Archive of Our Own

From the moment he was born, Jin Guangyao knew he couldn’t tell anyone, not a soul, what he actually was.

“The world does not like our kind, A-Yao,” Meng Shi, his mother, explained to him one night, “But if they think you are human, less harm will come to you.”

And ever since, he has lived a beautiful life paved with lies. For his true self was that of a huli jing. A nine tailed fox. A demon, like the kitsune of Dongying, known for their trickery.

Despite this, he’d lived a mundane life in Yunmeng for many years. And if Meng Shi’s identity had never been revealed, Jin Guangyao would probably still be doing that. Only the death of his mother could drive him to do something so embarrassing as to show his face in LanLing and beg for a lowly bookkeeping job.

Her dream was for Meng Yao to someday join the Jin Sect. It would lead him to a life of prosperity, wealth, and safety. That had been the plan, at least. So far, it had only led him to mockery and constant harassment. And a courtesy name specifically meant to insult him. Jin Guangshan, his father, did not give a damn about any of his bastard sons. He didn’t even bother to look at them.

In fact, the first time he looked at Jin Guangyao….was only after Jin Guangyao was kicked off the stairs of Koi Tower and subsequently went flying. It hadn’t been out of worry -no, he had a good chuckle thinking about how much it must have hurt -but out of delight.

For he had noticed right away that his ‘son’ had a fox tail! It only appeared for a few seconds after Jin Guangyao hit the ground, and had disappeared soon after. But surely Jin Guangshan’s eyes had not deceived him! A single, golden tail! The colors of a huli jing. Which meant he had hit the jackpot. For what else could be a better tool to rule the entire cultivation world with?

He’d given Jin Guangyao the family name at once, as well as some sub-par Jin robes. And then he’d promptly invited his ‘son’ to dinner. It would be an insult if Jin Guangyao didn’t attend. With no other options, Jin Guangyao would walk straight into the trap he was surely aware of. And he’d be unable to escape.

…

Halfway through dinner, Sect Leader Jin turned to the huli jing, smiling with false compassion.

“I think you know why you are here.”

Jin Guangyao stops picking at the fancy cut of meat they had acquired. “It is about my position in the Jin Clan, is it not? Or perhaps it is something more mundane?”

The sect leader leaves his chair and walks forward. He grips the back of Jin Guangyao’s chair, and is delighted to see that Jin Guangyao immediately shrinks back.

“Listen, boy. I know your secret.”

Jin Guangyao looks down. “It is hardly a secret that I grew up in the whorehouse. I am sorry this displeases Sect Leader Jin.”

His ‘father’ scoffs. “I already know your mother was a whore. Just looking at you reminds me of that filthy woman.”

It is no surprise that Jin Guangyao immediately, and visibly, bristles. But he stays silent. He’s fuming. The words aren’t new to him, but they sting just as badly. His mother was an honorable, kind woman. Why couldn’t the world see past her status? Why did they always see ‘whore’ first, and not ‘dedicated mother’?

“Remember your little ‘fall, Yaoyao?”

The tone of Jin Guangyao’s honeyed words is beginning to grow more and more bitter. “I’m afraid I do.”

“Well, I was there. And I saw it. You’re more than what meets the eye, kid. You’re a freak of nature.”

Jin Guangyao stays silent. Eventually, he finally offers a few words, “I’m afraid I do not understand where you are going with this.”

“I saw your tail, fox.”

“You suggest I am not human?” Jin Guangyao grins. “You must have heard the rumors that my mother was a vixen. I’m sorry. I’m afraid those are simply not true.”

His heart is pounding, but he knows he must remain composed. Not a single ounce of anxiety. Luckily, he is a master at such disguises. Jin Guangyao has hidden his emotions in many dire situations. This one is hardly any different, and he excels as always at putting on a pretty, unknowing face.

The sect leader gets even closer to him. Jin Guangyao naturally distances himself, and tries to step a few feet back. I did not expect it to be true, but truly, this man is a snake. He is truly deserving of his poor reputation.

“If that is all, Father, I will not keep you from your duties.”

He tries to turn around, and bumps into a cascade of scalding water. When it hits his skin, he hisses with pain. The servant girl looks highly embarrassed, and shakes. But Jin Guangyao cannot ask her if she is okay. She flees into the crowd that has suddenly surrounded them.

“So it really is true,” someone in the crowd whispers. “The vixen of Yunmeng really did have a son.”

To his horror, Jin Guangyao looks behind him.

And his tail is out.

The water. It had been the scalding water, in the end, that had ensnared him at last.

“Seize him.”

A strange, prickly sensation began to blossom over Jin Guangyao’s skin. The fire inside him began to stir. No longer does he have hands and feet. He feels like he’s losing his mind. For the first time in his life, he genuinely believes that might be the case.

“What are you doing?!” A gruff voice interrupts Jin Guangyao’s increasingly chaotic train of thoughts, “ Hurry, before he finishes transforming!”

He turns around to speak to them. Yet the words feel clunky on his tongue. He hisses and tries to bite at the hands that suddenly bind him with ropes. Someone kicks him, probably just for the hell of it. And then he is hauled away.

Jin Guangyao’s mind is becoming rather fuzzy. He’s transformed hundreds of times before, and none of them had ever felt like this. The edges of his vision are tinged in a strange red hue. His senses are all becoming painfully acute. And….is he….growing? Why?

In the midst of his transformation, he realizes what has happened.

He’s being forced to return to his true form. And once he has turned into a giant nine-tailed fox, the bestial resentment that swirls inside him will transform his mind as well.

Jin Guangyao will become what he was hiding from everyone his entire life. Uncontrollable, bloodthirsty, and terrifying. A beast, and nothing but a beast.

His final ‘human’ thoughts are rather bittersweet: Would A-Niang be proud of what I have done? The only answer he can find is one of uncertainty. A tear rolls down his cheek, and his humanity is no more.

…

Weeks later, a strange letter addressed to Zewu-jun appeared at the Cloud Recesses. The scroll is gaudy and covered in gold-foil. It’s one of those things that screams ‘I’m from LanLing!’ and demands your attention further. On the outside, it bears the official crest of the Jin Clan.

This can’t be good news. Tensions have been high lately, and the threat of war still looms over the entire cultivation world. Even a year after they burned the Cloud Recesses to the ground, the Wen Clan still seems restless. Like they’re waiting to make another move. Rumors would suggest they might take Lotus Pier next.

Still, it’s been 6 months. The Cloud Recesses are slowly but surely being rebuilt, and the rest of the clans haven’t run into any more trouble with the Wens yet. Hopefully, things will stay that way. If there’s another fire, Lan Xichen may not escape alive. There isn’t always a cute boy there to rescue you.

He slowly unfolds the scroll, and immediately lets out a sigh of relief. The letter isn’t about the Wens. Nor is it about the tensions of war. It’s just another letter from Sect Leader Jin, boasting of his latest finds. This time, however, the man’s actually acquired something quite odd.

‘Sect Leader Lan, I have caught a great beast! It is a fearsome jiuwei hu (nine-tailed fox) and I am to display it in the market district. Such a beautiful centerpiece may shine brighter than the sun, so I am to train it soon.’

Lan Xichen turns to his attendant. “Dispatch a letter to LanLing. Tell them I will arrive at once.”

“What?! Zewu-jun, isn’t this a little….abrupt?”

He dipped his head. “I have urgent business in LanLing. This will allow me to investigate without drawing too much attention. Tell them I am visiting to see the beast, and no one will suspect otherwise.”

The attendant looks confused. “It isn’t about the war, is it?”

“No. But I fear someone may be in grave danger.” 

…

The next morning, Lan Xichen was able to depart for Lanling before anyone could stop him. As he flew on Shouyue above the dappled clouds, he thought to himself about the person he was hoping to find in Lanling. Someone truly dear to Lan Xichen’s own heart.

They had met by accident in Yunmeng, on the edge of Yunping. Someone had set fire to the Cloud Recesses, and it was currently aflame with high pillars of fire and smoke. Lan Xichen had narrowly escaped with his life. He ran until he could run no more. And he had basically collapsed on some stranger’s doorstep.

When that door opened, Lan Xichen locked eyes with the most beautiful man he had ever seen. His name was Meng Yao. He was small, and he was so cute! Meng Yao was also more than willing to usher Lan Xichen into the house and keep him hidden. He also did not seem to mind Lan Xichen’s presence. In fact, Meng Yao seemed to like it quite a bit.

They spent several months together after that. It had started out rather fuzzy, with constant bandaging and moments spent feeling strange and muddled with illness. Meng Yao scarcely left his side. His own mother had recently passed, and he did not wish to have the same happen to anyone else under his care. It was no surprise Lan Xichen recovered quickly, with such gentle, constant care.

From there, life was simple. They were still in hiding, but spent most of their days doing laundry, chatting about current affairs, and trying different staples of Yunmeng’s cuisine. Everything had been unpleasantly spicy! Maybe growing up in Gusu had left his palate bland and boring. Lan Xichen simply could not handle the spice. Still, he had a few bites whenever he could. It was only polite.

The months passed. Lan Xichen had thanked Meng Yao profusely for saving him, and promised he would stay in touch. Meng Yao had also agreed. Yet it was not long after Lan Xichen arrived back home that he stopped hearing from Meng Yao.

His last letter had said something about being accepted into the Jin Clan, thanks to being one of Sect Leader Jin’s many bastard sons. Meng Yao was also soon to receive the family name. Except instead of Jin Ziyao, it had been Jin Guangyao, solely to brand him inequal to his half-brother’s generation. Or so Meng Yao had written. Mostly in disgust.

From there, Lan Xichen had tried to send a letter back to Lanling. The first one was left unanswered. He sent several more, and not a single response ever came back. Xichen then tried asking around. Had something happened to Meng Yao -no, Jin Guangyao?

Everyone just looked at him funny. Nobody had ever heard of Meng Yao. It was as if he had never existed in the first place. Such a thought was deeply troubling! Had the Wens caught him before he was able to reach Lanling? Or, worse, had there been an accident in Lanling so taboo nobody would even mention Jin Guangyao’s name?

Usually, Lanling was quite vocal about their bastards. If another one had joined the mix, it would surely be the talk of the town. Yet Lan Xichen hadn’t heard a single whisper. And his heart felt strange about the whole thing. Something was definitely wrong.

And the only way to truly provide himself closure (and maybe even answers)…..was for Lan Xichen to visit Lanling himself. 

….

The sun is just beginning to touch the horizon, graceful as it slips over the hills with its shadows, when Lan Xichen finally reaches Lanling. He’s tired and winded. After flying all night, who wouldn’t be? Still, he trudges onward. A little sleep won’t stop him from getting to Lanling.

He passes through the market district to get there. There’s quiet chatter among the street vendors, but nothing out of the ordinary. Still, there seems to be some kind of bitterness in the air. It’s something Lan Xichen can’t quite put his finger on. A feeling of uneasiness settles within his heart as he follows it to its source.

Lan Xichen turns the corner and immediately sees where it must be coming from. In the middle of the marketplace, in all of its glory, is a terrible cage. It’s soaked in the first rays of the morning sunlight. Yet despite its beauty, the sight of the cage makes Lan Xichen sick to his stomach. This must be where they keep the fox.

Despite his better judgment, he finds himself walking up to the bars. Something is calling to him. Closer, closer, closer still. And there is the beast, curled up into a tight ball. It does not stir when he approaches. Yet he has a strange feeling it definitely isn’t asleep. And that it is actually watching him very closely.

This is not the first time Lan Xichen has seen a huli jing. It is, however, the first time he has seen one with nine tails. The creature in front of him must be incredibly powerful. There is no way Jin Guangshan could outsmart such a creature. How did he catch it?

The creature makes a low, angry growl. Out of respect, Lan Xichen steps back a few feet. From behind him, he hears the old lady at the dumpling shop begin to complain:

“Ugh, here we go again. They’re about to wake the beast.”

“What’s that Lan doing, standing so close to the cage? Does he have a death wish?”

Lan Xichen wisely steps even further away. Whoever joined the conversation is absolutely right.

“Further, Lan-gongzi. They’re about to throw the livestock in. You don’t want to be hit by any flying entrails. Trust me on this one.”

“Flying….what?”

Before he can say anything more, an ear-splitting roar erupts from the cage. It’s a sharp cacophony of strange noises: a woman’s scream, a child howling, a strange guttural inhuman noise. The creature rises to its feet and begins to bash itself against the cage walls. It continues to roar in fury.

“Yeah, yeah. I know I’m late. Here. Breakfast.” a gruff man’s voice can be faintly heard over all of the ruckus. “Try not to make a mess this time.”

A variety of different critters are thrown into the cage. The fox pounces on them eagerly; nothing escaping its jaws in time for a more merciful outcome. With each fall comes a sickening crunch.

The last animal falls to the side of the cage. It is much larger than the others, though Lan Xichen fails to identify it before it is quickly turned into an unpleasant viscera of its former self. The fox kneels down and feasts on the carcass.

And then their eyes meet. One should never look a huli jing in the eyes, lest they succumb to madness, lust, and hypnosis. Still, Lan Xichen finds he cannot escape the strangely familiar gaze of the creature. Its eyes are a beautiful golden color, sparkling with resentment.

He’s stared into these eyes before. The memories come crashing back to the idyllic days he spent together, back when he was on the run. After the Cloud Recesses had been set on fire. The creature in front of him…has the same eyes as Meng Yao.

Which leads to the troubling conclusion that, somehow, the man he fell in love with is a giant fox. He’s found Meng Yao….but now, he needs answers. A lot of answers…to questions that are best left unanswered.

People will think Lan Xichen’s gone crazy. In a situation like this, maybe he has.

….

He arrives at Koi Tower in record timing (as he had been running from his own thoughts). To his surprise, Sect Leader Jin was not there to greet him. The man had simply sent some attendants to show him to his room. The lack of respect definitely stung a little, but Lan Xichen has assuredly had worse.

And not having to talk to Jin Guangshan…certainly makes things easier. It gives him time to talk to the residents of Koi Tower about Jin Guangyao’s disappearance. Thanks to his job, Jin Guangyao had been closest to the servants. Perhaps they knew more about the situation.

Lan Xichen had a hunch that they wouldn’t tell him. Not easily, at least. The first servants he talked to seemed to know nothing. Others were reluctant to even acknowledge Jin Guangyao had ever stepped foot in Koi Tower to begin with.

The last servant he asked was a young woman, who tried to bolt away in fear at the mere mention of Jin Guangyao’s name. Maybe being a beautiful sect leader hadn’t helped. However, Lan Xichen had accidentally cornered her. She trembled, and finally spoke up.

“We…can’t talk about him. But Young Master Jin might be able to,” a terrified servant girl told him after a lot of coaxing. “But please….do not let my sect leader know of this. He….he will….”

“I will not say a word.” 

….

Hours later, he finds himself at the door to Jin Zixuan’s meeting room. Asking the heir to the Jin Clan is incredibly risky, but Lan Xichen needs to know what’s going on. He can’t go to the servants. He definitely can’t go to Jin Guangshan. If he wants to keep things discrete, his last hope could be asking Jin Zixuan about the situation.

The servants let Lan Xichen in, though reluctantly. Young Master Jin does not like to be bothered. He’s also not a talker. Everyone knows that. Lan Xichen has only met with him a handful of times, but he’s found discussions with Zixuan to be ‘awkwardly terse’ at best. This discussion seems no different.

Today, however, he’s come with a topic that the Jin Clan will not release any information about. Which makes it five times worse. Jin Zixuan is clearly not in the mood for a conversation, and stares down Lan Xichen the entire time. Luckily, Lan Xichen grew up with Wangji; he remains unphased by this.

“Sect Leader Lan,” Jin Zixuan’s voice is cold. “You are clearly not here for just pleasantries. What do you want?”

Lan Xichen awkwardly clears his throat. “I wish to know what has happened to Jin Guangyao.”

Silence. The Jin heir almost looks offended that an outsider would even bring up such a topic. There’s something else, however, in Jin Zixuan’s conflicted expression. Apprehension. Jin Zixuan is clearly worried with the situation. His attempts to hide it would indicate he isn’t interested in sharing any more details.

“That is none of your business.”

“I’m afraid it is.”

You see, when I dreamt of kissing him senseless under the moonlight….ah, never mind. Zixuan doesn’t need to know that. All he needs to know…is that it became Lan Xichen’s own business, very, very quickly. Pining will do that to a man.

Perhaps if he asks a more simple question, Jin Zixuan might tell him. But suddenly he finds his heart sinks, and his stomach’s in knots. There is a reason he may not want to tell me. And that reason….truly, am I ready to hear those words? If he truly is…?

“Jin Zixuan. Please. Tell me, is he still…alive?” 

“Yes.”

“Then, what I saw in the market today…must have been the truth. It really was him.”

“You…how?!” Jin Zixuan puts his head in his hands. “Well, it does not matter. Perhaps it is for the better that you figured it out. I cannot go against Father’s orders, so I cannot save him.”

Lan Xichen stands up, “But, you can still help.”

….

The marketplace is a ghost-town when they arrive. It’s midday, but not a single stall is in use. There’s no pedestrians, no children running amok, and the area is strangely deserted. Save for the incessant roars of the giant beast, the whole courtyard is silent. Jin Zixuan stops in his tracks shortly a block away.

“What’s going on?”

Jin Zixuan turns to the other cultivator, “Resentment training. Which means Father must be here. We need to leave before anyone sees us.”

A group of guards pass them. They take one look at Jin Zixuan and nod. “Young master. I see you’ve brought Zewu-jun with you. Are you here to participate? We are shorthanded, and could use some assistance.”

Before Jin Zixuan can stop him, Lan Xichen is already signing himself up, “What would you like help with?”

The guard looks….embarrassed. “Sect Leader Jin is not pleased with the fox right now. It is not producing enough resentment. We are looking for people to rile it up. Of course, the job is incredibly dangerous. If you agree, we cannot be held responsible for your death.”

“Do you get to go in the cage?”

Jin Zixuan shoots Lan Xichen another very concerned look. He mouths ‘Don’t!’, and Lan Xichen is still all sunshine and rainbows, ignoring Jin Zixuan’s very rational concerns.

“You’re sure? We cannot recommend it…but it can be arranged.”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“I will tell our sect leader at once, then. He will be pleased.” The guard walks back to the cage.

“Do you understand what you just signed up for? It is a death-sentence, and it won’t be pretty. This will not help you save A-Yao. It will only kill you.”

Lan Xichen is still unphased. He keeps smiling, “It’s okay. I trust A-Yao.”

A menacing fox noise can be heard in the background, sending shivers down both of their spines.

“That….that thing is not my half-brother anymore. Do you think it will spare you?”

“When there is compassion, there is a way.”

…

When Lan Xichen makes his way to the cage, Jin Zixuan reluctantly follows behind him. He’s hoping he won’t have to intervene if Lan Xichen signs up for something even worse. But if he does, he’ll be here. Father might even listen to him for once.

Sure enough, Jin Guangshan stands at the entrance of the cage. A bloodied whip near his feet has been kicked astray, and he now focuses on a woman covered in ropes. She is actively weeping, and it is quite loud. Judging by her cheap makeup and revealing clothing, Lan Xichen can assume what is going on.

“Come now, whore,” the disgustingly familiar voice of Jin Guangshan proclaims, “All you have to do is go in there. What, you’re afraid of a big ball of fluff? I might even let you free if you go in there. Well, if you live!” The man laughs.

He’s….certainly changed. Judging by his appearance, it’s probably the resentment.

Lan Xichen still walks up to him, “Excuse me, Sect Leader Jin.”

“You there, Lan boy. Are you the one who wants to go in the cage? Wait a second. You’re that Lan sect leader, aren’t you!”

Lan Xichen does not look pissed, although his smile…changes. “That is correct. I arrived in Lanling yesterday, but I could not meet with you sooner. My….apologies.”

It’s probably a blessing.

“Listen. If you go in there, you can’t bring your sword. You can’t hurt him. He’s my little pet, after all. My little war-machine. Only I am allowed to hurt him.”

Another very angry fox noise can be heard from within the cage. It’s quite justified.

“He’s not here for that, Father.”

“You’re here too? Well. Make yourself useful and hold onto Sect Leader Lan’s spiritual sword. And then send that whore back. I find her amount of flab to be rather unappealing.”

“Yes, Father.”

Lan Xichen hands Shouyue over to Jin Zixuan. “Don’t worry. I’ll come back.”

Jin Zixuan sighs. “I sure hope so. Because this was definitely not part of the plan. Although it’s not like we had one.”

….

From the other side of the bars, Jin Guangyao tastes fear.

It’s delicious. The rabbit, terrified, flees into the final embrace of sharp jaws. A scrawny, unlucky cultivator, devoured without hesitation. A poor woman, suffering, an existence he could grant a merciful escape from it all.

The suffering used to bother Jin Guangyao. Now he basks in its glory, turning it into a weapon of its own. It’s what he never could do before. And it feels good. Sometimes a sense of lukewarm pity evokes a bit of human conscience. However, it never drowns out the growling of his own stomach. The hand that hurt you is so easily devoured. He’s right there.

His hearing’s become acute, but he no longer cares to listen to others. They’ve become undeniably muddled. His world has become home to mindless sounds, and bothersome, icky smells. He almost feels more content with blood soaking into his fur. Whether it is his own blood, or someone else’s, is yet another thing he does not care about anymore. Ah, but did he ever?

He briefly wonders who he once was. Thankfully, the memories have become rather hazy. He cannot recall anything. Jin Guangyao remembers pain, and he remembers suffering. He remembers those who have hurt him, and those who have saved him. But he does not remember himself. To him, this is a blessing.

The door to his cage creaks, opens, and slams from behind him. Someone new has arrived. A new plaything. Their smell is strangely familiar, too. Like a faded sandalwood breeze, mixed with sharp notes of lamentation. It’s soothing, and he doesn’t know why.

Jin Guangyao finally gets up, and looks down at the figure in front of him. The figure is wearing white robes, and they smell of the Lan clan. He cannot recognize their face, but their scent is very familiar. I wonder if I knew you, once. What a shame.

He leans down and grabs the cultivator in his paws, lifting him up into the air. There’s something almost comforting about this victim’s presence. Jin Guangyao hisses. He doesn’t like it, and it doesn’t make sense. It’s really starting to piss him off! Yet he finds himself too curious to eat the cultivator yet. I want to break him first.

The cultivator shakily pulls a flute out of his sleeve, and begins to play. It’s a hauntingly familiar tune, but he feels nothing. The first notes hit him, and little else happens. But as it progresses…he realizes he isn’t so hungry anymore. His anger is subsiding. I can almost think clearly again….why?

And then Jin Guangyao realizes something.

This cultivator is Lan Xichen.

In Jin Guangyao’s paws is the most handsome man in the cultivation world. The one he likes more than anyone else, and would not hesitate to marry if given the opportunity. And he’d failed to recognize him.

The realization is so startling that the huli jing almost drops Lan Xichen to his death. Luckily, he catches Lan Xichen right as he’s about to hit the floor. He then falls into one of Jin Guangyao’s paws. It isn’t a smooth landing, but Lan Xichen isn’t hurt. Thank goodness.

Jin Guangyao lowers him down to the ground, and gives the cultivator an appreciative lick to his cheek. Somehow, neither of them find it particularly weird.

“A-Yao, that tickles!” He’s laughing despite the near-death experience he just had, and the sound warms Jin Guangyao’s bitter, aching heart. “But, please, do not drop me again. I fear I may not live to see the second outcome.”

The huli jing whines. I’m so sorry. I wish I had recognized you.

“You must not have known it was me,” Lan Xichen says. “It’s okay. There’s a lot going on right now.” He runs a hand through Jin Guangyao’s soft fur, “It’s okay. I forgive you.”

As Lan Xichen’s forehead ribbon brushes against Jin Guangyao’s fur, he can’t help but feel a little….flustered. A fox, in love with a human. Meng Shi had always lovingly teased him about it, as it really only belonged in fairytales. But she would have loved Lan Xichen. Jin Guangyao is absolutely sure of it.

“That’s enough, Lan boy,” a sharp voice from outside the bars says, “You’ve spent enough time in there.”

Lan Xichen gets up. Jin Guangyao lays flat to the ground, and Lan Xichen pets the side of Jin Guangyao’s bestial face. “Don’t worry. I’ll come back, okay?” He gets a bit closer, and then whispers, “I’m going to get you out of here.”

Jin Guangyao snorts. Such an idea is laughable, but it warms his heart to see Lan Xichen care about him. To dare to dream…is such a Lan thing. Maybe it will come true after all.

….

He feels somewhat lonesome when the door to his cage shuts firmly. Lan Xichen’s words fade into the background, becoming unintelligible as Jin Guangyao’s mind settles back into that of a giant angry fox. His “father” (if you could even call him that) seems to be having a little discussion with Lan Xichen. The idea makes Jin Guangyao a little sick to his stomach.

It’s not difficult for him to ignore the conversation entirely. He doesn’t care what they’re talking about. It is the whimper that immediately gets Jin Guangyao’s attention. A sharp exhale, and a short gasp from Lan Xichen. The smell of blood. No…there’s no way…..

“I’m no fool, Lan boy. You know too much. And I think you have exactly what I need.”

White Lan robes, now sullied by a red hue. A dark-cloaked figure holds a bloodied dagger, and strikes Lan Xichen once more in the side. The peace and tranquility Jin Guangyao had felt earlier has now vanished. An overwhelming sense of rage begins to brew within him.

“Why?” Lan Xichen holds the wound at his side, and remains upright on his shaky legs. “I don’t understand.”

“I figured as much. See, the fox likes you. So if something were to happen to you…”

The shadowy figure twists the dagger a little further.

“….the fox would get very, very angry. Look, he’s already producing resentment! I thought there wasn’t a single person this son of a whore cared about. Luckily, I found you! Don’t worry, though. I won’t kill you. Not yet, anyway.”

Sect Leader Jin walks away, ignoring Lan Xichen’s staggering. He walks up to the cage. “What are you going to do, fox? I tried to play nice. But you didn’t listen to your ol’ Father here. Wouldn’t produce any resentment like I told you to.”

Jin Guangyao rams the side of the cage. He can’t get past the spiritual barrier, but he’s infuriated and certainly wants to try. Tendrils of red smoke are appearing in the air. With every exhale, the sky is turning a light red color. Human resentment is black. But Jin Guangyao had never been human to begin with.

Bestial resentment is much rarer. It’s also more powerful. Meng Shi had warned him never to produce it, and to always hold back. It would cloud his own judgment and hurt countless people. He would rage, and then lose himself forever. But as the resentment seeps out of his breath, he finds he doesn’t care anymore if someone gets hurt.

You hurt him. You hurt him, you hurt him, you hurt him. You hurt Lan Xichen. The angry thoughts swirl through his head, and he roars. I do not care if anyone else dies. But you cannot hurt Lan Xichen. Now you will die for your insolence.

Jin Guangshan continues to taunt him through the bars. “You’re trapped in there, Yaoyao. You can’t do anything. So get angry all you like. I love it when you get angry. Because if you produce enough resentment, maybe you’ll finally be useful to me. But, what a shame! You’re the son of a whore. I’ll never love you. I’ll use you, though. And then I will get rid of you.”-

From the background, Lan Xichen flees. He finds Jin Zixuan, and gladly takes Shouyue back into his hands. The other cultivator wants to know what happened, but there isn’t enough time to explain anything.

“Young Master Jin. You do not want to be here for this part. Please, run.”

“What do you mean, run? You’re bleeding. I can’t just let you-“

Roars of the huli jing drown out whatever Jin Zixuan was going to say next. It’s accompanied by the horrible sound of a creature ramming the sides of its cage. However, Jin Zixuan does not run. He offers Lan Xichen a handkerchief to staunch the blood.

“Was it the fox who did this?”

“No. A-Yao did not hurt me. I don’t….I don’t know who did this.”

The random assassin hired by Jin Guangshan hadn’t been someone Lan Xichen recognized.  And he sure as hell wasn’t going to tell Jin Zixuan that, indirectly, Sect Leader Jin had been the one to stab him. Lans do not lie. But they do not have to tell the truth. They simply say nothing.

Back outside of the cage, Jin Guangshan’s speech still continues, “Your mother was a vixen. Hideous! I should have never slept with her.”

Jin Guangyao lunges at the bars of the cage.

“So, when I learned she was a huli jing, I killed her.”

The barrier shatters into a million pieces. Intense pain surges through his fur as the energy hits him, but he doesn’t care. Jin Guangyao is free again. And he is going to make that everyone ’s problem. He leaps, and soars towards Sect Leader Jin. The man panics and pathetically runs away.

“Aiyo, that was expensive! Why’d you have to break it?” Jin Guangshan complains as he runs.

Did it cost more than my mother’s life? The huli jing chases after his “father”. They run through the marketplace. Arrows begin to pierce through Jin Guangyao’s flesh, and it doesn’t even slow him down. Sect Leader Jin is cowardly hiding behind several thousand archers.

But in Jin Guangyao’s eyes, they are all just ants, easily crushed.

How bothersome. I’ll have to take care of them myself.

And so he gets to work. An artist might describe the scene like a beautiful piece of artwork: carnage like a sea of blood red amidst golden peonies. The reality is quite a bit more gruesome. Indeed, the sky is painted red with resentment. Bodies litter the streets, and a chorus of screams can be heard from any and all directions nearby.

Today, things are finally the way things should be. People know he is a creature to be feared. For too long has he been forced into a cage, trying to appease a father who would never love him. And then he had been thrown into a real cage once it was discovered he was ‘useful’. Now, there is no illusion of gentle love and affection. There is only death, and it is well deserved.

Well, almost. He recognizes some of the old ladies on the street, the people who had been kind to him, and the ones his mother had always talked about. Jin Guangyao is a giant, mindless beast, but he is not entirely heartless. He leaves many people alone, and rushes to find the ones who have wronged him instead. Anyone he finds to be neutral, however…

As his rampage continues, Jin Guangyao realizes to his delight that Sect Leader Jin is now next to a corner. Few can escape a spirit beast running right for them, nor can they escape the maws wishing to devour them whole.

Now, how shall I take care of you, Father? Do I rip you from limb to limb? Should I shred you into little pieces? No, I think….I’ll bite you in half. His father never treated him with morals. Why should he ? Jin Guangyao leans down, jaws filled with sharp teeth. He’s ready to devour the person who has hurt him the most.

But the agonizing snap….simply never occurs. A strong pair of hands are holding his jaw open.

“A-Yao, no! Stop! You don’t have to do this!”

Apparently Lan Xichen is ‘not a fan’ of technically-not-cannibalism fueled patricide. What a shame! The huli jing growls and moves away from Jin Guangshan. Fine. But I’m not happy about this. I’ll let you go…for now.

Jin Guangyao tries to return to his destruction, but the ends of Lan Xichen’s ribbon brush up against his fur as he runs past. It gives him a surprising boost of clarity. It isn’t enough to make him want to stop killing people left and right, but it’s a start. He’s temporarily a bit less ‘beast-brained, as he’d put it.

He swiftly ignores his own pains, and looks down at Lan Xichen instead. The wounds on his side are still bleeding. Jin Guangyao’s surprised Lan Xichen could even keep running. He looks like he’s about to crumple to the floor like a dead leaf.

But, typical of Lan Xichen, he gestures to one of Jin Guangyao’s arrow wounds instead. “You’re hurt. We need to get somewhere safe.”

Jin Guangyao sniffs at Lan Xichen’s wounds instead. He then makes a soft ‘yip’.

Somehow, Lan Xichen is still smiling, and weakly laughs in response, “Yes, you’re right. We’re hurt.” He leans against the side of Jin Guangyao’s bestial form. “Ah….maybe you are right. My body feels rather heavy.”

He’s not sure if it would be appropriate to lick Lan Xichen’s wounds, so he simply whines instead. It’s hard to speak when he’s like this; conveying concern can be awfully difficult.

Lan Xichen gets suddenly somewhat bright-eyed, “Wait! The Cloud Recesses are not far from here. We could hide you on the back side of the mountain, and no harm would come to you.”

I’m sorry. I have a difficult time believing that. I am sure they will shoot me all the same. But if he is to die, it will be for Lan Xichen. I will take you to safety. Even if my own life is lost in the process.

Leaning down, he lets Lan Xichen climb atop his back, and hold onto his fur as Jin Guangyao runs towards Gusu. The faster he arrives at the Cloud Recesses, the better.

….

The journey to the Cloud Recesses is a treacherous one. Arrows ricochet through the air as the huli jing runs, trying to bring Lan Xichen to safety. It takes a while before the terrain turns to gentle sloping hills. By the time they arrive at the gates of the Cloud Recesses, Lan Xichen has become worryingly quiet.

It seems peaceful at first. No one awaits them at the gate, and Jin Guangyao does not want to intrude. But when he nudges Lan Xichen, the Lan sect leader does not move. There’s just a soft, achy whine, and then silence. The trail of blood behind them is also not a good sign.

Everything remains silent. Jin Guangyao realizes he’ll have to call for help, and tries to make the least threatening fox noises he can. Twenty disciples come running. They’re all armed, and they all got the wrong idea. Jin Guangyao lowers himself to the ground. He ignores the sharp stings of arrows that make their homes in already deep wounds.

Lan Xichen will not be happy if Jin Guangyao dies here. But Jin Guangyao keeps waiting. Arrow after arrow after arrow, time passes. He’s tempted to puff up into a ball when an arrow almost hits Lan Xichen, but doesn’t. That could be interpreted as aggression. Currently, they’re trying to maim him. He doesn’t want to make it worse.

A weak voice can be heard, faintly, from the huli jing’s back, “Stop! He’s a friend! Don’t hurt him!” The voice, however, is easily drowned out. It cannot be heard over the shrill fox noises, various battlecries, and the noise of arrows whistling through the air.

Lan Xichen, somehow, manages to shakily rise to his feet. Immediately, Jin Guangyao covers him with several fox tails. Lan Xichen simply pushes them aside. If they cannot hear him, he will have to be seen. Some of the archers, indeed, hold their fire.

But it doesn’t matter. A particularly large arrow, already in flight, zooms by. It soars gracefully, and then quickly embeds itself into Lan Xichen’s side. A sickening thumb, a gasp, a cry. The stab wounds on his side blossom an even deeper shade of scarlet. Jin Guangyao roars. I was trying to keep you safe….and yet, I have hurt you even more. In his heart, he knows he will never forgive himself for this. Especially not if Lan Xichen dies here.

White robes billow from above. A pesky cultivator comes closer, and lands atop his back as well. Jin Guangyao almost strikes him down with a giant paw, but at the last moment decides not to. The figure looks a little bit like Lan Xichen himself. Could it be the Second Jade of Lan, then?

Normally that would be a nuisance. In this case, it is a salvation. Lan Xichen is saved.

“Xiongzhang.”

“Please,” Lan Xichen weakly tells his brother, “Wangji, do not let them hurt this creature. He….he is my friend.”

But Lan Wangji is already picking him up, and soaring back to the heart of the Cloud Recesses. Lan Xichen sees a glimpse of the huli jing, heavily injured and fleeing back into the forest. It is the last thing Xichen sees before he passes out. 

….

The forests of Gusu are not really a comfort to Jin Guangyao. He knows them, but does not recognize much. There are no medicinal herbs he can use here. Would they even work on me anymore? Jin Guangyao doesn’t know. He still can’t figure out how to shift back. Perhaps I will die in this body…

Maneuvering himself to lay in a patch of grass, he sinks to the forest floor. Jin Guangyao tries to lick his wounds. But he’s awfully tired, and ignores most of them. The forest around him fills with a soft red haze. It thickens into a miasma once he starts thinking about Lan Xichen.

He got hurt because of me. Now he’ll never come back.

Within the deepest clutches of the forest, a huli jing begins to cry. No one can hear him. 

…

Most of the Cloud Recesses have returned to a state of peaceful tranquility. But behind closed doors….Lan Wangji feels like he’s going crazy. He’s been trying to keep a silent vigil over his brother while he heals. Unfortunately, Lan Xichen is not good at keeping secrets when he’s sleep-talking.

Thus, Lan Wangji has heard everything. He knows everything about Lan Xichen’s love life. Especially the details he never wanted. Lan Wangji’s ears are turning scarlet. It’s mortifying. He loves his Xiongzhang, but this is too much! Maybe there’s a cultivation spell that can purge everything he’s heard from his memory. If he ever wants to look Lan Xichen in the eyes again, he might genuinely need it.

His brother’s sleep-talking, however, has revealed a lot of secrets about the fox, though. Moreover, Lan Wangji knows there’s resentment involved. It gives him an excuse to write a letter and immediately send it to YiLing’s hottest dark energy specialist. In other words, they’ll have a date.

And, if they’re lucky, Wei Ying may have a way to save the fox. Even if that means the fox may become Lan Wangji’s brother-in-law. 

…

Thankfully, the nighthunt came several days later. It allowed Lan Wangji to temporarily stop worrying about his brother’s interspecies love crisis, and instead worry about his own spice tolerance. This restaurant was one of Wei Ying’s local favorites. Perhaps it was a mistake to meet him there.

“Lan Zhan, you’re turning as red as the sky out there!” Wei Wuxian laughs and picks up the bowl nearest to Lan Wangji, “Maybe you should lay off the spices for a little bit.”

“The sky is indeed a strange color.”

“Oh, that’s bestial resentment, actually. It’s like regular resentment, except it’s worse, and it’s something only spirit beasts produce. With this, we know the fox is probably still nearby. We should see if it will even let us get near it.”

Lan Wangji tipped their waiter handsomely, and the two of them went off into the forested area in search of the creature. Locals often could hear the fox scream all night long. But as the two cultivators grew closer, only silence and the crunching of dead leaves could be heard. The fog continued to thicken.

“Once a spirit beast reaches its breaking point….it’s hard to get ‘em back to their old selves,” Wei Wuxian mumbles, lantern in hand, as he continues sneaking around, “I think the fox is definitely past that. Luckily, I don’t think it’s angry.”

Wei Wuxian knew resentment like the back of his hand. He could feel it in the air, and taste the pained emotions it contained. Bestial resentment was a little different. Yet he found he could still understand it very easily. The resentment in the air was sharp, heavy, and clouded. Staying around it for too long would definitely make anyone start to go a little crazy.

“What I feel in the air…is grief. It’s upset, and feels betrayed. There’s hatred, but it isn’t anger. It’s self-loathing. I doubt the creature wants to be seen, let alone saved.”

Lan Wangji didn’t realize he was frowning.

“Oh, but that doesn’t mean we need to give up, Lan Zhan! Don’t look at me like that. I think there’s still a way to save it. If the beast really likes your brother…. -and I mean, REALLY likes him -we could be in luck. How’s their relationship anyway?”

The Second Jade of Lan says absolutely nothing, and looks to the floor.

“Ah. Uh, sorry I asked! Maybe that was a bit personal. And I guess you wouldn’t know how close they are to begin with.”

Lan Wangji sincerely wishes he did not know. Still, it’s unclear if the fox liked his brother back. The creature did save Lan Xichen twice. Did it have another motive?

A wall of murky, rose-colored resentment appears in front of them without warning. Wei Wuxian stops and touches the wall. It’s like he’s listening to something. He nods intently, and then turns back around.

“The creature is politely asking us to leave. I do not think it wishes to reveal itself to anyone other than Sect Leader Lan.”

“How do you know? I did not hear anything.”

“Huli jings are quite powerful. I dunno if I understood it through the resentment or like, it sent me a psychic message, but I think I understood what it meant.”

The wall flickers, as if to agree.

“Well, let’s go back, before sunrise.”

With heavy hearts, both cultivators made their way back to the Cloud Recesses.

…..

It’s midday when they return to the Cloud Recesses. Although most passersby stop to glare at Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji is able to get him to the Hanshi without a fuss. He’s thankful Shufu is teaching a class right now. Wei Wuxian’s visit hadn’t been planned, and definitely would not have been approved.

Lan Xichen is already sitting outside the Hanshi as they approach.

“Xiongzhang, I’ve returned from my night hunt with Wei Ying. He has an idea on how to save the fox.”

“Let’s discuss this inside, then. Maybe I shall make some tea since we are with a guest.”

The Second Jade of Lan is adamant that he continues to sit down, and, after helping his brother find a cozy spot to sit, leaves to start brewing the tea himself. It leaves Wei Wuxian and Lan Xichen alone together. The silence is awkward.

“Did you locate the fox?”

“Kind of. A wall of resentment prevented us from going any further. He then asked us to leave, so we did. I think you’re the only one he’s interested in seeing right now.”

Lan Xichen tries to smile. “I cannot say I am surprised.” His smile wavers. “He must be very upset with me.”

“I don’t think he’s mad at you, Zewu-jun. I think he’s mad at himself .”

The two of them sat quietly together and said nothing for several minutes. When Lan Wangji returned with tea, he could not understand why the atmosphere had gotten so gloomy in a matter of minutes.

“There’s still a way to save him, I think. But I have to ask something first. If you’re old friends with the fox…are you just old friends?” He raises an eyebrow. “Or…are you a little bit more like this ?”

Wei Wuxian hooks an arm around Lan Wangji’s midsection. Wangji looks like he’s now going to spontaneously combust, qi deviate, and then maybe consider giving Wei Wuxian a kiss. Maybe all three.

Lan Xichen finds himself staring at the floor, flushed with embarrassment. “I…never got to confess to him. So I do not know if my feelings are unrequited.”

The answer is pretty mundane, but it’s enough to make Wei Wuxian look like he’s having a field day. Disbelief, enthusiasm, and excitement is written all over his face. Poor Lan Xichen just wants to run into the woods and escape, never to be seen again. The secret is out there.

“Wait, for real? Oh my god, no, this could totally work! Lan Zhan, we’ve stumbled into a love plot! Your brother’s got an adorable crush! He’s got a crush on-“

The silencing spell was introduced for moments exactly like this one.

Lan Wangji clears his throat. The Second Jade of Lan is clearly still embarrassed, but he feigns the emotion well. “Wei Ying said that we need an item the fox would like. Something to ground him. If he is calm, he may become human again.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

Lan Wangji sighs. “If he cannot shift back, there is nothing else we can do for him.”

“Then I will give him my ribbon.”

The room falls silent. And the sick feeling of disapproval (Shufu will never forgive me) that follows is enough to make Lan Xichen immediately feel like laying back down. He can only assume Wangji will look at his (literal?) proposal with disapproval.

But when he looks back up at Lan Wangji’s expression, he is surprised to see not disgust or revulsion, but acceptance.

“I will give you my blessing, and I will not tell Shufu until it is too late.”

He understands my plight.

….

The next morning, they set off bright and early for Caiyi Town. Thanks to the weariness that still lingers in Lan Xichen’s bones, they arrive around noon. He regrets not hiring a carriage. Still, the longer it takes for them to reach Caiyi Town, the longer A-Yao has to suffer out there, alone.

So despite his aches and freshly healed injuries, he trods on. I need to find him, so I can make things right. He also has to confess his feelings today. It’s giving him butterflies in his stomach…..or tying his stomach in knots. It’s hard to tell if he’s excited or not.

From behind him, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian are quietly chattering to one another Aside from their footsteps, it is the only sound in the entire forest. Everything feels empty. There are no birds chirping. The wind is at a stand-still, too, as the air grows hazier with bestial resentment.

“You know, most of these plants weren’t dead yesterday.” Wei Wuxian picks up a few twigs and throws one in the air for emphasis. “I think the resentment’s spreading. In another week, this place could be like a mini YiLing.”

The landscape is tainted with the fox’s sorrow, and his suffering. Lan Xichen’s heart aches. He must be so upset. Does he blame himself, for what happened? The more he dwells on it, the sadder Lan Xichen starts to feel. He takes his mind off of things by looking around at the nearby trees.

It looks like they’ve been….ripped apart. Others lay in pieces across the ground. They do not look like the work of a wild beast. Everything is terrifyingly precise, and so very like A-Yao. Lan Xichen also notices most of them are covered in faded bloodstains. He isn’t sure if they’re fresh.

But when he turn to his companions to ask them…Lan Xichen notices that they are both gone. He is completely alone. The demonic cultivator is nowhere to be found, and nor is Lan Wangji. The fog has separated them from each other. Leaving Lan Xichen to wander, lost in the fog, alone.

The air is making him feel a little peculiar. He feels like he’s being watched, and the sharp scent of resentment is starting to make him a little dizzy. Feelings of regret, agony, and deep sadness wash over him. A warm breeze also begins to mingle in the air. It reeks of blood.

He was never alone to begin with. 

From behind him, the huli jing makes a sharp noise of disapproval. Lan Xichen slowly turns around, and his heart sinks. There’s so much blood on the ground. It’s trickling out from the creature’s ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. He’s taken spiritual damage. His body cannot hold on much longer.

Jin Guangyao does not want to hurt Lan Xichen. He’d rather die, and he’s probably about to do exactly that. The resentment surges through his bestial form. But Jin Guangyao still refuses to let the resentment escape. He does, however, look up at Lan Xichen with earnest from where he pathetically has crumpled into a pile.

“…A-Yao?”

Lan Xichen walks forward. Bloodstained tears begin to fall from the creature’s eyes. The sight is enough to make Lan Xichen start crying with him.

“XICHEN.” The words, clear as day, escape from the beast’s giant maw. “PLEASE.”

Resentment trickles out of the huli jing’s mouth as he begs. But he isn’t begging to be spared, Lan Xichen realizes. He’s begging for me to kill him.

The huli jing points to Shuoyue with one giant paw. “PLEASE.”

“No!” Lan Xichen leaps into the air.  And in one fluid motion, he tears his own forehead ribbon off, binding it to the huli jing’s shoulders. “Absolutely not!”

He then embraces the creature without hesitation. A-Yao’s bestial form is huge, and Lan Xichen’s arms certainly cannot wrap around him very well. But he holds A-Yao. And he weeps with him. Comforts him, whispers to him, soothes him.

“I could never hurt you. I’m here to save you, A-Yao.”

A blue spark of energy forms in Lan Xichen’s hand, and blossoms into a giant crest at Jin Guangyao’s center. It’s some sort of spell, but Jin Guangyao has never seen anything like it. The moment it touches his fur….

Jin Guangyao’s bestial form shatters into a bright, golden light. Flames erupt from his core. They twist and contort in the sky above, slowly coming together into human form. Fur turns to soft, cream-colored robes. The sleeves billow in the wind as Jin Guangyao gracefully falls into Lan Xichen’s arms.

The forehead ribbon is now tied around Jin Guangyao’s hand. When Lan Xichen tries to touch it, however, the color blossoms into a beautiful scarlet hue. Jin Guangyao’s robes sparkle and begin to match the color of the ribbon. It has become a bridal outfit.

“A-Yao?”

Two beautiful, golden eyes finally look back into Lan Xichen’s.

“…A-Huan.” 

It has been so long since Lan Xichen has heard that name. It’s what Jin Guangyao called him sweetly while they were hiding their identities.It’s hard not to feel a wave of fondness wash over him when Lan Xichen hears this again. He remembers when they first met, and when they first fell in love, all over again. 

Jin Guangyao removes the red ribbon from his own wrist, and holds it out. He places a kiss on the end of it. “For life, I am yours, if you wish it so.”

“I would be honored.”

They embrace, and Lan Xichen’s own robes change to match the same hue as Jin Guangyao’s. A wedding altar appears in front of them. Lan Xichen reaches out and finds it to be a physical object. This is no illusion. Not that it matters, because Lan Xichen is more than okay with anything. As long as he gets to marry the one he loves, he will cherish the opportunity and go for it. 

Smiling to each other, both of them kneel down in front of the altar. One bow to the heavens. One bow to their parents. One bow to each other. The cloudless sky begins to rain, and they are now married.

He leans forward to kiss Jin Guangyao. The huli jing stiffens, and at first, Lan Xichen wonders if their first kiss had been so revolting that Jin Guangyao immediately regretted it. However, Jin Guangyao’s eyes close. Two fox ears puff into existence on the top of his head, and a fluffy tail from behind him. The huli jing looks….embarrassed. Lan Xichen looks like he’s about to cry from the sheer cuteness in front of him.

Jin Guangyao looks up at Lan Xichen, although he can barely meet his gaze. “You…really don’t mind them?”

“Not at all! I think they are adorable. Just hide them, and your tail, when we return to Gusu. I do not wish for A-Yao to get hurt.” 

Hand in hand, a cute fox husband and his cute human husband walk home to the Cloud Recesses. Lan Xichen is not sure if he will find acceptance there, but he will return victorious nonetheless. And, at the very least, he knows Wangji will still respect him. Shufu, on the other hand….

…

From the second they enter the Cloud Recesses, it becomes apparent, however, that Shufu will not be the problem here. Nor will the problem have anything do with the Lans. Most see him and A-Yao in their bridal attire and are ecstatic! Their sect leader has finally gotten married. This is a time to celebrate! Even Shufu looks a little happy, if not slightly conflicted about everything that had just occurred.  

Outside of the Hanshi is a crowd. Everyone is wearing golden robes. Jin Guangyao’s (now hidden) fox ears twitch. This is not a good sign. There’s too many people present, so Jin Guangshan is probably here as well. The huli jing stifles a low growl. Lan Xichen looks at him with pleading eyes.

“A-Yao, please let me do the talking. I am sure we can resolve this peacefully.”

Jin Guangyao is not interested in keeping this peaceful. How could he be? After months of relentless torture, disrespect, and being locked up in a cage, he would much rather prefer to resolve things…less politely. But Lan Xichen’s words make sense. He did not want to bring more trouble to the Gusu Lan sect. Enough had already been stirred up already.

Sect Leader Jin walks through the middle of the crowd. He immediately locks eyes with Jin Guangyao, and his expression quickly becomes one of revulsion. “I see you’ve ran off and become Lan-furen! What a disgrace. You continue to defy me, son.”

The huli jing laughs, and it is a laugh completely devoid of humor.

“Son? I have never been your son. Do you think I have forgotten how many times you told me, that I am inferior to even the dirt below us? You have never cared about me. Not even once.”

A red aura of bestial resentment flares behind him.

“I’m about to make you change your mind.”

The next few moments are incredibly foggy. Jin Guangyao, still clad in bridal hanfu, braces himself. He then barrels towards Jin Guangshan. Wisely, the other man starts running. He starts running real quick. Down hundreds of staircases, the chase continues. He chases Jin Guangshan past the gate of the Cloud Recesses and into the forest.

They disappear quickly, and are out of sight within seconds. Save for the traces of lingering resentment, you’d think nobody was even here to begin with. 

Before Jin Guangshan can even notice, Jin Guangyao has already returned to his bestial form. He picks his ‘father’ up by the collar and continues to run through the woods. They run far, far away from any known civilization, until Jin Guangyao is sure they are out of earshot of any cultivation clan. He does not want the world to know how this part of the story ends. 

When he finally decides to drop Jin Guangshan back down to the floor, he briefly ponders whether he should spare the man or not. He snorts at the thought. Instead, he looks at Jin Guangshan with beguiling eyes. He hisses.

“Yaoyao, there’s no need to be rash,” Jin Guangshan tries to say. “We can talk this out. I’ll listen, I swear.”

The huli jing’s mouth opens, revealing seemingly hundreds of razor-sharp teeth. “I think I’ve heard enough.”

And then there is a sickening crunch. All’s well that ends well.

When he returns to the Cloud Recesses, it is in a timely manner, and with slightly rumpled clothing. There’s also blood dripping from his mouth. And the color of his robes…has also become slightly too red. Lan Xichen looks aghast and brings him into the Hanshi.

“A-Yao…what happened? Are you hurt?” He wipes the blood off of the huli jing with utmost care.

“Oh, nothing much. I just thought it might be an auspicious day to eat my father alive.”