good awful creature🖤

“What will you do with him after?” Yanli frowned.

“There is a beautiful home for young orphans along the outskirts of Qinghe. It’s small but well cared for. He would absolutely thrive there, I can assure you. And if he ever had the chance to be adopted by, say, a lovely young mother from the Jin clan….”

“That would be perfect…,” she gulped. ‘Perfect’ really wasn’t the word; ‘perfect’ would have never gotten her to this point, where her husband was clinging to life in Koi Tower and her brothers were literally at war with one another. This was not perfect, this was her own personal hell. But what other option did she have? Jin Guangyao was a weasel. A shrewd, sinister creature that had reared his ugly head almost too quickly after Jin Zixuan was brought home, spurting and choking on blood from his stab wound. His proposed plan was...unorthodox, at least. Completely unsettling if Yanli were honest. But she knew that Wei Wuxian’s life was effectively over whether or not he died that night. So it was death or...a new start?

She bowed to him, tucking the little slip of paper into the fold of her sleeve.

“Thank you, Lianfang-Jun. I’ll go now.”

“Hurry, he should be here within the hour.”

Amongst the cacophony of battle, palpable bloodlust hung in the air; everything was a jumbled chaos that Yanli’s mind couldn’t make sense of. Tunnel vision engulfed her as she scanned the soldiers before her, not one of them truly registering since they weren’t Wei Wuxian. But there, on the roof of the highest tower of the front gates, she finally saw him. Yanli threaded her way through the pillars and stairwells of the fortress, trying to stay in the shadows and far away from the fight. She trudged higher and higher, following the ragged notes of his flute until she stood in the room just below him. Now to get him closer….

“Ah-Xian…. Ah-Xian…!” she hissed. But that damn flute kept playing. She gave it a few more tries, cooing and whispering at him, hoping the sweet tone in her voice would contrast just enough with the cacophony of the battle for him to notice.

Finally, finally, it stopped. Yanli held her breath as she listened to his footsteps get closer and closer to the window, until she could see his shadow slip through the opening. He paused and stared at her.

“Xian-Xian...my sweet Xian-Xian,” she whispered, pulling the hood of her black cape down. Tears sprung into her eyes and she reached out to him. He didn’t move closer.

“Please, come here, let me see you!” she cried. He took a cautious step in her direction, then another, then another. When he was close enough, he collapsed into her waiting arms.

“Shijie, I’m sorry…. I-I don’t know- I didn’t mean for all this…” he sobbed.

“Shh, I know, I know, I know. I believe you. You know that, don’t you? I believe you with all my heart. None of this was supposed to happen, I know that.” She tucked his face into the crook of her neck, letting him cry onto the rugged black linen of her cloak. Eventually she pinched his chin gently and pulled him up to look her in the eyes.

“Xian Xian, we have to go now. It’ll be okay, okay?”

“N-no….” he sputtered. “I’m not done here, Shijie. I can’t...I’m not walking out of here tonight. You know that.”

“I have a plan, Ah-Xian, I just need you to trust me.”

“I can’t!” he snapped, a sob hitching in his throat. He pulled away from her, yanking his wrist out of her grasp. “I...I need to stay here. I need to finish this.”

Stubborn, stubborn, stubborn…! she thought.

“Please, just let me help you! You just have to follow me!”

“No, I-I-” his shoulders dropped. “I started all this, I can’t just walk away. And I don’t want you to get involved, you’ll just become another target to Jin Guangshan. Please, just let me go finish this,” he looked away, trembling. Yanli swallowed hard, but held out her arms to him. Just one last hug, she pleaded silently. He stepped into her embrace, letting her arms wrap around him and rock him side to side.

“I love you so, so much, Ah-Xian, you know that, right?” She hummed, faintly rocking him from side to side.

“I-I know….” he whimpered. “I-it’ll be okay, I promise…. I’m sorry I couldn’t meet Rulan….”

“He’s gonna grow up, Ah-Xian, he’ll be just like his uncle, just like you. So handsome, so smart, so caring. He’ll be such a happy, noisy, excited ball of sunshine and I won’t even know what to do with him. I love you, Xian-Xian, I love you so, so much….” She felt him crumple into her hold, his tears wetting the crook of her neck again. And gently, ever so gently, she reached into her sleeve to pull out the talisman. She retracted her arms, that loving hold, and he startled. She slammed the paper onto his forehead with all her might, digging her fingers into his hair to latch on. He screamed and thrashed and tried with everything he had to pull her off, and easily could have if the charm didn’t take hold so quickly. He felt every ounce of strength leaching from his body, his muscles all spasming at once and forcing his limbs to recoil. He dropped to the floor, Yanli’s hand never losing its grip. With wet, muffled cracking sounds, his bones crushed themselves into powder, new cartilage searing as it sprouted from places it hadn’t grown from in years. Teeth and drool fell from his still open mouth as his hair began slipping out of his scalp and through Yanli’s fingers. Fumes rose from his body, choking both him and Yanli as excess skin, fat, bone, and muscle burned away as he seemed to shrink further and further into himself.

His Jiejie was hurting him.

Finally, finally, it stopped. He was being smothered by his black and red robes, his only source of air coming from the gap in the fabric where his sister’s hand was. She quickly let go and dug his little body out of the cloth, scooping him up and pressing him into her bosom. He screamed and crumpled the fabric of her cloak in his tiny fists.

“Ah-Xian, I...I didn’t know it would hurt…. But it’s okay now, we’ll be okay, we just have to find our way out of here.” She could hear the battle continuing outside, and hoped that the remaining flashes of resentment energy would survive long enough to keep the soldiers distracted.

She bolted down the stairwell, tucking Wei Wuxian’s head close to keep it from bouncing as she ran. She remembered the side passage of the fortress that most healers used during the Sunshot Campaign; perhaps it wasn’t flanked with guards like the main gate.

Suddenly thundering footsteps echoed up the stairwell. A Nie Soldier bounded towards her, his sword poised above his shoulder offensively; they locked eyes as they ran, his never glancing at the shrieking bundle in her arms. She charged at him with so much fervor that he stalled; she raised her leg, kicked him square in the chest, and paused only so he could tumble down the stairs and out of her way. She moved forward, down the last steps, through the puddle of blood pooling from the soldier’s ear, and slipping through the narrow brick archway.

“You rat!!! You fucking weasel!!! Get your ass over here now!!! We had a deal!!!” Yanli shrieked towards the rising dawn. “I did what you said…! I...I cast your fucking charm! I cursed my own fucking brother for you! Now come do your part, you demon!” She screamed and screamed until blood vessels burst in her eyes and she nearly coughed up her lungs, and then took a deep breath to scream some more.

Hidden in her robes, Wei Wuxian squirmed and fussed, his tiny feet digging into her belly. Dizzy, Yanli stumbled to the base of a tree and dropped to the ground. She pulled him out of her robes and cradled him, cupping the back of his head gingerly and making low shushing noises in his ear. He was so small, even smaller than Jin Ling when he was born. She rubbed her thumb along his temple, and he instinctively leaned into her touch.

“Ah-Xian…. Ah-Xian…,” she hummed, watching him twitch at the sound of his name. Jin Guangyao mentioned that his memories wouldn’t disappear, but...only now did she understand what that meant. This newborn was still sentient. He was still her Ah-Xian.

“Jiejie messed up big time, huh, Xian-Xian? I trusted an ugly little monster, and I got you hurt. I’m so sorry,” she sighed, kissing his forehead. He cooed, his eyes lazily tracking the bright pink of her lips.

“I’ll figure something out, I’ll figure it out....” She tucked him back into the warmth of her robes and headed back down the path. Her body moved sluggishly, but her mind was spinning.

Dark. That’s all Wei Wuxian registered when he woke up. He tried to lift his arm to rub at his eyes, but his whole body was wound tight in silk wrappings. He squirmed and fought, but his weak muscles could hardly shift the swaddle off of his shoulders. Suddenly, he heard footsteps heading towards him, moving closer and closer, moving...above him? He heard squeaking wood as an unseen foot landed beside him, but moved on. 

...Floors…?

“...trust you. I swear. But where did you go?” That was...Jin Zixuan’s voice?! He was alive?! There was no response, and Zixuan continued.

“Was it to look for Wei Wuxian?” Again silence. His voice sounded hoarse and feeble, but it was definitely his.

“Please listen. It’s okay, I’m not mad. He’s your brother, Ah-Li, I know.”

“I just...he vanished! And nobody will talk to me like a fucking adult and just tell me what’s going on! Even Ah-Cheng won’t give me any real answers!” A bed creaked as Yanli sat beside her husband. “I just want to know where my baby brother went….” She began crying, her sobs muffled past the floorboards.

“Do you want to keep searching?”

“...It doesn’t feel safe here anymore, Ah-Xuan. If I leave, I’m scared you won’t be here when I come back.”

“I know who I can trust. I promise, I’ll be right here, waiting for you.”

“May I take Rulan?”

“Absolutely. He’s probably safer with you, anyway.” They paused as Jin Zixuan let out a round of raspy coughs.

“I really hope you find him, Yanli. I do.”

That was the last piece Wei Wuxian heard as he drifted off to sleep.

“Ah-Xian…. Ah-Xian….” Yanli whispered, shifting the loose floorboards by her dresser. His eyes fluttered open and he yawned, letting out a little squeak that melted Yanli’s heart.

“You poor thing, I’m so sorry you were down here all day. You’ve been so good though, thank you for waiting so patiently for Jiejie. I’ll get you cleaned and fed, then we’ll move out, okay?” He cooed at her, stretching his chubby little arms up to her face, just to latch onto a lock of her hair and tug. He let out a single, breathy laugh when she grimaced and pried his fingers away.

“Same, silly Ah-Xian,” she smiled, flicking his nose. “Same brown eyes,” she hummed, strumming her fingers on his temple; “Same little nose,” she smiled and flicked his nose again, “And same bright smile, happiest little smile I’ve ever seen. Makes Jiejie so happy to see it!” He watched her intently, grinning and huffing at every touch.

“Alright, we have a big trip ahead of us. Let me get you and Ah-Ling ready.”

One sling stretched across her bosom, while the other was strapped onto her back. Yanli rode her sword in the dead of night, fumbling only with stronger breezes and the tallest pine trees. They stayed low in the sky, quietly gliding over the borders of Lanling, Moling, and then finally, slipping into Yunmeng. She dipped low, letting her sword skim the river’s surface until Lotus Pier came into view, finally dismounting on a grassy riverbank.

Yanli laid her boys down side by side before stretching her back out slowly, letting every bone pop and crack before settling down with them.

“My two heavy little guys. Ah-Xian, Jin Ling is already so much bigger than you, but I really think you’re the heavier one! You wore my back out!” She reached over and patted both of their heads, taking an extra moment to rub her thumb over Jin Ling’s new patchy peach fuzz.

“Xian-Xian, you never even got to see your little nephew. I feel so bad about that.” She hoisted Wei Wuxian in her lap, steadying his head as she tried to make the boys face one another. She knew it was probably futile, and that Ah-Xian’s new little body was too uncoordinated to even focus his eyes, but she made a good effort at it. Wei Wuxian could make out the pink of Jin Ling’s lips and the shadow of his newly sprouted hair, and maybe even the little red dot on his forehead. She laid him back down in the grass, grinning when the boys looped their arms around one another’s; perhaps on accident, perhaps not. But they stayed in that position, enjoying the warmth and comfort from each other.

“We have a while until sunrise. I’ll stay right here with you Ah-Xian, until I see you’re in good hands.” Yanli began plucking long blades of grass and weaving them together into a spiral.

“You know where we are, right, Ah-Xian?” she hummed, her nimble fingers moving rhythmically, just keeping her mind occupied. “We’re just outside of Lotus Pier. Jiang Cheng’s still at Koi Tower though, but I know the disciples come down here to fish in the early morning. They’ll take you in-”

Suddenly a sharp wail pierced the air, and fat tears started welling up in Wei Wuxian’s eyes.

“Oh my goodness,” she cooed, scooping him up and placing him over her shoulder. “So much drama! Just because I said your didi’s name?” Wei Wuxian kept crying, even as she patted his back and rocked him. Of course, as Wei Wuxian kept getting louder and louder, Jin Ling started up with his own fussing.

“Two of you! Two of you!” she laughed, effortlessly scooping Jin Ling up over her other shoulder.

“And Ah-Ling, you’re a big cousin now! You’ll have to grow up and set an example for Ah-Xian! You can’t pick up on the little ones’ bad moods so easily!” This only served to rile Wei Wuxian up even more, although Yanli didn’t seem at all remorseful. Eventually she got them settled again, Jin Ling dozing off with his fist crammed in his mouth, and Wei Wuxian pouting miserably beside him. Yanli continued her weaving as she talked to her little brother.

“If I could, I really would keep you at Koi Tower with me and Ah-Xuan and Ah-Ling. I’d dump you off at an orphanage just to scoop you up and adopt you the next morning, just as a cover, you know? And you and Ah-Ling would grow up together and have the best lives. But it’s not safe, especially not with that Lianfang-Jun lurking around. I won’t let him anywhere near you, cross my heart. But if they’ll take you at Lotus Pier, Ah-Ling and I will always know just where to find you.” He was lulled in and out of sleep by her voice, losing track of what she was talking about, but happy to hear her nonetheless.

“I...I know you didn’t want this. I’m sorry. I just didn’t want you dead. This was all pretty selfish of me, wasn’t it? But honestly...I’m still really, really glad you’re not dead. I’m sorry….” He cooed at her. She took it as some positive affirmation that he didn’t totally hate her guts.

“I don’t know what Ah-Cheng will do. I honestly don’t even know if he’ll let you stay at Lotus Pier. I won’t tell him who you are, at least not yet. And I promise no matter what happens, I’ll find you. If you can’t be Ah-Cheng’s I’ll find you and we’ll try something else.” She kept on like that for hours, crafting and chatting and cooing to her boys, until finally she saw the first streaks of sunlight creeping over the river. She held them together one last time before carefullly placing Wei Wuxian on the new mat. His eyes tracked her as best as they could, and he got more and more upset as she continued getting him ready.

“Xian-Xian, listen, I’m going to place you right on the edge of the water. Don’t get fussy if you get wet, okay? Be good and save all your strength for when it actually matters. Disciples are going to come floating down the river any minute now. When you hear them get close, I want you to scream your head off. Give it everything you’ve got, and make sure they hear you. I won’t leave until I see them take you into Lotus Pier and shut the gates. I promise, I promise, and if Jiang Cheng doesn’t let you stay, I’ll find you in Yunmeng and take you somewhere else. I promise this isn’t goodbye, okay?” She bit back tears and kissed his cheeks, his lips, his forehead, trying to ignore his whimpers and shaking. 

“My Xian-Xian, my sweet Xian-Xian, I love you so much, I can’t wait to see you again, okay, okay?” She placed him right on the edge of the muddy riverbank, swaddled tightly in his red silk sling. The instant his back hit the earth he burst into tears; she kissed him one last time and stepped back into the grasses. His eyes tracked her dark cloak as best as they could as she slipped further and further away. Then she was gone. He immediately heard the splashing and chatter of a crowded riverboat coming closer. He waited, and waited.

Then he screamed.

At midday, Yanli made her way to her husband’s bedside, laying down with him and nestling their sleeping son between their bodies. Jin Zixuan stirred, fluttering his eyes open before smiling at Yanli.

“You found him?” he whispered, to which she nodded.

“He’s safe?” She nodded again. Jin Zixuan wrapped his arm around his little family, and Yanli silently cried into his shoulder.

Yanli didn’t know what kind of sign to look for, but waiting for it was unbearable. She tried to keep herself busy with nursing her husband back to health and tending to her baby, but even on her busiest days, her mind would wander back to Ah-Xian.

If Jiang Cheng had returned to Lotus Pier and decided to take the child in as a future disciple, she probably wouldn’t hear about it. If he had decided to just turn him into a local orphanage, then she definitely wouldn’t have heard about it.

Finally, finally, nearly two months later, a letter arrived to her from Lotus Pier . All it said was that Sect Leader Jiang was requesting her presence in Lotus Pier. Immediately.

“Ah-Cheng!” Yanli grinned, stepping onto the docks and bounding up to her younger brother. He moved to hug her, but stumbled back when he noticed the little gold bundle slung over her chest.

“Ah-Jie…. How are you and Ah-Ling doing?”

“We’re well, we’re well! He’s growing so fast, isn’t he?” she smiled, turning Jin Ling outwards for his uncle to see. Jin Ling squinted and cooed excitedly as the sunlight hit his face, stretching his tiny fist up to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng held it and carefully stroked his fingers.

“...Ah-Jie, I need to show you something….” Jiang Cheng abruptly turned and started trekking back towards Lotus Pier. Yanli watched him for a moment and smiled, then tucked Jin Ling in closer and followed behind.

“Oh my goodness!” Yanli leaned over the wooden cradle carefully, watching the squirmy little one inside. “Where on earth did he come from?!”

“A couple of disciples found him downstream a while back. He was laying in the mud all by himself. Someone just abandoned him there.” Jiang Cheng sat down on the bed in his private quarters, placing a napping Jin Ling down beside him.

“That’s horrifying….” she sighed. She reached in and stroked the baby’s cheek, to which he playfully batted at her hand. He kicked his legs under the cotton blanket as he stretched his arms up, squealing, practically begging to be picked up. She only smiled and cooed down at him.

“He’s so strong for such a little guy! What do you call him?”

“...Jiang An….”

“Jiang An,” she muttered, grabbing his pudgy toes and startling him.

“Ah-Jie, there’s something...really strange about this kid.” Jiang Cheng crossed his arms. “Every time I see him I just get this pit in my stomach.”

“What do you mean?”

“I feel uneasy around him. Like...doesn’t he seem a little…” His voice faltered. “...His whole vibe, his energy…. It’s like….”

Yanli turned around, locking eyes with Jiang Cheng. She waited patiently for him to continue. Instead, he walked over to the head of the cradle and watched Jiang An carefully.

“...Are birthmarks hereditary?” he asked softly. Yanli blinked, then let out a laugh.

“No, they’re not! Does he have a birthmark you’re worried about?” she chuckled. Jiang Cheng reached down and untied Jiang An’s mint green robes, gently pulling his stubby arms out of his sleeves.

“Do you remember when Ah-Niang used Zidian on Wei Wuxian? And then you had to dress his wounds and put lotion on the scars? He had this mark, right at his spine.” Jiang Cheng held the baby by the shoulder and rolled him over, exposing his bare back. Jiang An kicked and let out a sharp whine in protest.

“See! It was just like that, like a little crescent moon on his back! You saw that, didn’t you?! Remember?!”

“I guess it looks similar, Ah-Cheng,” Yanli said. She traced the mark with her finger, eliciting more protests from Jiang An. She gave her brother a sad smile. “He reminds you of Ah-Xian, doesn’t he?”

“It’s not- no, it’s the same damn spot, Jie!” Jiang Cheng snapped. “And it’s not just the stupid mark; his wet nurse has had a lot of babies, and she says he’s doing things he just shouldn’t be able to do yet! Like, all his laughing, and the way he calms down so easily, a-and, the way he watches you, Ah-Jie! His eyes follow you around the room! Jin Ling can’t do that shit yet and he’s older! It’s fucking creepy, like, like he’s a real person or something!” Jiang Cheng paused for a breath and glanced up at his sister, pleading for some sort of reaction. She stared at him blankly.

“I don’t know what you want me to say, Ah-Cheng.”

“We never found him, Ah-Jie. I swear, our teams combed the entire coast looking for him but he just vanished. And all those weird things he was researching, I just…maybe there was a chance…. I wanted to see if you saw it too.” They each tensed, watching the other sibling carefully. A soft whine broke their focus.

Jiang An started fussing around the fist balled up in his mouth, tears forming in his scrunched up eyes. Yanli began to dress him, then rolled him onto his back and lifted him onto her shoulder, keeping his white cotton blanket draped loosely over him.

“Ah-Cheng, do you plan on keeping this child?”

“...What?”

“Will he stay here with you at Lotus Pier? Yes or no?”

“I-I…I’m right, aren’t I?” Jiang Cheng whispered. Yanli looked away and tightened her grip on Jiang An.

“...And what will happen to him if you are?”

“I…. Oh, god. Oh god fucking dammit. What the hell did he do?!” Jiang Cheng whispered. 

“I can take him somewhere else, if-”

“No, no, I’m keeping him…. I promise, I’ll keep him safe, I just...how the actual fuck did he do this?!”

“For the record, he never agreed to this,” she sighed, perching on the edge of Jiang Cheng’s bed.

“...You?!” Jiang Cheng snapped.

“...Lianfang-jun. I’m so sorry, Ah-Cheng, he just- Ah-Xuan was dying and I was just falling apart, then he swooped in with all these promises and I- I wasn’t thinking, I just didn’t want Ah-Xian to die!”

“I knew that man was a rat…. Damn...Goddamn....” He dropped beside his sister and rubbed his temples, squeezing his eyes shut. “You two are going to be the death of me, I swear.... A baby? Why the fuck would he want to turn him into a baby?”

“I don’t know. To hide him, maybe?”

“Maybe he planned on keeping him around. There’s got to be a reason he dragged you into this though.”

“...Ah-Cheng...never ever take Ah-Xian near Koi Tower. Don’t even bring him to Lanling.”

“Okay. And never ever leave Jin Ling alone in Lanling, even with Jin Zixuan there. Deal?”

“Deal,” Yanli nodded. They sat pensively for a minute, the calm silence broken only by the babies’ coos and snores.

“Ah-Jie, he needs a courtesy name. I gave him his first name, so it’s your turn,” Jiang Cheng smirked, prying Jiang An away from his sister.

“I’ll think on it,” she chuckled.

“JIANG. RI. XIAO.” Jiang Cheng bellowed from the far end of the pier. The little boy, no older than seven, startled and whipped his head around to see his uncle marching towards him.

“What on earth are you doing here?! You need to start getting ready for the banquet!” Jiang Cheng huffed.

“I’m waiting for all the people to get here! Look, look, I can give them flowers!” he grinned, holding out a messy bundle of pink lotuses.

“You’re greeting our honorable guests looking like that?! Like a grimy little mud sprite?! You’ll scare them all away!” he snapped, crouching down to beat the dirt off of Rixiao’s robes. “They’ll be making their way down the river, see this big, moving blob of mud jump out from the bushes, and turn right back around screaming!”

“‘Cuz they saw a mud sprite?!” Rixiao cackled, letting Jiang Cheng fuss over his dirt-encrusted braid.

“Exactly! Then they’ll all go back to their hometowns and start telling the world that Lotus Pier is haunted! Now come on, we need to get you looking human again!”

“But my flowers! I picked them special for everyone!” Rixiao frowned. Jiang Cheng huffed and rolled his eyes, taking the bouquet from the child.

“We’ll put these in a vase or something. Promise, you’ll get to share your flowers with the guests. Now let’s- go!” Jiang Cheng grunted as he hurled Rixiao over his shoulder and stormed off, eliciting more laughter.

“Hello, Sect-Leader-Gufu-Jin! Hello, Guma! Hello, Jin-Xiong! Welcome back to Lotus Pier!” Rixiao shouted, grinning from ear to ear and bowing until his long braid hung past his knees. Jin Zixuan and Yanli chuckled, and Yanli patted the top of the little one’s head.

“Rixiao, you can still call me Gufu,” Zixuan smiled, trying to hold his laughter. Jiang Cheng stepped forward, pulling Rixiao behind his legs quickly.

“Sect Leader Jin, congratulations on your new appointment. Please accept my apology for not being able to attend your father’s funeral.”

“It’s quite alright, Sect Leader Jiang, I understand completely. Ah-Ling, don’t tug now, come say hi.” Jin Zixuan gently guided his own son out from behind his legs, keeping a comforting grip on his shoulder. Rixiao beamed at his big cousin. Jin Ling gave a shy grin and a wave.

“Ah-Cheng, how about we all settle in for tea before the crowds arrive? There are some things we want to talk about,” Yanli smiled.

Yanli, Jiang Cheng, and Zixuan nestled into the dining table. Jin Ling and Rixiao each tried to climb into Yanli’s lap, but while she would have welcomed them any other day, today’s discussion was too serious of a matter for the children.

“Boys, why don’t you go play? The grown ups need to tend to business a little early today,” she smiled.

“Okay Ah-niang!” Jin Ling answered. He began pulling his little cousin away, but Rixiao stood firm. He stared at the trio of adults, a pensive look on his face. They stared back.

“I don’t wanna go…” he mumbled.

“Ah-Xiao, you won’t be missing out on much. It’s just trade deals between our two sects,” Zixuan offered. “I promise, it’s nothing you need to sit around here for.”

Rixiao frowned at his uncle. He wanted to stay.

“...Are you being stubborn, Jiang Rixiao?” Jiang Cheng said.

“No…!”

“Then what did Gufu say?”

“But-”

“I wanna stay…!” Jin Ling whined. “I wanna stay too!”

“Rixiao isn’t staying, Ah-Ling, and neither are you!” Jiang Cheng huffed. Jin Ling pouted and glanced between his cousin and his uncle. While Jin Ling was getting fussy, Rixiao’s mood seemed to genuinely darken. Jiang Cheng pulled him close and whispered. “Listen to me- Listen, are you listening?” he chided. “You are not being a good influence on your cousin right now. He’s still learning; I know you know better. Take this as an order from your sect leader: Go. Now.”

Rixiao stilled before tearing up, then storming off. Jiang Cheng sighed, then motioned for Jin Ling to follow suit.

“I’m sorry to you both, he’s not usually this bratty.” “That’s quite alright. He’s smart, really. He knows something deeper is in the works and he wants to be a part of it still…” Jin Zixuan pondered. “It must be a very confusing existence for him.” Yanli felt a pit in her stomach at that remark.

“It can be. He’s still brighter than the average child, but at the end of the day, he is still a child. He has his toys. His tantrums. His memories, too. He doesn’t always know what to make of it all. I just try to re-raise him with a little more grace than I had before,” Jiang Cheng sighed.

They watched Jin Ling and Rixiao on the river bank, pulling snails off of the long grasses and chucking them into the water. Every so often, Rixiao would stare back at them, a dark look in his eyes. Yanli and Zixuan just smiled at him, while Jiang Cheng stuck his tongue out.

“So…,” Yanli began. “We need to discuss the matter of Lianfeng-jun.”

“Is it finally time to dispose of that little rat?” Jiang Cheng asked.