" he says

He picks up the little one and lays him on his make shift bed. The big one yawned but tried to stay up but his biological clock was a stronger force. Wei Wuxian guided him and laid him down next to the little one. Both now lost to the world.

As for him, he went back to his work. Promising he would find a way to send his ducklings home.

Unknown to him one of his failed talismans was suddenly lost with the wind. It escaped the cave and wards. The strong wind of the night sending it further away from the burial mounds and Yilling.

Then it suddenly activated. No one was around to see the light and no one there to hear the bang or see a person falling from the sky.

The person fell heavily onto the ground, creating a human shaped hole. When he picked himself up, the sound of chains clanking would have been heard.

No one would be there to see the lost and worried expression on the person's face.

Nie Huaisang couldn't belive his San-ge would be responsible for his Da-ge's death. Afterall if Meng Yao had truly wanted to kill Nie Mingjue than there were many opportunities to do so.

His brother never really told him but he knew that Jin GuangYao had been able to catch the man off guard more then once. And if he wanted him dead, he could have killed him during those moments.

But he didn't.

Huaisang knew that something must have happened that made Meng Yao- no Jin GuangYao kill his brother's counterpart. Mingjue had warned Huaisang not to get close Jin GuangYao after the man had witnessed the Jin's deceit. But what his brother didn't know was that he and Meng Yao were more alike but he was better.

To him, this Jin GuangYao was still Meng Yao. But with how the Juniors spoke about his future counterpart, he knew his counterpart wouldn't think the same.

He was currently having tea with said Jin. After escaping his brother. He wanted to find out the reason why Meng Yao killed his commander. The commander that Mingjue had witnessed him kill.

Because it appeared that the relationship between Meng Yao and Mingjue had been broken from there.

So what was the reason why Meng Yao killed that commander.

Knowing his da-ge, he was sure Mingjue had jumped to his own conclusions.

However he knew Meng Yao was a calculating person. He wouldn't kill for no reason. Yet he he had killed calmly and with the Wen's sword form. Tensions must have built up and something must have made him act though.

But honestly he knew he wouldn't be able to find out. Because the man before him kept his cards close. His secrets under lock and key. Unless he could pry open his inhibitions, there was no way to know.

But right was the time to act!

"San-ge, I really don't know what to do!" He cried. Practically sobbing. His hands shaking and tea spilling

"Da-ge looks like his getting worse and he had been keeping all this a secret from me!" He wailed

"I'm sure Er-ge is thinking of a way to help" Jin GuangYao tried to comfort the wailing younger man

"But he's taking to long!" Huaisang cried "San-ge your my only hope!"

If Huaisang could get his San-ge to agree to this then it will help his brother and there would also be a chance for Meng Yao to gain back his brother's trust. Of course he'll be there go make sure the man doesn't abuse it.

"Me, what can I do?" The man asked confused

"I was doing my own research to help da-ge but you know how he is. He won't listen to me!"

"Is that the reason why you've been disappearing so often. Was it to find a way to help da-ge?"

Huaisang nodded with a sniffle

"He won't listen to me but if you and er-ge could convince him then he might get better" he says and from his robes he pulled out a tattered manuscript

Something he, Wei-xiong, Wen Qing and Jingyi came up with. Yes Jingyi, for only the gods know what reason the boy had a vast knowledge when it came to medicine and healing arts.

'Oh we get injured from time to time and the young Mistress also had assassination attempts and all so to keep him alive I decided to learn about these stuff!' The boy had said sounding haughty.

And to be on the safer side, Jingyi was the one who wrote the contents within the book. And with the power of resentment made it look old. It's quite interesting what resentment could do.

Wei-xiong hit him with Chenqing when he spotted a look on his face. He was then scolded and told to throw all thought of resentment away.

The contents of the book were known knowledge and theories about energy sharing and energy imbalance. Theories on how to fix it and so fort.

It didn't contain anything about helping with Qinghe Nie Saber spirits but with help from Wei Wuxian than that problem can be sorted out later. They just had to convince the damn world that Wei-xiong was a good person.

Something they would see if the stopped sucking up to Jin Guangshan.

Meng Yao skimmed through and book and was suprised to see the contents

"A-Sang where did you find this? This will undoubtedly help da-ge"

"I just found it in an old book shop. The owner said somthing about it being sold to his grandfather a long time ago. But that old man passed so we'll never know" he whimpered "San-ge are you sure it will help? I don't know what to do anymore!"

His wailing and ugly sobbing was enough to deter the man from digging further

"Yes, I'll have Er-ge look it over and then we'll get back to you"

With that Huaisang calmed down and they finally settled into blissful chatter. The younger man sniffling here and there to keep up his act.

"San-ge why can't we go back to old times. You know when you and Da-ge would get along" the Nie whined

"It's not that easy A-sang. Many things happened and I've also done things I can't undo"

Like killing the Nie Soldiers in front of Da-ge on Wen Rouhan's orders.

Huaisang didn't want to think of himself as cold blooded, but if it was for his brother, he to had qualms in sacrificing a life. His future counterpart was proof of that.

"But don't you want it to go back to the way it was?"

Huaisang could see it.

He could see how Meng Yao was not happy with where he was right now. He knew the man was striving for something he would never obtain and since he had no where to go back to, his only path was forward.

So what if Huaisang built a path back. What if he helped clear other paths?

Not only that but he had been steadily sowing the seeds of doubt. He had secretly sent the list of Jin Guangshan's crimes to him, specifically the list of crimes against numerous women.

He was delighted to see that Meng Yao had been extremely disturbed after the day he sent the list. Glad the man wasn't to far gone to follow the path of a father he wanted acknowledgement from. Also soon after that day he had cut ties with Qin Su of the Laoling Qin Clan.

His actions devastated the young lady and angered her father. They were in the midst of discussing marriage when Meng Yao decided to cut ties. Jin Guangshan didn't really care for the marriage but was angered on behalf of his so called friend, the Qin sect leader but Meng Yao didn't give a reason and ever since then he had been avoiding Jin Guangshan.

Slowly but surely the Meng Yao had begun to distance himself from the Jins. Hr wasn't sure what to do anymore and it felt like he had worked hard for nothing but there was no other path to take and so he could only continue going forward. He had no where else to go.

Huaisang was there to show a way!

"If I had the chance, then I'd like that. It wouldbe nice to go back to how it once was" Meng Yao had said truthfully with a solemn look in eyes. He always had great respect for Nie Mingjue.

"Then I'll help you!" Huaisang says with a determined smile and took the man's hands.

Jin Ling had told him that Jin GuangYao never had anyone on his side. One that knew all his dark secrets. One he didn't manipulate to be on his side. So Huaisang decided that if he was going to drag this man to their side then this man needed to know he had a friend. A true friend.

And who else would be better suited to be his friend than him. Someone who had a kindred mind.

"You're my San-ge and my Friend. You have to remember that!"

Meng Yao who could not see the schemes of the younger man simply smiled fondly at him.

Chapter Text

Jiang Cheng looked up to the man before him and sighed. The junior beside him was estatic. Nie Huaisang was lost in thought and Lan Wangji was drinking his tea.

How the hell did this happen?

Instead of Zewu-jun coming for an audience, Lan Wanji came Instead. To be honest that made things better but the air of awkwardness was so thick one could cut it with a sword.

They all waited for one person to speak first. Luckily for them all, Lan Wanji was first to speak.

"Wei Ying?" He asked

Jiang Cheng shot a glare to the youngest in the room to keep him silent. Said boy looked like he was about to explode from excitement.

"Is at the burial mounds. As you can see we have been secretly supporting him and the Wen Remnants" Jiang Cheng explained "we came across some unpleasant information so we cannot leave that idiot alone"

Wangji tried to not glare at how the man addressed his beloved but the Jiang sect leader simply rolled his eyes at the man.

If you're going to let every little thing said about Wei Wuxian get to you then go butcher the Jin's!

"Yumeng Jiang can't openly support him right now due all the politics involved and so we had deviced a plan to support him in secret. So far things have gone smoothly" Nie Huaisang speaks.

Lan Wangji simply gave a questioning look asking why he was helping. Though to everyone else he just looked his way.

"As for why I am helping, it's because Wei-xiong is my friend and also because he'll be able to help me in the long run along with the famed doctor Wen Qing. They have already given me their expertise so I cannot turn my back on them"

Lan Wangji then glanced at the boy who seemed to get more excited upon finally being acknowledged. He couldn't help but feel that the boy knew things about him.

The boy looked to Jiang Cheng as though asking for permission and when the man gave an exasperated nod, the boy turned back to him excited

"This one greets Hanguan-jun! This one's name is Ouyang Zizhen! It's a pleasure to be in your presence!"

Jiang Cheng could tell the man was confused. Despite being the same ice block of a Lan, the man had been slightly surprised by the Ouyang.

It wasn't suprising, most people looked at the second Jade in awe but never truly approached him. His presence always seemed to scare people off. The only people whose ever gotten close to the second Jade was Wei Wuxian and his brother.

He did spend three month fighting by his side while looking for Wei Wuxian but that was because their only common ground was his brother. And it appeared they would be interacting again for that common ground once more.

And from how Zizhen spoke of his adventures with his friends, Hanguan-jun appeared to be someone the quartet was close to. So seeing someone acting so familiar with Lan Wangji and seeing the slight distress on the man's otherwise unemotional face made the gremlin part of him snicker.

"I'll just get straight to point" Jiang Cheng says not risking another awkward silence

"We are building Yumeng Jiang's alliances and strengthening our sect so that when the time comes we'll be able to defend Wei Wuxian. We have reason to believe that there other forces working against him"

Jiang Cheng could clearly see the fire burning in the Lan's eyes. Back then he had always wondered why the Lan was obsessed with his brother. And why his brother was also obsessed with him. After calming down from whatever rage and anger he had he realized the two were in love.

But his brother was to dense to notice and the other sucked at showing emotion. And like all younger siblings, his skin crawled thinking about his older siblings love life. His Shijie being with the peacock was enough, but no, Wei Wuxian also had to go and fall in love.

"Who is against Wei Ying?" Lan Wangji asked. His fists curling tightly which were rested on his lap

"It's Jin Guangshan!" Zizhen spoke up. "And we don't simply believe this but know"

Jiang Cheng noticed how Lan Wangji kept eyeing the younger in suspicion.

"The information we have was shared by this young man and his friends. They had traveled far and by accident and are risking much to help my brother. And we know for a fact that you care more for him contrary to what others know. Is that not the reason why you're here and not your brother?" Jiang Cheng challenged

He wanted confirmation that this guy would do anything for his brother before any thoughts of marriage comes in. Also he was really annoyed, why was all his older siblings getting married.

"It is" Lan Wangji replies firmly

The two men stared each other down with challenge until finally another voice cut in.

"Then Wangji-xiong welcome to the club. You must know that in doing so you will be breaking many of your clans precepts" Nie Huaisang says deviously

"Mn" Wangji simply says then added "only for Wei Ying"

"We need to make sure. Have read the book we gave you, have you learned anything?" Jiang Cheng interrogated

This felt like his was interrogating Jin Zixuan all over again

.......

Wangji nodded but looked at the other three in question.

He read the book and noticed how everything within the book had an uncanny resemblance to his life and his interaction with Wei Ying. The only difference was his beloved was still alive.

And will remain alive!

The man couldn't help but feel that book was nothing but a sick joke, written to poke fun of his feelings. He tried his best to stop the glare that appeared on his face but he couldn't quite bring himself to hold back.

"I did" he gritted out

"Good. Then you should know without interference our paths would have ended like how the book ended"

Jiang Wanyin's words greatly confused Wangji but it peeved him more. Was he saying that Wei Ying, his own brother would die? One of the characters in the book also resembled Jiang Cheng now that he thought about it. A character that infuriated him.

"What do you mean?" The Jiang Sect Leader wasn't making much sense

"Exactly what I had said. If you- if we don't learn from the choices those characters in the book had made, then our paths would have ended that same as theirs"

Wangji was now full on glaring at Jiang Wanyin. Nie Huaisang and Ouyang Zizhen shrank back. Afraid to get in-between the two men.

"I'll spell it for you. The events in this book was meant to be our future. A future that has happened and passed. Without interference we would have never known any of this, we would have followed the same path and Wei Wuxian would die"

"Then what is this interference" Wangji asked.

It was insanity honesty to think their paths would end like those of the characters in the book. But the book had details that only he knew. For example the stolen kiss scene in the book.

His ears had burned red and guilt filled him when the scene reminded him about how he stole a kiss from Wei Ying. He thought of it as a mere coincidence. But what with the things Jiang Wanyin was saying, he couldn't help but feel dread make its home in his heart.

"That would be me!" Zizhen spoke once more "Me and my friends!"

The boy had made him curious. And he believed he would finally know who he truly was

"And apologies Hanguan-jun, I am also the one who wrote the book" the boy apologized

It was due to his upbringing that Wangji's brows did not rise to meet his hair line but his eyes widened slightly in shock nonetheless. He had expected that it was Nie Huaisang that had written that book.

Not the young lad that was unknown to him.

"I'll introduce myself once more. I am Ouyang Zizhen. Sect heir to the Ouyang Clan and I am also from the future"

Lan Wangji gave him his incredulous look

"I knew he wouldn't believe me. Then please read this Hanguan-jun" Zizhen says with a sigh and then passed him a note

Lan Wangji read the note and was glad the boy had given him the note instead of just stating everything to prove who he was. The boy knew about the rabbits he kept. Knew about the Qiankun pouch that kept all the things he received from Wei Ying. And he also knew about the pouch he stolen from Wei Ying among other little stuff that involved Wei Ying.

His ears begun to burn as he looked to the grinning boy

"How?" Was all he asked

"Senior Wei told us!" Zizhen cheered

"Wei Ying?"

"Not your Wei Ying but our Senior Wei!" Zizhen explained "Like I said I'm from the future. And in the future Senior Wei thought us alot of things. Me and my friends. We came here by accident and we couldn't just sit around and watch the things that happened happen again and so we decided to interfere!"

"You would do that for Wei Ying?"

"Of course! Senior Wei had saved us alot but we could never really pay him back because in the future he has you so after coming here we thought we could help this version of him!"

"But the book?" Wangji questioned "Wei Ying-"

"Senior Wei comes back with the use of a sacrificial ritual. That's how we were able to meet Senior Wei!"

Wei Ying dies but comes back. It could be said that fate had mercy on him but the thought of Wei Ying dying tore him apart.

"It took you guys thirteen years to get together. We're trying to cut that shot so please Hanguan-jun go confess to senior Wei soon!" Zizhen begged.

We're together in the future!?. Wangji couldn't bring himself to ask

As though reading his expression Zizhen nodded

"Senior Wei and you are pretty much inseparable in the future. And you guys are always saving us whenever we get into trouble and then punishing us after. You can even test me on the Lan precepts. I've copied them enough times with Lan Jingyi to have memorized them"

"Lan Jignyi?" Lan Wangji questioned once more. This time in shock.

Jingyi was the name of the child that would soon be brought into the main family. His name was a secret since the child was a potential heir to the sect.

"Yes Lan Jingyi!" Zizhen brightened at the mention of his friend "We all came here with two of our other friends"

The facts had begun to pile up and the things had begun to make more sense.

The three, Jiang Wanyin, Nie Huaisang and Ouyang Zizhen told him of their plans and how everything had begun to fall into place.

And the very next day he decided to accompany Zizhen to Yilling.

Zizhen was estatic. He was practically bouncing in his place.

....

Jiang Cheng watched the pair make their way to Yilling and then he turned to Nie Huaisang

"How is it going on your front?" He asked

"Well something happened" Huaisang says but sounded confused

"What happened?" The clan leader asked but wasn't sure if he wanted to know

It had been a few weeks since Huaisang had spoke with Meng Yao. And during that time he had been sowing the seeds of doubt in the man's mind. Sending him small bits of information about his father and watching how the man had begun to distance himself from the Jins.

And also within that time something happened between Meng Yao and his da-ge and the curiosity had been killing him.

He had asked Xichen before sneaking off to Yumeng but he didn't get much of an answer. All he knows was that they tried the method within the book they had given.

It worked!

His brother's mind had cleared and he looked brighter then before. He apologized to Huaisang about hiding the truth and was overall very calm and less angry. He didn't even threaten to break Huaisangs fans or legs when he told him that he didn't want to practice his Saber. It shocked Huaisang greatly that it brought him to tears.

Apparently the method to regulate his energy and prevent his qi deviation was dual cultivation.

Wen Qing had promptly smacked him and Wei Wuxian when their minds went to the gutter and vehemently told that there were other ways to do so.

They didn't tell Jignyi though. That boy got embarrassed over the smallest things. Just a small mercy after the whole Regret of Chushan incident. Jingyi had tattled to Wen Qing about that and the woman threatened him with her needles.

The first time they attempted the treatment it worked. With Mingjue and Meng Yao sitting before each other and channeling their energy through the meridians on their wrist with Xichen supervising and playing clarity.

Mingjue who had imbalanced energy due to his cultivation method needed to get rid of the excess energy that built up. Meng Yao who had a weaker cultivation and less energy could accept it and regulate the energy therefore balancing it out.

Of course he would end up back in square one once he starts cultivating with Baxia again but this had greatly cut down the risk of qi deviation.

They had to wait a couple of days before going at it again because the method had quite an effect on Meng Yao. To put in simple terms, the man had been high after the first round.

The potent energy course through his meridians making him stronger and somewhat drunk on the power. And from what Huaisang heard from Xichen he had let go of his inhibitions and was loose lipped and quite out of it.

When he had calmed down, he dropped like a rock. He was passed out for an entire day and when he woke he was practically glowing. So the two benefited from the method.

But it was the second time that somthing happened. Xichen was called away by his uncle for sect business and believing they could handle themselves, Mingjue and Meng Yao cultivated once more.

Apparently after that some words were shared with no inhibitions keeping things secret, they had a fight, stufff was revealed and Mingjue came back looking terrible confused and shocked with a vicious red hand print on his face.

And Huaisang was now dying to know what happened! He was practically chewing his fan at this!

Also Nie Mingjue seemed to be making it a habit of getting hit in the face by short manipulative gremlins.

Meng Yao would now visibly huff irritable and turn his nose from Nie Mingjue. And would only cultivate when Xichen was there to supervise.

It may have looked bad but compared to when he was usually running away from da-ge when the man was angry, he would now stomp away and Mingjue would follow with a strange expression.

Something along the lines of guilt, confusion and regret. He had questions only Meng Yao had answers to. Answers he could probably discern properly with a clear head now.

It reminded Huaisang of the days when Meng Yao was with the Nies. How Mingjue would seek him out to get his opinions. Huaisang could see those days coming back. Their plan, oddly enough in a way was working.

He just needed to find out what happened!

"It's like they had a lovers spat" Jiang Cheng grimaced

"I also thought the same. But I think it has something to do with the Jin commander that died a while back during the war. The one San-ge was placed under by his father"

"That guy was a sick bastard!" Jiang Cheng scoffed "Excuse me but even though I didn't know him, that guy was much like his sect leader except from what I heard he'd take anyone willing or unwilling. He was known for stealing ideas and credit from other people to. Disgusting low life"

Jiang Cheng spat out not carring if he was disrespecting the dead. The Jin's were filled with people like that. The only good ones shared Madam Jin's blood - though like his own mother she could be cruel - and those loyal to her.

Saying those words left a disgusting taste in his mouth so he took a sip of his tea.

They had gone back inside after sending Zizhen and Wangji off and Huaisang reported what was happening on his front.

"I see" Huaisang says feeling pity for Meng Yao who had been put under the charge of said person

Then the Nie suddenly realised something

"So that's what happened!" Nie Huaisang yelled while slamming his against his table

Jiang Cheng nearly chocked on his tea

"San-ge would never kill a person for no reason! That bastard must have said or tried to do something to him and then Da-ge went ahead and jumped to his own conclusions!"

"That's if something did happen" Jiang Cheng says. Knowing what Huaisang was thinking.

And knowing the character of the dead commander and how Jin GuangYao- Meng Yao was brought up, one could easily imagine what had happened or what had been said.

Meng Yao was probably harassed to point he finally snapped when the man tried to go further.

"Well as a man would you willingly admit that somthing like that happened!?" Huaisang questioned

No. His answer was no.

And so Meng Yao hid behind lies and deceit to keep his pride, bottling everything up and he probably spilled everything to Mingjue after the second time they cultivated.

When he was loose lipped and couldn't think straight. And knowing his his brother, Huaisang was sure he had said some stupid comment which earned him a slap that the man now regreted.

Now Huaisang needed the nitty-gritty details. He was now to invested with this drama. And soon Meng Yao would be on their side!

The plans were finally falling into place!

Chapter Text

Lan Wangji was confused.

But Ouyang Zizhen was estatic!

Wangji had watched the junior and listened to his excited chatter all the way to Yilling.

Normally he would ignore such individuals. In fact most individuals like this avoided him.

But he appreciated the boy's company. And if the words the boy spoke were true then jn the future with Wei Ying by his side, he wouldn't be so lonely, cold or aloof.

Normally he would silence the insistent chattering with the Lan's silencing spell but he decided to let the boy be.

Afterall he was hearing about the adventures of the future Wei Ying. And his Wei Ying at the burial mounds. But it appeared that Zizhen was keeping somethings from him.

"It's a suprise Hanguan-jun! I have to let some things take its course you know!" The boy had said excitedly

Sometimes he would hear something along the lines of "I'm delivering Hanguan-jun to senior Wei!" From the boy before he went of bouncing from excitement.

Wangji would only give him his concerned look, trying to find a way to tell the boy that he was going to tire himself out before they even reached Yilling and he'd be suprised at how the boy understood his message.

He gave another look asking how he understood and Zizhen immediately answered.

"Me and my friends get in trouble alot and you and Senior Wei always scolds us. We're always around Senior Wei and You. Plus your the one usually punishing us. Me and Jingyi mostly. Jin Ling and Sizhui always gets pulled into the mess though!"

"Sizhui?" He asked. The name had struck a cord within him. Mostly because of that book he heard read.

Zizhen grew a sly grin at that and started bouncing excitedly once more

"You have to meet him!" Zizhen cheered "Once you meet him you'll understand!"

"But I'll give you a hint Hanguan-jun. In the book, I wrote that the lord of darkness had a little sun that he left behind that the lord of light takes in as his own.The little sun's name is derived from the book title!"

Wangji did not understand.

And so that's how their Journey went. Zizhen with his never ending chatter, telling all that he knew about his Wei Ying. The time Wei Ying spent with them and at some point the boy got the man to practice confessing

"Hanguan-jun you can't just tell him to come to Gusu with you. You have to put more words and action into your confession. And you should know senior Wei is a free spirit. He'd never want to be locked up!" the boy had whined

"Mn" Wangji replied, knowing the boy had a point

"Senior Wei is really dense to you know. And despite being a genius his memory is a seive"

Wangji could not refute that.

"Mn" he simply said

"So you have to be straight forward and tell him! Jin Ling said that he didn't understand his feelings until Zewu-jun finally snapped at him and told him how you felt for Senior Wei. Poor Jin Ling, he had sit through all that"

"Xiongzhen?" Wangji almost chocked

"Yeah, alot of stuff happened and well, we want to prevent those stuff" the junior explained

It was somewhat comforting to talk - in his own way - to someone else - who was not his brother - that understood his feelings and and fully supported him. Even if it was a child from the future.

After reading the book, he realized many of his short comings. Such as the fact that he never properly relayed his feelings or tell Wei Ying why he wanted to bring him back to Gusu.

Zizhen has no idea how grateful he was to him. Afterall he can't speak of this with his brother, the man has as much relationship experience as he does. Which is nothing!

They finally arrived in Yilling

"Hanguan-jun I'll go get Jingyi and Jin Ling. You can meet them and then we can go meet Senior Wei!" Zizhen told the man before running off

"Mn" Wangji had simply replied

Yilling was somewhat of a dreary place but there was still enough people for it to be a bustling town. Wangji walked around for a bit before he felt something bump into his leg

He looked down and what he saw was a child. Somewhere around the age of the young Lan Jingyi that would be brought into the main family. Three if he guessed the age.

The child looked up to him with his large silver eyes and as if seeing something startling, the little one began to cry.

Wangji panicked. He didn't know how to care for a child! He panicked even more when the child grabbed onto the hems of his robe and started crying louder.

The crying child drew in a crowd and Wangji tried to gently pry his robes from the little one but he held on tightly.

"Aiya, that poor child" the people started to say

"Is that the father?"

"Of course he is. Look at their nose, it looks like they're were carved from the same mold.

"He must be a new dad?"

Hearing this the child started crying for his father

"A-die!" He cried.

"Ya, look at him he won't even pick up the child"

"No- I- I'm not-" Wangji tried but he couldn't get the words out.

"I wonder where's the mom?"

Wangji was getting more distressed by the moment, that was till a booming laugh cut through the gossiping crowd

Wangji looked up and found his eyes could only take in the source of that laugh. The man his heart yearned for and now ached when he saw how thin and pale he was. But he looked better than when he did during the war.

"That's enough, the shows over!" His Wei Ying shooed the crowed away

He noticed the child had also stopped crying and brightened up upon seeing the man

"A-Yuan what did I tell you about hugging people's legs" the man chided as he picked up the little one and propped him up on his hip

"Wei Ying" Lan Wangji simply says. Knowing all to well that the man had been watching him suffer

"Aiya, Lan Zhan fancy seeing you here!" The man says with brilliant smile "what brings you here?"

"A night hunt" he lied. A terrible one honestly.

He then looked at the child in Wei Ying's arms but before he ask another voice cut in. A youth came running.

"Senior Wei! did you find hi- Hanguan-jun!?" The owner of the voice came screeching to halt in front of him

Wangji's eyes instantly zeroed in on the younger man. Specifically the Lan forehead ribbon adorned on his head. Said Lan had froze and looked panicked. His eyes startling identical to the little one on Wei Ying's hip.

Wei Ying also took notice of this and quickly placed a protective hand on the boy's shoulder. Wangji would have been peeved if he didn't already know the boy might the future.

"Sizhui guess who A-Yuan found" he says with a cheeky smile that always made Wangji's heart beat a little faster.

"I- oh" the boy looked between Wei Ying and him before letting his face fall into his hands as he let out a mortified groan

Sizhui . Wangji glanced at the boy once more. He looked nevours when he looked back up.

This one must be another of the time travellers. Zizhen told him this would be a suprise. He didn't know another one would be a Lan.

Not only that but another of the main family. But to his knowledge Jingyi was the only one right now of his age.

"They are?" He decided to ask instead. He knew of Sizhui from Zizhen but he wanted to see what Wei Ying would say

"Oh my A-Yuan and Sizhui?" Wei Ying asked and a sly and mischievous smile found itself on his lips

He held the tolder up closer to his body and and then pulled the older boy closer to him. Suprising the said boy

"I birthed them!" Wei Ying says proudly and Wangji couldn't help but balk

Birthed them!?

Wei Ying couldn't stop the laughter that escaped him from the expression on Wangji's face.

Sizhui on the other hand had grown red and he looked at a lost of words looking back and fort from Wei Ying and Wangji. And then a few more loud laughs could be heard.

They all turned and found three more teenagers. One of them being Zizhen.

"Hanguan-jun's face!" The Lan among the three was laughing the loudest

"Jingyi!" Sizhui scolded.

Wangji looked at him then looked back to his Wei Ying. Then at the child in the his beloved arms. Wangji wanted to huff a laugh. He finally realized what Zizhen meant.

They decided to get some food. Wei Ying introduced the time travelers and they spoke their names

"This is one is Lan Sizhui, Hanguan-jun. This one also apologizes for looking disgraceful in front of you" Sizhui says but Wangji was quick to wave it off. No apology needed

Wei Ying's little sun. Wei Ying and his son.

"This one is Lan Jingyi! It's nice to finally meet you Hanguan-jun!" Lan Jignyi introduced himself excitedly

Wangji was glad to see the tolder he met a few times didn't grow out of his rambunctiouness. It brought a bit more life to the calm cloud recess. He knew without a doubt this one definitely gave his brother and uncle a whole lot of stress.

"This one is Jin Ling. It's a pleasure to meet you Hanguan-jun" the youngest of the travelers introduced himself

A Jin but he carried himself as a Jiang. He could tell because the boy reminded him of Jiang Wanyin. Which meant-

"His my Shijie's son Lan Zhan! But his so much like Chencheng!" Wei Ying faux cried

Zizhen didn't need to introduce himself. But he was once again bouncing with joy. They settled down at a restaurant and waited for their food to arrive. Wei Ying proudly declaring he would pay.

Little A-Yuan was sitting on Wangji's lap playing with the toys that he had bought for the boy. Wangji had won the little one over when he saw him glancing at the paper butterflies and rattle drums. Now little A-Yuan wouldn't leave him alone.

"Rich-gege, rich-gege!" he called

The older A-Yuan who was seated with his friends tried his best to hide his face but Jingyi and Zizhen were merciless

"Rich-Gege" they mimicked and then burst out laughing

"Ya stop teasing my Radishes!" Wei Ying scolded but the boys just laughed and dodged him

"Wei Ying" Wangji says and looks at him

His Wei Ying finally turned to him and gave a cheeky smile

"So Lan Zhan, tell me the truth, why exactly are you here today?" Wei Ying asked

Wangji's ears began to gain colour. In the corner of his eyes Zizhen was motioning for him to go on and Sizhui giving him an encouraging smile.

"Mn. To see Wei Ying" Wangji says truthfully

This made Wei Ying freeze. For once the flirtatious man gained colour. But before the man could say anything the food arrived.

All of it was to Wei Ying's tastes. As for the Juniors and little A-Yuan, they got milder food. Hanguan-jun could see the visible relief on their faces.

Little A-Yuan really enjoyed his meal, gigglingand smiling away.

"Oh you like that, you should thank your rich-gege then" Wei Ying says

Little A-Yuan then turned to Wangji with a bright smile.

"Thank You rich-gege" Wangji lips quirked. Nearly smiling

"Mn" he says then adds softly "no talking during meal time"

A-Yuan looked at him with wide eyes and then nodded determinedly and finished his meal in silence

"Aiya, look at this, he's already being unfilial. When I tell him something to do he doesn't listen but when you say something he listens. Isn't that right Sizhui?" the man called over his shoulders

Sizhui says nothing and continues to eat his food

The Lans ate in silence while the non Lan's chattered.

"Why aren't you boy's watching the shop?"

"We're taking a break! We can't be running the shop every single day we need a break to!" Jin Ling scoffed at his uncle and then turned away

"Aiya, Lan Zhan do you see what I have to deal with?" He turned back to him

"Mn" Lan Wangji was glad to see the man. Then with all the courage he could muster and before he could think otherwise he spoke "I want to help Wei Ying"

It was done. He had said what he felt. It wasn't a confession but he said what he wanted to say.

There was a moment of silence before a sad smile graced his beloved's lips

"You don't have to do that Lan Zhan. I can handle myself"

Wangji felt conflicted at that but that feeling was short lived when the man before him continued with his words

"Is what I would say but my Nephew looks like he wants to strangle me"

And indeed the young Jin looked red in the face and was held back by Jingyi.

"Hanguan-jun don't listen to that idiot!" Jing Ling spat

Like uncle like Nephew, Wangji thought.

"He doesn't know what's good for him so please don't take his words to heart. He is as dense as my Juijui is stubborn!"

Wangji found himself agreeing with that assessment.

"Mn" The man agreed

"Traitors all of you! Now my ducklings and Lan Zhan are ganging up on me!" Wei Ying cried out dramatically

But his dramatics was cut shot when he pulled out a talisman. It burned and disappeared. The Juniors looked as confused as he did but then Wei Ying got up in a hurry

"I'm sorry I have to go!" He shouts

He picks up A-Yuan and rushed out and then

A second passed as they all sat in confusion when Sizhui realized.

"Ning-shushu!" Sizhui almost shouts. Immediately all the Juniors stood attention and rushed out.

Jin Ling back tracked remembering to pay but Wangji beat him to it.

They caught up to Wei Ying then called out to him as they got on their swords to fly up the mountain after they were out of sight from the prying eyes of the town.

"Senior Wei we'll go first!" Sizhui called out.

The Juniors were fast. Their demeanor had changed greatly.

"Boys!?" Wei Ying called out worried

Wangji could see the tension and worry in his eyes and acted immediately. He grabbed him by the waist and dragged him onto Bichen.

They reached the burial mounds and found that Wen Qionglin had escaped his confines. Wen Qing stood up unsteady further away as though she had been moved there and the four Juniors were surrounding the firece corpse.

They moved as one, containing the undead man. Then they got in position and stabbed their swords into the ground. An array activated and it appeared to be a force field containing the Wen.

Wangji and Wei Ying stood amazed for a moment before quickly acting.

Wen Qionglin fought against the barriers. The Juniors struggled to contain him.

"I knew it! Senior Wen had been going easy on us this whole time!" Jingyi yelled out in a struggle.

Wei Ying tossed A-Yuan to Wen Qing and pulled out his dizi. Wangji brought his out Guqin and together they played to suppress the rampage. Wangji followed Wei Ying's lead and it looked like their combined force was working.

With one last struggle Wen Qionglin broke through the barrier sending the Juniors flying back and the Wen nearly hitting Wei Ying but Wangji managed to pull him aside. The barrier the junior's erected had greatly minimized the damage.

Wangji held Wei Ying in his arms protectively.

He heard the Juniors grunt, all four accounted for.

The Wen had dropped to his knees all fight lost. His movements now slow and confused. The man was back. Wei Ying had done the impossible once more.

Wen Qing dropped to her knees in front of her brother

"A-Ning" she asked

"Jiejie?" Wen Ning spoke

And with his voice a dam of relief was broken. Wei Ying sagged in Wangji's arms, nearly in tears. Jingyi and Zizhen were already crying.

Wen Qing couldn't believe it. She finally let out all of her emotions as she held her younger brother close and sobbed onto his shoulders.

She had her beloved baby brother back!

.....

"We did it!" Jingyi cheered "Senior Wen it's nice to finally meet you!"

Wangji watched as the Juniors swarmed the man

Wen Qionglin was utterly confused.

A sentiment he understood

"Those boys were amazing! Don't you think so, Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying says from beside him

"Mn" Wangji agreed

And then once more that day he felt something collide with his leg and attach it self there

"Rich-gege, rich-gege are you going stay!?" Little A-Yuan asked excitedly

Only the heavens knew how much Wangji wanted to stay

"Now, now, A-Yuan. Rich-gege is a busy man"

"He can stay for dinner!" A wild Zizhen appeared

"He can stay forever!" A wild Jingyi added

"Boys!" Wei Ying scolded. Hands on his hips as he did.

Jingyi and Zizhen ran away with a laugh

"Rich-gege?" Little A-Yuan asks once more

"Are you so attached to him now because he bought you toys and let you call him A-die?" Wei Ying asked

"But rich-gege" A-Yuan whines

"If rich-gege is your A-die then what am I. I have to be someone greater than an A-die now"

A-Yuan looked to be in thought for a bit before he finally found his answer

"A-niang!" The tolder cheered

Wei Ying was shocked. Almost speechless.

"Ya A-Yuan how can I be a mom! Do I look like one to you?" Wei Ying asked in disbelief

"Didn't you birth him?" One Jin Ling appeared, scaring the life out of Wei Ying

"Ahh!" The man shrieked in suprise "Jin Ling!"

The boy simply scoffed and walked away with a hair flip, Wei Ying fashion.

"I feel like I just got my attitude thrown back in my face" Wei Ying mused dejectedly.

It seems Jin Ling also took after him.

All this happened and was witnessed by one Sizhui who wanted to dig a hole and bury himself in it. Muttering something along the lines of 'I really thought baba was joking! How can I face Hanguan-jun now!'

Gone was the capable looking quartet and back was the disaster ducklings.

"Xian-gege is A-niang!" A-Yuan cheered but then he suddenly yawned. It was quite an eventful day. Wei Ying picked him and up and held him close.

"Lan Zhan can you believe this, all these kids a ganging up on me!"

"Mn" The man simply replied

Wangji could only smile at his dramatics. He also found the sight before his eyes was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

Wei Ying and the little A-Yuan.

The smile shocked Wei Ying so much that he was speechless as he flushed. Wangji liked the way his face looked at that.

"Aiya, Lan Zhan you have to warn me before you make a face like that!"

Wei Ying tried to turn away, he tried to look any where but the man lest his face would heat up once more.

"Wei Ying" Wangji says gaining the other man's attention "I wish to stay to help"

Wei Ying couldn't help but feel his heart become full at those words. But he couldn't allow it. He didn't want to drag this man down with him.

"Let's take a walk Lan Zhan"

And so they took a walk to speak in private. Little A-Yuan had fallen asleep in Wei Ying's arms so he simply brought him along.

"Lan Zhan" Wei Ying began "You really don't have to get involved in all of this" he tries

He remembered what the boys had said. How their Hanguan-jun had gone against his clan and was severely punished. Wei Ying couldn't let that happen.

"I am here because I want to be here" Wangji says softly. Almost sounding like he was begging

"If you stay with me, go down this dark and narrow path with me you'll only get hurt Lan Zhan" Wei Ying was now begging. He turned his eyes away, somewhat afraid to look at the Lan in the eyes

"If Wei Ying gets hurt, then I also" the man says. His large calloused hand nevoursly raised to his beloved cheek and caressed it. Gently making him look up to meet his eyes.

And in those golden eyes Wei Ying saw anguish and yearning. It was then it finally clicked for the man.

Wei Ying leaned into Wangji's hand

"Lan Zhan what exactly was the reason why you wanted to bring me back to cloud recess?"

"I-" Wangji didn't know where to begin with that. Thanks to Zizhen he realised his approach was absolutely horrid. His ears began to change colour just thinking about it

"Wanted to bring Wei Ying back to hide him. To protect Wei Ying"

Wangji looked down. His hand still gently holding his beloved face when the said man started laughing

"So this whole time, that was the reason?" Wei Ying asked "I thought you wanted to bring me back to punish me"

The man's silver eyes bore into gold. Those same gold eyes had taken a look of apprehension at the mention of punishment

"Never!" Wangji says adamantly

"But you should also know I'm a free spirit Lan Zhan! You can't just keep me caged!" Wei Ying says with a pout

"Mn. I understand" Lan Wangji thanked the gods for Zizhen. The boy had told him that straight to his face.

"I want to be by Wei Ying's side then. I'll go where Wei Ying goes" the man confessed

And once again he rendered Wei Ying speechless

"As friends?" The man meekly asked. Gone was his shamelessness and mischief

"No" Wangji replied gruffly

The boys said it took them nearly two decades to get together. He was cutting that time short right now. Wei Ying didn't have time to react before Wangji was pulling him in.

Careful not disturb the sleeping child in the slighter man's arms, he kissed the man for the second time in his life. His heart was pounding. He wanted to ravage the man like before but he held back.

Wei Ying was shocked by his actions. But his heart felt light. It was filled with joy as his eyes fluttered shut and he lost himself in the moment. Knees feeling weak but he remembered he was holding precious cargo and leaned into the man, said man noticing and wrapping an arm around his waist deepening the kiss and holding up their weight.

When they broke apart, Wangji turned away. Now it was not only his ears burning red but his neck as well. His cheeks was slightly dusted with a pink blush.

Wei Ying was full on flustered but he was grinning and looking up to the man in white

"Not as friends" Wangji says. Finally confessing "I love Wei Ying"

"I love you to Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying finally cried out. It took so long to understand his own feeling and now they were bursting out

Wangji's heart almost stopped out of sheer joy

"I don't know for how long, but I think I may have been in love with you. I can't take my eyes off you whenever we're in the same room, and your all I always think about"

Wei Ying couldn't stop the words from spilling out his mouth. He felt as though if he would explode if he did not say these words

"You're really great. I like you or in other words I fancy you, I want you, I can't leave you, I whatever you!"

"I want to sleep with you everyday" Wangji nearly choked at those words. But he figured Wei Ying didn't really know what he was saying and just wanted to say everything he felt

"I want to go night hunting with you forever, I really want to just be with you for the rest of my life-"

Wangji silenced him again with a kiss before the man ran out of breath or woke the little one in his arms

"Like you" He says after releasing his beloved. His heart full and warm.

His world feeling whole

"Yes" Wei Ying replies. Tears welling up in his eyes

"Fancy you"

Wei Ying simply moved close and let the arms of the man he loved encircle him and hold him

"Love you, want you"

"Yes" Wei Ying cried onto the man's shoulder.

"Cannot leave you... do not want anyone but you... it cannot be anyone but you. Love Wei Ying" the man says softly

"I love you to Lan Zhan and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being such a mess and pushing you away" Wei Ying sobbed into the Lan's robes

"Mn. There is no need for apologies or Thank yous between us. Love Wei Ying no matter what"

Wangji was determined to say it as many times as he could. To show that he loved his beloved.

They stood together in silence. Enjoying each other's comfort when a small tiny laugh was heard. The two man looked down and found that little A-Yuan was having a pleasant dream. A little smile on his face. The two men smiled fondly at the child.

"So is rich-gege going to stay?" Wei Ying finally built up the courage to tease

"Mn. Forever and always will stay by Wei Ying's side" Then he looked to the little one "by both your sides"

If it was possible to fall deeper in love then that was exactly how Wei Ying felt. He then let out a laugh at their situation

"We just confessed, now we're forming our own little family" he laughed

"Mn" Wangji says

And then

"Hmm, it's awfully quiet don't you think?" Wei Ying suddenly asks

It took a moment for Wangji to realize what he meant. Where were those nosy Juniors?

Wangji wanted to huff a laugh at this. Part of him half expected for a wild Jingyi and Zizhen to appear, screaming their hearts out.

They returned to the top of the mountain and found a celebration was taking place. The Wens were together and laughing, celebrating their hard work, Wen Qionglin's return and-

"Everyone look!" Jingyi yelled

Everyone turned and when they saw Wei Ying, Wangji and little A-Yuan, there was a second of silence before they all zeroed in on the intertwined hands of the Lan and Wei. They cheered out loud at this!

Some of the women - Wen Qing included - were crying tears of of joy. They all read the book. Zizhen was full on bawling his eyes out.

Granny Wen came forward but instead of taking little A-Yuan. She held the intertwined hands and looked up into the men's eyes. Giving a silent but heartfelt thanks. She new her grandson would be in good hands when her time was finally up.

She bowed deeply to them. Then Wangji bowed to her with greater respect, for both him and Wei Ying. The little one still in his arms.

She then led them to the celebration

"So this is where you boy's were. I was half expecting you guys to jump us after we confessed" Wei Ying chided

There was no need to hide it. Especially from those that knew this would eventually happen

"What no, gross!" Jin Ling spat out "we've already witnessed and have been traumatized by your public displays of affection by your counterparts, we don't need to see more!"

Wie Ying and Wangji blushed. Completely flustered.

"Indeed, Senior Wei can be really shameless" Sizhui says with a smile

"Ya!" Wei Ying yelled "Sizhui are you also teasing me now!?"

"Mn" Sizhui says. Very reminiscent to Wangji

Wei Ying balked at that

"You- you- you take way to much after your A-die! How could you treat me like this!?"

Sizhui then gave a smile this time, it was very reminiscent to Wei Ying

The boy also took after his A-niang. Wangji couldn't stop himself from reaching up and patting the boys head.

Wei Ying his beloved, smiled at him.

And he promised himself he would protect that smile even if it cost him his life.

Chapter Text

It had been a month since Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian finally got together. And a whole month since the two got engaged. A little one was already there, so it was gonna be a shotgun marriage. And so a whole month since they finally got another sect leader involved

And Lan Xichen was stressed.

When Lan Wangji returned to cloud recess, he went back with one missing garment. His forehead ribbon. Thankfully Lan Qiren was not there to witness that.

It was Xichen who found him with the missing head piece. The man had literally froze in place. His face freezing with a suprised smile, his brows nearly reaching his hair line

"Xiongzhen I am engaged and I have decided to take in a son" Lan Wangji had stated and Lan Xichen nearly fainted

A son!? He understood the engagement but where did the son come from!?

And finally he had an audience with Sect Leader Jiang

"Perhaps some tea to calm the mind" he offered the older Lan

"Thank You sect leader Jiang" Xichen says and accepts the given cup

"Wanyin" Jiang Cheng says

"Excuse me?" Xichen says caught of guard

"Since we are becoming family. You can call me Wanyin" the man says. His tone serious but Xichen couldn't help but look at him in suprise.

Sect leader Jiang- Wanyin noticed his shock and looked at him in question.

"Apologies, you took me by surprise" Xichen says.

He has been taken by suprsie alot lately.

His little brother was engaged, no doubt with young master Wei. And his little brother was now colluding with the Jiang sect to help young master Wei and the reason for the audience right now was to form an alliance.

Xichen feels like there were more suprises yet to happen but for now he decided all this was enough. Anymore and he might qi deviate.

"Then please just call me Xichen as well" Xichen says with a smile

He looked at the younger man and smiled. He always found the younger sect leader admirable, despite all the rage and stubbornness. If anything Jiang Cheng was actually a mini Nie Mingjue but the difference was that Wanyin would get flustered easily and he couldn't help but find the thought adorable.

He kept that sentiment to himself. He didn't want to risk being the target of the man's rage.

"It's quite a suprise. I didn't expect you to be so open to the idea of Wangji and master Wei" Xichen states

"I'm not, I'm revolted by it" Wanyin says, deadpan. But there was no real heat behind it.

"Yes, just as you a by maiden Jiang's and young master Jin's engagement" Xichen says with a smile testing the man

"Exactly- wait" Wanyin glared at the man

Xichen huffed out a laugh at that. Wanyin was the typical younger sibling, getting annoyed at all his older siblings leaving him for their partners

Xichen would always have a soft spot for younger siblings.

"Since we are to be family, may I know exactly what is going on?" He finally decided to get down to business

Wanyin shared the sentiment

"To cut it short, Jin Guangshan is lying to everyone"

Xichen refrained from making any comments. He hoped nothing would be said about A-Yao though. He knew how much his sworn brother wished for the man's acknowledgement and was afraid he might be involved in whatever that's happening.

"He lied about the Wens at the labor camps and he lied about my brother and he still continues to spread false tales to isolate Wei Wuxian. You have seen the state my brother and those he saved are in right now, have you?" Wanyin asks

Yes he did.

Guilt churned within his gut when Wangji had brought him to the burial mounds to see for himself the so called Wen army that young master Wei was amassing.

There were nothing but the old, women and a child. A child young master Wei and Wangji intended to adopt.

The only notable Cultivators or fighters there were Young master Wei, Wen Qing, now sentient fierce corpse Wen Ning and a teenager. Too little to be an army. The teenager had froze upon seeing him but when he looked to Wangji, it appeared they had a silent conversation.

The teenager greeted him and then showed him the way but he did not state his name. The boy reminded him of his little brother. And from the way Wangji treated him, Xichen knew the boy was someone he could trust. So he did not question why the boy had a Lan ribbon. One that was of the main family.

"Since many of the minor clans and major clans are still recovering from the war, none of us gave a thought about the surviving Wens" Wanyin continued "but my stupid brother decided to play hero and has now placed himself in a precarious position"

"Jin Guangshan's goal is the Stygian iron amulet. He wishes for power and will use anyone to gain it"

Anyone. Wanyin emphasized. It was a warning.

"What makes you believe so?" Xichen asks but he didn't really need an answer to that. He wanted to know how Wanyin knew all this.

It was as clear as day how the Jin Sect Leader wanted the weapon. Bringing it up every chance he got. Bringing others to his side with lies and deceit, driving his brother's beloved into a corner.

"Because that's just how it is" Wanyin states "We have been given this information by a few trustworthy allies in this fight. They're risking much and stand to gain nothing from this and so for our goal to succeed we need your trust in this"

Trustworthy allies? Xichen thought. He wondered who could possibly bring the Jiang Sect leader, his younger brother and young master Wei to work together.

The last he knew of what was happening between the three was Wanyin being mad at young master Wei. Said young master was ignoring Wangji causing his younger brother to have much heartache and said younger brother despising Wanyin for banishing their beloved.

But to his shock all this is happening. Wanyin and Wangji were on tolerable terms and Wangji and young master Wei are engaged and have taken in a son!

What kind of force was able to do that!? He didn't know but he honestly thanked the gods, heaven and earth for it.

"You must understand, we intend to keep their identities a secret lest we risk their safety"

"I understand" part of him wanted to pry more information but decided not to.

His younger brother trusted these allies, so he'll trust his brother.

"But may I at least know a thing about these allies?" Xichen tried. He wanted to see if they would trully trust him with their secrets

"Children" Wanyin stated "Idiotic, careless, naive children that take after their senior a bit to much"

This only left Xichen with more questions.

Then came the marriage talk

"The idiot will marry into your clan" the younger sect leader stated

"I understand. It is for his treatment?"

"Yes. Wei Wuxian may have control over resentment but we don't know for sure the true effects it has on his body. He often runs away from Wen Qing and so she couldn't give me a proper answer"

Xichen is suprised by this.

"You are in contact with maiden Wen?" He questioned

"We have managed to establish a form of communication. As childish as it is it works and doesn't draw suspicion" Wanyin's appeared to have a slight mortified blush.

Xichen remembered being shown a few notes that his brother had. Apparently his brother was also taking part in their form of communication. And the senders of the notes all had funny names

Headshaker - Xichen was yet to know who this was

Lord of Light - Xichen had quite literally laughed at this. He found it funny how Wangji decided to use the name of the character in the book.

Needles - Xichen now figured this was Wen Qing

Angry Grape - Xichen snorted

Wanyin shot him a look.

"Apologies" Xichen apologized "but I must admit those little notes oddly enough, are very effective"

Angry Grape. Xichen will no longer be able to see the Jiang sect leader as anything else now.

He could see Wanyin fight the urge to to glare at him and a slight dusting of pink was on his cheeks. Wanyin knew exactly what he was thinking. The look on the younger man's face made him want to tease him more.

How they sent the notes? Xichen was suprised to learn that they would pen the notes to the author of the book 'Yearning For But Cannot Chase After You' and then the author would distribute the notes to its destined recipients.

Nobody knew who the author was. Well he figured he wouldn't be kept in the dark for long though

"However if we announce the engagement of our brothers so soon won't that cause the others to become suspicious?" Xichen decided to stress

"That's why I decided that before we announce their engagement which will surely cause an uproar later, it would be best if we forged a friendly alliance first. Not as sects but as the head of our respective sects first"

To become friends or to strengthen old ties first. If the leaders are on good terms first then the followers are sure to follow.

"But according to you character-" Xichen nevoursly began

"It would look strange if I asked for a friendship alliance" Wanyin says as he calmly drank his tea.

According to Wanyin's character, he would never attempt to suck up to other major sects. Forgive his language. So it would be very suspicious if the Lan and Jiang form a friendship alliance out of the blue.

"That's why I organized a night hunt. According to your Lan precepts you are not allowed to part take in gossips and rumors. So I believe you have not heard of any strange tales about a ghost guardian?" Wanyin asked

This intrigued Xichen

"A ghost guardian?"

"Witnesses say its a fierce corpse but instead of attacking it helps those in in need" Wanyin says "And no, my idiot brother has no idea what it could be"

Xichen was just about to ask if it was the so called Ghost General that was Wen Qionglin, birth name Wen Ning.

"Wen Ning gained sentience a month ago. This so called Ghost Guardian has been around for a month longer"

Wanyin then pulled out a scroll and on it was a painted image

"One of the Witnesses who was saved by the Ghost Guardian painted this"

The image depicted what looked like a young man. His face hidden by a bamboo hat. He wore dark robes and carried chains wrapped around his arms.

"He first appeared somewhere in Yumeng, but with several more recounts from others it had saved, we learnt that it was heading to Gusu"

This was concerning on many different levels. What could be this fierce corpse's intention? Where did it come from and why was it heading to Gusu? But why was it not acting like an ordinary fierce corpse?

"Why does it save people?" He asked

Wanyin looked to be in thought then shook his head

"I'm not sure. Rumors are speculating that it was a Cultivator and that the corpse was looking for someone. It moved with to much agility and it appeared to be capable of thought"

"Are you saying that it could be a sentient fierce corpse. But you just said young master Wen just gained sentience. How can there be one before him without the aid of young master Wei?"

This was a serious matter. Not only that but if the Jiang clan already heard of the rumors then so did the other clans

"That's what I intend to find out. I decided to also use this as an opportunity to create the friendship alliance only after we night hunt for this Ghost Guardian together"

Since the Ghost Guardian appeared in Yumeng, then it was the Jiang's responsibility. But since it was heading to Gusu, then it would only make sense for the Lan to get involved. And since it was suspected to have sentience, it can be seen as enough of a threat for two sect leaders to hunt it down.

"A very well thought plan Wanyin" Xichen praised.

Wanyin appeared to not expect those words and wasn't able to stop the blush as he was suprised. Xichen was going to like this friendship alliance.

....

They made their way to where the ghost guardian was sighted. The moon lighting their path with a cloudless night sky.

The people had begun to sing praises about it. Calling it the guardian that lurks in the darkness, that protects the weak from evil.

"It would be nice if all these rumors about the Ghost Guardian was true" Xichen says "there is much strife in this world. To have a being that protects the weak and seek no recognition for its deeds feels like a blessing"

Wanyin didn't reply but shared the sentiment

Xichen was very curious about who or what this Ghost Guardian was. They rode their swords to the general area. It was a dark forest far from any common path ways.

It seemed as though the ghost guardian had a habit of keeping to himself. Avoiding any and all signs of life until he senses danger

"We best keep an eyes out for other things. There were reports of dangerous Yaos in the area" Wanyin warned

Xichen took heed and walked alongside the younger man.

"Have you asked young master Wei about this?"

"Hm... he says that it's a possibility that the fierce corpse has sentience. How it gained it is the question. It's important that we find it first before other clans decide to pursue it. Especially the Jin clan"

"I'm sure A-Yao- Lianfen-zun would have said something to me if he heard of this" Xichen defended his sworn brother's sect

He got a side eye from Wanyin at that

"About Jin GuangYao" Wanyin began. He sounded like he was holding back a scowl when he said the name "We're trying make him turn away from his father"

They walked through the dark forest and when Wanyin confessed those words, it froze Xichen at where he stood.

"Excuse me?" Xichen asks baffled

He knew how much A-Yao wanted to be acknowledged by his father and Wanyin and his group - his brother included - were trying to turn A-Yao against his father.

"Lianfen-zun has worked hard to get to where he is, to be acknowledged by his father" Xichen began

"But the father in question is a derelict bastard" Wanyin cut him off "Lianfen-zun would be better off without the bastard's acknowledgement. Forgive my language Zewu-jun"

Xichen was confused and concerned.

"I don't mind and please call me Xichen. I understand many share the same sentiment you have about sect leader Jin" he himself included "but I don't understand why you would involve Lianfen-zun in this"

"That's because one of our allies asked us to save him" Wanyin simply says. Though it sounded like he wanted to do the opposite. He looks around scanning the area, listening for any signs of life.

"Save him?" Xichen was now panicked "Save him from what!?"

"Himself apparently" Wanyin replied curtly

"For the approval and acknowledgement of that bastard he'd do anything. And knowing the current sect leader, none of the choices he would make would be good"

Xichen understood that. But he couldn't help but feel his heart broken for his sworn brother. All that effort only to be wasted. Truthfully he to wanted the man to get away from the sect leader but he didn't want to pry in other's business.

"Then is it okay to assume you have a plan for this?" Xichen asks

"Oh the plan is already in motion" Wanyin says nonchalantly, shocking the Lan

They have already begun!? When?

"I'm sure you've noticed by now. Lianfen-zun has distanced himself from the Jin's"

It was gossip that he had overheard - his rules be damned right now - and he was worried for his youngest sworn brother. But he had seen it. A-Yao was spending more time in Qinghe than Lanling Jin. And-

"Are you lot also responsible for whats going on between A-Yao and Da-ge!?" Xichen asks alarmed. Dropping all formality.

Some thing happened between the two, and it appears that they have gotten closer again - at the cost of A-Yao being the angry one this time - but he doesn't know what happened and he wants to know what happened and it's killing him and Huaisang!

"Shush!" Wanyin shushed him

"I beg your finest pardon!" Xichen balked at him.

He was just shushed. Nobody has ever shushed him in his life!

"Shush!" The younger sect leader did it again "do you hear that?" He questioned

Xichen listened but he couldn't here anything. This was alarming enough as he reached for shouye. The forest was quiet. To quiet.

No owls, no crickets.

Nothing.

It was dead silent...

Wanyin and Xichen stood back to back. Something was here. Within the next moment the thing struck. Xichen blocked the attack with shouye throwing it back.

Zidian sparking to life, the sect Leaders moved in synch. Wanyin moved in for the attack and Xichen protecting his back. Zidian struck down on the attacker and what they found, illuminated by the bright moon light was a Boar Yao.

A large beast with tusks that could skewer a man. It was as tall as a man and as wide as a carriage.

"Ahhh fuck" Wanyin cursed and Xichen shared the sentiment.

It would take more then the two of them to take that thing down. They weren't Nie Mingjue!

The beast charged, Wanyin tried to redirect the beast's onslaught with a strike from the whip. It worked, the sect leaders were able to dodge the beast but now it was angrier and it came back with vengeance.

Xichen grabbed Wanyin by the waist and maneuvered them quickly and swiftly away from the beast dodging all its attacks. The movement made easier because of no protests.

But now that they were here and found the beast, they couldn't just leave it alone and let it be a threat to travellers. They needed to take it down.

Xichen who was faster, spun the both of them around once more, narrowly avoiding getting crushed by the beast. Instead it had smashed its head onto a boulder. Angered it turned and faced the pair.

It's screeching was ear piercing and unholy.

Wanyin charged. The beast racing forward to meet him but the man was swift and launched to the side, Zidian igniting with with the power of a storm as it wrapped around a leg. Wanyin pulled, tripping the beast into the path of Xichen's piercing sword.

Shouye cut deep but it wasn't enough to take the beast down. The yao cried out in pain and outrage. It took hold of zidian with its mouth and threw its head back. Pulling in and tossing the Jiang Sect Leader

"Wanyin!" Xichen called out in alarm

Wanyin cursed and landed roughly on the ground. The man cursed his luck. The beast was turning its attention to him. Xichen couldn't let that happen.

The Lan stabbed at the beast. The Yao turned to face him but he was fast and left its sight. He rushed to Wanyin's side and was glad to find the man only bruised. But not for long.

"Xichen!" Wanyin cried and threw himself at the older man.

The beast had charged at them again. They dodged the fatal attack but Wanyin's back was grazed by its tusk. That damn thing was fast and annoyingly agile for its damn size and too strong to take down without a plan.

"Wanyin!" Xichen cried out once more. Now even more alarmed when blood stained his white robes.

The man tried to stand but the he felt paralyzed. Perhaps it was the Yao's ability or some type of curse obtained from it. Xichen wasn't going to let the younger man get hurt again.

When in danger, propriety is thrown out the window. A hand on the younger sect Leader's lower back and another under his knees, Xichen picks him up as though he weighed as much as a feather.

A startled yelp escaped the younger man but before he could even voice a protest, they were already running. Xichen dodged the attacks as best he could. The beast crying out in madness as he did. But the beast was too fast and too strong.

It rammed into Xichen, throwing him and Wanyin to the ground. Xichen did his best to take the brunt of the fall but before they knew it the boar yao was upon them. Xichen threw himself onto Wanyin, protecting him with his body and awaiting for the blow but nothing came.

The sound of chains clanking against each other came along with the common enraged groaning of a fierce corpse.

The pair of sects looked up and they saw him.

Draped in dark but fine robes, with chains wrapped around his arms and a bamboo hat obscuring his face was the ghost guardian. And true to the rumors, he appeared when there was danger. It held the beast back by its tusks.

It let our hoarse cry of rage and threw the boar yao back. It's strength far greater than that of a man. It then launched itself after the beast. With its full weight and force it slammed into the beast. It swung blow after blow. One hit would have turned a man to paste.

The sect leaders watched in amazement. Stunned by the brutality.

The boar yao shrieked in pain and threw the fierce corpse back. The ghost guardian went crashing through the foliage. The beast attempted to escape but it was incapable.

Heavy chains struck down on the beast, bludgeoning its sides. It cried out in pain but it's cries were cut short as the chains wrapped around its neck. The ghost guardian had once more found itself on the beast's back and with strength that could crush boulders, strangled the Yao until it was no more.

When it was sure the beast was dead, the ghost guardian stood up.

Still unsure whether it was friend or foe, Xichen stood in front of the still paralyzed Wanyin. Sword in hand and ready to defend. Even though he was injured and drained and with how beaten up they were and the display of power from the ghost guardian, they knew for sure they wouldn't stand a chance if the fierce corpse was a foe.

Xichen's grip on Shouye tightened as he gritted his teeth in anticipation.

"Zewu-jun! Sect Leader Jiang! Are you both okay?" A hoarse and croaked voice came from the ghost guardian as it worriedly made his way to them.

He can talk!?

Xichen was shocked to a standstill and so was Wanyin

The ghost guardian stopped and stood in the moon light and raised his head. His face now visible to their eyes

"You!?" Jiang Cheng roared in outrage and question

Xichen was still confused and shocked

The ghost guardian simply tilted his head in confusion and gave a nervous laugh.

The ghost Guardian was none other than Wen Qionglin - Wen Ning.

Two months!

For two months Wen Ning had been lost in a familiar yet different world.

He was watching over the junior quartet when they had suddenly disappeared with a burst of light. The undead man panicked and ran to young master Wei.

This caused young master Wei to panic as well as they looked for whatever had caused the boys to disappear. After a few days of nothing, they went back to the scene. As Young master Wei tried to trace and find any and whatever energy in the area where they had disappeared, he had gone to look for clues in the mad geniuse's work shop.

That's when he noticed a glowing talisman. Against better judgment he picked it up and just like how the Juniors had disappeared, he to was gone with a flash of light.

And thats how he ended up here. Wondering aimlessly in a world that hated the Yilling Patriach with what appeared to be a renewed vigor.

He was greatly confused and he felt truly alone in the world. But he figured if he was here then perhaps the boys were here as well so he made it his goal to look for them.

He decided to go to cloud recess first. But after spending a few days in the world he discovered something that greatly frightened him.

This was the past.

The past in which Young master Wei was prosecuted and the hatred for the Wen's was at its highest. He decided to lay low, and collect as much information as he could.

As he did that he somehow unintentionally gained a reputation. He never could really avoid someone when they needed help and so he had rescued a couple of people - alot actually - here and there. He remembered that this was a time when the world was greatly unbalanced. With the loss of one of the great sects and many of its Cultivators, the number of Yao and other malevolent beings had risen.

He managed to procure a bamboo hat to hide his face and had been going about searching for the Juniors. But instead he found the past version of sect leader Jiang and Zewu-jun. And to his shock, sect leader Jiang didn't attack him the moment he saw him.

Maybe due to the paralysis, but he wasn't attacking him with words. Like his past self should be!

He even let him treat them. Both him and Zewu-jun. They had rented a room at an inn. Zewu-jun carrying the injured and still paralyzed Sandu Senchou to their allocated room. Wen Ning managing to blend in and not draw suspicion.

He was just finishing wrapping up sect leader Jiang's wounds as he gave his assessment on the injuries.

"The wound isn't deep and it should heal in a few days. A salve should be applied regularly to ease the pain. The paralysis should wear off now that the Yao is dead and a day or two of bed rest would be required for the healing" he reported to sect leader Jiang

He then turned to Zewu-jun who gave an odd yet pleasant smile as he got to work with him. He could feel sect Leader Jiang's eyes boring into the back of his skull.

"Zewu-jun should only experience a bit of bruising. You didn't sustain any severe injuries but it would be recommended to rest as well and apply a salve to were it might hurt"

"Thank you young master Wen" Zewu-jun thanked.

Wen Ning was quickly flustered at that. The man shook his head and tried to tell the Lan Sect Leader that he didn't need the thanks.

And it felt kinda awkward to be called a young master when he was now technically older then them. Even though he had not aged a day since his death. He then turned back to the Jiang sect leader. Knowing the man may have questions.

Wen Ning watched as sect leader Jiang studied him before he finally spoke

"Why aren't you at the burial mounds!? Why did you leave that idiot alone!" If he wasn't paralyzed right now, Wen Ning was sure he would have marched up to him and pulled him up by the front of his robes.

"I- I... um... actually I didn't leave young master Wei o-on purpose" Wen Ning began while looking nevoursly down on his lap

He didn't know how to explain he wasn't from this time.

"I'm ac-actually looking for a few people. The-they're four teenagers and-"

"You're from the future!?" Sect Leader Jiang exclaimed

"The future!?" Zewu-jun asked confused and alarmed

But Wen Ning was elated

"Yes!" He says happily but then with a tilt of his and an expression of confusion he asked "how did you know?"

How did sect leader Jiang?...

"Did you meet the children?" Wen Ning asked nevoursly

"Yes they came barging into our lives and turned the world upside down!" Sect Leader Jiang scoffed "But how the hell did you get here?"

"Oh um..." Wen Ning nevoursly looked away before explaining

Movement had finally come back to the sect leader. Wen Ning watched him rub his temples in exasperation

"If I ever get the chance to meet that Wei Wuxian I'm going to smack him so hard into the next month!"

That would not be possible, thought Wen Ning but he didn't voice his thoughts. He didn't want to make the sect leader angrier.

"Wait, you have been here for about two months?" sect leader Jiang asked

Wen Ning nodded

"If you discovered you were in the past why didnt you go to the burial mounds?"

Wen Ning lowered his head at that. It had been sometime since he figured he was in the past and his first thought was to go to young master Wei for help. But then he remembered it was the past. Which meant they were all alive. His sister was-

He was to afraid to go see them. Too afraid he might destroy everything again. Perhaps he was easy to read. He heard the sect leader sigh, which caused him to look up at the man

"Just so you know, the brats told us everything"

Everything . Wen Ning's eyes widened in shock

"They told us what happened. Specifically what happens in the near future" the sect Leader threw him a glare which made Wen Ning flinch and shrink back

But he figured not everything was told. He nearly let out a sigh of relief at that. But if sect Leader meant the nearest future then-

Wen Ning knew what he had done. Even if the others say it wasn't his fault or young master Wei's, it was still his hand. He still felt guilty.

"And now we're working to prevent all that from happening"

Wen Ning was shocked at this. But then again he wanted to let out a small laugh. He should have expected this and he felt immensely proud for the Juniors.

Worried? Yes definitely! But proud nonetheless.

And then he and the Sect Leader remembered something.

Wen Ning blinked and sect leader Jiang cursed under his breath. They looked at each other for a moment but Wen Ning was the first to concede. He lowered his head sheepishly and decided to leave the talking to the sect leader.

"Xichen would you like to have a proper explanation?" Sect Leader Jiang asked Zewu-jun. Abliet nevoursly

They had forgotten about the Lan

The said man had his usual smile plastered on his face A face that seemed have gradually gone pale

"Um... ar-are you feeling well, Zewu-jun?" Wen Ning asked worried.

"I am fine thank you young mas- senior Wen" Zewu-jun appeared to have pieced things together.

But it looked like the man was beginning to have an existential crisis.

"Wanyin if it's okay, please explain to me tomorrow. I'd like to rest for tonight"

It seemed Zewu-jun may have suffered to many suprises

"Yes, please rest"

"You to Wanyin" Zewu-jun says pleasantly.

He made his bed with with grace, laid down and then abruptly passed out.

Leaving Wen Ning and sect leader Jiang in awkward silence.

"Would you like some tea?" Wen Ning asked sheepishly.

Sect Leader Jiang simply groaned into his hand

Chapter Text

Huaisang was going to resort to violence soon!

He wants to grab his da-ge by the front robes and shake him to tell him what happened. But that would never happen. His da-ge was twice his size and he could snap him like a tooth pick.

If push comes to shove his gonna just drug him!

Huaisang took a seat to calm himself.

Ever since he was able to show his true colours to his friends, he has allowed himself to embrace who he really was and it was about to get out of hand. He rubbed his temples with exasperation, away from prying eyes when he had taken notice of his graying morality.

So before he decided to try any trully morally grey means, he would simply see if he could pry some information from Meng Yao. Ever since his da-ge allowed him back into Qinghe - to appease whatever had caused the shorter man to be mad - his da-ge had been slinking in the shadows watching over the smaller man.

For a man his size, he was able to hide his body but he could never be able to hide his presence. He scared everyone that came in contact with Meng Yao

"Will you stop it!" Meng Yao had tossed his boot at him. He didn't have anything else to throw

Minjue just took the blow, which honestly did zero damage.

"I- I just wanted to apologize" Mingjue stated

"Dage" Meng Yao started with a twitching smile "this is the hundredth time!" He yells

"In the first place shouldn't you still be angry at me!?" Meng Yao tried

Reminding of those who he killed. He regreted it now. Deeply in fact, but he was not used to the apologetic Nie Mingjue and a part of him wanted the angry one back. He didn't know how to handle this one.

"Yes" Mingjue spat out. Seeming to get angry again but that rage died quickly and uncharacteristically "but none of that would have happened if I had known what happened"

Nie's felt everything deeply. If you break their trust, the betrayal would cut deep and would leave a festering wound. If they felt regret, it felt like placing a hot iron on an open wound

And Meng Yao was about to have qi deviation from this. But his core had become stronger ever since they started cultivating together and qi deviation would not be happening anytime soon, so Meng Yao was simply light headed. He let Mingjue - begrudgingly - lead him to a seat bringingalong the tossed boot.

And Huaisang was about eat his fan from watching the back and fort.

Huaisang had received messages from Jiang Cheng saying that they had found the rumored Ghost Guardian and that he was now on their side. He had stated it would be best to meet the ghost guardian in person at the soonest convenience.

Which meant he needed to pry some information from Meng Yao or his Dage before leaving lest he qi deviates from frustration. Now that Xichen was also involved he would have an ally in this. He also needed to find a way to break the news of his not-so-innocent-true-self to the man. Or risk the man questioning his reality once more.

The Angry Grape said the older Jade had an existential crisis and had decided to sleep through it.

Huaisang sighed once more at this.

But perhaps it was the work of the gods, Meng Yao's frustration had built up and now he was letting lose and talking smack about dage to him

Meng Yao was drunk.

Huaisang may or may not be responsible for that. He may or may not have switched out the usual wine for a stronger one that a certain wine loving gremlin accomplice recommended, but nobody will ever know that.

Meng Yao slammed his cup down in front of him.

Drunk. Absolutely wasted.

He'll apologize letter for the wine - if the man ever finds out - but this was the chance to get what he wanted.

"Oh San-ge are you okay? You're drunk aren't you?" Huaisang tested

"I am not drunk A-Sang" Says Meng Yao. But his face was red. His neck was red along with the tips of his fingers.

"I see, tell that to the wine"

Meng Yao turns to the jug of wine and promptly says

"I am not drunk" he told the jug of wine

Huaisang clasped his fan shut and squeezed it in a struggle as his entire body shook from containing a laugh. Meng Yao was gone to the world. He would definitely not remember are thing about this and it was absolutely hilarious.

But just to play it safe, he kept up his act.

"San-ge, san-ge will you get more of those pretty fans you got for me last time" he started

"Of course A-Sang, anything for you" Meng Yao hiccups with a smile as he caressed the younger man's head.

"Can you also get me more of those stationaries, the really nice ones. A friend of mine writes books and he would love it"

"Alright A-Sang. A friend of A-Sang is a friend of mine" the man let out a drunken smile and a small laugh

"Can San-ge tell me what happened between you and Da-ge"

Meng Yao's face changed at this. It morphed into a drunken pout

"I don't want to" the man huffed

"Oh but San-ge said he would give A-Sang everything he wanted" Huaisang pouts in return "San-ge please, won't you tell A-Sang"

Huaisang gives his best impression of looking small and innocent. And it works, the other man folds instantly. The irritated frown morphed into that of fondness. Huaisang didn't fail to notice Meng Yao's shadow appearing.

"Okay then" Meng Yao says "but I don't think you'll find it interesting"

"Da-ge and I just had a fight about something in the past" he begins.

"Hmm..." Huaisang mused "can San-ge tell me what happened then?"

Huaisang took note of how Meng Yao's face changed. His features now marred with deep regret

"I should have just stayed with Da-ge!" He confessed.

Well it sounded like a confession

"What do you mean?" Huaisang asked

"If I had just stayed by his side and with the Nies then I wouldn't have gone through all that wasted effort or humiliation!" The man began to drunkenly cry.

It was now Huaisang's turn to lend a shoulder for another to cry on. He wondered if Meng Yao's counterpart ever had someone to cry on. If he ever had someone to turn back and fall onto instead of just heading down the path of no return.

Maybe he did have someone. But perhaps it was too little and too late and he was too far gone.

Huaisang rubbed soothing circles on his back then prodded him to continue. It was cruel, but he needed the details and sometimes getting things off your chest will help. Even if the man might not remember what happens.

Also Huaisang was definitely going to thank his gremlin accomplice for the wine recommendation. This thing was strong enough to make a skilled Cultivator drunk.

"Da-ge was the first person to ever acknowledge me. I should have just been happy with that. But I wanted to grant my mother's last wish and be acknowledged by my father but- oh A-Sang what do I do. I don't know what to do anymore!" The man cried

Huaisang's robes was going to be stained with tears. And despite being the so called 'Headshaker' and schemer, he was still a sentimental person and he also felt like crying now.

"After receiving the letter from Da-ge and heading to the Lanling Jin, the sect leader didn't even bother looking at it. Instead he waved me away and tossed my letter aside. Zixuan was the one that made sect leader read the later but after Zixuan left, the sect leader put me under that bastard of a commander" Meng Yao spat out the last part out with venom

The man took another shot of the alcohol and Huaisang now began to worry

"He'd take credit for my ideas and all my hardwork. Everything I did was for nothing. I tried, I really tried to hold it all together. He kept insulting me and I could take all that. But then he insulted my mother. My mother gave me everything she had. I can't, I really can't take it anymore when someone insults her!" Meng Yao slammed the table once more

Huaisang flinched knowing he was not alone. He also wondered if this was the reason why he killed that commander

"But then that bastard started-" Meng looked like he wanted to throw up. He had suddenly gone pale as he wrapped his hands around himself, making Huaisang grow concerned. His words finding difficulty in escaping.

Huaisang wasn't sure if he was going to finish his words but the wine acted like a charm. But regret started seep into the Nie's bones.

"It started small" Meng Yao choked "He started- his hands-"

"San-ge you don't have to continue!" Huaisang says quickly. Seeing how uncomfortable this was

"No!" Meng Yao shouts. He shuts his eyes and frustrated tears fall "If I don't tell you, you won't know what a terrible person that guy was!"

It was the wine making him talk. Huaisang knew that but he also knew Meng Yao wouldn't trully loose himself to someone he didn't trust.

"I wasn't the only one. The women- mainly the civilians that we saved had it worse. He'd try to get his hands on them, force his way with them but I kept going against him when that happend and then he turned to me"

Huaisang felt like he was going to get sick from hearing this. He would never try to force another to do anything like that. It was inhuman.

"He'd grab my hands, my- my- my hair, my-" Meng Yao got up and ran to the nearest bush and threw up

Huaisang was instantly by his side. Rubbing his back and arms. Guilt seeping into his bones.

"He never got to far" Meng Yao wheezed out "but I couldn't take it anymore."

This left Huaisang to wonder what he meant by too far. How far was too far? Meng Yao was capable of holding himself back and bottling everything up until it came to the time of execution. But he killed the Jin commander in a place where anybody could walk into and see. And that was what happened.

"He told me since I was the son of a whore I should act like it" Huaisang didn't need anymore details on this. It clear what that bastard meant

"That day" Meng huffed a dry humorless laugh "he had tried but I killed him first"

The man had a venomous smile at that and Huaisang shared the sentiment and thought good riddance. But Meng Yao's face changed again

"But then Da-ge saw me" Meng Yao started to cry all over again

"I didn't want to tell him all that had happened. So I didn't tell him about it. I didn't want him to see me like-" Meng Yao couldn't finish his words

"So I panicked that day. And I only told him about the part the commander took the credit for my work. But then da-ge said I was fooling him all along but that's not true" sobs shook the man's body as he leaned into Huaisang

"He was going to bring me back for punishment so I panicked again. I couldn't face the sect leader as a criminal and so I tricked da-ge and ran. And now da-ge knows! I didn't want him to know!"

Huaisang could only be there for him to lean on now. All he could offer was his presence in support. He was going to go smack his brother for jumping to conclusions later but for now he decided to lend his shoulder to San-ge

"He keeps apologizing. There's nothing to apologize for. I was just weak. I should be the one apologizing and asking for forgiveness but I don't know how- I want to but I'm afraid- I-"

"Shhhh...." Huaisang says "it's okay San-ge. Let it all out" so Meng Yao cried

He trully cried and let everything out for what felt like the first time in his life.

A moment then passed with Meng Yao crying into Huaisang's shoulder and then when the wheeping stopped, light snores could be heard.

Huaisang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He hugged Meng Yao's sleeping form. He felt horrible for making him recall terrible memories but happy that Meng Yao felt safe enough to spill his secrets to him when he was wasted.

Huaisang had Meng Yao's unconditional trust. Something he knew the Jin GuangYao of the Junior's world never gave to anyone. Jin GuangYao probably kept everything to himself and took it to his grave. This trust was something Huaisang would guard with his life, it was the key to saving his own brother as well.

A few minutes passed with them sitting in silence when he finally decided to call out the shadow

"Da-ge are you going to step out and help me with San-ge or wallow away where you stand" his tone strict and condensing

He was still pissed about the whole Saber cultivation thing and now his pissed of at his brother's past actions.

"A-Sang" Nie Mingjue steps out of the shadows and says but doesn't continue

Nie Mingjue now with a clearer mind, the clearest he has ever been since the war, had realized that his little brother could be scary sometimes.

"San-ge isn't the type who can take heartfelt apologies. He's the type that once he knows your genuine then he'll accept you. And so you should know that San-ge has already forgiven you the first time you apologized. He has only been irritated because you've been constantly bugging him for something that's already been given"

Mingjue listened and didn't dare say anything. His little brother showed great wisdom from time to time

"What he can't forgive is himself. Especially with what had happened with Wen Rouhan. And now with whatever is happening in the Jin Sect that made Meng Yao runaway back here, he feels alone" Huaisang scolded his brother

"So if you want him to stop avoiding you and being angry, stop apologizing. Instead just help him see he's not alone" Huaisang says softly

Mingjue nodds obediently at this and picks up the sleeping man

"Huaisang... thank you" Mingjue simply says and walks of with Meng Yao in his arms

....

Now Huaisang needed a drink of his own.

But even though he has Meng Yao's trust, he needed to know if all his drunken words were true. It was hesitation and distrust born from learning the actions of Jin Guangyao. And so he left to find the truth.

Which brings him - a few days later - to the burial mounds

"So you want me to summon the soul of this Jin Commander that Jin GuangYao was placed under?" Wei Wuxian asked

"Yes, I want to trust Meng Yao. If what I heard is true, then we trully have him on our side" Huaisang says with determination

"I understand what you mean. It's just that as you can see, I'm not in the position to be moving around" Wei Wuxian states matter of factly

He needed to go to the sight of where said commander died or to his grave. And he could not really travel anywhere right now. Cultivators could recognize him and it would a pain to deal with

"That's why you're not going as Wei Wuxian!" Huaisang says triumphantly and from a qiankun pouch he brought out several garments

"You're going as Hanguan-jun's fiance!"

Wei Wuxian raised a brow. Wasn't that the same thing?

Lan Wangji, who had been spending more and more time in the burial mounds, looked at Huaisang with interest. Wei Wuxian inspected the garments

"Nie-xiong" Wei Wuxian started after going through the clothes "These are women's clothes!"

The man yelled

"Exactly, you will be going as Hanguan-jun's finace. We need to spread rumors that the great Hanguan-jun is engaged. This will allow Wangji-xiong to gain some support and as his spouse to be, you to will also benefit from that support while your identity is still hidden. And when everything is revealed the people will have no choice but to acknowledge you"

"Mn" Lan Wangji agreed with Huaisang's assessment

"I understand but do I look like a woman to you!?" Wei Wuxian yelled again

"Oh please Wei-xiong, have you looked in a mirror. If you applied a bit if make up and just filled up the front, you'd pass on as a woman" Huaisang laughed

"What kind of woman is as tall and buff as me?" Wei Wuxian shot back

"Alot, have you see the Nie's" Huaisang says dryly "and buff? I don't mean to be rude Wei-xiong but you're a bit too skinny. Wangji-xiong why aren't you stuffing him!?" Huaisang scolded

"Mn" says the Lan "I've been trying"

"You listen to your fiance and eat more!" Huaisang scolded his friend

"Argh! Fine, fine. Let's just do this already"

And so with the help of Wen Qing and a couple of the other ladies, Wei Wuxian became a woman. There was a number of different reactions to this

Jin Ling and Jingyi were on the ground dying from laughter. Huaisang told them of his plans and they rushed up the mounds to see.

Sizhui tried to be supportive. Little A-Yuan was yelling out A-niang the whole time and giggling though.

Wen Ning's eyes nearly fell out

Huaisang was satisfied with the work done

And Lan Wangji simply said no matter what Wei Ying looked like, Wei Ying was Wei Ying.

This caused Sizhui and Wei Wuxian to cry and hug the older Lan.

Poor Zizhen was not here to see this.

And so they traveled and with little A-Yuan to spread rumors about the second Jade having a secret child just to mess with everyone

They had to hurry because Jiang Cheng was bringing the ghost guardian in a week. He was also bringing Jiang Yanli to see Wei Wuxian, saying they would introduce the ghost guardian after.

They had no idea where the grave of the commander was and so they simply traveled to where he was killed. Sometimes the soul would linger where it's life was cut short

As they traveled, people saw the great Hanguan-jun walking hand in hand with a beautiful looking maiden. Half her face hidden with a red veil. A tall elegant beauty and in her arms was a child that had her eyes but looked similar go the man beside her.

So many people stopped and gawked.

All three of them knew, some people - Lan Qiren - might qi deviate if he heard of this but this was for the greater good. Rumors were bound to spread after a day.

When they arrived, Wei Wuxian summoned the souls in the area and Lan Wangji played enquiry. To their luck, they found the right soul.

"Wei-xiong I think it might be best to take little A-Yuan away from this. This man was- well let's say he took after the Jin Sect leader by alot"

Wei Wuxian just gave a disgusted look at that and complied. Taking his small son away and so Huaisang employed the help of Lan WangJi.

He asked the questions, Wangji played enquiry and just from the changing expression on Wangji's face, Huaisang knew his answer.

"Despicable!" Lan Wangji snapped and put his guqin away

And so Huaisang had his answer. Meng Yao trusted him wholly. Meng Yao had told him the truth and no way in heaven, earth or hell was he letting Meng Yao go back to the Jins to become Jin Guangyao.

And so they returned.

Huaisang returned home because he felt like he needed to give San-ge a hug. He would rellay just a tiny bit of this information to Xichen, just giving him a clue of what happened but a situation was waiting for him at home.

On the bright side Meng Yao was no longer angry at Mingjue and he wasn't stomping away anymore.

Instead he was full on running while blushing red!

And Nie Mingjue would chuckle at this. Sometimes he'd skip along and follow

He skipped!

Nie Mingjue does not skip!

What the hell happened!?

Huaisang snapped a fan.

However Huaisang left. This was a problem - a good one though - for another day. Because if he starts now, he might qi deviate from the frustration and curiosity.

Chapter Text

When they had returned to Lotus Pier, the ghost guardian had to be coaxed - dragged - in.

"Are you sure it's alright for me to be here?"

Jiang Cheng held his tongue. Honestly he still hated all the Wen's but he had been slapped with the truth and he knew deep down that Wen Ning didn't deserve what happened to him.

"It's fine, but before that, which of you so called seniors thought my future nephew about weaponizing the truth!" The man was still peeved by that

The ghost guardian found the lotuses very pretty to look at in that moment

Lan Xichen only watched their interactions. He'd get his answers soon enough. For know he enjoyed looking at the lotuses with the sentient fierce corpse that came from the future.

What a strange world he lived in.

Jiang Cheng simply groaned at this.

They arrived at the main hall and he had someone go collect Zizhen. Jiang Yanli was with Jin Zixuan a Koi tower. As much as Jiang Cheng wanted to keep them here, he couldn't.

They sat down for tea and awaited Zizhen. Wen Ning fretting over their injuries

"I really do recommend you both rest. That Yao beast was a really strong one"

And yet you strangled it to death on your own. Jiang Cheng thought.

"All is well senior Wen. We promise to rest after this" Xichen says, calming the ghost guardian

"How did you go from ghost general to ghost guardian anyway" Jiang Cheng snarked

Wen Ning for his part just gave a sheepish smile and scratches his head

"I'm not really sure myself. I was heading to cloud recess before learning that this was the past, it took me sometime to realize though. I ran into a couple of troublesome Yao during then and I guess that's how it happened"

"Then you must be responsible for the recent Yao huntings!?" Xichen says mildy suprised

There had been reports of dangerous Yaos being found dead. Some died by strangulation like the boar Yao, others by bludgeoning and some had been ripped apart.

"Apologies, I didn't mean to intrude" Wen Ning quickly apologized

"Oh no, all is well. In fact I thank you for taking care of the dangerous yaos"

If Zizhen didn't arrive soon, Jiang Cheng was going to throw himself into the lake to escape the never ending pleasantries of these two.

Senior Wen Ning unlike the one of this time appeared more confident in his words and actions. He stuttered less when talking to Jiang Cheng and-

"It was you!" Jiang Cheng yelled in realization "What the hell were you teaching Jin Ling and the brats!"

Wen Ning bowed in apology.

When the door of the main hall opened, Zizhen walked in.

"Sect leader Jiang you called, do I need to deliver the messages ag- SENIOR WEN!" The boy began but then cut himself short upon seeing the undead man

The teenager ran and practically tackled the Wen into a hug. Smiling and crying at the same time. Wen Ning was standing ready and caught him when he came running.

"Senior Wen!" The boy wailed "I missed you! I missed everyone! You have no idea what we went through!"

"We met Senior Wei in his old body! We even met senior Wen's sister and-"

"There, there. It's all right. You must have missed home young master" Wen Ning says softly.

Zizhen continued to cry his heart out

"Senior Wei was taking so long to send us back that we thought we'd never get back but wait how are you here Senior Wen!?" The boy asked shocked and finally questioning how his senior was here

"Um well, the same as you boy's I guess" Wen Ning says sheepishly "I picked up a glowing talisman and it brought me here"

"So it worked! One of senior Wei's experiments worked!" Zizhen beamed

"I have to tell the others" the boy began to excitedly bounce on his feet "Senior can listen to our plan and senior can meet his sister again!"

Wen Ning appreciated the boys enthusiasm, but he was still hesitant and that was when someone cleared their throat. Reminding the time travllers that they weren't alone

"Ah... apologies sect leader Jiang and- ZEWU-JUN!?" Zizhen panicked

"I- we-"

"He knows" Jiang Cheng states "or will finally know. Now that we actually have someone who had lived through these events we can get more details and plan further ahead"

Jiang Cheng was already calculating. Figuring out how they can factor the time traveling ghost general who was now dubbed the ghost guardian into their plans

"Wen Qionglin here is apparently the ghost guardian. That's why you brats had no information about him"

Zizhen and the others had panicked they heard of the so called Ghost Guardian. They belived it was a consequence of their actions

"Senior Wen you trully gave us a scare! I thought we did something wrong and created a whole new problem" Zizhen says with a relived sigh

"I see. I apologize young master but I also would like to know what you boy's are up to and how exactly you lot got here" Wen Ning says, a hint of scolding in his voice as he gave a thin smile

It was a smile that said he was going report everything he hears now to Hanguan-jun.

"Senior Wen please it was an accident!" Zizhen knew what the senior was going to do "if you tell Hanguan-jun - our Hanguan-jun, then there's no saving us! His past self wouldn't be able to go against him!" Zizhen cried

"I'm sure my brother wouldn't be so cruel" Zewu-jun defended his brother. Well his brother's future counterpart. The way Zizhen spoke about made him seem cruel.

He still didn't know the details, just that two of the individuals in this room was from the future

"You don't understand Zewu-jun. It's because we know he cares for us that his punishments are cruel. We are Cultivators but he made us copy the rules of safety about five hundred times all with the silencing spell on us and he separated us from eachother. He even made us clean the sect buildings for a month and we weren't allowed to go on night hunts that whole time"

"Five hundred times? That's two hundred more than Young master Wei" Xichen sweat dropped at that "But to make you clean the buildings and ban you and your friends from night hunts especially at your age can be embarrassing and I do admit it might be cruel"

"Don't be fooled Zewu-jun, the four of them thought they could take on a mutated two headed bear Yao. They all came back with a few severe injuries to" Wen Ning says dryly

Zizhen 'tsked' and looked away.

Never mind. Xichen thought, that punishment was well deserved. Perhaps a bit to lenient.

"They take after Wei Wuxian afterall" Jiang Cheng scoffed

Wen Ning gave him a look

"What?"

"Nothing. I just hope you remember to rest and heal your injuries" Wen Ning says politely reminding him of the fight with the boar Yao

The sass this dead man has!

"You!"

"Wanyin" Xichen chided

Jiang Cheng would verbally admit that he likes the Wen Ning of this time more!

"Wanyin?" Zizhen asked looking at Wen Ning and pulled out a notebook. Wen Ning just shook his head warning the boy not to say anything

And so they explained everything that happens to Xichen

"I see. So all this happens and you and your friends want to prevent these tragedies?" Xichen asked Zizhen

It was alot to take in. Also the headaches and heart attacks he's going to have because of his ward. The tyke was probably rampaging around at the Lan nursery right now.

"Yes, we may have accidentally travelled back in time but we have made it our goal to save those of this time"

"But won't this change your future?" Xichen asked concerned

"The boys had been missing for only a day or so and nothing happned. I believe it's safe to say that our time, or perhaps our world in better terms is safe" Wen Ning clarifies

A sigh if relief left Zizhen along with a heavy weight on his shoulders. Honestly they were doing all this on a guess and didn't know what was happening to their time and-

"Wait, you said we were missing for a day. We arrived a few days after senior Wei saved the Wen Remnants and you arrived two months ago. That meant we spent about half a year here and only a day passed back in our time!?"

Zizhen was shocked at this.

Wen Ning was also shocked at this and so were the other two.

"Time is tricky business" Xichen admits and knew his brain could no longer take in any more information or make sense of things

Jiang Cheng sighs once more and starts planning the meeting and reunion for the time travelers. Xichen travels back to Gusu to make arrangements for the alliance but of course he didn't leave without flustering the younger sect leader

"Wanyin won't you give me a token for a our friendship" Xichen asks

Jiang Cheng looked at him shocked. But he then grew red in embarrassment. Honestly he could handle a lot of things but Lan Xichen pushed buttons he didn't even know he had. May be because unlike most people who saw him as a young and immature sect leader, Zewu-jun was the only who looked at with admiration and respect. Something Jiang Cheng greatly appreciated.

One could say the only other person in this world - apart from Jiang Yanli - capable of calming Jiang Cheng when he was in his moments of rage was Lan Xichen.

Jiang Cheng had failed to remember the tokens. Of course tokens of friendship should be exchanged to show they were serious about this. But what to give was the question. Seeing how panicked and flustered he was Xichen couldn't help but chuckle

"Then I'll give you this and I take this" as swift as the wind, Xichen pulled Jiang Cheng's hair ribbon, causing his hair to fall and flutter in the wind as he placed a wrapped item into the younger sect Leader's hand.

Jiang Cheng was stunned. Shocked by the action and grew redder then he already was. He's not sure whether he was flustered or angry but he wanted to curse the damn Lan before him and he was left speechless and in the next second the Lan was gone traveling via sword before he could he even get a damn word out.

Xichen chuckling to himself in amusement when he left.

Jiang Cheng was left shell shocked. Then he looked down to the item in his hands and let out a silent shriek. It was a hair pin. Lan Xichen's hair pin.

Jiang Cheng wanted to toss it. Was the man making fun of him? But he couldn't quite bring himself to throw the item and just held onto it and-

"Hoho" came an amused laugh

"ZIZHEN!!!!"

There was a scampering of feet and a shriek

Jiang Cheng was going to think about this alliance and the feeling of butterflies in his stomach later. There's a brat his gotta kill first.

.....

Jiang Yanli was excited to meet her other younger brother. And not just him but all the friends he has made and also get answers.

A-Cheng had been acting way to suspicious, along with A-Sang and A-Zhen. And she was going to get to the bottom of it today. She knew they were doing something dangerous, and she knew they could handle themselves but she still worried. And hopefully knowing what was happening would help her worry less

They travelled to Yilling. Just a small group. A-Zhen had gone ahead first to tell his friends - brothers? Yanli doesn't know, his stories had become confusing and he kept unconsciously referring his brother's as his friends.

So she knew Zizhen's friends was also in on whatever that was going on. It was suspicious.

And so was their new companion. The young man that was dressed in black. He wore are large cloak and walked with heavy steps, his steps accompanied by the clanking of chains. His face hidden from view by the bamboo hat that he tilted low. To all that passed, he was extremely intimidating.

But Yanli had witnessed how soft the man actually was. On their way to Yilling, he helped an elderly man pull his cart up a hill after his bull was injured and also treated the bull to.

When a kite a few children were playing with got stuck in a tree, he had got in down without any damage. And knowing how he appeared, he had shyly gave it to A-Cheng to return.

A-Cheng in turn gave it to Yanli to return.

When they had arrived, everyone was already waiting for them. Their companion stayed outside to guard.

"Shijie!" A-Xian cried has he ran to his sister

Yanli was so happy to see her other little brother that she couldn't help but cry a bit

"Shijie I really missed you! That grump wouldn't say anything about you!"

"We have the brat for that. He would never stop yapping! Where is he anyway!?" A-Cheng scolded and asked

A-Zhen wasn't around. It was only three of his friends and a small child. Three curious looking teenagers and curious toddler but Yanli couldn't help but feel drawn to the youngest teenager. He had an intense look in his eyes and looked like he was going to cry.

Yanli wanted to go to him.

"He said something about introducing Wen Ning to the Ghost Guardian"

"That would be best, we don't need a sudden zombie brawl"

Yanli ignored her brothers and went to meet the children

"Hello young ones" she greets and instantly the three teenagers fall into a deep bow. The toddler shocked to see the movement also hurried to copy but was a bit clumsy.

"We greet young maiden Jiang" they say in synch

"We have heard so much about your greatness from senior Wei" the one in the middle stated excitedly. The one beside him, the one that had the intense look in his eyes elbowed him in the ribs.

All of them still bowed deeply

"Now, now. You don't have to lower your heads so much. Please raise your heads, I have also heard alot about you from A-Zhen. So much that I feel like I know all of you already. But he never told me your names. May I ask for them"

The middle was the first to raise his head in excitement

"I'm Lan-" he got elbowed again "Ya! What's wrong with you young Mistress!?"

Young Mistress? Yanli couldn't help but chuckle at that. The boys interaction was to similar to her brothers and A-Xuan.

"I apologize for their behavior" the other boy says and bows once more in apology. A polite young man he was.

As two argued and the other tried to stop, the youngest of the group walked up to her

"I'm A-Yuan" the tolder greets with the brightest smile. It reminded her A-Xian

"Oh what an adorable little one you are" Yanli couldn't help but coo at the child and pick him up "Where did you come from?"

"His mine!" A-Xian announced to his sister

Yanli would have been suprised if she wasn't aware of her brothers antics

"Really now?" She mused

"Honest, Shijie! Me and my fiance a going to officially adopt him once we're married!" A-Xian says while perhaps unconsciously brandishing the Lan ribbon wrapped around his wrist.

And at this Yanli is shocked. Her little brother was engaged. He was going to get married and start a family.

Yanli couldn't help but burst into tears

"Ah Shijie!" "A-jie!" Her brothers called out to her worried and rushed to her.

"Maiden Jiang!" The one dubbed young Mistress called out and hurried to her side pushing her brothers away.

He fretted over her like she was made glass. A concern that ran too deep for someone he had just met. The boy then turned to her now engaged little brother

"Look at what you did! You made her cry!" He shouted

Yanli couldn't help but be reminded of her A-Cheng.

"No, no its fine. I'm just so happy that's all" she wipes her tears away and couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face

"Oh A-Xian I came here to show you what I'd look like on my wedding day even though I want you to be there but instead you give me greater news and made me an aunt so soon!" She teased

A-Xian looked red at this.

"It's not like that Shijie, things just happend. I still want to see what you will look like though" he explained meekly and embarrassed

"It's a miracle. Not even Hanguan-jun can make him feel any hints of shame like this" Young Mistress says in disbelief making the loud one laugh and the polite one sigh.

"That's it you brat! I'm burying you with the Radishes!" A-Xian yelled and charged for the boy

"Ya! Don't get close to me! Go away!" The teenager yelled and ran away

Yanli then turned to the little one in her arms

"Well then little A-Yuan, that makes me your Yīma" she says and boops A-Yuan's nose making the boy giggle

She did not fail to overhear the loud one and polite one.

"Hear that, she's your Yīma" the loud one teased the polite one.

"Jingyi" the polite one scolded

The polite one having an uncanny resemblance to the little one in her arms.

"Now, now, that's enough" she says when she noticed young Mistress had latched onto her A-Xian's forearm like a dog

"Eeeeeee! Stop, stop! Stop bitting!" A-Xian screamed

"The great Yilling patriarch" A-Cheng says sarcastically with a shake of his head

"Why is the young Mistress bitting senior Wei?" Zizhen finally returned

Yanli got to show off her wedding robes and then she insistently dug for information about her little brother's beloved. Though she already knew. She was still yet to get the names of the boys.

And then she brought out the soup she had prepared for everyone. Thanks to A-Zhen she knew to make a lot. It was carried all the way here by their companion and so she remembered to place a bowl aside for him and young Master Wen Ning.

A-Zhen had brought the young lad and he to waited out side. Every time she thought about how he and his sister risked their lives to save her brothers, she couldn't help the guilt that kept festering in her heart when she learnt the faith of the younger Wen.

She was proud of her A-Xian for standing up for them but she was deeply worried for her brother. She knew her brothers were planning something, and she wanted in. She didn't want to be coddled. She wanted to help.

She knows she can't do much but she would do her best in her own way.

As she was serving the soup, the young Mistress came to help her. The boy looked like her brother, but he also looked like A-Xuan and he had her eyes.

How was that even possible?

Then she overheard her brothers.

"You goddamn idiot why the hell did you jump into my sword!?"

"I was stabbed in the other timeline! And I got you back by breaking your your arm!"

Yanli was seriously going to have a word about this with her two foolish brothers. Also timeline?

"We agreed to that! We didn't agree to you stabbing yourself! I hope Wen Qing stabbed you are thousand times with her needles! I had to deal with the brat the whole time!"

"Excuse me, I had two brats of my own who wouldn't shut up about it"

"Two? Don't you mean three? Or are you just biased because Sizhui is your son?"

"Ya! Leave my big A-Yuan out of this!"

Because she was a Jiang she knew to always live up to their clan motto. To attempt the impossible. But that also came with expecting the impossible.

She looked at little A-Yuan who was playing with the loud one called Jingyi. The polite one named Sizhui was speaking with A-Zhen about something.

Sizhui... the name rang a bell.

Then she thought of the book. She thought of how the characters in the book resembled many of the people she knew and knew off. The lord of darkness was her brother, A-Xian. The lord of light was undoubtedly Hanguan-jun. A-Cheng was the character that had lost his family. The lord of thunder. And many others including herself and A-Xuan were also involved.

But none of the boys were in there. No A-Zhen, no Jingyi or Sizhui and no young Mistress.

No. She thought and finally realized something.

She looked at the young A-Yuan. His birth name Wen Yuan, no courstey name yet because he was too young but then she looked at Sizhui. A boy who carried himself like a Lan. There was no visible forehead ribbons except the one gifted to A-Xian, but she was confident that the boy was raised as a Lan.

The loud one had also called out 'Lan' before he was cut short.

The boys were there. They had counterparts in the book. Only two of them but different versions.

Wen Yuan, the last sun of the lord of darkness, was happily seated in her brother's arms. Another version was shining just as the bright as the sun when he smiled when her brother called out to him. Sizhui who's name was no doubt derived from the title of the book.

And then the character her counterpart in the book held as dear as her brothers. A character her counterpart left behind.

The character that resembled her was called the lady of spring that fell in love with a Phoenix. Dearly loved by the lord of darkness and thunder for she had raised them for they were her brothers. The Phoenix and lord of darkness were often at each other's throats until the Phoenix finally confessed to the lady of spring.

Their love gave birth to a new born Phoenix who had the same thunder as the lord of thunder but had the eyes of the lady of spring.

Yanli always knew to expect the unexpected. Especially when it came to her brother A-Xian. She may not be a genius as him, or have any leadership qualities as A-Cheng but she knee enough.

Plus she confirmed her answers when she went to give soup to the two companions outside. And what she found was two identical companions.

They panicked in synch.

The companion she and her brother traveled with had accidentally faced her and showed her his face. The young Wen Ning was right beside him and to her suprise, their Companion was also Wen Ning. She would have thought they were twins but she knew better.

Attempt the impossible indeed.

Expect the impossible too.

She gestured with a smile to the to Wen Ning's to keep her seeing them a secret. She then went back to finally confront her brothers. The two identical individuals looked at each other in worry, both with the same mind decided to keep quiet.

A-Xian mentioned timeline.

It was impossible indeed. But she was a Jiang and she expected it.

Everyone got their soup. The young Mistress was crying. He tried his best to hide it. But he couldn't for long. His friends were beside him and she wanted to wrap her arms around him. She will soon enough. She knew who he was. If the look of understanding on her brothers faces was anything to go by then she knew her theory was true.

While this boy was here, she will love him as much as she can. As much as the lady of spring and her beloved Phoenix wanted to but couldn't.

She turned to A-Xian and asked him to come up with a courtesy name for her future son. A-Xian spoke his thoughts out loud. Unconsciously rubbing the Lan ribbon on his wrist when he gave the name 'Rulan'.

Young Mistress had turned red but then tears returned to his eyes once more. He looked to be holding his tongue later.

"It's a beautiful name A-Xian and for beautiful boy to" Yanli spoke making her brother preen at the praise.

"What- what are you saying? What if you're son ends up being a spoiled brat because of your words" the boy says. Yanli turned to him.

He couldn't meet her eyes and all she wanted to do was run to him and hold him.. Her brothers didn't even try to stop him from speaking, knowing the boy needed this.

"I do hope to spoil him" Yanli replies with a smile

"What if he grows up and becomes a brat then!"

"That's okay, I have experience in raising a couple" she says.

She had to hold herself back from laughing when she noticed her brothers faces. The two did not expect to be called out like that. A-Zhen and Jingyi, the loud one, did not hold back their laughs.

"Then what if he disappoints you? What if he doesn't meet your expectations and-"

Without the boy knowing, Yanli had gotten close and she placed a hand on his cheek. The boy's breath hitched when he looked up to face her. Unshed tears in his eyes.

The boy looked into eyes that mirrored his own, seeing tears welling up in the maiden's eyes as well.

"I will be proud of him no matter what. There will be no expectations to meet, I will love him unconditionally both my husband and I. And we promise to live long enough for him and see him grow up into the fine young man he will become"

"How are you so sure he'll turn out alright?" The boy closed his eyes and looked down

"Because I'm looking at him right now" Yanli says with a smile

She could hear the others gasp in suprise but her attention was on the boy before her

He looked up to her in shock and tears finally fell as he let go of his emotions and reached for her. The boy cried his heart out, his body shook greatly as he sobbed. She cried as well and hugged the boy as tight as she could as he mourned for what he could have had.

Her brothers came into view and she gave them a look of understanding. They to had tears in their eyes. Despite not seeming so, A-Cheng was the more sentimental one and he looked away to hide his own emotions.

Her future son's friends also stood near, giving their support but all had tears in their eyes. A-Zhen and the loud one was actually crying though.

As her future son's cries started to stop, she looked at the boy's friends and cheerily gave them a smile and waved them over. The loud one and Zizhen immediately ran their way and threw their arms around the of mother son and hugged them from the sides

She was going to make sure this boy knew he was loved. The polite one, Sizhui stood behind her son and also wrapped him in a hug. And finally her brothers.

A-Xian with his little one in his arms dragged A-Cheng over and joined in the hug. She could see her son's face trying to choose what expression to make. Annoyed or-

He couldn't be annoyed. He burst out with bubbling laughter. Sounding happier than she had seen him. Happier than his friends has ever seen him because from the sound of his laugh and the happy yet watery smile on his face, his friends were in tears once more and hugged him tighter

"It's nice to meet you Rulan" Yanli says and hugs her future son. Feeling content with him in her arms.

"I missed you mom" her Rulan says with the brightest smile he has ever given

Yanli couldn't help but be the happiest person in the world right now.

And a lesson to her brothers. You can't hide things from Jiejie. She'll find out eventually..

Chapter Text

Wen Qing was going to have a headache!

When Zizhen came to announce the Jiang's and the ghost guardian was here, she wasn't expecting him to be so excited. Especially about the Ghost Guardian since that certain individual was not in the recounts of the Junior's.

Alot of things she didn't expect happned that day. First was Zizhen collecting her brother to meet the ghost guardian to avoid any conflicts. Then Huaisang who had opted out of joining the Jiang's had trudged his way up the mounds and stole one of uncle four's fruit wine and downed it.

Jiang Yanli piecing things together on her own and what she trully did not expect was who the ghost guardian was.

The residents of the burial mounds stood shell shocked when the man took off his bamboo hat and greeted them. Wen Qing knew if he could cry he would be in tears as she was right now.

The ghost guardian was her little brother. The little brother that had lost her and was all alone. Wei Wuxian was just as speechless as her

"Wen Ning?" He asked "How could I not know it was you? We walked up here together!?" He questioned

"Many things happned and many things changed young master Wei" Senior Wen as the Juniors had called him says.

The three boys who had been curious the whole time had jumped him upon the reveal. Perhaps Jin Ling's emotions were still all over the place that made him hug the adult time travller and cry his heart out once more.

Wen Qing changed her mind. Perhaps he was not alone afterall. But it still brought a tear to her eyes knowing her counter part was not there to see it.

"It's good to see you again like this Young Master Wei" Senior Wen says

He spoke with fondness and maturity that the Wen Ning of this time did not have. But said Wen Ning was hovering by his counterparts side with large curious eyes and an amazed smile.

The two were identical apart from the clothes they wore. Never to age after their death. But senior Wen had a certain gravity to him. One of time.

"Ya! Don't talk like that. It sounds like you're treating me like a kid!" Wei Wuxian replied sounding a bit nervous.

Senior Wen just smiled at this.

Wen Qing couldn't help but stare the whole time. She was literally speechless. This was her little brother but he no longer was. He's presence felt older, she couldn't bring herself to scold this version like she's used to with the other. It was strange seeing her little brother now older than her.

Senior Wen turned to her. His eyes holding so many emotions that he couldn't convey in words. Despite all the changes he had gone through, the heart and soul remained the same.

"Jiejie" he somewhat asks and Wen Qing wasted no time in taking him into a hug

"Oh A-Ning" she cried.

She trully did not know what to say. All she could do was offer her presence and senior Wen slowly but surely hugged back. She knew in her heart if he could cry, he would be bawling. Wen Ning stood to the side and let his counter part have this moment knowing he needed it.

"I missed you Jiejie" he says in mourning. The other Wen Remnants came to see what was happening and when they saw another Wen Ning, they didn't really question it.

Wei Wuxian and the Juniors were never quiet and so they over heard and knew bits and pieces. Though the women already knew everything. They read the book. They knew their savior when they saw him. Then there was Sizhui and so it may have been a shock to see another Wen Ning but they weren't trully suprised. And they welcomed him with open arms

Senior Wen couldn't cry to show how happy he was to see her or tell her how much he had missed her and so he opted to telling her all of his adventures with the Juniors.

Everyone had gathered around for this. The Jiang's and Wei Wuxian, the Wens and the lone Nie gathered around to hear the tales. The Juniors throwing in comments here and there.

"Mom, don't belive him! I promise it was an accident!" Jin Ling had yelled then panicked when he at looked at his mother

Jiang Yanli had begun to look faint when Senior Wen recounted a time when Jin Ling had fallen off a cliff.

"An accident that nearly sent Young master Wei and I back to the grave. If Hanguan-jun wasn't there then who knew what would have happend" Senior Wei heaved a heavy sigh. Wen Qing also realized her brother had also picked up an odd sence of humor.

He had told the story about the about the four facing a mutated two headed bear Yao

"How did you four idiots even run into a two headed Yao!?" Wen Qing questioned once she was by Jiang Yanli's side and taking her vitals.

Also beating Jiang Cheng to his angry yelling. All he could do was nod while sharing the sentiment

"It was his fault!" Jin Ling and Jingyi shouted and pointed at each other

"What!?" They snapped at each other and there they go once more for eachother throats.

"Enough, it was all our faults. We heard reports about an abnormal Yao that A-Die and Baba were tracking and thought we could help them" Sizhui clarified a stopping the fight. No longer caring to hide his relations "We were unlucky enough to land in the area where it was and these two ended up fighting as usual and drew out the bear Yao"

"Hanguan-jun tried to drill the Lan safety rules into them but it was for not. Young Master Jin was nearly assassinated a few more times. One time with young master Zizhen. The most recent attempt made Young master Wei take him to cloud recess" Senior Wen sighs

"Y-you sound like you ha-have it rough" Wen Ning says and pats Senior Wen on the back in support

"Thank you, Senior Wen. For taking care of the boys" Yanli thanks

"Oh no, it's a pleasure actually. They gave me a new purpose. And I wouldn't change it for anything" Senior Wen says cheerfully

This hit something in all the boys heart while it warmed the hearts of all the others. Though Jiang Cheng felt an arrow of guilt strike him.

"Senior Wen!" Jingyi and Zizhen cried out loud and hugged the man

"Ning-shushu" Sizhui cried and hugged him as well

Jin Ling just 'hmphed' but held onto the man's sleeve.

"Okay so what's the status report so far" Wen Qing started after all the tales were through

The time travellers and the rest of the Cultivator crew were gathered in the demon slaughtering

"Shijie, Lan Zhan and Zewu-jun are on our side and know everything!" Wei Wuxian says happily "we even have senior Wen!"

"Mom, are you sure you want to get involved? It's going to be dangerous" Jin Ling warned his mother. His two uncles present shared the same sentiment

"I know it's dangerous my dear, but I can't simply watch on the side lines when my family is danger" Yanli says

"But-"

"I figured what had happened to my counterpart. She rushed in with panic and ended up leaving you. I promise I won't be the same. Now that I know what's going on I promise I won't make such rash decisions"

Wen Qing nodded to this. Most times keeping people in the dark could do more harm than good.

"We'll make sure nothing happens then. Don't worry young Mistress!" Jingyi says and pats his friend on the back

"We'll protect miss Yanli!"

"Who are you going to protect, you cant even protect yourself" Jin Ling snarked at the Lan but there was a hint of appreciation in his tone.

"Excuse me, I give excellent protection. I remember carrying you, Zizhen and Sizhui back home that one time you all sprained your ankles" Jingyi says proudly. Boasting his strength

"Actually you also tripped and sprained your ankle so both Hanguan-jun and I had to carry you boy's home" Senior Wen clarified with an amused laugh making all the four teenagers blush in embarrassment.

Wen Qing couldn't help but feel happy for her little brother. He looked happy despite all the loss and pain he had gone through.

"Anyway, Xichen and I will be forming a friendship alliance soon"

"Xichen?" Yanli asked suddenly very interested. Wei Wuxian was also very intrigued

"Oh" Wen Qing was also very interested for some reason. Did all Lan's have something for Jiang men.

Zizhen grinned widely

Senior Wen sighed

Wen Ning tilted his head in confusion

Jingyi and Sizhui eyes bugged out

"Er-ge to" Huaisang groaned

And then

"No!" Jin Ling screamed "juijui why you to!?"

Jin Ling cried and grabbed his uncle of the past and shook him.

"What the hell is wrong with you!?" Jiang Cheng shot back and tried to wrangle his robes back

"It's a friendship alliance, it will be strange if I keep addressing him so formally!" Jiang Cheng tried.

"Just friendship?" Wei Wuxian asked with that shit eating grin of his "So what did he give you?"

Jiang Cheng snapped his mouth shut and refused to say anything. But he grew red from the tips of his fingers to the top of his head. Wen Qing held back a snort. This man wore his heart on his sleeve. She knew Wei Wuxian wasn't going to let this go.

Jin Ling screamed once more

"Why can't I have one normal uncle!!?"

Wen Qing pitied the boy. Yanli simply laughed a bit at this.

"It's nothing like that you brat!" Jiang Cheng yelled.

Your red face isn't convincing. Wen Qing thought. This was hilarious. But she held everything in. There needed to be one serious adult here.

"So what did Zewu-jun give him?" Jingyi asked Zizhen "do you think if things go well here, we can also somehow improve their relationship in the future?"

"Oh he-" Jiang Cheng clamped Zizhen's mouth shut

"There is nothing going on!" Jiang Cheng yelled

The four Juniors and Senior Wen gave him a look. Ever since the events of Guangyin temple Jiang Cheng had been religiously checking in on Zewu-jun. Just as much as he had been checking in on Wei Wuxian - through Jin Ling. He'd ask about Zewu-jun at every sect conference.

Nobody thought much about it. Just thinking it was just a habit and that it was Jiang Cheng's character. Afterall out of everyone involved in sect politics, Zewu-jun was the only one that Jiang Cheng respected and held at a high degree.

Now the Juniors and Senior Wen were seeing things in a different light.

"Do you think Sect Leader Jiang had a crush on Zewu-jun?" Jingyi asked Sizhui

"'Do not speak behind others back', 'do not make assumptions' do..." Sizhui begun reciting the rules. He was curious but he didn't want to pry.

The Lan's corrupted my Nephew. Wen Qing clicked her tongue at this. But didn't comment

"Enough! Huaisang what's going on at your end!?" Jiang Cheng changed the subject

Nie Huaisang who had been uncharacteristically quiet the whole time was suddenly put in the spot light. He was spaced out half the time. Wen Qing had been wondering what was wrong with him the whole time.

Usually he'd insistently nag about everything that was going on. He'd gossip with the ladies or try to corrupt her innocent little brother with spring books. Wen Qing would threaten him with needles right after.

"Oh well, all is good" he says. Then dunks the jar of wine he had been nursing the whole time

Uncle four was running out of wine.

"All is good alright! Da-ge went happily skipping after San-ge!" He says and slammed the jar down

There were many different reactions to this

Jin Ling gave up. He threw his hands up in surrender. He has ultimately given up on his uncles. Hopefully his aunt will be normal.

Zizhen, Jiang Cheng, Yanli and Wen Qing's eyes grew wide as they gaped at this. Nie Mingjue skipping like a little boy in love was impossible.

"It seems no matter what happens, your going to be a sect leader Nie-xiong!" Wei Wuxian laughed already coming to the same conclusion as the Nie.

"No it can't be!" Huaisang cried then threw himself at Wen Qing's feet "Qing-jiejie you have to help me!" He cried

"Jiejie!? Since when was I your Jiejie? And help you with what!?" Wen Qing snapped

"Isn't it a good thing those two are on better terms. This way we know there's less possibility of Jin Guangyao killing your da-ge and we'd have better chances of getting him on our side!" She scolded and pulled at his ear.

Wen Qing was going to get a head ach, no she already had one and it was getting worse. It felt like she had gained a gaggle of little brothers and nephews. All very annoying and migraine inducing.

Starting with Wei Wuxian. She'd snap at him to take care of himself and to stop burying A-Yuan in the soil. Said child was currently taking a nap with granny.

Then this one, Huaisang. She'd snap and scold him for multiple reasons. Such as complaining to much about the hike up here. She'd tell him to train more. She'd snap at him for trying to taint her little brother. And it was worse when he put his head together with Wei Wuxian and cause explosions with experiments.

Then there was Jiang Cheng. At first they were wary of each other until one day when he came for a visit to check on how things were going, she noticed the man's lack of sleep amd stress and then it went off from there.

Are you trying to compete with Wei Wuxian to see whose going into the grave first. She had snapped. The man was also not taking care of his health. Working overtime, getting angry and getting stressed. All things not good for his health. As a doctor she could not allow that.

Then there was Lan Wangji. The man who had been spending way to much time in the burial mounds that it was getting suspicious. Suspicious as in people began to wonder where the hell was Hanguan-jun!?

She had scolded him for that and then snapped viciously when she found out about marks on a certain someone's neck. Thankfully those idiots didn't go to far.

Then the Juniors. They all were a headache on their own and worse when they were together. Including Sizhui, she was not going to be biased. That boy was an unhinged Lan Wangji. That was a terrifying thought on its own.

She had made them all them all kneel before her as she dished out her scoldings one day. They were all headaches. A pain in the neck. She thought she might qi deviate because of all of them. She was honestly speechless - she then proceeded with an hour long lecture about health, safety and propriety. Adding a few threats into the lecture.

Wen Ning, her God sent little brother had joined the scolding feeling left out. But he to would also join in with the antics of the Junior's, Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang because he couldn't say no so he also deserved the scolding.

Ah. She thought and there it was, the sharp pain that shot through her neck making her grab it. She wobbled on her feet and needed a seat.

"Jiejie!" Senior Wen was by her side taking her vitals. The way she would do to others. Oh she was so happy to see her little brother continue the family legacy of being a doctor. Yanli was also by her side in an instant. Holding her hand in support.

The two nicest people shot a scolding glare to the rest. To be glared at - even though one couldn't call it a glare but a look of disappointment - felt like they had done a great wrong.

"Look at what you lot have done. You're overworking poor young maiden Wen!" Yanli scolded.

All those gathered felt like a weight had had struck them on the head. Somewhere in cloud recess a branch fell on a certain someone's head.

An angel. Wen Qing thought when she saw Yanli on her side. She had also always wanted her sister. She would never trade her A-Ning though. But she would gladly trade one of the other idiots.

"Now, A-Sang. Why are you so upset about the relationship developments between Chifen-zun and Lianfeng-zun?" Yanli asked coming to Wen Qing's aid. She was filled in the important details on their way up to the mounds.

"It's not that I'm upset. It's that if da-ge decides to retire early and run away with San-ge then what am supposed to do!?" Huaisang cried

"Hold up!?" Jin Ling cut in "how did sect leader Nie skipping happily make you come to the conclusion that he would run away with my shushu!? What about him made you think he'd runaway with your brother!?" The boy angrily questioned

There has to be one non-cut sleeve uncle. Jin Zixun does not count. Nothing wrong with cut-sleeves but he wants cousins. He wants to be a big brother. Sizhui and the others don't count they are older then him and his friends.

"Your Shushu ran away bushing like a maiden in love" Huaisang says dryly.

Jin Ling grabbed his neck. Pain! All his uncles were a pain in his neck! Sizhui was already by his side helping him.

"How did that happen!?" He yelled before finally taking a seat.

"Wine, the truth and things I'm still yet to figure out"

"Urgh" Wen Qing groaned "I understand what you mean but what can I do?"

She massaged her temples. Senior Wen had gone off to brew some herbal tea to calm her nerves. Wen Ning tagging along to learn from him. Adorable she thought. It was like they were twins. She had twice the A-Nings!

Back to headach no.2.

"I'd like to ask you to figure out a way for Da-ge and San-ge to have a child" Huaisang says with every single serious bone in his body.

There was once again many different reactions

Wen Ning dropped the kettle that Senior Wen asked for. Said Senior tripped and face planted on the floor.

Three out of four Juniors turned red. Jin Ling who always wanted cousins was strangely not adverse to the idea. He wanted his younger self to have cousins and be a big brother he never was.

Jiang Cheng was horrorfied by the thought.

Yanli sighed and shook her head. Wondering how things had come to this.

Wei Wuxian barked a laugh and rolled on the floor, but then sat up intrigued and turned to Wen Qing but-

"Adoption!" Wen Qing stated firmly. She did not want delve into uncharted territories.

"But what if that's not an option. The elders of the clan would want an heir with Nie blood. If Da-ge doesn't marry a woman, then I have to but I'm not ready for that!" Huaisang cried

"Well there is a possibility" Wei Wuxian says "A woman's womb is said to have Yin energy. And they say balanced Yin and Yang can create life-"

"So it might be possible to create an artificial womb..." The rational part of Wen Qing was fighting the doctor side of her that had suddenly reared her head, intrigued by the concept.

"If so then-"

"We are not discussing this!" Jiang Cheng yelled while blocking his ears

Making everyone jump. Wei Wuxian sheepishly scratch his head.

"Very well" Wen Qing says clearing her throat. A bit embarrassed to have almost spiraled into the discussion.

Yanli couldn't help but be amused by everything

"So to conclude, we have more allies, and things are going well. However we have a problem?" Jiang Cheng says getting back on track

"What problem?" Wei Wuxian asked peeved "everything is going well"

"We don't know whats going on with the Jin's" Jiang Cheng declared

A dark cloud suddenly fell upon everyone

"The Peacock is still unaware and in trying to get Jin Guangyao on our side we may have accidentally isolated him since he has been spending alot of time Qinghe. We need an insider"

"I can do that!" Yanli suggests

"Mom? No it could be dangerous!" Jin Ling says. Pale with worry

"Now, now. I think I'm perfect for the job. A-Xuan tells me everything even if I don't ask.He has been working overtime now that I think about it. Perhaps it's because Lianfeng-zun left" the woman mused

"And since I write to A-Cheng very often and his my brother, it won't be suspicious. No one would know I'm relaying information. And I can bring A-Xuan and those he trust to our side. "

Many looked at her in awe

"You are very brave Maiden Jiang" Wen Qing acknowledged

"Oh no please. It's the least I can do and please call me Yanli. I feel as though we could be great friends!" She says and hold the other woman's hands warmly

An angel. Wen Qing thought once more. Now that she thought about it she never had any friends of her own.

"Then you can call me Qing as well" Wen Qing says while hiding how happy she was at the prospect of having a friend.

The three gremlins of the past felt a shiver run up their spines. That's double the scoldings they will receive if they become friends.

Chapter Text

Meng Yao did not wish to return.

But he could no longer runaway from his duties as Jin Guanyao. If he could turn back time, he would back to the days were he did not commit any crimes against Mingjue.

The man may have forgiven him but he could not forgive himself. That man was as stubborn as an ox in the worst and even best of ways.

He always respected Nie Mingjue but after what happened, even just the thought of him sent blood rushing to his face. Meng Yao shook his head. He had to concentrate. He can't keep thinking about how the huge lug had wrapped his arms around him to give him comfort and warmth. Or the way he rested his head upon his and held when they slept-

Meng Yao slammed his head against the wall

"A-Yao!? What's wrong? Are you okay!?" Jin Zixuan was instantly by his side

He was just passing by when he saw Meng Yao literally whack himself.

Oh his half brother, Meng Yao thought. What a righteous man he was. How did that snake bastard of a father of theirs sire such a man. He's a bit prissy and obnoxious but he's got a good heart. Unlike him.

"I'm so glad you take after Madam Jin" Meng Yao says

Perhaps he may have hit his head are bit to hard. Zixuan looked panicked and started yelling but he could not hear anything.

Ah, he probably had a concussion. He passed out.

When he came to, he was in his room. His head wrapped and Zixuan seated by his side.

"A-Xuan?" He asked "why are you here?"

Jin Zixuan gave him a look. An exasperated one. One that usually Meng Yao would get a cold feeling from. But from his half brother he could feel warmth and a sense of worry. All that just hidden under the man's prissy nature.

He had returned a couple days ago - after Huaisang decided to disappear off somewhere again. They gave up on finding out where he was going. That kid was slicker than they all thought. Any way, upon his return to Koi tower, Jin Zixuan was the only one to welcome him.

He had insisted they be closer thus how they call eachother but Meng Yao thought it was just a front. He didn't expect to find the man by his side waiting for him to wake up.

Said man had gone red upon the question

"Why can't I be here!? Am I not allowed!?" The Jin snapped

"No of course not" Meng Yao held back a snort. He could tell if a person didn't have any friends just by the way they act... as if his any different. He didn't have any friends for a long time

"Did something happen in Qinghe. You've been spacing out more and from time to time you'd end up hitting yourself" Zixuan says with a worried sigh

Meng Yao raised a brow at this. Nobody here ever noticed him or what was going on with him. They all preferred to imagine he did not exist. The feeling of knowing someone noticed him made him feel warm.

Then he thought of all the thoughts that was running through his head during those times. Honestly he'd grow red everytime he thought of Mingjue. His sworn brother, his da-ge. Just simply thinking about the man again made his face grow red.

Meng Yao had never felt like this. He has never dealt with these kinds of feelings so he has no idea what to do. He only knows manipulation and violence and neither was helping him.

Zixuan noticed and suddenly there was an air of awkwardness that felt so thick one could cut it with a sword.

"So something did happen?" He asked awkwardly.

"Nothing happned!"

Meng Yao flushed, then screamed as he widely threw out his hands everywhere. Perhaps trying to wave off the feelings or fan himself. It was suddenly hot in here.

Then he realized what he had done

"Apologies, I did not mean to yell at you" He says as he remembered who was here.

"I told you to drop all the formalities. We're brothers. It's only right that I look out for you" Zixuan says with a sigh

A tiny part of Meng Yao suddenly perked up with joy at that.

Brothers. He kinda liked the sound of it. But he felt guilty now for suddenly barging into the man's life.

At first he envied Zixuan for being their father's heir and being the legitimate son but after finding out about Jin Guangshan, he wondered what exactly did he see in that man. A snake like bastard who knew nothing but power, money and women.

He trully was the son of a whore. A man whore at that.

"Though I'd like to ask why you have been distancing yourself lately?" Zixuan asked "I know it's none of my business and I do not wish to pry, but I cannot simply ignore what is happening in front of my eyes"

Zixuan may have inherited Jin Guangshan's face but none of his blood, Meng Yao decided.

"It's nothing you should worry about" Meng Yao tried

"Has mother been treating you roughly again? Or did the others-"

"No, no!" Meng Yao somewhat panicked "All is well, actually it's just me"

"You, what could you have possibly done. Honestly ever since you formally joined the sect the proceedings have been running smoothly. Work is done on time and is efficient, father should have brought you here sooner!" Zixuan huffed

"You're competent and skilled. You can read a room better than me and it's honestly impressive"

Meng Yao did not know what to say to that. But he was honestly suprised. Zixuan had noticed his work. Also this man never gave out compliments. But here he was showering Meng Yao with them.

However, he really shouldn't be suprised anymore. This was just his half-brothers character. And once again he did not know how to deal with this. He did not know how to deal with people who saw his character through non-tinted glasses.

Mingjue was the first. And now Zixuan. Xichen was debatable, he had saved him and he saw him as his savior.

"A-Yao!?" Zixuan cried out in worry once more

Meng Yao was crying. He did not realize he was crying. So much has happned he did not know how to process all this. Him spilling out all his secrets to Huaisang and Mingjue hearing it. He doesn't remember what happned but Mingjue said Huaisang accepted him. And Mingjue also accepted him and now Zixuan, a man who shares his blood was accepting him.

"Oh, I'm sorry" he began as he tried to wipe away the tears "I apologize for showing such a shameful sight"

He tried to wipe away the tears but they still kept welling up in his eyes and falling. Zixuan hovered over him not sure what to do.

His half-brother was an awkward person. He was putting him on the spot with how he was reacting. It reminded him about how that man had confessed to Jiang Yanli. But Zixuan decided to suprise him once more.

There was a hand awkwardly patting his back and rubbing circles. Zixuan appeared to be as stiff as a brick wall and this finally made Meng Yao laugh

"Ya! Don't laugh at me! I've never had to comfort someone before!" Zixuan grew red

Zixuan did not have friends. Well perhaps he did have one but she had left after defending Wei Wuxian so he had absolutely zero experience with dealing with other people that did not understand his personality. His beloved Yanli was God sent.

"Apologies, it is just my first time seeing someone as stiff as a brick wall" Meng Yao snorted once more

"What, then what about Chifen-zun!?" Zixuan cried out exasperation

"Da-ge is actually very emotionally intelligent. More so than I" Meng Yao says proudly

That man was first to apologize despite not needing to. He was quick to comfort him in his own way and-

Meng Yao grew red remembering the position he was in after waking up after that drunken night with Huaisang.

"So something did happen with Chifen-zun!"

"No-nothing happened! Why are you like this!?"

"Because you called me a brick wall!"

"That's because you are one!"

"Me!? Whose the one thats denying whatever the hell happened and is turning red!" Zixuan retorted

"You- Whose the one that shouted out his confession to everyone on Phoenix mountain!"

"At least I knew how I felt! That's way better compared to whatever you're doing!"

"What's wrong with what I'm doing!?"

"I'm telling Chifen-zun!" Zixuan resorted to being a tattletale

"Don't!" Meng Yao grabbed a pillow and threw it at Zixuan's face.

The weapon hit his half brother directly in the face.

Attack 100%

Damage 0%

Meng Yao grew red than pale at what he had done but then a laugh erupted from the pillow victim and echoed in the room. The laughter was contagious, Meng Yao also snorted and laughed along with the ridiculousness of this situation

Never in his life did he think he would have a screwing match that would end up with someone getting hit with a pillow

"Anyways" Zixuan says clearing his throat "it's none of my business but I hope nothing is wrong and you're doing well"

"Actually" Meng Yao began "I feel much better. More than I have ever been!"

It was the truth. For the first time in his life, he felt happy. He had Huaisang, Mingjue, Xichen and perhaps now he had a brother. A brother of blood. Despite a large part of him feeling hesitant of the thought.

"Really!?" Zixuan beamed

"Yes" Meng Yao admitted

Zixuan realised he was smiling like a fool, so he covered it with a cough. They both noticed that the time had passed quickly. Jin Zixuan still had duties to attend to.

"Then I hope you rest a bit more brother. I'll make sure to check on you again"

"Brother?" Meng Yao asked. The part of him that always wanted a family was on there verge of tears

"Yes, we are brothers are we not? You can call me ge if you a comfortable"

Meng Yao held back his tears.

"Thank you Xuan-ge"

Jin Zixuan beamed once more. He had always wanted a brother. He knew he had many, but he could never call them his siblings because of his parents.

He left without knowing the new goal he had given his brother. Meng Yao decided.

Screw Jin Guangshan!

His going to put Jin Zixuan on the throne and make him the best Jin Sect leader there ever was!

To do that he needed to survive in this snakes nest. A mysterious person had been sending him letters, a list of crimes that Jin Guangshan and many others of the Jin Sect had committed.

Meng Yao decided, for his brother to take the seat of sect leader without problems, he has to get rid of them. This he knew what to do. Manipulation and scheming. He'll sort out his feelings for Nie Mingjue on another day. The times were currently to dangerous to allow distractions.

He had the list of crimes, but no evidence. But that should be easy. His father still thought of him as a pawn he could use. The man had been obsessing over Wei Wuxian's stygian iron amulet so he believedhe could use that to his advantage.

Meng Yao honestly saw no point in it. What Jin Guangshan was trying to do was become something akin to Wen Rouhan. A man of his position should be working on bettering the lives of those around him. Many of the smaller territories have been victim to Yao attacks that has increased after the war.

Cultivators would arrive to late and the people suffered

He had suggested building watch towers but no one paid him mind. Telling him it was a waste of money. When he heard that, a part of him wanted to strangle someone. He thought of suggesting the idea to Zixuan but they weren't close back then, when he first came up with the idea but now that they were closer, the man was going to be busy with his upcoming wedding and he didn't want to put alot on his plate.

Ever since that day, when Zixuan stayed by his side and waited for him to wake, they had gotten closer. Zixuan would come to gain advice or simply chat. Meng Yao found his company pleasant. The two finding solace within this snakes pit.

Anyway, he also did not want to share his ideas while said snakes where around. So while the sect leader still saw him as a tool to be used, he was going to become his poison and destroy him on the inside.

"So you finally have time to see me" Jin Guangshan says upon Meng Yao's arrival

"Apologies father, I had nor been feeling well and rested for a bit"

He had come sooner. Days ago, but the bastard was off somewhere only the pits of hell knows where.

"Rest? Well I hope you had a good rest while the rest of us slaved away" the older Jin snarked

Meng Yao seriously questioned what he saw in this man!

Slaving away!? Zixuan-ge is the one thats slaving away!

"I apologize for my incompetence"

"Enough, now that you are here, I need you to work on something for me" Jin Guangshan starts

"What can this lowly one do?"

"I need you to look for those that have an affinity with Ying or resentment energy"

Meng Yao froze at this

"Pardon?"

"You heard me, collect those who have an affinity with Yin energy. I will need them for my plans"

"May I ask what plans?"

"We can't leave someone like Wei Wuxian alone with all that power. How dare he, a mere son of a servant. He does not know his place" the sect Leader huffed

A mere son of a servant. Meng Yao thought. He may not know much about the young man but if there was one thing he knew and from Huaisang at that was that Wei Chengzi, father of Wei Wuxian was a skilled Cultivator and the woman he married, Canse Sanren, was also a great Cultivator. Not only that but the daughter of Baoshen Sanren, the immortal.

"To defeat the enemy you must know how their mind works" Jin Guangshan prattle on. Meng Yao decided to tune him out

Wei Wuxian was a genius. You would need to be off your rocker to understand him. The only person that might be able to match that man's intellect was probably Huaisang.

He knew Huaisang was smart. The young man just never showed it. He's the one that found a way to treat his brother and he had never gotten any credit for it.

"So what is the reason for the Yin Cultivators" Meng Yao asked

"Why it's to build our own army of resentment Cultivators" Jin Guangshan stated in a matter of fact tone

Meng Yao was dreading this answer. To put his brother on the sect Leader's seat he needed to foil this plan.

"I'll have Zixun to help you with this task. I am kind enough to not let you do all the work"

You are placing a watch dog on me? Meng Yao thought with gritted teeth. He did not show this expression though.

"Thank you father" Meng Yao says with a smile

"Oh and about the Cultivators. They should be as young as they can be. About the age to start Cultivating. That way we can mold them into the image we want"

You mean what you want. Meng Yao felt his skin crawl with the way he said we. All he had wanted was this man's acknowledgement. He didn't want power or anything back then. Now he'd rather just keep close the ones that had already acknowledged him.

This man posed a threat to them.

Meng Yao nearly scrunched his brows at the thought of collecting children and training them to be soldiers of resentment. That was inhuman. Wei Wuxian was right, it was beginning to look like the Wen Sect was still alive.

Jin Zixun walked in and purposefully bumped and shrugged him aside.

"Uncle. I promise to carry out your orders!" Zixun proclaimed then turned to leave

He gave Meng Yao the stink eye and began to bark

"Well what are you waiting for. Move it!"

Meng Yao complied. He gave his pleasant smile but was already scheming a plot to kill this bastard. He won't go through it though, he did not want to cause any trouble just yet.

He gave a deep bow to his father and left. Following behind Jin Zixun. They entered his office, Jin Zixun took his seat and made him stand as though he was his subordinate.

"Well you heard uncle. Get to it"

"I belive its best to collect a bit of information first" Meng Yao tried.

"That would be a waste of time. Just collect all street rats on the street. We can even go to the whore houses like the one you came from and buy all the bastards there"

Meng Yao held his tongue. But rage boiled his blood.

Jin Zixun was obviously pleased with his own idea. So pleased he decided to do it.

"That's a brilliant idea" he boasted to himself "well get to it" he snapped at the shorter man

"I still believe we have to do some research first" Meng Yao tried to stall

Jin Zixun clicked his tongue at this a stood up

"You dare go against me!"

"No I am merely making a suggestion" Meng Yao placated but it was for not.

"Well it is unneeded. I should have known you would be a coward, you're nothing but a useless wretch. I'll do it myself"

The man pushed Meng Yao aside, throwing him to the floor and barged out the office. Meng Yao clenched his hands into fists. Bottling everything up. He can't let this plan fall through.

So Meng Yao decided to abide and follow orders. Blending in, collecting information and evidence.

As Zixun had said, they collected orphans. Street rats. One particularly feisty one was among them. A street rat with a missing finger called Xue Yang. He was about twelve and had murder in his eyes.

Jin Guangshan found him to be quite intriguing.

If that man got to that boy first and promised him sweet nothings then a disaster was bound to occur.

Then there was that child. Another illegitimate offspring of Jin Guangshan. A skittish thing called Mo Xuanyu. A boy that reminded him to much of himself. However unlike him, the son of prostitute, the boy was the son of a second Lady.

But when he saw the boy, skinny frail and somewhat pale, he knew he had a better life than the child. His mother gave him everything. Made sure he did not go hungry, thought him to read and write.

Then something clicked. Mo Xuanyu. One his sibling that was listed on list the stranger had sent. His mother, a sixteen year old girl who knew nothing of the world and the vile creatures called men.

His mother. Mo Xuanyu's mother. Qin Su- All the women that fell victim to his bastard father.

Meng Yao had enough. But he was just one man right now. He needed an ally in this.

His first thought was Mingjue, but he decided against it. This was Jin business. And the man was getting better, he did not want to jeopardize his health over the snakes in this pit.

Then he thought about Zixuan. But he changed his mind, knowing his character, he would confront his father immediately. And his wedding was in a few days, he was not going to disturb him. There needed to be something happy to be celebrated lest he looses his sanity from dealing with the shitty Jins

There was only one person in this cesspool he could turn to

"So what brings a sniveling rat bastard like you here?" Asked Madam Jin

Meng Yao somehow felt like he just had a breath of fresh air. The insults that were always thrown at him always had something to do with his background

Madam Jin's insults were all him. What she saw when she saw him was her husband's infidelity. The result of that snake bastard's inability to keep it in his pants. She did not see his mother. She saw him and the man-whore he was sired by.

The servants served them tea. But neither attempted to take a sip. Neither trusting what would be in the cup.

"Is it wrong to pay the Jin matriarch respect. As someone as lowly as me, it is a duty to do so" Meng Yao says pleasantly

Madam Jin narrowed her eyes at him then waved the servants away

"Cut the pleasantries, what do you want?" Madam Jin decided to get to the point

"I want out" Meng Yao replied curtly

"Ha!" The Jin matriarch barked a laugh snarkly "you want out after spending all that time to get here!?"

"Well to be frank, I don't want to be here while father is still sect leader" Meng Yao clarified

"Says the man that was running around like a dog to please the bastard"

"Well I have had an epiphany somewhat recently and realized it is a futile attempt to garner any sort of acknowledgement from him"

Madam Jin gave a look. But was suddenly intrigued

"So you turned to me" she asked "I must say you have come to the wrong person. I make it known I despise you" she spat

"You may be competent in your work despite your weak cultivation but that won't be enough to impress me"

"But you see me as who I am" Meng Yao says proudly.

Madam Jin was shocked at this. Especially with that genuine tone of pride in his voice.

"Just to be clear, I called you are a sniveling rat bastard that wormed himself to were he was"

"I've been called a son of a whore. Sometimes a whore as well. For as long as I've been here you have not called me any of these"

"Well of course!" Madam Jin snapped "I pity all the women that fell into that bastard's bed. He brings shame to the Jin Sect and I have to suffer everyday knowing I'm married to him. Why would I fault your mother who fell for that bastard words!"

Madam Jin who had been married to Jin Guangshan for so long had always been ridiculed by gossips because of that man. The typical comments of how she couldn't please her husband made him run off, or her personality was to fierce that it made her unsuitable to be a wife and that she deserved what she got because of jealous tendencies.

Just thinking of this made her want to strangle her husband. But she couldn't do anything. She did not wish to do anything that would jeopardize her son's position. The reason why she hated her husband's infidelity so much was because all the bastards he sired could be a threat to her son.

Everything that was said about her made her look like she was a weak woman. But she was not. She was the sworn sister of the Violet spider and a revered Cultivator. But people forget that because she's a woman. And just Madam Jin.

"And that is why, despite all your insults, I deeply respect you Madam Jin" Meng Yao says and gave a deep bow

"You see me for who I am and not as my mother's son. Despite never acknowledging it out loud, you still see my efforts. I know I will never gain your respect or trust because of who had sired me but that does not deter the respect I have for you"

Madam Jin looked him, trying to decide if his words were true

"How do I know your not just using that silver tongue you inherited from Guangshan"

"Because honestly speaking despite having great respect for you, I don't like you" Meng Yao stated curtly and rose up from the bow. He decided to be honest.

Once again Madam Jin is shocked but then she let out a cackle. The cackling shocked Meng Yao greatly but it reminded him of Zixuan.

"I see. So you've decided to show me your true colours?"

"I need Madam Jin's aid. It did not seem wise to put up a charade to get what I needed from you" Meng Yao got back to the reason why they were having this conversation

"Oh and what makes you think I'll aid you in anything?" She raised her head to look down on the man

"Because it is for Zixuan-ge"

Madam Jin narrowed her eyes at him

"What do you want with my son?"

"I want him to be sect leader"

Madam Jin barked another dry laugh

"So instead of sucking up to Guangshan you decided to turn to my son"

"No. Zixuan-ge, despite being an awkward and pompous person has a good heart. He has already acknowledged me for who I am and even asked me to call him brother. He has already given me what I wanted" Meng Yao says fondly.

Madam Jin couldn't really refute the fact that her son was awkward and pompous. She couldn't help but remember his confession so she said nothing.

The man then picked up the now cold tea. And took a sip.

Seeing this, despite still not trusting the man, Madam Jin also took a sip of her own cold tea.

Neither cup was poisoned.

The woman finally decided to listen to him

"Why do you want to put my son on the seat. Would you not want it for yourself"

"What I wanted was to fulfill my mother's wish. I believe she thought I would be happy and safe if that had happened. But her wish has long been fulfilled" Meng Yao says with a smile. The acknowledgement may not have come from his father but he was happy. And he was not going to let anything hurt the source his joy.

Madam Jin decided not to ask how, knowing whatever had happened will not affect her son's position. Though she still did not trust Meng Yao.

"I'm not a righteous person like Zixuan-ge, da-ge or er-ge. I believe it is best that someone with high morals took the seat of sect leader. You can clearly see the results of how the sect is running with someone of low morals at its head"

"Badmouthing the sect leader in my presence, you have no fear" Madam Jin says sounding amused

"I digress" Meng Yao says sharing the sentiment

"But before putting Zixuan-ge on the seat, I'd like to clear out the snakes within this pit"

"I must agree with you on this. There is to much scum within these walls... Not you, you're rat"

Meng Yao wasn't sure whether that was an insult or a complement anymore. You can never know when it came to women. He just shook his head and continued

"Apart from the snakes, I must share with some things that may be unpleasant to hear"

"Nothing has ever been pleasant in my life since I married into the Jin Sect. Apart from my son of course. Speak!" She ordered

And so Meng Yao told the woman of Jin Guangshan's plans. She told him of the list of crimes that was sent to him. The list of siblings he had.

"That sick bastard!" Madam Jin smashed the table "I should just kill him!"

"Madam Jin, it may not be the right time" Meng Yao admonished

"That bastard has done to much!"

"Then what happens if something happens to you if you act rashly. The elders may strip Zixuan-ge of his rights as heir and then Jin Zixun would be next in line. And heavens help us all if that happens"

Madam Jin reluctantly backed down seeing the logic in the Meng Yao's words

"Than what shall we do?"

"I've come up with a plan. For now I'll play as father's pawn and relay all that I learn to you. You must amass a force of your own to go against him"

"You plan on starting a civil war. A coup d'état!?"

"It may be the only way. The man has many elders backing him, Zixuan-ge is only the heir because he is the legitimate son. And father cares about his image to much to put an illegitimate offspring in line for the seat. But if by chance he decides to choose another, he will without a second thought"

Madam Jin knew the man's assessment was accurate and could not refute the logic. She understood her husband more than anyone.

"So you plan to collect evidence to these crimes while you play the pawn and I will build up a force to push Guangshan off his seat. What else is there to do then?"

"Help me save the children. Jin Zixun is collecting orphans of cultivation age to turn them into soldiers who can Cultivate resentment like Wei Wuxian"

"That man has been obsessed with that boy's power for some time now. Very Well but how can we save them"

"The same as what the Jin Sect had done to Wei Wuxian. We spread rumors. They say Wei Wuxian would defile virgins and eat children... From what I heard from Nie Huaisang, he is a gremlin like him"

"Yes indeed. Yanli always spoke greatly about him and the Jiang Sect Leader. He gave my son a good smack to knock some senses into him to" the woman huffed "it wouldn't be to hard to spread rumors about the Jin Sect" she mused

They will spread rumors about the Jin Sect conducting human experiments turning people into monsters. Sowing seeds of fear within the public so they would know and perhaps help them gaurd the children they could not reach.

Hopefully there were good people out there to help. Or they could just scare them enough to prevent said monsters from being born. It is human nature to put themselves first. If they see anybody attempting to take a child, knowing about the monsters may make them move to prevent the monsters from being born.

And it won't just be about orphans on the streets. But about of all children. It was a tricky plan but they had limited options.

"Very well, leave that to me. Word by a woman's tongue spreads faster than wild fire"

Meng Yao knew that statement to be true.

And so they came to have a truce. Allied against all the snakes within this pit.

Chapter Text

"Did you hear about the Jin Sect?"

"I've heard, I've heard! They say they're making monsters!"

"I heard they were framing the Yilling Patriach"

"Ya, all that are just hearsay. What I'm wondering is if you heard about Hanguan-jun?"

"Hanguan-jun? What about the great Lan Wangji? Second Jade of Gusu?"

"Folks say he was traveling with a woman and a child. Quite a beauty they say. She had a Lan ribbon wrapped around her wrist."

"Could she be his lover. I heard they were walking hand in hand!"

"Then could the child they had with them, be their secret child!?"

Lan Wangji's face was as stone cold as ever. Internally he was smirking

Lan Xichen wore his ever pleasant smile but internally he was laughing

Lan Qiren was going to qi deviate.

What has happned when he was not looking!? The man felt like fainting. It was not just the rumors that were driving him mad but his nephew's to

What did they mean they saw Wangji with a woman and a child!? What did they mean Wangji walked hand in hand with that woman!? She had a Lan ribbon!? Where in the heavens does he keep disappearing off to!?

And why did Xichen come back with a missing hair pin one day!?

When his eldest nephew came back with a missing hair pin but had a purple hair ribbon wrapped around his wrist, his second nephew had simply raised a brow at this while he was on the verge of qi deviation.

He had asked what had happened to the hair pin, but all he had said was that it was somewhere safe.

Yes, somewhere safe with who!? Did Xichen have a woman to!? And why was that purple ribbon so familiar!?

He had asked before but Xichen gave a vague description

"My hair pin is safe with someone that has quite the temper and is very cute when you're gentle with them"

Did you give your pin to a cat!?

Lan Qiren took a seat to calm his nerves. They were gathered at the Lanling Jin to honor and celebrate the wedding of young maiden Jiang and Young master Jin. The event was yet to start but he was already tired.

"You look like shit" Madam Jin appeared by his side

"Language" he scolded his peer

Not many knew this but the two was of the same generation. Along with one certain Canse Sanren. Many things have happneed so they rarely speak of their past.

"Hmph" Madam Jin huffed "it's a grand day. What's making you so sour. Your going to ruin my Yanli and Son's wedding"

"I apologize. I have just been hearing many unpleasant things as of late"

"Oh, I thought Lans weren't supposed to part take in gossips"

"It is forbidden to gossip. However, how exactly am I supposed to turn off my hearing when it's spoken within ear shot!" Lan Qiren huffs

The man then looks at Madam Jin. Her cultivation was high, making her look like she was still in her twenties. He to was the same - if only he cut that goatee. The rumors he overheard about the Jin Sect were concerning

"What is happening with your clan?" He asked

Madam Jin gave him a look with a raised brow. Then a wicked smirk appeared on her lips

"Oh did the great grand Master Lan hear about us as well?" The woman asked slyly

Lan Qiren simply huffed and began to stroke his goatee waiting for an answer

"There is no need to get your whiskers in a twist. My rat and I are taking care of things"

Lan Qiren balked

"Your rat?" He asked

"A sly sniveling little bastard he is. But he is competent I must grudgingly admit. We're united with a common goal so there is no need to worry about these rumors. What about you, I have been hearing many things about the twin jades recently"

The woman snickered at the man's predicament.

Just hearing this made Qiren begin to stress all over again

Madam Jin, perhaps possessed by the spirit of Cangse Sanren decided to attempt driving the final nail into the coffin

"So which of the twin jades wedding will I be attending soon?"

"You!" Lan Qiren tried his best to hold himself back

Madam Jin cackled

The man failed to realize something. There should only be rumors about Wangji. How the hell did rumors about Xichen spread? He and Wangji are the only ones who know about the hair pin and the purple hair ribbon.

Lan Qiren huffed and got up to take a walk because with his current company, he might actually qi deviate on the spot. He needed to get somewhere quiet. Away from the rumors and away from nosey company

And thats how he found himself in one of the gardens. It was quiet it was silent and the only other soul in sight was Jin Guangyao...

Eh...

Why was he here?

He belived the man should have been helping with the wedding preparations.

Qiren didn't have much of an opinion about the man, only what his first Nephew thought of him. He tried not think much of the man's background. Remembering the many rules of his clan and knowing there was a rule that said not to judge another by the conditions they grew within.

Jin Guangyao did not notice him. The man looked like he was catching a breath. Of course with how hectic everything was, he understood the need for a break.

"Oh A-Yao there you are!" A familiar voice called and Qiren dived behind a pillar

Eh...

Why am I hiding!?

He shocked himself with the action. He had no reason to hide but he was already behind the pillar when the owner of the voice approached the other man

It was Xichen

"I was looking for you. How is everything?" His nephew asked his sworn brother

"All is fine Er-ge. I just needed to catch my breath, things have been quite hectic"

"Oh?"

Qiren should not be eavesdropping. It was against the rules. But he did not want to expose himself by popping out from the pillar. He'll punish himself later

"Then if it's alright I'd like to ask about some things I've heard, it's a bit concerning"

Qiren nodded in approval as he stroked his beard. He was proud of his nephew attempting to uphold justice.

There was a moment of silence before te other finally spoke

"There is nothing to worry about Er-ge!" There was a smile in the others voice, Qiren took note "But I must admit that there are many things happening right now. And it may be to early to share things. But when something happens, I hope I may be able to ask for help"

"Of course A-Yao" Xichen says pleasantly "if that's the case"

Qiren held back a groan. The tone of his nephew suddenly gave him a headache. Nobody knew this but Xichen was a gremlin. The Lan version of a gremlin. He knew the rules like the back of his hand, which meant he was able to find evey single loophole and so he would not get in trouble.

That's how he and Nie Mingjue never got into any trouble during their days as Juniors.

"A-Sang has told me things"

There was a moment of silence before the other man spoke again

"A-Sang says to many things!" There was panic in Jin Guangyao's voice. "Er-ge, isn't it against your family rules to be gossiping!"

"Oh, I wasn't gossiping. Like you said it's against the rules. A-Sang was just reporting to me what had happened. Oh A-Yao I'm so glad you and Da-ge are getting along"

Xichen my boy...

Qiren really felt like groaning. He understood why some people found his eldest nephew unnerving. The man could get under your skin without breaking any of the rules.

Like just now, he was not gossiping. He was simply enquiring about the report. And he was not assuming anything, he just knew the relationship of the other two parties involved had improved.

Xichen had a talent for these loopholes, that's how he was able to talk his way out of any talks about marriage. And now he gave his pin away.

"We are getting along I guess" Qiren could hardly pick that up

"And da-ge had been looking like he was over the moon"

"Yes, da-ge had been smiling alot more!" Jin Guangyao voice suddenly gained strength

Qiren could perfectly see his nephew's impish gremlin smile. Though that smile looked all his others.

"Er-ge!"

Qiren felt sorry for Xichen's victim. But he can't help but feel glad that his not the one.

"You- you- You're just like A-sang, you're are gremlin!" Jin Guangyao huffed and Qiren could hear him start to walk off

Xichen laughed and he could hear him following

Qiren could finally come out and take a breath but then a familiar purple caught his eyes once more and he was once again behind the pillar

Purple?...

Jiang purple!?

Qiren held onto the pillar. Of course how could he not figure it out. Xichen lost his hair pin after he had went to have an audience with the Jiang sect leader. They went on a night hunt together as well. And since it was forbidden to lie, he knew his nephew didn't loose it on that night hunt.

Perhaps it was a Jiang Maiden that Xichen had given his pin to... the Jiang's had strong personalities, what kind of maiden would have won over his nephew's heart he wondered.

"Jiang Wanyin..." Qiren froze at the sound of that voice

It was his youngest nephew

Since when was Wangji close with Jiang Wanyin!?

"Cheng-xiong! We finally found you!" Another voice.

Nie Huaisang?

Why would Wangji associate with that Nie gremlin? Willingly?

Qiren had to many questions. No one to answer them and to much time to wonder and come up with more.

"Urgh" Jiang Cheng groaned "I just escaped sect leader Yao and Ouyang and now you find me"

"Also how the hell is Zizhen that man's son!?"

Who now!?

"It's a shame really. I heard from the boy that he actually ran away from home and then he and his friends ended up here" Huaisang sighed

"Where is he anyway?"

"I'm not gonna expose the brat and jeopardize his safety! His back home crying his heart out"

"Mn... the children need to remain a secret" Wangji agreed

Children!? What children!?

"Poor A-Zhen. But you're right we can't expose the children. We came to ask if you heard about the rumors going around. Our da-jie probably has not heard anything yet. Wangji-xiong?"

"Mn" says Wangji "my beloved has not heard anything"

Qiren felt very faint! Oh its true! Wangji does have a secret lover and the Nie gremlin knew about her! Wait did that mean the child is his to

"I feel like throwing up everytime I hear something like that. Please refrain from saying such things in my presence" Jiang Cheng grumbled

"Mn" Translation - I will call my love whatever I want

"Now, now, Cheng-xiong. You know we can't address our sworn gremlin sibling by their name in public. It will garner suspicion. Referring them as Wangji-xiong's beloved is easier"

The woman is a sworn sibling of the Nie and Jiang!? How can this be? Who is she? Does that mean they also know Wei Wuxian? Was that the reason Wangji had decided to settle. Because that woman was close to Wei Ying!?

No!

Qiren won't allow that! He can't let Wei Wuxian corrupt his nephew. He'll allow Wangji's bride and child in. He has to do it before Wei Wuxian corrupts them as well.

"Whatever... and yes I heard about the Jins. What do you think they're doing?"

"From what I've heard, they're stealing children off the streets to turn them into monsters. If you ask me, I think they're attempting to build and army"

Quite grand accusations there young Nie, Qiren thought. But he saw the logic within that line of thought.

"I see. Those brats didn't mention anything about Jin Guangshan building an army. Could this be one of the effects of changing the timeline"

This conversation has now greatly intrigued Qiren. The Jiang Sect Leader, the Nie heir and his nephew were involved in something. And from the looks of it, the balance of the cultivational world might be at stake.

But some of the things said has him befuddled

Brats? Changing the Timeline?

But somethings were adding up. Madam Jin said her rat and her were taking care of things. Jin Guangyao assured his elder nephew not to worry about things and asked for support.

"I believe so. San-ge says that Jin Zixun has been saddled with him. Apparently Jin Guangshan had decided to stick a watchdog on him. Da-ge has been so annoyed when he came here early yesterday. Saying he couldn't even spend some private time with San-ge" Huaisang huffed

"Mn.... Xiongzhang was able to speak with him just now but only for a shot moment I believe"

Strange... was that the reason why Jin Guangyao looked so stressed when Xichen found him

"I believe the rumors about the monsters were started by San-ge. If not that I doubt anybody would know that the Jin's have been trying to do something. They seem to have been divided as off late. Jin Zixuan probably hasn't noticed yet though"

Indeed, the man had been so busy preparing for his wedding, added with his duties and other things. The man had realised Jin Guangyao work being that of five man and had taken it upon himself to help him. He underestimated work load.

"An army of monster doesn't sound good" Jiang Cheng scoffed

"Hmph.... hypocrites they are! Accusing our da-jie while they're exactly that!"

Qiren heard a fan snap shut. And what do mean they accused Wangji's beloved of building an army. What kind of woman did his nephew give his heart to!?

"Why exactly are you calling that idiot dajie!?" At last Jiang Cheng snapped

Will Qiren finally get a name to this mysterious da-jie?

"What else should we call them then. They are Wangji-xiong's bride afterall. Plus it's not like da-jie and Yanli-jie are only brides of the Jiang sect"

There was a teasing tone in Huaisangs voice

"It's a token of friendship!" Jiang Cheng yelled

Qiren jumped in his place at the sudden out burst. Dumbstruck really.

"Oh my, I didn't even mention a name. Did you receive something to be considered are bride?" Huaisang teased

"You-"

"Some one else was really happy with their token. Waved it in my face actually. To give such a thing, I didn't know you could be so forward Cheng-xiong"

"Mn"

"I didn't give him anything!" Jiang Cheng yelled and Qiren was about qi deviate. He felt very faint. And Wangji knew

The maiden who the purple ribbon belonged to was no maiden at all. It was sect leader Jiang Cheng.

"That idiot grabbed it and then shoved that thing in my hands!"

"Don't call Xiongzhang an idiot" Wangji spoke. This was Wangji huffing in annoyance

There it was! Wangji confirmed it. The only thing holding him up now was the pillar that hid him from the three younger men.

"I'll call him what I want! Our business is none of your business just like you and that idiot's business is none of mine!" Jiang Cheng snapped back

Wangji could not refute. So he gave in but not without having the last word

"Very well, sister in law"

"You-" Jiang Cheng was just about to let lose a string of curses before the current bane of his existence appeared

"Wanyin!" Came Xichen's cheerful voice once more "there you are!"

"Oh Wangji and A-Sang to!"

"Er-ge" "Xiongzhang" the two mentioned greeted

"I was looking everywhere for you!"

"You were!?"

"Why of course! Aren't we announcing our friendship alliance today. I hope you talked to your elder sister about this?"

"We agreed to only announce it after the wedding when the sect leaders gathered for the meeting after"

Qiren could tell Jiang Cheng was masking the tone he was using with the other two earlier

"Wonderful! Than it's alright if I could steal you for a few moments?" Xichen asked slyly

Qiren didn't need to have eyes that could see through the pillar to see Jiang Wanyin turning red as a tomato, Nie Huaisang snickering while he and Wangji seemingly moved out of frame slowly

"I- wait- where did those fools go" Jiang Cheng asked baffled when he noticed the missing Lan and Nie

"Oh I didn't notice them go. Well Wanyin since it's just the both of us"

There was suddenly a squeak.

Qiren had to hold himself back from jumping out to see what was happening. Knowing his nephew his afraid he might have to jump in to save the younger sect leader from his nephew's sly nature

"What are you trying to do! You already took one of ribbons!"

"Oh nothing, I've just realized how nice your hair feels"

Xichen Shameless!

Jiang Cheng was red

"I've always admired your way of perseverance. You always looked quite stunning" Xichen sounded solemn and serious

"Surely you jest. Weren't you in the same position" Jiang Cheng replied

"Yes indeed. But I had others by my side to help me. You stood back up on your own. Your strength is trully awe inspiring and truth be told I couldn't look away after laying my eyes upon it" there was a certain tone in Xichen's voice.

It sounded... predatory? Qiren wasn't sure

"I thank you for your words then" Jiang Wanyin voice sounded somewhat choked

Qiren could suddenly feel tension in the air.

"You know Wanyin I'd like to ask, have ever showed these kinds of expressions to anyone else? Especially the way you look right now. Or do you just show it to your friends?"

"What? Of course no! it's just that it's you and-"

Jiang Cheng snapped his mouth shut

"Oh just me? I hope I'll be the only one to see these expressions of yours then"

Xichen's voice was lilth and teasing.

"Then what will happen if I show someone else then!?" Jiang Cheng decided to challenge

The air suddenly grew cold. Qiren almosted chocked

"Oh Wanyin" Xichen sounded dangerous

Nope!

Qiren was not ready for whatever his nephew will become when he's jealous. Lan's were down right possessive. Jiang Wanyin was quite brave to challenge his nephew but it was time to save the younger sect leader.

He slowly looked from the pillar. Xichen's whole body had the shorter man pressed against the wall completely covering him. The Lan had the Jiang had backed him up all the way to the wall!

His nephew! He did not raise him like this!

(Note: strict parents raise sneaky children!)

Qiren wanted to yell shameless right there. But he needed to distance himself from his pillar.

He got closer and then cleared his throat.

Not a moment too soon his eldest nephew went flying into the flowerbeds...

Hmph! Deserved!

"Grandmaster Lan!?" Jiang Wanyin panicked "Apologies! Please Excuse me!"

The younger man ran. It appears its not the chastity of his nephew's he should be protecting but the ones of those who caught his nephew's eyes. Thank goodness Lan's only loved once.

Qiren looked at his nephew

"Shufu" Xichen greeted as though he was not upside-down in the flowerbed

Qiren had no words. Actually he had a lot to say but the wedding had begun

"We will speak of this once we return to gusu"

Then with a flick of his sleeves he left. Now he needed to find appropriate gifts to send Jiang Wanyin in apology for Xichen's behavior. And also find out about Wangji's bride and child.

And also he was going to get to the bottom of whatever that was going on!

Chapter Text

To say he was nevours was an understatement. He was a bundle of nerves. Jin Ling could not relax.

"Will you stop!" Jingyi snapped

Jingyi had watched Jin Ling pace the entire book shop, checked and restocked the shelves, attempted to burn regret of Chushan again and then paced some more

"Just stop! You're making me nervous just by watching you!"

"How can I not be!" Jin Ling cried

"Little me will be here anytime soon, my dad is still not in the know, something is going on with the Jins cause there's rumors of them making an army! That did not happen in our time!"

That was the most concerning thing. The Jin's - specifically Jin Guangshan and his lackeys - did not build or attempt to build an army in their time.

They did rally those of the other clans but they had been expecting that. Not an army of their own, one where they were pulling children off the streets to make.

Jiang Cheng had decided to minimize Zizhen's trips. Deeming it would be to dangerous for him to be on his own. Zizhen tried to protest but was shot down by all the adults.

Young aspiring Cultivators and children at the age to start cultivation were snatched off the streets. The rumors that spoke of the Jin creating monsters had spread but out of fear for the great sect, the common folk and minor sects did not dare to speak out about it. The rumors made adults wary and some have been seen rallying the street kids up and taking them in for the nights.

Putting them in old sheds so they won't be snatched. Then keeping them within view during the day.

In Yilling Senior Wen had sat up a shelter for the children with the help of Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning.

Speaking of Senior Wen, he and Zizhen had told them about how they he had got here and the large time difference.

For sure now that even the ghost general of their time was here, their senior Wei would show up soon and help them...

Hopefully.

Wei Wuxian's experimental talismans acted like a checkpoint, connecting two different points, allowing one to jump from one point to the other.

Now what Wei Wuxian had to figure out was how does one find the check point of their - the time travellers - time.

There's a bunch for the past. It's lying everywhere in the demon slaughtering cave.

Jin Ling and rest of the Junior's were hoping their senior Wei made a another talisman. But considering the large time difference, who knows how long it would take.

Senior Wen who had lived through these times himself had told the others of what he remembered.

The time leading up to Jin Ling's birth then first month anniversary was peaceful. Then the ambush happened.

From Senior Wen's recount, Senior Wei had been in control until he was overwhelmed by resentment that was planted by the Jin's.

Then when Senior Wen and Maiden Wen turned themselves in, someone attempted to take control of Senior Wen. But he had refused and then overwhelmed with resentment as well and went berserk.

He had been captured then, experimented on and more. The Jins trying to take control of him using Xue Yang and Mo Xuanyu.

Wei Wuxian currently had ghosts out looking for the two. It was better to get their hands on those two first before the other does. But it had seemed they were to late

"Mo Xuanyu should still be with his mother and Xue Yang that bastard should also be brat right now!" Jin Ling says

He looked a moment away from pulling out his hair.

"I guess these are those butterfly effects that Zizhen and Senior Wei talked about" Jingyi mused

He was rather calm compared to the panicked Jin.

"Why are you so calm!?" Jin Ling snapped

"Because I don't want to be like you! If we panic now, who knows what might happen!" Jingyi snapped back

"Will you kids keep it down!" Nie Huaisang called from his office within the book shop. Jin Ling may renovated the place a bit in a fit to get rid of some nervous energy

The man walked out and looked at the quarreling teens and sighed

"I understand you are feeling nevours right now. Scared actually but A-Yi is right A-Ling. If you panic now who knows what might happen. Bigger changes may happen resulting the worst case scenario"

Jin Ling let out a sigh. He was just a nervous wreck that he didn't even comment on the nicknames. He took deep breaths trying to calm himself but it was not working

Huaisang took note of this and made a decision.

"Why don't we close the shop for today and go see what Wei-xiong is doing?" He says with a smile

The adults had limited their trips up and down the mounds. Just like how Zizhen was also limited from traveling alone. Yilling may be a small town with many of the people keeping to themselves but with the Jin's on the move who knows who might be within the crowd.

Lan Wangji had also limited his visits. Jin Ling knew without a doubt that, that was killing the man.

And he would never admit it to anyone but a trip up had made him unnecessarily excited. They get to see Sizhui and A-Yuan. His little Da-jui and the Wens!

"Really!" Jingyi was more vocal about their excitement

"Yeah! It will help get your mind off things" Huaisang answered cheerfully

And now with excited energy they locked up and made their way up the mounds. The trip would be short and peaceful and Jin Ling was just forgetting why he was so nervous when Huaisang snapped his head back aggressively. The man instantly took a stance blocking the younger ones and flicked his fan open.

The movement was instantaneous and aggressive causing both Jin Ling and Jingyi to also take a stance. However they had been shocked by the Nie.

This was the Nie that ran at the first sign of danger!?

The Nie narrowed his eyes and glared in a certain direction towards the busy market. He then clicked his fan and snapped it shut. Then noticed the two Juniors staring at him bewildered

"Oh haha!" He suddenly laughed. His demeanor calming down and changing drastically

"I thought I saw something"

This just caused the two Juniors to panic and look around. They would not look over Nie Huaisang instincts or anyone else from the past.

"It's nothing, let's hurry up the mounds. I think it's best if you kids also stay up there for a while. I'll run the shop for now"

And so now with new urgency they tracked up the path. Jin Ling felt like they were being watched the whole time.

....

"Hahaha!" A laugh came from one of two strangers

Both dressed in black. One was home within his clothes while the other looked like they wanted to rip what he wore off and then pummel the other

"How did we never realize how sharp Nie-xiong was!?" The one that laughed says

"Who knows, we were all to busy trying to survive to notice" his companion grumbled

Nie Huaisang and his secrets. All thought he was just a defenseless nobody. They were all dead wrong, the sect leader Nie would not have been able to survive within his own sect and lead it if he was a defenseless nobody. In a way he was just like Jin Ling.

"The kids have done alot, don't you think?" The first man says. There was a smile in his voice with a hint of melancholy

The other did not answer

They stood in the shadows, avoiding all the towns folk and any and all Cultivators. They had arrived a week ago looking for their missing children and finally found them and saw what they had done.

The two strangers were none other then Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng of the future

A week ago

Wei Ying was panicking. His kids were missing, he could not sleep, he could not eat, all he could do was search for any signs of his kids.

He had gone back to where they had disappeared but then Jiang Cheng was notified and a fight nearly broke out when he came barging in and demanding answers. There was so much commotion that it had forced Lan Xichen out of his seclusion. Wei Ying and his brother where in another heated argument and then Wen Ning also disappeared. The same way the kids had.

When one of the Lans had reported, Wei Ying rushed to the scene in a panic. The look in his eyes shocked Jiang Cheng. It was a look that he had never wanted to see again. Wei Wuxian had the same look he had when Lotus pier burned down. The same look when they their sister.

Wei Ying lost Wen Ning once, he couldn't lose him again. The man who had become a little brother to him. How could he ever face Wen Qing if he ever met again. And Jin Ling, how would he ever face his shijie and Sizhui. His heart would not be able to take it if he lost Sizhui or even Lan Zhan.

If it weren't for Lan Zhan and Jiang Cheng grounding him, he probably would have lost it. Wen Ning disappearing had shocked them all. And with Wei Ying's panicked state it had just made it worse

But with the disappearance of the ghost general came a fresh trail to follow. It wasn't much. Just an energy signature that Wei Ying latched onto rabidly

He and Wen Ning were connected through resentment. A type of connection that allowed them to sense where the other was. It was not possible for him at first. It was just something he had discovered after living in Mo Xuanyu's body for a while. With the help of the Golden core within the body, he was able to sense and feel things that were once lost to him.

And with it came the ability to sense Wen Ning. Though the younger man always had the connection. But thanks to it he was able to find him. And with him came the others.

But not completely. The connection had first brought him some place between yilling and Yumeng. But Wen Ning was no where in sight. And then Wen Ning was suddenly on the move, heading to Gusu. They followed the trail but Wen Ning was still no where in sight.

The frustration was killing them. Wei Ying could not understand what was happening. And to make matters worse, once he focused on the connection, he could feel Wen Ning's emotions. Just as how Wen Ning was used to feeling his emotions.

Wen Ning had felt confused and lost at first, then he felt fear. Wei Ying nearly panicked again but his husband was by his side to reassure him.

He focused on Wen Ning again and that's when he felt the other feel relief. Great relief as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulders and with that Wei Ying knew Wen Ning probably found something.

Then the trail headed to Lotus Pier and into the main hall. And thats where Wei Ying had an idea of what was happening.

Despite Jiang Cheng's angry squabbling saying the ghost general was not here, Wei Ying adamantly stood his ground and said Wen Ning was here. At exactly were he stood. Facing Jiang Cheng.

"His here! But not here at the same time!" Wei Ying had said excitedly.

Finally feeling hope after what felt like forever

And then he felt Wen Ning feel joy. Joy and relief so much that he felt like the other might be ascending

"I think he just found one of the kids!"

"Wei Wuxian you're not making any sense!" Jiang Cheng had yelled

"Wanyin" Lan Xichen chided. He to had come along to look for his Wayward ward. Jiang Cheng listened to him and calmed down.

"Wei Ying" Lan Zhan came up to his husband with a question unspoken

"Wen Ning's here but not here. It's like he's in a whole other world!"

"What?" Jiang Cheng balked. The Lans also looked stupefied

"There's no other way for me to describe this. His right here where I'm standing!"

"Are you saying, that whatever young master Wen had touched sent him to a parallel world?" Xixhen asked confused

"Exactly! Probably the same place where the kids disappeared off to as well!" Wei Ying was excited

"Then how do we get them back?" Jiang Cheng scoffed

"That I have to still figure out" Wei Ying says truthfully

And so Wei Ying got to work while following Wen Ning. And that's when they discovered something else

"I think they're in the past" Wei Wuxian says.

Wen Ning had brought them to Yilling. To the place where Jiang Cheng had brought Shijie to him before her wedding.

Jiang Cheng didn't want to believe him

"Are you sure?" Lan Xichen asked sounding concerned. He noticed the place was bringing up memories for both the Wei and Jiang

Lan Zhan was by Wei Ying's side. A solid form for him to lean onto. Jiang Cheng had no one and Xichen didn't know what to do.

"What's young master Wen feeling now?" Xichen asked attempting to break the gloomy atmosphere

"Curious?" It was more of a question "but his happy. Happier then before. I think he found everyone. But he feels nevours. He feels hesitant. He feels guilty" Wei Ying felt like choking

Because of Wen Ning's disposition he couldn't express what he felt most times but he felt everything strongly.

"Why!? He found the kids. He should be looking for a way to get back!" Jiang Cheng says in his usual aggressive manner

However Wei Ying was not having it today

"Jiang Cheng how would you feel if you could see Shijie again" Wei Ying's voice lacked the usual mirth

"What!?" Jiang Cheng raged

"Wanyin" "Wei Ying" both Lans stood in between the brothers

"If I'm right and the kids and Wen Ning was in the past and they're here who do think is here!" Lan Zhan held his husband sensing he needed him right now

"Jin Ling how- what do you think Jin Ling is feeling right now" Wei Wuxian held onto his husband. He couldn't imagine what his nephew was feeling. He wanted to hug the boy. Have him here in his arms but he also didn't want to take away the chance of him meeting his mother.

Jiang Cheng stood frozen at that. He looked at the ruined courtyard. Somewhere in some parallel world, somewhere in the past, his sister was there. And his nephew was there to meet her

Then they walked up to the burial mounds. Now completely deserted. No corpse in sight. No human in sight. Simply empty. Wei Ying's heart ached with the memories that came flowing when...

"Wei Ying!" Lan Zhan called out alarmed

Everyone turned to the dark clad Cultivator. He was crying. He himself was shocked but then he remembered something

"Wen Ning can't cry" he says.

And so Wei Ying let the tears fall and the others fell silent with guilt.

Wen Ning's emotions had suddenly became to much that he had to stop and imagining what he was seeing brought pain to his own heart. Wei Ying was sure some of the tears he just lost were his own as well

They were now sure. The kids and Wen Ning were in the past. They enlisted the help of clan leader Nie to get the kids and Wen Ning back.

The man had already known about the disappearance of the Juniors through his sources and was about to make a offer to help but Wei Ying had beat him to it and asked for help anyway

They devised a teleportation array, homing in on Wen Ning's energy signature however they had found multiple energy signatures calling out to them.

Wei Ying let out a laugh

"Past me has been working hard!"

All energy signatures were calling out to them from the burial mounds. They tweaked the array enough so that they would be transported some distance away

Their Wen Ning was also at the burial mounds. Most likely with the others and with those of the past. Wei Ying did not want to shock them. So he and Jiang Cheng went first

His husband and sect Leader Nie would join later. Xichen opted to stay behind. They understood why. His wounds were still fresh even after a couple of years. Just seeing Huaisang also hurt. Wei Ying said nothing because he understood both sides.

And so here they were

Present (past)

"They did so much that I'm impressed and proud!" Wei Ying boasted. But the man was in tears

In the week the brothers arrived they investigated and learnt the boys and had done alot. Through the ghosts, they had learnt the Wens had support from the Jiang clan. The past Wei Wuxian's banishment was a hoax and they were striving up in the burial mounds. Nie Huaisang had joined the cause then followed by Lan Wangji.

The boys had done so much. The two adults of the future knew they would never be able to sit still when given the situation.

Jiang Cheng however couldn't help but feel a little bit bitter. If had had known what would happen would things have turned out differently. If he had made different choices, would what had happened happen?

"Jiang Cheng" Wei Wuxian called.

Despite all the time and animosity between them, Wei Ying could still read his brother like an open book

"The things have already happned to us. Its all in our own past now"

Jiang Cheng wanted to retort with a snarky comment but held back for now. He didn't really know what to say. Instead he decided to get straight to the point

"So what do we do now? Grab the brats and leave?"

"I don't think the boys would come with us and leave with unfinished business. Now that many things are about change"

They have noticed things that the boys would not know off. The small things the boys have done had begun to turn the tides of fate for this world. The book the boys had released has caused many to sympathize with the written soul mates and many have begun to see similarities with those of the great figures of the cultivational world

"Do you think the reason why Hanguan-jun wants to capture Wei Wuxian the Yilling Patriach is because he wants to protect him?"

The people would say

"Ya, how can that be?"

"But if you think about it Wei Wuxian was the only other person who is very close with Hanguan-jun!"

Those weren't the only things they have heard

"Those Jin's sure are something! Taking over everything as if they played a big part in the war!"

"It was only Jin Zixuan and a few of his men who had fought in the war. And Lianfeng-zun who wasn't even a Jin at the time!"

"And Wei Wuxian building an army!? Ba! What nonsense is that! Ever since he moved up there at the burial mounds, there has not been an attack in yilling since and just look, our town is striving again!"

"I say if the Jin's try to take him we should stop them!" One old man yelled out

"You old fool! How are you going stop a great sect!" His wife retorted smacking him on the back

"Leave me woman! I don't know how but I will. I've lived in this town my whole life and this is the first time I'm seeing so much life in it. I'm not letting those trashy jealous fools ruin it!"

Others joined in with their cheers

Without knowing the boys had gathered many supporters. Many common folk, most of those in Yilling were willing to stand for the Wei Wuxian of this time

"Your counterpart has supporters. My counterpart must be having a headache"

They had figured out the kids had decided to split up. Zizhen was in Yumeng with the Jiang clan. Probably giving the past Jiang Cheng a migraine.

"So what do we do?" The man asked

"We help the boys of course!" Wei Ying grew a mischievous grin

"The boys have done alot of things and now the Jins are on the move. Not only that but I can smell a civil war. Jin GuangYao of this time seems to be working against Jin Guangshan"

"What are you planning?" Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes at his brother

"The sooner Jin Guangshan is out of the picture the sooner everyone is safe"

"So you plan to assassinate the bastard!? Don't do anything reckless you fool!" Jiang Cheng ordered

"If anything happens to that bastard, your counterpart will be the first to blame. And when that happens who knows what else will happen. They'll probably learn of the brats and everything else!"

"I know that!" Wei Ying retorted "I wasn't planning to assassinate him, I was thinking of joining their ranks and seeing what was happening on the inside. While at the same time destroying them from within"

Though honestly speaking assassination was the first thing he thought of before thinking it through

"We let the boys handle this for now. We can't just barge in and ruin all that they have done. Honestly they have done better job than whatever I could imagine!"

"But we should still let them know that we have found a way!" Jiang Cheng barked

"Way ahead of you!" Wei Ying brought a finger to his temple gave a grin

.....

"A-Ning!" Senior Wen heard a voice

The man turned around to see who had called him but it was only his sister, his counter part and the past Young master Wei.

The boys of the bookshop arrived with young master Nie and were currently having a three way sparing match with Sizhui outside in a clearing he had made. Huaisang was watching them.

He was not going to let them slack off. Hanguan-jun might be disappointed in them. Then at him for not watching them. And if he's disappointed then Young master Wei would also be disappointed. He didn't want that.

Perhaps there was a bug in his ear. They got there sometimes. He went back to work which was helping his counter part clean up the demon slaughtering cave

His sister was attempting to turn past young master Wei into a pin cushion. The young man had overworked himself once more and his jiejie was trying put him to sleep - actual sleep. His counterpart attempted to get in-between that but he decided to save his younger self from getting caught in the crossfire.

Anyways back to work

"A-Ning, I know you're there! Are you ignoring me now! Who thought you this!"

Senior Wen's head shot up and he looked around once more. That was his master Wei's voice. Mo Xuanyu's voice which his meant-

"Young master Wei!" He called out excitedly

"Yes?" The current Wei Wuxian answered then dodged, barely missing a needle

"Ah sorry not you little master Wei" Senior Wen shook his head

"Haha! You're calling my past self little master!" The ghost guardian heard his master's voice once more

It was then he realized that he was hearing his voice in his mind. The young master Wei of his time and the Juniors were speaking through his mind

"Are you in my head!?" Senior Wen asked alarmed. The others also looked at him in alarm

"Yes!" Wei Ying of the future answered cheerfully "but not really. I just tapped into the connection we have. Just how you can feel when I'm in danger, I can also tell were you are and what your feeling now!"

If Senior Wen still had blood flowing through his veins he'd be blushing red by now

"Ya! Stop getting embarrassed over this! Is this how you feel everytime I'm with Lan Zhan!"

"I've learned to mute it" Senior Wen says making the others very confused

Yes Senior Wen could feel the emotions of the Wei Ying from the future but it was the type of feeling he knew which was separate from his own. But sometimes strong emotions overwhelmed him. Emotions such as anger. He had long learned how to dampen the connection so he did not feel young master Wei's emotions 24/7.

"Are you talking to my counterpart!?" The past Young Master Wei was first to figure out what Senior Wen was doing

"Yes" he answered

"Oh Wen Ning my didi, tell my past self to stop being an idiot" says future Wei Ying

"He says to tell you 'don't be an idiot'" Senior Wen relays

"I beg your finest pardon!" Wei Wuxian balked

Wen Qing cackled. She loved the fact that this version of her brother did not hold back. And hoped one day her A-Ning became like this.

"Young master Wei of the future!" Wen Ning asks curiously

"Oh A-Ning say hi to Wen Qing and little Ning for me. Tell them I missed them!"

Senior Wen had a sad smile when he turned to his sister and his past counter part and relayed the message. Knowing how his master felt, Senior Wen felt like he was about to cry

"Tell him we say hello as well" Wen Qing says with a said smile

Greetings were passed with the grumbling of little master Wei

"Young master are you here!" Senior Wen finally asked

"I am!" The voice in his head replied happily "but don't tell the boys"

"What!?" Senior Wen balked

"You and the boys are doing fine job. And I'm sure they don't want to leave when things are just starting to begin. You can tell the boys that we have found a way, we're going to help you lot on our end"

"Our?" Asked Senior Wen. He couldn't help but feel nervous

"Me and Jiang Cheng!"

"Sect leader Jiang is here as well!?" Senior Wen squeaked

Hearing this both Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning of the past visibly flinched. An older and angrier version of Jiang Cheng did not sound pleasent. He'd probably high tail it out of there - most likely with Jin Ling - the moment he hears that version of his brother was near.

Senior Wen had begun praying for the Juniors in his heart

"We'll help finish what the boys have started. But don't tell them! It's going to be a suprise!"

Senior Wen shook his head at this then turned to the others and gave one of his brightest smiles

"Young master Wei said his going to help us!"

The three individuals of the past looked visibly shaken at this but smiles grew upon the faces of the younger ones

"Really!" The younger Wen Ning asked excitedly

Senior Wen nodded equal excitement

"That's- that's- I can't even find the words!" Wei Wuxian cheered "we have to tell the boys!"

"Um... actually" Senior Wen began but...

"He wants to suprise them!" It wasn't a question. Wei Wuxian had that gremlin smile on his lips

Senior Wen simply smiled at this. Wei Wuxian and his master were the same people after all. Different but still the same

"I'm not even suprised" Wen Qing says as she shook her head but she to had a fond smile.

That day Senior Wen told the boys that their senior Wei had found a way and that they would be seeing them soon. The boys were estatic. Jingyi was crying his heart out.

They really thought they were going to get stuck here.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't be of help" Wei Wuxian told Senior Wen when they were alone

"Actually, it was thanks to you that he was able to find us. That talisman that brought me here left a trace and the young master Wei of our time was able to find it"

Senior Wen was quick to reassure the younger. Wei Wuxian couldn't help but smile happily at this with newly found confidence.

And so time passed by peacefully and finally little Jin Ling was born.

Chapter Text

Meng Yao had a predicament

Everything was going well. He had secretly gathered many evidence against a number of Jin elders and feeding false reports to Jin Zixun and Jin Guangshan.

His relationship with his brother Zixuan has grown closer and so did his strange relationship with Madam Jin. He had established a bond with the young Mo Xuanyu and promised to get him out along with the rascal Xue Yang

Meng Yao couldn't just take them away in the night though. Jin Guangshan had his eyes on them. Both were promising Demonic Cultivators

Madam Jin have been meticulously collecting supporters and it was clear as day for all to see that the Jin's were divided. One side filled with arrogance and the other side was done with their bullshit.

Everything was swell...

His problem was the two Demonic Cultivators that suddenly joined the ranks

Who were they, where did they come from and why join Jin Guangshan that coward of all people!

They appeared with the wind. Meng Yao had gone to give his report about Mo Xuanyu and Xue Yang, falsely detailing how they weren't making any progress when they were actually excelling beyond their expectations when they had appeared

Two men dressed in black. Both wearing masks hiding their faces. One was stern and the other was cheerful. They had come to make a deal with Jin Guangshan. They will join their ranks if they paid them their price

Meng Yao could see all the reasons not to take the deal as he was wary of the two suspicious men but Jin Guangshan was intrigued and agreed without a second thought

Meng Yao really wanted to find a way to travel back in time and slap his younger self. What on earth did he see in this man!?

Which now brings him to his predicament. The cheerful masked Demonic Cultivator had an arm over his shoulder and was basically being a hindrance to his work and was chatting his ear off about something that has to do rabbits

"Honoured guest, if you don't mind, I am very busy at this moment. Perhaps we can reschedule our chat" he tries

"Oh but I'm bored. The big boss did not ask for anything yet and my brother is to cranky to deal with right now! So now you're the only one I can talk to!" Says the man

It had been a week after they joined and he was tasked with watching them

There was something eerily familiar about him. He sounded like his little half brother. The mask hid a good portion of his face but there were many familiarities with Mo Xuanyu. Personality wise, this man was the opposite. The familiarities ended with the appearance. Well of what he could see that is.

Was this man another illegitimate child?. Meng Yao suddenly thought

"Then is there something I can say to satisfy you?" He really wanted to be left alone

The man suddenly gave a wicked grin and then rounded on him like a predator that had its prey cornered. This caused the Jin to nearly reach for his sword

"What are you doing with Madam Jin?" Asked the man

Meng Yao gritted his teeth. This man was as sharp as a blade.

"I apologize, I don't seem to understand what you're enquiring?" He decided to feign ignorance

"Oh than let me change my question. Why aren't you telling the truth about those boys!" The man asked cheerfully

Meng Yao's facade nearly broke. How did this man know about Xue Yang and Mo Xuanyu. He needed to get them out now!

"Aiya, there's no need to panic" the man suddenly says. He twirled around the Jin with light steps. Observing him as though he was some rare specimen "You make bad decisions when you panic!"

Meng Yao froze at this

"Don't worry your secret is safe with us. We won't tell a soul!" This startles Meng Yao even more.

"What!?" He balked

"Oh and one last question!"

"No wait! What-"

"Do you like Chifen-zun?" The man asked

Meng Yao felt like he just went on a wild carriage ride were the horses went crazy. He was so caught off gaurd by the last question that he turned red. So much that the vermillion mark on his forehead disappeared

The Demonic Cultivator laughed his head off and finally left him alone

He had to watch these men for a month. It was bound to be a harrowing month

Jin Ling has permanently placed himself near Wei Wuxian. So did Jingyi and Sizhui. Actually if it was possible to be glued to the young man's side then Sizhui would be glued to him

Anyways they were a month away and they were all a nevours wreck

"Enough! You're all suffocating me!" Wei Wuxian announced "I need my privacy you know!"

That was thrown at Sizhui

"My dear ducklings from the future, I know you're nevours and worried, but nothing is happening right now"

"We know but we can't help it!" Jingyi whined

In Lotus pier one Ouyang Zizhen had been pacing around then sitting in a corner and muttering to himself. A nevours wreck just as much as the others. Jiang Wanyin had no idea what to do to help cheer him up and so he just opted to stay near. Just incase the boy hurts himself with all that nervous energy.

"Okay then maybe if we talk about something! Aren't you guys excited to see your actual senior Wei again!?"

"Yeah!" Jingyi cheered "I bet Jin Ling would be happy to see sect leader Jiang to!"

It was true! Ever since he heard that his juijui was coming here, he was estatic. He couldn't wait to see him. This was the longest he had gone without seeing him and he missed him dearly.

Jiang Cheng was the one who raised him. Thought him everything he needed to know. He was his uncle but he was also his parent. The only one he trully ever known. He loved his mother and his father. Loved his mother even more now that he had met her but Jiang Cheng was and always has been his parent.

He doesn't care if his uncle breaks his legs. He just wants to be a little boy again and run into his Juijui's arms and stay there to make up for lost time

And if the others laugh at him, his going to break their legs or sick fairy on them. If his sect look at him as weak if they see, then his going to send his da-jui after them.

And so yes Jin Ling missed his uncle dearly. He was all he had ever known before the others came. That's why his younger self needed some sense knocked into him because he did want any versions of his dear uncle to suffer.

"Shut up, that's none of your business!" Jin Ling snapped. He was embarrassed

"Aiya, there's no need to be so shy. I'm sure the future Jiang Cheng missed you very much. And I bet he's really proud of you too" Wei Wuxian rubbed his nephew's head "he says alot of stuff he doesn't mean and always ends up with a foot in his mouth but that's because he cant express himself well. But he feels things strongly and so just know whenever he's yelling he's going to break your legs, it just means he's was really worried!"

"I know that!" Jin Ling retorted

"Oh yeah! How long did you take for you to notice?" Wei Wuxian asked with a grin

Jin Ling shut his mouth. To long apparently. The events with the soul eating goddess replaying in his mind. He had taken his uncle's words seriously back then.

He wasn't going to let Wei Wuxian have the last word though.

"And you, when are you going to tell him the truth!?"

Wei Wuxian froze at that

"Like you said juijui feels everything strongly. Da-jui in the future let to much time pass before juijui found out and now their relationship is the way it is. Don't make the same mistakes they did"

Well actually Wei Wuxian of the future died. Which meant this idiot was perfectly fine taking that secret to the grave.

Wei Wuxian gave a heavy sigh

"I know, it's just that when Jiang Cheng lost his core, he looked so broken. I thought I was going to lose my brother"

Jin Ling sighed as well at this. His uncles and their feelings. He himself was an emotionally constipated mess yet he has to deal with this.

Wei Wuxian, this version and the one he knew had yet to still learn of the reason why Jiang Cheng lost his core in the first place. Wei Wuxian who wore his heart on his sleeve, Jin Ling wondered how he would react

If Jin Ling could take all the precious people in his life and tuck them away somewhere safe, then he would. If he could who he would give everything to his juijui in return for raising him and caring for him unconditionally.

All in all Jin Ling missed his juijui. And he also did not want the past version to suffer and to that he needs to protect his idiot little Da-jui.

And so he had permanently placed himself by Wei Wuxian's side

"No but really you kids need to give me some space to breathe"

"Tell that to Sizhui" Jin Ling says

"Mn?" Sizhui replies in question. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked extremely pale. The young man had not been getting sleep

Despite all this he looked pristine as ever with his courteous smile.

.....

Sizhui was on edge

Ever since the the news of Jiang Yanli's and Jin Zixuan's successful and happy wedding, he had been on edge. The boy did not eat well, he did not sleep well and was by far an even more horrid mess then Jin Ling.

How could he not feel like this. He was reliving the calm before the storm. He was reliving the moments of his life that haunted him in his nightmares as a young child.

Nightmares were he would wake from burning heat and suffocation. Nightmares where he would see a pair of glowing red eyes. Eyes he did not fear but when they began to fade into the darkness, it was then fear had gripped his heart and stabbed through it with a blade.

It was those nights he would sneak into the Jingshi and stay by Hanguan-jun's side.

And now those Nightmares returned a hundred fold. He feared closing his eyes and seeing the flames. The smoke and the fading of those red eyes.

He could see the worry on his friends faces and the worry of the younger senior Wei. Sometimes at night Sizhui felt like just grabbing him and running away to Gusu. When he told Senior Wei of what he was feeling, Wei Wuxian gave a loud laugh. Then a heartfelt smile telling him that he had really taken after Hanguan-jun.

Sizhui himself couldn't help but laugh at this. He trully had taken after Hanguan-jun by alot.

But that was before and today was the present - past? - whatever it was. He was so nervous that he was bound to stab something. His hand had not left his sword or qiankun pouch since the day of little Jin Ling's birth.

The three way sparing match did not help elevate his heart. In fact they had to cut it short because Sizhui had been taking it to seriously. He was at the top of his generation and that said something all by itself.

"A-Yuan you need to rest" Wei Wuxian tries for - he has honestly lost count of how many times he tried to get this boy to rest. Wei Wuxian could see that the boy also took after him when it came to stubbornness.

"I'm fine, Senior Wei. It's nothing to worry about"

"Nothing to worry about!?" Wei Wuxian says sternly "my big radish, I know you're not sleeping at night and not eating well. And don't say there's not enough food, Jiang Cheng literallymakes me write reports about the supplies here and so I know we have more then enough!"

Wei Wuxian takes a breath and sighs. He can barely imagine what Sizhui was feeling. He wanted to wrap this boy in a hug and tell him it was going to be okay. But how can he say that when the boy had lived through this and lost an entire family.

"Ahhh!" Jingyi suddenly screamed

Everyone within the vicinity jumped. Startled by the sudden outburst

"I can't take it anymore! Jin Ling's a wreck, Sizhui is even worse and just waiting for everything to go down is driving me crazy!" He shouts

"Ya! Why are you yelling!" Wei Wuxian scolds

"I can't think of any other way to let out my frustrations so I'm screaming! What do you think I'm doing!" Jingyi shot back

Wei Wuxian had an epiphany

"That's a great idea!"

"If you all want to scream, go somewhere else!" Wen Qing yelled from where she was. She was collecting herbs she had dried in the sun

"You know what, let's go on a night hunt!"

Sizhui had a bad feeling about this

"Relax what could possibly go wrong!"

Sizhui had a list of things that could go wrong. One look at Jin Ling and he knew he to had a separate list of his own

"Come on, you all need a breather. Senior Wen can be our chaperone"

Somewhere inspecting the barriers, one undead felt his ear twictch. Was there a bug there again? He wished he brought those scented pouches that repelled bugs. Sizhui had made a lot for him.

Sizhui felt like he has been troubling his uncle by alot ever since they were reunited. The many messes senior Wen Ning had to swoop in and save them. Each of them - him and his friends - were trouble magnets on their own and put together just made it worse.

Even more so when two of them were closely related to the notorious Yilling Patriach. And people gossip and so it was known that a Lan was the son of the Yilling Patriach and the new Jin Sect Leader was the nephew of the yilling patriarch

"Can we really go on a night hunt!?" Jingyi asked excitedly

Sizhui looked to Jin Ling. Jin Ling looked at him. He could see the Jin also wanted to go on a night hunt. Part of him also wanted to go.

Maybe it will help him get his mind off things

"I can't promise that everything will be fine. But I'll try my best to make it fine" Wei Wuxian says taking his hand in his. So many months had passed and Sizhui was now visibly slightly taller than this Wei Wuxian

Wei Wuxian also noticed this and couldn't help but take the young man into a hug. Rubbing soothing circles on his back.

Sizhui took a deep breath and finally relents.

What could possibly go wrong?

......

Zizhen was pacing

Lan Wangji was here

And Jiang Wanyin had a headach

"Firstly why are you here?" Jiang Wanyin asked Lan Wangji

"Yumeng is close to Yilling" Lan Wangji replied

"Secondly, Ouyang sit down before I break your legs!" The sect Leader barked

"Huh? Um yes sir" Zizhen sits and the Jiang sighs

"Thirdly" Lan Wangji starts but then only stares at the sparking zidian

Jiang Wanyin gave him a look. This man had a really odd sense of humor. He wouldn't have known if an idiot didn't write about it in detail in one of their letters to each other

They were all a nevours wreck in their own ways. Zizhen would not stop pacing and muttering. The things he said to himself were all the worst case scenarios and contingency plans. Some of those contingency plans Jiang Wanyin had already put into action.

In the worst case scenarios the boy had listed, was;

1) if Wei Wuxian was captured. Jiang Cheng would not give a damn, he was getting his brother back. He had a place ready for the Wens incase they needed to flee and he and Lan Wangji were ready to raise hell. Damn the consequences.

Just knowing a version of him lost everything shook him to his bones. That man still had Jin Ling, but it would not be same as having his sister and brother

2) The Ambush repeats its self - Nope! Jiang Wanyin had placed two guards within the Jin Sect to protect his sister and gave them orders to watch Jin Zixuan like a hawk. For protection of course.

3) Jin Guangyao and Madam Jin's plans gets discovered - there was no way he was going let Jin Guangshan continue to rule the Jin clan. If those two are discovered, his joining the battle. If Jin Zixuan sees a problem in that, his gonna shove a sock in the peacock's mouth and shove him in a hideout. Putting his sister and baby nephew there as well. Luckily he would not be alone with this cause. As the Lans and Nies would side with him.

4) the boys are discovered - Jiang Wanyin was fully ready to claim the older Jin Ling and Ouyang Zizhen as members of his clan. Lan Xichen was also ready to claim Sizhui and Jingyi as members of his clan.

Despite all this, Jiang Wanyin had already made a hidden path for the Wen's to take. Begrudgingly taking suggestions from one ghost guardian

Zizhen had enough of sitting and started pacing once more

"Okay that's enough, how about we go on a night hunt" Jiang Wanyin announced

Lan Wangji looks at him as though he had grown a second head. Zizhen snapped his head to him and looked like he was calculating the pros and cons of this

"Can we?"

"It would be the least suspicious thing. With Lan Wangji here, just sitting around and doing nothing would look even more suspicious. If anything it can be seen as if we're trying to strengthen the bond between the Lan and Jiang if we go on the night hunt together"

"Hopefully we can get rid of some of the tension we're feeling" Jiang Wanyin says with a sigh

The Lan thought for a moment before speaking

"Mn, Jiang Wanyin is right. A night hunt may be beneficial" Lan Wangji agrees

Zizhen let out a breath at this. If both Jiang Wanyin and Lan Wangji were agreeing to something, that meant everything was going to be alright, right?

Nothing would go wrong right?

And so they went on the night hunt and came across people who had the same idea

"My Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian called when he saw the man and immediately hugged him.

Lan Wangji buried himself in the crook of his fiance's neck and looked like he wasn't going anywhere any time soon

Jiang Wanyin rolled his eyes and looked like he was going hurl. Jin Ling gave him a look.

"What?"

"I know you have one. Get used to it, the Lans a clingy. It will happen to you soon" Jin Ling says

"Huh!?" Jiang Wanyin balked "why you!"

Jin Ling ran with a laugh and Jiang Wanyin chased after him. Jin Ling missed his uncle

"Zizhen!" The rest of the boys called out when they saw their friend. Zizhen looked to be in tears. He hasn't seen his friends in so long

A few weeks perhaps but that was to long for him

Senior Wen stood amongst the shadows watching them and looking out for anything out of the ordinary. He felt something was off

"Look at you! You're taller then I last remember! You're senior Wei is going to be shocked when he sees you!" Wei Wuxian says to Zizhen

All the boys had grown with their time here. Jingyi and Jin Ling looked about the same height. About as tall as Sect leader Jiang. Sizhui was as tall as Lan Wangji. Said man couldn't help but feel a hint of pride. As for Zizhen, that young man literally shot pass all of them. Still quite wiry but tall none the less.

"Does that mean when we return to the future or our world, we're going to be older then what we're supposed to be?" Asked Jingyi

"Oh please, no one will notice unless they're looking for it. They'll just think all the Lan training finally rubbed off on you" Wei Wuxian says with a grin

As they chatted, Senior Wen kept feeling uneasy

"Little young master Wei, I believe it would be best if we start moving" he voices his concern

"Why does he have to listen to you?" Jiang Wanyin scoffed

"Aiya didi, don't be like that. Senior Wen is our chaperone for today" Wei Wuxian says throwing his arms around his brother after escaping his fiance

"Ning shushu, is there something wrong?" Sizhui asks

Senior Wen looked at the young man's eyes and he could finally see some tension leaving the Lan. Senior Wen let out an unneeded breath and decided to push his uneasy feeling aside.

"All is well. Don't worry A-Yuan I'll keep watch. Go enjoy your time with your friends" Senior Wen gave the Lan a gentle squeeze on the shoulder before sending him off

A man clad in white was flying faster than he had ever flown in his life

Oh what to do, oh what to do with this information.

Finally he could knock that Lan Wangji off his high horse. That man was in cahoots with the Yilling Patriach and so was the Jiang sect leader.

Not only that but Lan Wangji was a cut-sleeve! Huh! Oh how the ancestors would turn in their Graves. Nothing could save that man now.

His reputation will be ruined and he was going to be dragged through the mud. He could not wait to see.

He was watching him. Watching Lan Wangji and his perfect face and perfect reputation. Watched how he looked down on everyone and him. He could no longer take it.

He was going to ruin him. So he followed him. Has been following him for so long. He followed him to Yumeng, saw how unnecessarily close the two jades of Gusu were with the Yumeng Jiang clan. Could the sect leader also be a cut-sleeve like his brother.

Found a suspicious boy who grew to be young man who seemed unnecessarily close with Jiang Wanyin. Saw how the boy interacted with Lan Wangji as though he was close to him

It was suspicious

Then finally luck was by his side. Those three individuals were going on a night hunt. So he followed them and he was awarded with what he saw and heard

Jiang Wanyin and Lan Wangji were in cahoots with the Yilling patriarch! And that boy was not the only one. There were three others. A Jin and two Lans.

But he did not recognize those Lans. Then he heard one of them mention the future.

Impossible!

But this was Wei Wuxian. Nothing was impossible for that man. He wanted to see and hear more but he caught sight of a shadow watching over the group and fled.

He valued his life. He was not going to throw it away for more measly information after finding out about this alliance.

But who was he going to tell!

That answer was clear. He rushed to the Lanling Jin sect. And here he was at Jin Guangshan's feet. He had come at the dead of night. Told he had information about the Yilling patriarch and was ushered to room that only occupied him and the Jin Sect Leader

"You say you have information about the Yilling Patriach?" Asked Jin Guangshan "a fine young man like you, you will be doing a great deed for sharing this information"

Jin Guangshan showered the man with pleasantries with his silver tongue and the man in white could not help but preen at this

"But let me ask you, what your price shall be? I know nothing comes free in this world"

"Oh no, I only wish to share my findings with the one who wishes to rid the world of the evil that is the Yilling patriarch. I do not ask for anything. Watching those who do not deserve what they have fall from grace will be enough of a reward for me" says the man in white

Jin Guangshan was intrigued by the man.

"Then perhaps a place by my side will be an adequate reward then. I can see your clan does not appreciate your efforts"

The man was not expecting this

"I am overwhelmed by your offer and thank you my lord" the man says

"Then tell me Su Mishan, what do you know about the Yilling Patriach"

Su Mishan, better known as Su She gave a wicked grin and told the Jin Sect Leader of what he saw and heard

Chapter Text

Sizhui was honestly expecting the worst. They had gone to Qiongqi path but this time it was the three of them - him and his friends - And Wei Wuxian himself. Wen Ning and Senior Wen stayed behind. When Wen Ning heard what his future counterpart had done, he turned to Wei Wuxian and asked him to seal him away.

It took a whole lot of convincing to change the younger Wen Sibling's mind and the Juniors all realized that Wen Ning was a really stubborn individual.

Sizhui knew his shushu could be stubborn. But he didn't know he could be this stubborn. He remembered his baba telling him that both Wen Ning and Wen Qing were two of the most stubborn people he knew. And it was because of that he lost them. Or that was what Sizhui believed.

But yes, it took a whole lot of convincing to stop the younger Wen Ning. And when the day approached Wen Ning had attempted to bury himself

Anyways, they were here. Every single one of them were are bundle of nerves. He was expecting Jin Zixun to appear and all hell would break loose. What he and his friends did not expect was Jin Guangyao.

"Wei-Gongzi!" The man cried out in alarm

Sizhui reached for his sword and so did the others. Jin Ling looked torn however. He trully wants to believe his shushu had changed. He has heard from Huaisang but he has yet to see it himself

Wei Wuxian held up a hand, telling him and his friends not to engage.

Jin Guangyao looked like he was out of breath. As though he had rushed out here

"You have to go-" before he could finish his words he suddenly threw himself at Jin Ling

Jin Ling was shocked.

Wei Wuxian was shocked.

Every single one of them was shocked.

An arrow had struck Jin Guangyao in the back. It was aimed at Jin Ling's heart

"Shushu!?" Jin Ling cried in alarm and caught the man

They had were expecting an attack to Wei Wuxian. And so they had strategically placed them selves around him. But things weren't going the way they were supposed to.

Of course it wouldn't. Why would anything go their way!

He and Jingyi got in front of Wei Wuxian shielding him when their enemy finally made them selves known. It was a stupid, stupid idea to follow the natural flow of time and let the events that were meant to happen, happen. But they didn't want to make any drastic changes and here they were

Sizhui gritted his teeth. None of the Lan rules could stop the seething rage he felt for the Jin man on the cliff edge

"Wei Wuxian!" The man roared in anger

"How dare you! Lift this curse at once and hand over the Traitors from the future!"

"What?" Wei Wuxian says and Sizhui could see the dread in his eyes as he felt his own dread fill his heart

A few hours ago

He doesn't know why but he was nevours

Meng Yao's nerves felt like they were on fire and the damn Demonic Cultivator kept pestering him.

Today was his nephew's first month anniversary and for reasons unknown to him his nerves were trying to kill him.

The Demonic Cultivator whose name he learnt was Lan Ying - he was pretty sure that wasn't his real name - had kept pestering him the whole month before. He kept asking questions about him, getting under his skin.

He wasn't sure what the man, Lan Ying was trying archive but he worked his way around him. Apart from that, his father had suddenly gained an ally.

He doesn't know how the snake bastard got a Lan on his side but he did. He recognized the man to be Su She - Su Mishan - an external disciple of Gusu Lan. He only recognized him because he took note of how Jin Zixun would treat the man. He remembered helping him once but that was all to their interactions.

Jin Zixun was an arse, he had readily admitted this to Zixuan-ge multiple times during their spare time to catch up and his brother would agree. He also said this to one Nie Mingjue which resulted with him having to hold the larger man back.

Yeah, there was no way that would happen given their rather large size difference and so he had to bribe the man. He told him that he could have whatever he wanted.

Nie Mingjue who was as stubborn as a bull suddenly froze in his track and turned around with a look that looked like he was just given everything he wanted

Meng Yao was bound to regret this later. Make matters worse Lan Ying saw him and the pestering got worse.

The other Demonic Cultivator was never around however. He didn't get a name, nor a glimpse of the others face. Always sticking to shadows. Sometimes Meng Yao felt he was being watched and more than once he felt that death was near him.

Apart from all that, today was a big day, and he felt panicked.

"Excuse me Madam Jin, have you seen your son!?" He decided to just interogate people.

The reason he felt panicked was because he couldn't find the father of his nephew. He worked hard on this event, he won't have it if the father of the little one is not here. He'll wring his neck if he can't find him.

"A-Xuan? I thought he was with you!?" Madam Jin retorted with a huff

"Well he isnt!?" Meng Yao threw his hands up in exasperation

"Oh calm down rat, I'm sure his somewhere" Madam Jin sighs

The relationship with Madam Jin had some how reached the stage of which one look from outside, people would assume they were friends. A very odd relationship actually.

Madam having no one to complain to about the Jin's and her husband would go to him. She had Yanli of course. She would tell her everything. But Yanli was such a sweet and kind soul that she didn't want to dirty her ears with such talk.

So she went to Meng Yao. Her trusty Rat. Meng Yao in return agreed and ranted with her.

Anyways his peacock brother was not with his mother. Okay he decided to interrogate the guests

"Have you seen my brother?" He asked Huaisang because he was the closest he could grab first

"No I haven't, why what happened to the peacock?" Meng Yao took note of the nervous look on A-Sang's face.

It looked like he was on edge. Lan Wangji was not far. He had been speaking with A-Sang prior to his intrusion and that man looked like he was ready to bolt

"Where's the peacock!?" The Jiang Sect Leader suddenly interupted

"I am not aware right now. I have been looking for him everywhere since this morning. You wouldn't have happned to have seen him?"

The reply Meng Yao received was a curse. And suddenly Huaisang snapped his fan shut and Lan Wangji had moved in closer and he looked tense

"Spread out and find that idiot. You go look for that damn cousin of yours!" The Jiang Sect Leader ordered

Meng Yao was confused, but a pleading look from Huaisang shut him up. But now with three other people in a frantic search, his panic rose. And why did he have to go look for Jin Zixun?

Not only that but something the Jiang sect Leader said made dread fill his stomach

"It's still to early!" Was what the man had said.

Questions ran through his mind and he really had a bad feeling

And thats when Lan Ying decided to grace him with his presence. He appeared like a ghost. From the shadows with steps so light, one would actually belive he was a ghost

"You seem to be in a panic... what's gotten your undergarments in a twist?"

Meng Yao did not have time for this but-

"Have you seen my brother?" He asked the Demonic Cultivators

"Oh that so called peacock?" The way he called Jin Zixuan peacock seemed familiar.

"Well as a matter of fact, I have. My brother has been watching him!"

Meng Yao wanted to question why, but that was not important right now.

"Where is he?" He asked desperately

"My little brother knocked him out and shoved him in a shed!"

"What!?" Meng Yao balked "why!?"

"Oh big things a happening today! My brother's Nerves were killing him so he went and decided to lock up Jin-Gonzi" Lan Ying laughed

Meng Yao wasn't sure if he should report this or not. Lan Ying had been teaching Mo Xuanyu and Xue Yang about Demonic cultivation for the past month and the two young boys were immediately drawn to the man. And the man had earned Jin Guangshan's trust as well and if he did somthing against him it would put him in a bad position with everything that was current going on.

Surprisingly Meng Yao just felt relief with knowing where his brother was but now he had to look for his cousin

"Is that all?" Lan Ying asked

"Yes thank you!" He thanked the Demonic Cultivator and then ran off

Jiang Wanyin found him in a shed, bound and gagged. He was squirming trying to get free.

"What the fuck are you doing here!?" Wanyin questioned first

"Hmmm!" Zixuan replied in exasperation. Still bound and gagged

After finally being released, Zixuan punched Wanyin across the face. The Jiang Sect Leader was gobsmacked and returned a hit. His brother in law hit the wall with a thud

"The hell was that for!?" Jiang Wanyin rubbed his throbbing cheek

"That's for tying me up here! The hell did you do that for on my son's first month anniversary!?" Jin Zixuan got up. His face now turning red

"Tying you up!? I was looking for you, you dumb bastard!" Wanyin snapped back

"You tied me up! I saw your face, how could not recognize that ugly mug of yours!"

"Ugly!? I'll tell Jie you called me that! And for the last time I didn't tie you up!"

"Yes you did! Is this about Wei Wuxian. Is that why you tied me up!" Jin Zixuan finally snapped

"What!?" Jiang Wanyin was shocked

"Yanli told me everything! About you guys trying to save him and all that! It's one of the reasons I invited him so people could see he's not the person everyone else thinks he is" the man says with a sigh

Of course Jiang Wanyin should have expected this. Yanli wouldn't feel it was right to keep her husband in the dark. He was glad she found solace in her husband because suddenly the letters from her stopped coming. It happened after the night hunt. And he couldn't help but feel something had gone wrong

But there was still that thing

"It is but I didn't tie you up!" Jiang Wanyin shot back

"So what you want me to believe it was a clone that did so!?"

Wanyin was just about retort when it suddenly clicked

"Yes" he says and a chill ran up his spine

"What?" Jin Zixuan was baffled

"Jin Zixuan does not leave" a voice he would recognize anywhere spoke. One he heard everytime he opened his mouth.

But these words did not come from him. He was frozen where he stood. Jin Zixuan was also standing stalk still. His jaw dropped as he took in the sight before him.

Wanyin spun around and faced himself. A man who looked exactly like him but his face had more sharp edges. A familiar storm that raged even more in his eyes. An expression that was the spitting image of his mother.

He unconsciously took a step back. This was Jiang Cheng Sandu Senchou. The Jiang Sect Leader that raised his nephew single handedly. Wanyin's counterpart from the future

"He- you?" Jin Zixuan was at the loss for words and Wanyin himself was also speechless

Jiang Cheng regarded them with a judging eye

"Did you hear what I said or must I repeat myself!?" Jiang Cheng bellowed

Wanyin gritted his teeth, finally snapping out if his stupor. His counterpart truly became their mother

"That was the plan all along. We weren't going to let him leave our sight!" Wanyin speaks

"And yet it took you this long to find him! I should have never trusted that fool"

Wanyin had wondered what his meeting with his future self would be like. He didn't expect this though

"You're Jiang Cheng, wait what the hell is going on!? And why are you watching me like I'm some child!?"

"Be quiet!" Wanyin snapped at him he then turned to his counterpart

"Is Wei Wuxian here as well?" He asked

Zixuan looked even more confused by the second

"Why wouldn't he be here? His invention caused this mess, its only right that he's here to clean it up" Jiang Cheng sneered

Wanyin wanted to say something. Anything to at least have the last word. But he was left speechless in the face of his counterpart from the future.

Luckily for him, there was someone there who was confused and had many questions.

"Who are you really!?"

"Why do you look like Jiang Cheng!?'

"Are trying to impersonate him, dont you know this is treason!?"

Jin Zixuan snapped. Questions and accusations one after another.

Wanyin slightly enjoyed the tell tale signs of annoyances on his counterparts face.

"Shut up!" Jiang Cheng barked

Jin Zixuan shut his mouth

"what are the brats and that fool doing" the elder asked Wanyin

"We have planned it out. If the ambush is to happen like it did in your time, our men have been stationed to counter atttack"

Nei, Jiang and a few trusted Lan cultivators under the guise of secretly watching the Yilling patriach had been sent in advance to escort the demonic cultivator.

Their orders were to watch and intervene if anything happened. The jiang knew what to do. Their true orders were to protect their Shi-Xiong. Huisang and Lan Xichen however ordered their men to follow the Jiang cultivators lead.

The older sect leader gave the younger a look. Wanyin returend an equally defiant look.

The plan was simply avoid Jin Zixuan's death and to begun the exposure of Jin Guangshan's crimes. With the Lan, Nei and Jiang cultivators as witness to the Jin's backstabbing nature.

"Jiang-xiong!"

The individuals in the shed looked out to see who was calling. Jiang Cheng made no move to hide himself and that was when Huaisang appeared

"Jiang Cheng where have you been!?" Huaisang snapped

"Did you find the peacock? no, thats not it, Cheng-xiong we have another problem now?"

"what!?'" Wanyin snappped and walked out the shed. Jin Zixuan followed. Still very confused with what was happening

Huaisang stood stock still. Frozen by the sight of another Jiang Cheng. Then he noticed the one he just spoke to was in all black. he looked even angrier than the purple grape he was used to.

Nei Huaisang was about to scream but a look from the older man made him swallow it. A moment had hardly passed and he felt like he was sweating buckets

"Senior Jiang" he respectfully greeted. He did not how else to respond to the man before him

This was not the Jiang Cheng he knew that he could easily joke with. The man that stood before him looked like the type who immediately strike him with a whip if he spoke out of turn.

"Whats the problem, what went wrong!?" Wanyin of the past asked frantically

Huaisang looked at him, neveoursly looked at the senior Jiang and then finally spoke.

"Meng Yao's gone. I cant find him anywhere!"

"What!?" Wanyin retorted "Wasn't he looking for this idiot as well!?"

"He was but now he's gone. Wanji-xiong also didnt have a good feeling and decided to head off to Qiongqi path"

"Those fools!"

"A-Yao? whats going on? Wheres my brother!?" Zixuan asked

"I don't know!?" Huaisang snapped back, startling the Jin

"He was loking for you and then-"

"He went to look for Jin Zixun" Wanyin says and then cursed

"hmph... it looks like another Jin is going to die today in place of this one" Jiang Cheng scoffed

"What! No!?" Huaisang snapped. He defiantly glared at the older Jiang

"No? No!?" Jiang Cheng's anger surged. The YoungerJiang and Jin Zixuan stepped back

"Dont you know what that bastard did!? What he will do!?" the man yelled

"I know, I've been told-"

"And you're defending him!?"

"Thats because he's not Jin Guangyao!" Huaisang yelled

"I have meticulously worked my ass off to get him on our side and I assure you that he will not turn out like the bastard you speak off. And i refuse to lose him otherwise all my effort would have been for not!"

On the outside and probably to the future Jiang Cheng, it sounded like Nei Huisang was being logical and did not want to lose a pawn. But Jiang Wanyin who was not blinded by time knew that Huaisang did not want to loose a friend.

Jiang Cheng was just about to snap back when suddenly alarm bells rang.

"What? whats happening?" Jin Zixuan asked. the Jin sect was suddenly in chaos.

"Yanli!" the man panicked and quickly ran off to find his wife. Wanyin to also bolted in search of his sister followed be Huaisang

Distracted by the alarms, they did not notoce Jiang Cheng disappear into the shadows to join his brother.

...

Zixuan, Wanyin and Huaisang arrived at the main hall to see everyone in a panic. The Jin's were fighting with the Jiang cultivators and while the other sects stood guarding their respective leaders.

"There he is! Arrest him!" a Jin Cultivator yelled

the trio was confused. what the hell is happening! They were suddenly swarmed by Jin cultivators.

No.

Jiang Cheng was suddenly swarmed by Jin cultivators.

"Jiang Cheng! How dare to try to assassinate the madam and Sect leader Jin!"

"What!?" Wanyin snapped back.

Baffled by the turn of events

"What have you done to Liangfeng-zun!? Where is he!?"

"How dare you accuse me of treason! I have nothing of the sort!" retorted

His sword drawn in defense. Huaisang stood by his friends side in both confusion and solidarity

"Huaisang!" Mingjue called out. Warning his brother and telling him to come to his side.

"Da-ge?"

Thats when he noticed something. Wanyin also noticed it. Both Jades were not present. Understandably, Wanji went for his beloved but where was Xichen

"Silence! We all witnessed it. Jiang Cheng, attempted to assassinate Sect Leader Jin!" sect leader Yao bellowed "How dare you show face back here again!"

"Not only that to attempt to take your own sister's life and her infant child's life!?"

"what!?" Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan cried out in alarm.

"If it weren't for Zewu-jun who knows what would have happened to the mother and child"

Jiang Wanyin could not understand what was happening. he attcked his sisteer and nephew.

Impossible!

He would rather let Wei Wuxian stab him in the heart first before that ever happen

"Thats Impossible! He was with me the whole time!" Zixuan came to his aid

"Peacock?" he asked he shock

"Shut up, I don't know whats happening. But there's no way you or that other idiot would hurt Yanli. You can't be in two places at once anyway... make that three" Zixuan says and then remebered the other Jiang sect leader.

"Jin Gongzi, we all have bared witness to his crimes. Sect Leader Jiang had gone up to greet the young madam when he attacked her" A minor sect leader testifies

"If it weren't Zewu-jun who knows what could have happened to the young madam"

"he then attacked sect leader Jin and injured him. He is guilty of treason!"

All this did not make sense.

How did things go wrong.

"Take him!" the order was thrown. Cultivators of the Jin and its allies attacked the confused sect leader.

Arrows were drawn and shot. Zixuan blocked them with his sword. Wanyin defended against the stray blades that came at him. His sect members struggled to get to him but they had been surrounded by other cultivators.

"Run!" Zixuan ordered

"What? I can't leave my men!" Wanyin snapped back

"Go, I promise I won't let anything happen to them!"

To much was happening

"Sect Leader go!" his sect members shouted as well

They knew something wasn't right. They knew their sect leader would never hurt his sister. Seeing the stubbornness in their young sect leader made them break through.Something wasn't right and if the Jiang sect leader was caught today, it might spell the true end of the Jiang sect.

"Sect Leader Go!" the yelled as they fought

But Jiang Cheng would never leave his men. Which left Huaisang with no choice. He was to quick for the Wanyin to notice. The Nei knocked him out and got him on his back.

"Huaisang!" Sect Leader Nei bellowed.

"I'm sorry Da-ge!"

Huaisang suddenly threw his fan. The tool spun around like a blade controlled by the wind clearing his path of escape. Nei Minjue stood shell shocked

This gave Huaisang enough time to escape with the unconscious Wanyin.

...

Back to Qiongqi Path

Meng Yao was told that Jin Zixun was planning to ambush Wei Wuxian. This was surely going to complicate things.

He had found Jin Zixun. He overheard his plans with Jin Guangshan and discovered somthing that should be impossible.

But the two Jin's spoke of time travellers. Which should be by all means and logic impossible. But the two spoke with certainty. Then he heard the orders.

''Proceed with plans, attack Lotus pier. Ambush Wei Wuxian and bring in the time travelers"

He failed to discover Jin Guanshan's plans. Now Lotus pier was going to suffer again.

He tried to think off something.

Anything to do. But all he could think off was meting Wei Wuxian first and warning him. He couldnt send anyone else. He thought of warning sect leader Jiang but that was then the atack happened.

He was on his way to find Sect leader Jiang when he saw him...

But it wasnt him.

The man looked like the sect leader. But resentful energy swirled around him like it would with Wei Wuxian. And thats when he realised what the other plans were. they were going to frame sect leader Jiang.

If the sect leader left now, wouldnt it look to suspiscious. He needed to stay, the man would need an alibi and he knew his brother would surely give one. The words of a Jiang would not hold enouggh weight. They would see it as though they were trying to cover up for a crime. Jiang Wanyin would need others from other sects to confirm that he was no where near Jin Guanshan at the time of the attack.

Sect Leader Jiang was going to have his hands full and there was no time left. Jin Zixun and his troops had already set off. So there was no time to waste.

He scrambled to leave a letter to madam jin and left.

He left for Qiongqi path himself and proceeded to get shot in the back. Not his smartest move but it was done in a panic.

"Shushu!?" the young cultivator holding him cried out in alarm.

the boy was also a Jin from the looks of it. And there were two Lans. One looked like he would start are massacre. Meng Yao watched the young Lan summon a guqin and send powerful blasts to the enemy.

he would be as shocked as Wei Wuxian was if he wasnt in so much pain. That was when Jiang, Nei and Lan cultivators suddenly appered

"What the!?" the Demonic cultivator was both shocked and confused

"Protect Shi-Xiong" the Jiang Cultivators cried

Shit

Shit

If the Jiang cultivators were here, who is defending Lotuss peir.

"Liangfen-zun!?" Wei Wuxian came to his aid

The young man looked utterly confused

"Attack" Meng Yao wheezed out. He felt like a fever was coming on. Was the aarow poisoned

"We all can see that!" Wei Wuxian had time to sass.

The younger man lifted the Jin and guided him away from the battle. Jiang, Nei and Lan cultivators defending him.

"No... At Lotus Pier..." Meng Yao could feel his conciousness fading

he felt hot. he felt suffocated

"Hang in there Liangfen-zun. You better not pass out here!" Wei Wuxian struggled

Meng Yao knew darkness would capture him at any moment so henneded to get his words out now

"Attack.. Lotus pier... Sect Leader Jiang... framed" and with that Meng Yao let the darkness take over

Chapter Text

This was not calculated.

Lotus Pier was attacked. The Yumeng Jiang sect was unprepared. The attackers were none other than the Jin Sect and a few Lan sect members. Deserters they were. Zizhen and the rest of the Jiang sect were surrounded and caught.

Zizhen didn't go along to Qiongqi pass. They decided that it would better they were all not in one place at the same time in case the worst scenario happens and they all get caught. He didn't expect to be the one that got caught though.

"Tie them all up, kill whoever dares to resist!" a voice Zizhen have not heard in a long time ordered

The man was a Lan. One that Zizhen wished he could strangle right now.

"Its you" Zizhen scoffed

The young man was beaten badly and tied up. Seeing Su Mishan, better known as Su She alive and well left a bad taste in his mouth. He couldnt help but spit at the sight of him.

"Oh you know me? You must be the time traveler?" asks Su She

Zizhen gave a dry laugh and looked the man in the eyes. He already anticipated the chances of being found out as a time traveler, just not in this kind of situation. Half the Jiang sect had gone to escort Wei Wuxian and to gaurd the burial mounds . Some of them had left with Jiang Wanyin in case there was any trouble and so Lotus Pier was currently down on man power. To think Jin Guangshan had the gall to attack another sect in broad daylight. Zizhen couldnt help but spit again.

"Of course I know you. The detestable bastard that thinks he could measure up to the great Hanguan-jun" the time traveler scoffed "You're not even on the same scale as him!"

The slap was expected. But Zizhen was tied up and couldn't dodge it. Su She then grabbed Zizhen by the throat and forced him to look up.

"If you wish to live, I suggest you shut up"

Zizhen would never submit to a coward like him. Their faces were so close, the younger man couldn't help it. He spat at Su She's face. Bloody it was and Zizhen relished the look on the deserter's face before he felt a kick to his stomach.

"Take this one back to Lanlin Jin. Lotus Pier is now under the Jin sect!"

"How dare You!"

"Sect Leader won't let you get away with this!"

"You Jin bastards! Cowards!"

Shouts of protest came the remaining Jiang members.

"let it be known that the Jiang Sect leader has committed treason. He intended to assinate the Jin sect leader and so by the laws of the cultivational world, he is to be captured and sentenced to death" A Jin sect member announced.

And just liked that the Jiang sect was seized once again.

It had hardly been a day and the news had spread through out the whole cultivational world. Cultivators and common folk alike were shocked at the turn of events.

The Jiang Sect leader attempted to assassinate the Jin sect Leader and fled. The Nei Sect's young master was apparently in cahoots with the sect leader and fled with him. Zewu-jun was injured and currently there is no news from him. Hanguang-jun is missing and Lianfen-jun is rumored to have been attacked by Wei Wuxian and is dead. Because of all this, Jiang Yanli has been confined to her room and is being held prisoner. Jin Zixuan was rummored to have been bewitched and was also confined to his room.

Every thing happened so fast. It all fell apart to soon.

....

Jin Zixuan cursed out and couldn't stop his frustration. His wife and child were taken away from him and was held else where in the Jin Sect.

It had been only a week since the so called attempted assassination on his father and the siege of Jiang sect. He worried deeply for his wife and son. And for his brothers-in-law.

He wanted to question his father.

No!

Screw that! He wanted to strangle that good for nothing power hungry mongrel.

There was no news from his mother. No news from his brother. The rumours he heard from the guards said that Wei Wuxian had done him in, but he seriously doubted that.

Yanli had told him everything and their plan to get A-Yao on their side so there was no way that Meng Yao was dead. Now if only he could get to Chifen-zun and tell him that.

Zixuan heard that the Nei sect leader had joined the Jin sect in search of his brother and Wei Wuxian. The man was livid and there was no one around to calm him down.

To make matters worse for him, he had discovered that his younger brother was secretly a master of manipulation. Nei Huaisang apparently had a spy network and his own hidden force of Nei cultivators and they all had disappeared with him and the Jiang sect Leader.

Jin Zixuan was also shocked by this news. He needed to get out. But he was being gaurded 24/7. And even if he could escape, his wife and son were still here. He knew what Jin Guangshan was doing.

He was holding them hostage. So if he intended to get out he needed to take his family along with him. It was then he remembered something.

Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian of the future was here. He knew for sure they would protect their sister and nephew no matter what the cause. This thought alone greatly reasured him. So now he had to come with a plan to get out.

...

Jiang Cheng was livid. He wanted to attack something but the closest thing was Wei Ying.

"To think that bastard would be this smart" Wei Ying scoffed

"You think? Should I remind you that this was the bastard that got you killed in your first life" Jiang Cheng raged

"Look at what has happned!" the man yelled "Lets leave it to the kids, you said. Now look at the mess that has happened!"

"I know its a mess" Wei Ying replied, despite what appeared to be bad situation, he still looked on the brighter side

"But no one is dead. Jin Zixuan is still alive and is locked up. One of the causes of my fall has been avoided"

"But the Jiang sect has been attacked and seized again!"

"They were captured" Wei Ying points out "It looks like they intend to hold the captured members hostage. Just like they are doing with Shi-jie and baby Jin Ling"

The thought of that made Wie Ying's eyes turn red.

"Our past selves will come up with plan. But its time we make our move as well. Its been a couple of days since the one month celebration and I think they have captured Zizhen"

"All the more reason to cut off that cowards head now!"

"And actually make our younger selves criminals!?" Wei Ying argured

"I want to cut off that Whore's head just as much as you do but we have to think things through first!"

"I don't want to hear that from you!"

Wei Ying sighed. He to didn't want to hear those words coming from himself. After all he was the prime example of 'not' thinking things through.

"We join forces with madam Jin" Wei Ying states after a pause. This was not the time to have one of their usual fights.

"She and Meng Yao have been plotting a coup. Jin Guangshan has also been wary of us ever since Su she came into the picture. We really should have killed that bastard earlier" Wie Ying Lamented

They believed that since Jin Guangyao would no longer exist and just be Meng Yao, then Su She to would not appear. But it seems that Su Mishan would forever be destined be a conniving piece of shit.

....

Madam Jin was shocked and livid at the turn of events. However if she acted out immediately then their plan to start a coup may be exposed. She waited for word from her rat, she didn't belive that the yilling patriarch would have done him in. She knew Meng Yao could talk his way out of a bad situation or at least stall for a moment. But the Yilling Patriach was also a unpredictability lunatic so she could not be sure.

"Madam, we are all ready. On your command we will move" says a trusted aid of hers

She could only thank her husband's incompetence. A good number of Jin cultivators were sick and tired of her husband's reign.

However with the loss of those members came a swarm of new allies united by greed. The Lans had suffered from a number of deserters.

The deserters now call themselves the Moling Su Sect. She had exchanged messages with Lan Qiren and discovered that some of the Lan elders had gone against their laws and gave permission to attack Wei Wuxian at Qiongqi path.

This resulted in a clash between clansmen because Zewu-jun had ordered a few to follow the Jiang sect members and escort the Yilling patriarch.

Now currently, the Lan Sect were facing an internal conflict of their own with a number of elders supporting the initiative to attack the Demonic Cultivator while the otherside attamped to defend Wei Wuxian.

Because Wei Wuxian wasn't the one who attacked first. He was invited, had been living peacefully actually and honestly he didn't make a move. There was no trace of Demonic cultivation used in the area.

It was as if when the conflict happened, he was immediately taken away.

She decided she couldn't wait to hear from Meng Yao any longer.

The longer she waited, the faster Jin Guangshan's lies and deceit will spread and her family would be in danger. Her son, her Yanli and her grandson. Her rat to but she will never admit that to anyone.

"It's time" she says

Her aid immediately understood and went to give the order. However right after the aid had left, the madam felt a presence behind her.

Her sword instantly summoned and pointed at the intruders neck.

"Wow, Madam Jin is just as scary as ever!" Came the sing song voice of a man. His face, she'd recognize the features of that face anywhere. She unfortunately, had been looking at for a good portion of her life

"Are you another one of that bastard's spawns!?" She spat with venom in her voice.

"Well this body is sadly" the intruders says with a huff

Madam Jin did not under a word he just said

It was of the Demonic Cultivators that Jin Guangshan had taken in. This was trouble. They hadn't even started yet and they were already caught

She gripped her sword. She wouldn't go down without a fight

"Now, now, madam. Please calm down, you see we are actually on your side"

"My side? I don't seem to understand what you mean?" She bluffed

"Oh you know exactly what I mean!" The young man teased

"Enough fooling around and get to the point already!" Came a gruff and familiar voice

Madam Jin risked turning her head and there she saw the Jiang Sect Leader. But something wasn't right about him

"Jiang Cheng you-"

She was speechless. Shouldn't this boy be on the run.

Boy, that was how she saw the young sect leader however the same could not be said to the man standing before her.

"Who are you?" She once again gritted her teeth and gripped her sword. Ready for a fight

"We are not here for a fight. We are here to help you. We know about the plan to start a coup and everything else that had been happening" says the one with the face similar to her husband

"Aren't you his men" she dared to ask

"I'd rather be ripped apart again to ashes then be associated with that whore monger. You could just say we infiltrated to mess up things on the inside" the man shrugged

Ripped apart to ashes... Madam Jin wondered if that actually happened.

"I'll break your legs first before that even happens" Jiang Cheng suddenly snapped

"Oh does my didi care" The other man teased and if looks could kill the glare from Jiang Cheng would have ripped apart the younger looking man to ashes

Wait....

Madam Jin lowered her sword

"Wei Wuxian!?"

"You got it right!" Wei Ying cheered. But this left the Madam absolutely baffled

"What kind of trickery is this? A disguise? Of all faces why did you pick that face!?" She raged

Wei Ying wasn't sure what she was angry about.

"Um well...."

"We don't have time for this. Madam Jin time is at stake, we are here to help. This fool and I have come up with a plan. Your members are currently outnumbered within the sect. For now, escaping is priority"

Jiang Cheng was right. Jin Guangshan's boot lickers suddenly crawled out the crevices they came from and swarmed around the bastard like moths to a flame.

"Fine, but I want an explanation to what the hell is happening!"

And so escape plan began

......

Jin Zixuan had been patiently bidding his time. It was then a Jin Cultivator came to take him to his father. While traveling through the halls he noticed something strange. There were Jin cultivators wearing different uniforms. The one leading the way and the others wearing the usual flashy and gaudy looking robes where as the others he saw looked less flashy and more pratical.

One of them caught his eye and then looked to the one taking him to his father. That cultivator than held his sword and Jin Zixuan understood.

They turned into an empty corridor and Jin Zixuan struck. Knocked out the Jin and turned to the other Jin.

"Young master, the madam wishes to see you" says the Jin as he bestowed him his sword. Finally Jin Zixuan had his sword back. It seems his mother had a plan all along

They made their way to where madam Jin was and to his pleasant surprise, his wife and son was also there.

"Yanli!" he rushed to her. Their son in her arms. The joy and relief he felt made his shoulders sag. He held his world in his arms. Gently kissing his wife's head looked longingly into her eyes. Their child, their pride and joy in-between them.

"I'm so glad you are safe" he says relived

"We were fine, thanks to mother" says Yanli

This made the sect heir turn to his mother

"Mother" he asked

"Your Father has been sect leader for far to long, its time he stepped down. Son i dont care what you are going to say, your father-"

"Is power hungry, incompetent and many more. I understand mother. He used under handed tricks and attacked Yumeng Jiang. I was with sect leader Jiang at that time so there was no way he attacked father"

"I suspected as much. Tonight we move. We cannot fight him today. Our numbers are low while his grows. We will regroup with the Jiangs and Neis that escaped."

"Nei Huaisang's men?'

"Yes, they are currently waiting for us. You and Yanli will take the injured and leave first"

"Injured?"

Jin Zixuan turned around and immediately saw a number of Injured Jiang cultivators.

"how- Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng!"

"So you knew about them?"

"No, I only found out about them when it was to late. Are they here?"

"No" came the voice of his wife. Yanli felt dejected. She wanted to see her brothers

"Those unfilial... would it kill them to see their sister" Madam Jin snapped

Zixuan sighed. He doesn't know what happened in the future, but something definitely happened that caused a great rift to occur between the Jiang siblings.

"Zizhen!" Yanli suddenly called out

it was the kid that Jiang Cheng had taken in. The kid was beaten badly. But he gave toothy grin to show his stubbornness.

"What happened to you!?" Yanli held Jin Ling in one hand while the other gently caressed the boy's face

"Oh just are little torture. They wanted to know where the others were"

"Oh no" Yanli was in tears

"Dont worry, I'm tougher than IooK! I wouldnt have been able to survive all those assination attempts with Jin Ling if I wasn't strong!" Zizhen cheered

But his cheering made multiple heads turn

"What!?" JIn Zixuan and Madam Jin excalimed

Zizhen looked at them, stunned to see them there.

"Oh... haha its a long story!"

Before Zizhen could even continue with his yammering an explosion occured. The Jin sect was under attack.

"Thats the signal!" Madam Jin excalimed

The escape plan was simple, Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying would create a distraction while Madams Jin's Faction and the JIang sect memebers would escape.

And by distraction, an all out attack on Jin sect as revenge. They attacked Lotus pier and so this meant war.

"Its the ghost general!"

"Its the Yilling patriach!"

Screams and cries from the enemy Jin echoed through the night. When day arrived, half the Jin sect was gone, a number of the demonic cultivators Jin Guangshan had been raising also gone along with the time traveller and all the other prisinors.

A new war has begun.

Chapter Text

It was dark and the last thing he could remember was pain and a young Jin Cultivatorcalling out to him.

He sat up, groaning in pain as he did. There was a clatter and voice beside him.

"Shu-"

"Shushu!"

"Shushu, be careful! You're still hurt!" Said the voice

Meng Yao's senses finally adjusted to where he was. He was in a tent and from the sounds that were coming from outside, wherever he was, was probably some camp.

Everything came back bit by bit. The Ambush, Jin Zixun, Lan Ying...

"Shushu, here have some water" the young Jin helped adjust him and gave him some water

Shushu? He thought

He knows he has a bunch of siblings everywhere but he only knows of one nephew and that nephew is barely a month old and...

"Jin Ling?" He asked

The boy froze

Meng Yao remembered what Jin Zixun and Jin Guangshan was talking about before he left. The boy's reaction confirmed his thoughts.

The boy in front of him was a time traveler. And it wasn't just anyone, it was his nephew. Meng Yao got a good look at him. He looked quite a bit like his father that he couldn't help but laugh a bit.

"You look like Xuan-ge" he says

Jin Ling looked at him, the boy looked shocked before he suddenly started crying and hugged him. Meng Yao grunted in pain and wasn't sure what caused this expression. But he gently coaxed the crying boy until he was calm.

It was then someone else entered the tent

"Oh you're awake!" It was the chirpy voice of the Yilling Patriach

Jin Ling immediately detached himself out of embarrassment and ran out.

"Jin Ling!" He called in alarm

"Don't worry about him, his a mini peacock afterall" Wei Wuxian says as he sat down. He didn't ask about how he knew about the time travelers. He figured they would get to that point soon

"Young master Wei, may I ask what happened?" He asked wearily

"Alot happened" said the Yilling Patriach "but thanks to you, we didn't suffer much loss"

"What?"

Meng Yao was pretty sure he had become a burden. Afterall even though he intended to warn Wei Wuxian about the ambush when the chances of thwarting it was gone, he instead got shot in the back by his own sect.

"We may have not been able to stop the attack at Yumeng Jiang, but thanks to your warning we discovered more of the enemies plans"

When Meng Yao delivered the news and passed out, Wei Wuxian had decided not to linger. He grabbed hold of a Jiang and ordered for a retreat. The enemy attempted an advance but his A-Yuan blasted the cliff face with his spiritual energy using his guqin. The cliff shook and part of it came tumbling down

There was no time to gawk, they were off thanks to the distraction. Wei Wuxian wanted to rush over to Lotus Pier to stop the attack but upon their retreat they found another Jin force heading to the burial mounds.

He quickly notified both Wen Ning's and together with Wen Qing they had evacuated before the Jin's showed up.

"They were planning to ambush the burial mounds upon our retreat so we changed route and evacuated everyone on time and so all the Jins did was invade an empty settlement!"

"And so for that you have my deepest gratitude" Wei Wuxian acknowledges which caused Meng Yao to stiffen up in suprise

Wei Wuxian knew himself, without that warning, he would have stayed and battled on Qiongqi path. And if he stayed, he would have lost both the Jiangs and Wens.

"What no, it's nothing!"

"San-ge you're being quite modest" a new familiar voice came and with it a number of others had entered his tent

Huisang, Hanguan-jun and Wen Qing had entered

"A-Sang?" He questioned

"I recommend resting for a bit longer, the poison damaged your body severely" Wen Qing orders.

"Thank you, Young Maiden Wen" he says. The atmosphere felt heavy at the turn of events. He was was part of those that was oppressing the Wen Remnants and now he was under their care

He wouldn't be suprised if he didn't wake up tomorrow. Its been a while since he felt this way.

"Just so you know San-ge, we're all on the same side" Huisang could read him like an open book

"Many things happned but to sum it all up, we have visitors from the future. And they decided to help us!"

Meng Yao had pieced that much together after meeting Jin Ling.

"And you don't seem to be that suprised" Wen Qing accused. Hanguang-jun gave him his signature cold glare

"Jin Guangshan knows of the time travellers. It was one of the reasons why I had rushed to Qiongqi Path. I thought I would make it in time to stop the ambush but I failed"

"San-ge oh San-ge, you left in such a hurry that it made Da-ge worry" Huaisang teased, attempting to lighten the mood

"You're one to talk, you're Da-ge thinks you're a Traitor!" Wen Qing scolded

This made Meng Yao sit up straighter. Pain wrecked his body

"What!?"

"Its a bit of a long story San-ge" Huaisang says nevoursly "but to summarize, Da-ge thinks you're dead and me a Traitor!"

Basically after escaping with Jiang Wanyin, Jin Guangshan spun lies, painting Huaisang as a Traitor. Saying they had killed Jin Guangyao first before attempting to assassinate him. Right now Jiang Wanyin was livid. And was put to sleep by Wen Qing or risk qi deviation.

"What!?" He shrieked once more

No, this can't be happening. He just started to get along with Mingjue, he didn't want to loose that relationship. Whatever relationship it was.

He attempted to get up, but whatever damn poison the Jin's used made his whole body weak

"Hey now, I know how you might feel but you're not going anywhere with you're condition!" Wei Wuxian warns

Meng Yao sighs and then carefully asked

"What is happening now?"

"Well, right now we're a bit of a distance away from Yi City. Da-ge knows all my usual spots so we had to find another place to settle. And so the Juniors recommended this place. In a few years that place would become a ghost town if the events of now don't change the future"

"We're regrouping right now. We will move to a more secure location once the others arrive"

"Others?"

"Madam Jin and Peacock!" Wei Wuxian clarified

So the Madam had decided to make her move. Meng Yao wondered if she had found his letter. But he didn't have time to worry about that.

It was then Meng Yao thought of something

"The two Demonic Cultivators that- Lan Ying and his brother are they time travelers as well?" The identity of the two have always made him curious and with how things have gone, Meng Yao suspected that they were a part of what was happening

"Lan Ying!?" The Yilling patriarch turned red.

Meng Yao looked confused at the reaction. Huisang simply snapped his fan open and hid his expression.

"So that's the name that idiot used" Wen Qing grunts with annoyance

Meng Yao waited patiently for his question to be answered

"You could say that" Huaisang began "They're the seniors of our junior time travellers and I believe you may have suspicions of who they might be"

Indeed. For the longest time, with every encounter he had with Lan Ying, he felt as though he was speaking to the yilling patriarch of the sun shot campaign.

The Yilling Patriach before him now seemed a bit different though. The same but different. If he had to describe what felt different it was that the presence of Lan Ying had felt heavier.

"But they look nothing alike" Meng Yao says. Still trying to understand

"That's because the body future me is in doesn't belong to him" Wei Wuxian explains

"Excuse me?" Meng Yao looked baffled

"Lots of stuff happen in the future. But the reason why we look different is because a kid called Mo Xuanyu-"

"A-Yu!?" Meng Yao questioned once more

"A-Yu is only 12, what could he have done" then it finally hit him. The question why Lan Ying looked so familiar

Lan Ying was Mo Xuanyu. But Lan Ying was Wei Wuxian. Meng Yao couldn't understand what was going on. Then there was one more thing that he remembered and realized. Apart from Lan Ying, the other cultivator was always filled with bloodlust that was aimed towards him.

Something wasn't right.

No.

Everything was simply different. As though fate had been altered.

"In that other timeline, the one the time travelers came from. What were we?" He asks

Meng Yao could feel it the moment everyone walked in. The distrust, suspicions and weariness.

"Well to put it simply, we weren't on the same side" says Huaisang

So it was like that. In the other timeline, perhaps he achieved all the things he had planned, but if they were enemies then what of the bonds he had made in this time.

Did he reconcile Mingjue. Did he gain a brother with Jin Zixuan. Did anyone know the real him.

"Things a very different now" Huaisang says "The actions of the time travellers are now catching up to them, but thanks to them we avoided some of the terrible tragedies that would have happened"

"May I ask what those tragedies are?" Meng Yao asked wearily

"In the other timeline, Peacock would have died. Through your machinations but by my hand. From then on everything fell apart" Wei Wuxian answered

Meng Yao was stunned. He sat frozen in pure disbelief. He planned Zixuan's death. But Zixuan was his brother. They truly had become brothers, he wouldn't-

Unless they didn't have that bond. The other him probably didn't have anyone beside him. Only a path going forward and no one to fall back on, unlike him.

"I- thank you" Meng Yao didn't know what else to say

"We're not the ones you should be thanking. Jin Ling was the one who wanted to save you" Wei Wuxian says

"We'll let you get some rest for now. There are still many things that needs to be discussed" Huaisang says and with that they left.

Meng Yao was now alone with his own thoughts. He began to piece together all the things that had happened. The mysterious letters he received, the mysterious force that was pulling him away from Jin Guangshan and everything else. It was all thanks to the time travelers. And one sly Nei Huaisang.

As he was contemplating all this, some one entered his tent. It was Jin Ling.

"Hello" he greets

"Shushu" Jin Ling greets. Jin Ling looked weary. Somewhat unsure.

"Your reaction tells me that my counterpart wasn't a good person" Meng Yao tried

"He was kind of the worst" Jin Ling admits

"Oh" Meng Yao felt confused. If he was the worst then why did Jin Ling want to save him.

"I mean not the worst-worst- no, I mean he was but- urgh! How do I explain this!?" Jin Ling groaned

Meng Yao found the boy a bit entertaining so he couldn't help but laugh. He was just like his father in this expect.

"Why are you laughing, it's serious!" Jin Ling snaps

"I'm sorry, you just resemble Xuan-ge very much" Meng Yao says

Then there it was. The expression that Jin Ling gave him the moment he mentioned Jin Zixuan before

"This is different" Jin Ling began "In our world, you never mentioned my father, now I know its because you guys weren't as close as you are now"

Meng Yao took note of the solemn look in the boys eyes. The looked to have gone through so much pain.

"May I know what my counterpart was like?" He asks

Jin Ling hesitated at first but in the end he told him everything. Jin Ling told him about how Jin GuangYao raised him, that he gave him Fairy and everything and all the events that led to the Guanyin temple incident.

So it was like that, Meng Yao thought. If things didn't change, he would have been alone. He wouldn't have a brother, he wouldn't have Mingjue and would have continued to lie to Xichen till the very end. And Huaisang, he didn't blame him. In fact he was quiet impressed.

He then turned to his nephew. He wouldn't be here now if it weren't for him. And for that he was eternally grateful. His body was still weak but with whatever strength he had, he kowtow before Jin Ling

"Shushu!?" Jin Ling was shocked and tried to push him back up

"Thank you" the man says.

This chance he was gifted. To change his fate. He would not squander it

......

Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi were nevours. And it wasn't just him but the rest of those that knew the truth. Sooner or later, their Seniors would be here. Jin Ling was with Meng Yao, filling him in the things that had happned and that left the two Lans to their own thoughts.

They paced their camp. It was set up in a hurry and it was made up of the Jiang's that had gone to escort Wei Wuxian, the Lans that went to help and also the Neis that left Nei Huaisang.

However there seemed to be an internal conflict between the Lan and Jiang. Sizhui expected this, afterall there were a few Lans that ambushed them at Qiongqi path and it was to soon to let bygones be bygones.

Luckily Hanguan-jun had arrived and helped Wei Wuxian before anything had happned.

Apart from that, he noticed the stares he and Jingyi got. He also expected that. Here a two unknown Lans wearing the the head families Head band. Of course they would get questioning looks.

"We should calm down!" Jingyi suddenly says

"Yes, we should" Sizhui replies and takes a deep breath

And finally, a Lan stepped up to greet them. Ruining the future Lan's effort of calming down

"Excuse me young masters but would you please state your names, if it's not a problem?" Asked the Lan but his timing was horrible

Hanguan-jun had arrived and immediately, the Lan was under his cold gaze.

The Lan cultivators froze at the sight of him.

The Lan that asked looked to be one of their senior clan members from the future, Right now he looked a few years younger then them, so at the moment he was just a junior. He was a kind man and open minded, always friendly and probably the only Lan that could eat Wei Wuxian's food. His only flaw was that he was a pushover.

Sizhui and Jingyi could see the other Lan's lingering. They sent the innocent off to slaughter.

Sizhui gave a smile, this made Hanguan-jun back down, and the Lan's jaw to drop. Only to quickly shut it again when he remembered the rules.

"That would not be a problem senior Xiao" Sizhui says shocking the boy

"How do you-"

"Senior Xiao! You look so small!" Jingyi cut in

"Huh?"

Lan Xiao was the name of the Lan, he looked at Hanguan-jun confused and searched for an answer. He was met with an ice pillar.

The secret would soon be known by everyone anyways so they figured telling someone wouldn't bring anymore harm. And also they were currently in the business of changing fates. Befriending one of the only friendly senior Lans when he was younger and helping with his confidence will hopefuly distract them enough from all the tension.

That's how they spent the time waiting for the others and by sunrise the next day, they inally arrived.

The present time travelers stood attention. And so did those of the past. Jiang Wanyin was finally let back into the land of the living. That didn't mean he was happy about it. Wei Wuxian was afraid that his brother would run off to cut off Jin Guangshan's head. He stood close to the purple grape and tugged at his sleeve

"Why the sour look, Shijie and baby Jin Ling will be here soon" he says trying to calm the younger "baby Jin Ling is gonna get started by your face"

Older the Jin Ling wanted to retort to that but kept his mouth shut. And simply watched the brothers interaction. He felt envious but then sound of rattling chains came.

They were here.

Wen Ning led the weary group. Senior Wen probably took up the rear and the other seniors were no where in sight. The moment the camp saw the Jin's they immediately stood on guard.

"Stand down" Nei Huaisang ordered coldly for all the leaders

The prides of Yumeng wanted to run to their sister so badly but even in this kind of situations, formalities was a must. Madam Jin greeted them curtly and then

"Where is Meng Yao!" He rushed. Everyone looked at her in suprise. That was the first thing she asked after the greetings? Jin Ling was shocked beyond words. He was visibly gaping

"He is resting at his camp. He was poisoned and the toxins are yet to leave his body. But he will make full recovery" Wen Qing answered

A weight looked to have been lifted from the Madam Jin and Jin Zixuan's shoulders.

"Taking for saving my brother" Jin Zixuan says to Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing

This was the first time Jin Ling saw his father. His juijui and da-jui always said he looked like his mother but perhaps they were biased. His dad was tall and handsome and the way he looked at his mom and the younger him was filled with nothing but love. He was truly envious.

"What did I miss!?" An all to familiar voice came.

Gone was the envy and relief flooded him and the others like a flood. Their missing link was back.

"Zizhen!" Jingyi cried

Gone was the formalities. The trio hugged the life out of the fourth. Tears and snot dripped down their faces with the reunion.

"Seems like everyone is finally together!" Came another all to familiar voice

The time travelers looked up and so did those of the past. And there in all his glory was Wei Ying of the future and beside him was Sect Leader Jiang Cheng. They had always imagined how this moment would play through.

Jin Ling and Jingyi always imagined themselves running for the hills to avoid the scoldings and punishments they would face. They didn't think they would be running towards it.

It was a flash of whites and yellow. The whites had fully engulfed the man in black.

"Baba!" "Senior Wei!" Both had cried out. A strangled yelp came from Wei Ying

As for the Yellow, he crashed into the uncle who had raised him all his life and let loose of everything that had bottled up.

"Juijui!" Jin Ling cried

For the first time in during this whole ordeal, Jiang Cheng's softened. Those he didn't know him wouldn't know how to tell the difference, but the past Wei Wuxian, Jiang Wanyin and Jiang Yanli were shocked dumbstruck

"Thats enough, how old are you to be acting like this?" Jiang Cheng tried to wipe the boys tears away but more kept flowing

"Why are you so surprised, that's you" Wei Wuxian whispered to Jiang Wanyin

"Yeah but he's more... angry?" Jiang Wanyin retorted

"Boys!" Madam Jin snapped at them

And then finally they gretted them.

The time traveling Juniors and those of the past greeted the Yilling Patriach and the Sandu Senchou of the future.