MDZS Grim Reaper/ Death God AU (Part 1)
Pulled from my Twitter thread:
https://twitter.com/keysmashed/status/1114174518086389760
AU where Wei Wuxian is a Grim Reaper/ Death God who is tasked with taking Lan Wangji’s soul when LWJ was 15. Instead of doing his job, he ends up falling in love with LWJ and keeps delaying the inevitable.
He disguises himself as a rogue cultivator when they both meet. He keeps coming to the Cloud Recesses under the pretense of visiting the library. LWJ is supposed to die saving a few disciples from the Waterborne Abyss but WWX saves him instead.
Grateful, Gusu Lan invites him to stay as a guest disciple. He gets to go to class with JC, NHS and JZX too. One look at JZX and he casually says “oh, you’ll have a short life” without thinking and they fight. JC immediately takes a liking and invites him to visit Lotus Pier.
Fellow Grim Reaper in charge of the North, Wen Qing comes to see why WWX delays his task. WWX convinces WNQ that his task needs to be delayed because of some complication but she warns WWX that there will be consequences and changes to other people’s fate because of the delay.
LWJ meanwhile asks LXC and LQR if having a male cultivation partner is acceptable. They easily know why he asks the question and have no objections. LWJ and WWX gets closer and more affectionate. Meanwhile, rumours of Qishan Wen’s move spreads.
Wen Xu invades the Cloud Recesses. WWX tries to help but is stopped by Grim Reaper Wen Zhuliu, who has been tasked to reap Qingheng-jun’s soul and a few other disciples of the sect. He notices that Lan Xichen is on the list of WZL’s missive and warns him to escape. LQR agrees.
He had to watch the Cloud Recesses burn and saves LWJ, leaving him with a leg injury instead of letting him die. WZL finishes his task (others can’t see him because he doesn’t make himself visible) and warns WWX to stop interfering with fate before things get worse.
Things will further deviate now that WWX has delayed two deaths, LWJ’s and LXC’s. Before WZL leaves, he asks how many people are on his lists. WZL simply tells him originally, one. Because of the recent turns of the wheel of fate, thousands. WWX falls to his knees in shock.
But he can’t bring himself to take LWJ’s life. He’s going to do what he can to save as many people who are not supposed to be on the list yet even if he ends up angering the heavens further. LQR and LWJ retreats to Lotus Pier discreetly to recuperate. WWX follows.
They reach Lotus Pier and WWX is taken aback by the “death marks” he sees on everyone there including Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli. He immediately knows that the entire Lotus Pier is fated to die soon. All except for Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan.
He has seen JC’s fate previously and JC is supposed to live a long life with strong cultivation. He wants JC to have his original fate, at least, so he makes the hardest decision he ever had to make: transfer JC’s death mark to JFM instead and JYL’s mark to YZY.
LQR leaves Lotus Pier to rendezvous with LXC. LWJ stays behind with WWX because of his injury. WWX looks at a sleeping LWJ, his hand trembles when he puts his hand on LWJ’s heart. He wonders if things will change if he takes LWJ’s life now... but he doesn’t. He can’t.
When YZY sends JYL away to meet her fiance’s family, WWX is relieved. With JYL alive, at least JC will not be alone. Maybe he can revive the Jiang Sect. The Wens invades Lotus Pier after getting the news that LP sheltered LQR and LWJ. WZL looks at WWX with disapproval.
LWJ and WWX help JC escape. LWJ receives news from Gusu and needs to return. WWX casts a forbidden spell that hides LWJ from other Grim Reapers before he goes. WWX stays with a brokenhearted JC to find JYL.
On the way, JC falls ill and collapsed. Wen Qing comes and yells at WWX for not heeding her warning. “LOOK AT WHAT YOU’VE DONE! ONE LIFE IN PLACE OF A MILLION OTHERS.” In the middle of their argument, Wen Ning chances upon them and saves JC.
It turns out WN can see both WWX and WQ. JC later wakes up and tries to kill WN but is immobilized by WQ. WN doesn’t have a death mark anyway, not yet. Begrudgingly grateful, JC continues on his way to meet JYL. WQ warns WWX again.
WWX finds out that JYL’s fiance is JZX. He remembers that JZX is supposed to have a short life and indeed, he has a death mark. WWX doesn’t hesitate to transfer the mark to Jin Zixun, who just happened to be there but doesn’t have a death mark. A life in exchange for one spared.
WWX leaves JC now that he’s safe and returns to Gusu. Everyone is still recovering but they’re also preparing for war. WWX visits late Qingheng-jun’s quarters and weeps for forgiveness. He weeps for forgiveness from everyone whose fate was changed. LWJ finds him crying.
“Lan Zhan, I have committed a grave sin.” LWJ says he won’t judge WWX and his past sin. He confesses that he wants to stay by WWX’s side. WWX kisses him and promises that things will change for the better. Going against the nature of the Grim Reaper, his soul starts to fracture.
By now, WWX has: - refused to complete a mission, delayed LWJ’s death, hidden him from other reapers - triggered multiple deaths of others for tampering with death marks, exchanging their fates - fallen in love, physically and emotionally involved with a human fated to die earlier
A fallen Grim Reaper is what he is gradually becoming and in time, he may even turn into a demon or banished to become a powerless human. He knows he won’t be able to escape punishment forever. The only reason he is not yet stopped is because the higher ups find it entertaining.
Fast forward - Qishan Wen eventually falls. The war comes to an end. LWJ proposes to WWX. LXC brings his sworn brothers to the Cloud Recesses. For the first time, they meet NMJ and JGY. When LXC introduces LWJ, JGY appears confused because he can’t see LWJ.
That is when WWX finds out the esteemed Lianfang-zun who assasinated WRH is actually another Grim Reaper parading as a human, just like him! JGY, too, realises what WWX did to LWJ and smiles knowingly.
—END OF PART ONE * Thank you for reading this far. TBC
