#ilona22

💙 Crossing Paths

by Ilona22

M, 21k, Wangxian

Summary: In a world where the gentry families are both shapeshifters, and rulers of their territory in truth, a different war is started by greed. During its course the paths of a human and a dragon shifter cross, and from that, something grows. Kay's comments: This story has really enjoyable world-building and I loved to see the sects re-imagined as shifters. Like in canon, a war plays out between the sects in this story. However, the allegiances are different and in the end, the Jiangs are on the losing side and the story follows how Wei Wuxian ended up being turned over to the Lans and then promptly courted by Hanguang-Jun himself. Even during the war on opposing sides, Wangxian had already hit it off and their developing relationship in this story was right up my alley! Lan Wangji truly knows how to treat Wei Wuxian as he deserves and shower him in love and appreciation! Excerpt: Wei Ying’s part of the border had held, in contrast to the one near the coast. And so, it had been deemed more important that he guard their back against Gusu. It meant that Wei Ying had spent the last month skirmishing with Lan Wangji, Hanguang-Jun. Heir of Gusu and, as all of the main Lan clan, dragon shifter. Truly an awesome sight in his dragon form, Wei Ying had never seen anything as beautiful as that. All sleek, white scales, with ice blue accents, swift and elegant in the air. But fighting him directly like that? Not his idea of fun. Bears at least stayed on the ground. It had involved a lot of tactically chosen cover, talisman work and quick, intense duels. He was managing to hold the border, despite still having mainly common troops, and a few of the other outer disciples. But this would not work forever. For the moment, his requests for reinforcement had been denied, due to the Nie and Wen effectively pressing the Jin and Yu – the Nie had been joined by Zewu-Jun and his men, which was making things very difficult for the Jin. As Wei Ying had expected, their side was crippled by power plays and politics. There were factions in the Jin sect, each jockeying for the most prestigious postings. The Yu were too proud to accept someone outside their sect commanding their troops. And Jiang Cheng was terrible at cooperation. It was a mess held together by Jiang Fengmian’s efforts at diplomacy, and the hope for gains.

pov wei wuxian, canon divergence, shapeshifters, war, cultivation sect politics, dragon lan wangji, human wei wuxian, war prize wei wuxian, diplomacy, developing relationship, getting to know each other, getting together, falling in love, not jiang cheng friendly, jiang family dynamics

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