Work Text:
Jiang Cheng stormed into the Jingshi, fists clenched at his sides, with the intent to give Lan Wangji a piece of his mind.
What he saw when he entered made him freeze in his tracks.
Lan Wangji, sitting at a table filled with desserts, glanced at him, before ignoring him and going back to sipping his tea. But what had Jiang Cheng shocked was-
“Nie Mingjue?!” Jiang Cheng shrieked, decorum flying out the window as he watched one of the most powerful cultivators to have ever lived stuff two sweet buns into his mouth at once. “Chifeng-zun! I thought you were dead ?”
Lan Wangji took another sip of tea, wholly unbothered.
Nie Mingjue inclined his head towards Jiang Cheng, briefly acknowledging his presence before going back to his desserts. “Not anymore.” He replied gruffly.
Jiang Cheng felt floored.
“W-what?! Why didn’t Lan Huan tell me? And you- ” Jiang Cheng sat down at the table and jabbed his finger at his brother-in-law’s face, but Lan Wangji hardly even flinched. “Why did you keep quiet?”
“We thought you knew.” Lan Wangji shrugged, flicking Jiang Cheng’s finger away.
He caught Nie Mingjue’s smirk out of the corner of his eye.
“ What ?” He snapped at the resurrected man.
“You call him Lan Huan .” Nie Mingjue started snickering and the corners of Lan Wangji’s mouth twitched upwards. Jiang Cheng felt his face flush in embarrassment. He had not traveled all the way to Gusu to get bullied by his brother-in-law and his fiance’s formerly deceased best friend.
Nie Mingjue opened his mouth to say something else, but Jiang Cheng reached for a plate of lotus-seed buns and slid them over to him, hoping to shut the other man up.
Nie Mingjue shrugged and continued eating.
“Why are you here, Jiang Wanyin?” And then the glint in Lan Wangji’s eyes turned devious. “You visited Brother last week. Do you miss him already?”
Nie Mingjue snorted at that and then began coughing as a piece of food lodged itself in his throat. Jiang Cheng silently hoped he’d choke.
“I’m here for you , you prick!” Jiang Cheng hissed. “Why the hell would you convince Lan Huan to let Sect Leader Yao come to our wedding?”
“I didn’t do that.”
“Yes, he did.” Nie Mingjue piped in, in between bites of an odd-looking sweet.
“What’s that?” Jiang Cheng asked, pointing at it.
“I don’t really know.” Nie Mingjue admitted, popping the sweet into his mouth and finishing it within seconds. “But it’s good.”
Jiang Cheng hummed appreciatively, before turning back to glare at Lan Wangji. “See, even Chifeng-zun knows you’re a liar.”
Lan Wangji shot the man in question an icy stare, but Nie Mingjue returned it with a rather rude hand gesture.
Jiang Cheng was still perplexed as to how, when, and why he’d been brought back to life, but he found himself liking this version of Nie Mingjue. He’d hardly known him as the vicious and menacing Qinghe Nie Sect Leader, so Jiang Cheng silently appreciated the chance to know him now.
Lan Wangji sighed. “Very well. I had Brother invite him to your wedding because Wei Ying and I didn’t invite him to ours.”
“You should’ve invited him then. Now Lan Huan and I have to pay the price!”
“I don’t like him.”
“ Nobody likes him!”
“Apologies.”
Jiang Cheng wanted to throttle him.
“Wait a minute.” Nie Mingjue blurted out of nowhere, scratching his forehead with a pensive look on his face. “Is everyone a cut-sleeve now?”
Lan Wangji nodded, “For the most part.”
“Even A-Sang?”
Jiang Cheng hid a snort at that. “Yes, definitely Huaisang.”
“Hmmm.”
“Who knows?” Jiang Cheng smirked. “Maybe you are too.”
Nie Mingjue paused mid-bite to contemplate Jiang Cheng’s words, gave both him and Lan Wangji a once over, and shook his head, looking relieved. “Don’t think so.”
Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji rolled their eyes in unison and then tried to pretend that they hadn’t.
“So what’s dying like?” Jiang Cheng asked, bluntly. He could chew Lan Wangji out later, but he felt now was the best time to get some answers as Nie Mingjue seemed relatively peaceful at the moment and he had a seemingly endless supply of sweets at his disposal.
Lan Wangji flicked his forehead causing Jiang Cheng to pout and rub the offending spot.
“Dying is…” Nie Mingjue tapped his chin, deep in thought. “Peaceful. I don’t know how else to describe it.”
“Sect Leader Jiang could use some peace.” Lan Wangji muttered.
“Are you telling me to go die?” Jiang Cheng huffed.
Lan Wangji took another sip of tea, but remained silent.
“I wouldn’t recommend it.” Nie Mingjue shuddered. “If you’re reincarnated, the hunger you’ll feel will just make you want to die all over again.”
“Oh!” Jiang Cheng exclaimed. “That’s why you eat so much.”
Nie Mingjue paused mid-chew.
“That’s rude, Jiang Wanyin.” Lan Wangji chided. “Apologize.”
Jiang Cheng winced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. You’re much more fit than Lan Wangji-”
Lan Wangji gave him a blank look and Nie Mingjue happily went back to eating double his weight in desserts.
“Also, I’m sorry about your death.” Jiang Cheng added as an afterthought. “I mean it wasn’t my fault but still-”
Nie Mingjue nodded, “I appreciate that you’re not the one who killed me, Sect Leader Jiang. You too Wangji.”
“Mn.”
Jiang Cheng opened his mouth to say something else, most likely something that would be slightly tactless and vaguely offensive as usual, when Nie Mingjue let out a loud gasp.
Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji were immediately on alert.
“What is it?”
“Are you alright?”
Nie Mingjue was staring at his plate. Sitting in a beautiful triangle were three, enticing sweet buns. Nie Mingjue held out his plate to them. “Try one.”
Jiang Cheng shrugged and went to grab one, but Lan Wangji looked skeptical.
“Uncle said Lans shouldn’t eat sweets.”
Jiang Cheng and Nie Mingjue groaned at that.
“You’re in your late thirties!” Jiang Cheng cried. “You can make decisions for yourself.”
“He’s right.” Nie Mingjue agreed, standing up and slamming the plate onto the table. He grabbed one of Lan Wangji’s shoulders encouragingly, though the grip looked painful. “You’re Hanguang-jun are you not?”
Jiang Cheng stood up and did the same, grabbing onto the other shoulder. “Are you going to let your Uncle rule your life anymore?”
Lan Wangji paused and then eventually shook his head.
“What was that?”
“We couldn’t hear you.”
“I won’t.” Lan Wangji said quietly.
“Say it louder.” Nie Mingjue commanded.
“I won’t.” Lan Wangji’s volume steadily grew.
Jiang Cheng sent Nie Mingjue a grin. He reached out to the plate, handing a bun to Nie Mingjue and keeping one for himself.
“Again.” Jiang Cheng commanded.
“I won’t.” Lan Wangji repeated. He abruptly stood up, snatching the last sweet bun off of the plate and holding it in front of him, a look of sheer determination eclipsing his features. It reminded Jiang Cheng of what Lan Wangji had looked like, fighting during the Sunshot Campaign.
“Who are you?” Nie Mingjue chanted.
“Hanguang-jun!” This was the loudest Jiang Cheng had ever heard his brother-in-law. Nie Mingjue was truly powerful.
“Who are you?” Nie Mingjue turned to Jiang Cheng.
“Sandu Shengshou!” Jiang Cheng raised his fist enclosed over the sweet bun in the air. Lan Wangji did the same.
“And who are you?” Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji chanted at the same time.
Nie Mingjue dramatically raised the sweet bun into the air.
“Chifeng zun.”
“ What was that?”
“Chifeng-zun!”
And then in that intense moment, three of the most powerful cultivators in the world sharply brought their arms down and stuffed sweet buns into their mouths.
They were delicious.
It was also in that same intense moment when Lan Xichen, Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang burst inside the Jingshi, worried about all of the noises and shouting they’d been hearing.
Each group of three stared back and forth at one another in silence for a solid minute until-
“We can explain.” Jiang Cheng, Lan Wangji, and Nie Mingjue said together after swallowing their dessert.
“So nobody’s dying?” Lan Xichen asked, with a sigh.
“Xichen.” Nie Mingjue grinned. “Dying once was enough.”
Nie Huaisang and Lan Xichen huffed at that. “Dage, don’t joke. Do you know how hard it was to resurrect you correctly?” Nie Huaisang pouted. Wei Wuxian slung his arm over Nie Huaisang’s shoulder, emphatically agreeing with him.
“The array took weeks for us to make. It was some of my best work actually...”
“Mn.” Lan Wangji’s eyes went soft at the sight of his husband. “Wei Ying is a genius.”
Wei Wuxian swooned at that. “Lan Zhan! Ah, you flatter me...”
Jiang Cheng and Nie Mingjue made retching gestures at one another behind Lan Wangji’s back. Lan Xichen sighed again, and Nie Huaisang’s fan appeared out of….well somewhere ... and now he was waving it back and forth with a twinkle in his eyes.
“My apologies, but I’m already late to speak with the elders. Dage, Wangji, I’ll see you two at dinner.” Lan Xichen smiled and turned to his fiance. “I’ll see you sooner I hope.”
They’d been together for years, and yet Jiang Cheng still felt a flush rise on his cheeks. “Mn.” He replied, unconsciously imitating his brother-in-law.
“Goodbye Wanyin.” Lan Xichen placed a light kiss on his forehead and Jiang Cheng was sure his face was crimson as he responded with a horribly shaky “Goodbye Lan Huan.”
Nie Huaisang was most definitely hiding a smirk behind his face. Wei Wuxian didn’t even try to hide his laughter at what a lovesick fool his little brother had become. Lan Wangji and Nie Mingjue were glancing back and forth at each other and then at Jiang Cheng, clear amusement in their eyes.
“Piss off.” He scowled at everyone in the room.
“Aww A-Cheng, don’t be so sour.” Wei Wuxian snickered.
“Eat me Wei Wuxian.” Jiang Cheng snapped.
“Xichen-ge certainly would.” Nie Huaisang giggled and then quickly grabbed Wei Wuxian’s wrist as they sped out of the room, using his friend as a shield. “Love you Lan Zhan, see you later!” Wei Wuxian shamelessly called on his way out. That was enough to make Lan Wangji’s ears twinge red.
“You two really are hopeless cutsleeves.” Nie Mingjue commented, clearly entertained.
“Shut up.”
“Nobody asked for your opinion.”
Nie Mingjue snorted, about to ridicule them even more, when all of a sudden there was a knock at the door.
They all quickly looked at each other, before poking their noses and whispering “Not it.” and Jiang Cheng briefly noted how screwed the cultivation world must’ve been if they were the ones on top of the food chain.
Nie Mingjue lost, but Jiang cheng and Lan Wangji flanked by his sides as he was forced to open the door anyways.
The man standing at the door wore dark-colored robes with silver patterns embroidered on the sides. He didn’t look to be a part of any of the major nor minor sects Jiang Cheng could think of. Though Lan Huan would always have his heart and remain the most attractive person Jiang Cheng had ever seen, Jiang Cheng couldn’t argue that this man was handsome. His eyes were a soft, rich brown and his face was devoid of any blemishes, save a few charming moles on his face.
The man bowed upon seeing them, unphased by the fact that Nie Mingjue was standing right in front of him, rather than six feet underground somewhere else.
“Sect Leader Jiang, Hanguang-jun.” The man bowed towards them. His voice was deep, yet pleasant to hear. “Chifeng-zun.” The man smiled at Nie Mingjue.
Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji bowed back, but Nie Mingjue was frozen in place, staring at the man with a blank expression on his face. They each discreetly elbowed him in the ribs, which snapped Nie Mingjue out of his daze.
“ Hi. ” Nie Mingjue muttered and then winced. Lan Wangji let out a puff of air through his nose which sounded suspiciously like laughter and Jiang Cheng had to bite his lip to contain his grin.
“Hi.” The cultivator’s smile grew, but then he schooled his features. “My apologies for intruding. My name is Lin Zhu. I’m of no official Sect, but I come bearing the Cloud Recesses token that permits entry as my mother was once a Lan. I was directed here to inquire about the whereabouts of Teacher Lan.”
Lan Wangji nodded, “If you’ll wait outside we’ll have someone take you to Teacher Lan’s study momentarily.”
Lin Zhu bowed, thanking them, and then left to wait outside, unintentionally making eye contact with Nie Mingjue as he left, and smiling again as he did so. Nie Mingjue dumbly stared after him.
“Oh god.” Nie Mingjue breathed out once the man had left. “I think I’m a cut-sleeve...”
Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji patted his shoulders in sympathy.
“It happens to the best of us.” Jiang Cheng reassured him.
“Mn.” Lan Wangji agreed. “You should take Lin Zhu to Uncle.”
Nie Mingjue frantically shook his head. “Absolutely not -”
“You’ve got this.” Jiang Cheng said, as they began pushing a reluctant Nie Mingjue towards the door.
“But?”
“Who are you?” Lan Wangji asked, repeating their chant from earlier in a quieter voice.
“Chifeng-zun.”
“What was that?” Jiang Cheng added, grinning.
Nie Mingjue groaned and then in a louder voice answered, “Chifeng-zun.”
“And what’s there for the mighty Chifeng-zun to fear?” Jiang Cheng asked.
“Nothing.” Nie Mingjue sighed. “ Not even death .”
Jiang Cheng shot Lan Wangji a look and they nodded.
“Good luck dage.” Lan Wangji said before they pushed a flustered Nie Mingjue out of the door.
They sighed, closing the door. It was silent for a few moments before-
“Do want to-” Lan Wangji started.
“Get more sweet buns?” Jiang Cheng finished.
Lan Wangji nodded.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
~