I was thinking of a post canon Yunmeng recon idea where JC never gets better after Guanyin temple it just makes him more angry and bitter over the years and WWX can only watch, helpless to stop it as they are not on speaking terms— until JC suffers a very public qi deviation.

It’s a REALLY bad qi deviation. JC nearly dies. He is told that if he ever wants to cultivate again, he needs to resolve his underlying anger and self-loathing. JL cries his eyes out, and so does the entire YMJ. JC hasn’t trained a successor either, so he grits his teeth. Fine.

The near death experience has really shaken WWX too, so even tho he “knows” that he isn’t welcome, he keep showing up at YMJ to check up on JC. And JC is pretty much handicapped until he puts his internal bullcrap back into order. He’s super weak and sickly all the time.

But he’s also used to being strong in front of all his disciples, subordinates, and his nephew. Every time they try to help him, he yells and chases them away.

When WWX shows up and is like. Yep I’m drawing you a bath you don’t get to say no. He can’t even get up so WWX carries him into the tub. And he recalls that when he was a kid, WWX used to carry him when he sprained his ankle. WWX has treated his injuries, seen him at his weakest.

And he can’t help but let WWX take care of him. Anyways, it’s not like WWX hasn’t seen all the weakest, ugliest parts of him anyway.

But also, just imagine the first time WWX draws him a hot bath. JC hasn’t had a hot bath in years. He’s always just working, and when he needs to be clean he just goes and dumps water all over himself. He doesn’t have time to wait for water to heat. And he just... sinks.

JC falling asleep in the tub because he’s so comfy, and WWX just sits and strokes his hair back, and makes sure he doesn’t slip in and drown.

BUT ALSO, WITH HIS LOWERED IMMUNITY, IMAGINE JC GETTING A COMMON COLD FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HE WAS A KID. He’s fucking miserable. He’s running a fever, got a running nose and sore throat, and this horrendous hacking cough that keeps him up and stops him from sleeping.

He’s surrounded by YMJ disciples and JL who have (like him) been cultivating since they were kids and have probably never been this sick a day in their lives and they are BLUBBERING EVERYWHERE bc they think JC is dying. WWX gets summoned to say his last farewells and ZOOMS down.

When he reaches he’s like... he has a common cold. He isn’t dying. Since coming back in MXY’s body, which has low cultivation, he has probably been sick a few times in recent memories.

JC hates everyone seeing him so weak, so JL and the YMJ disciples have been locked out of his too. With nothing to do, JL is just OBSESSIVELY DECONTAMINATING LOTUS PIER. EVERYONE WHO HAS MADE CONTACT WITH JIUJIU MUST BE QUARANTINED AND DISINFECTED.

While all this is going on, JC is thoroughly miserable. Coughing weakly, but too tired to cough. Can’t really breathe. WWX wraps him up and carries him to the lotus pond at the back where they used to play as kids, stumbling under JC’s weight, bc MXY’s body is a lot smaller now.

They sit by the pond until JC falls asleep, surrounded by lights and lotuses. Bonus if the villagers have heard that he’s sick and have started floating lanterns down the river in the hopes that he’ll see them.

Afterwards, WWX brings him back to bed. More bonus if there’s bed sharing bc JC is shivering bc WWX opened the windows. Look, bringing him out cleared his sinuses. fresh air is good for him. So WWX opens the windows to clear out the sickroom air, but now JC is cold. CUDDLE TIME.

Also... JC finally having a support system again? WWX is back. JL moved out to stabilize LLJ after JGY died, but now the sect is stabilized and with JC’s condition, he’s pretty much moved back into Lotus Pier full time since it seems like he could die anytime.

Everyday it’s just JIUJIU PUT THOSE PAPERS DOWN AND GET IN BED YOU HAVE A REGENT FOR A REASON.

WWX: JC, if you don’t put the brush down, I am going to carry you back to your room in full view of all the disciples. And I will specially take a detour to pass the training field.

The disciples fucking love JC to the moon and back. They would DIE for JC, but they have also all been too afraid to talk to him this whole time. JC being the oblivious fool he is, naturally assumes they all hate him.

But with this whole thing, disciples have started randomly showing up like PAPERWORK, zongzhu? All of them just PASSIVE AGGRESSIVELY shoveling him back into bed with stingray smiles on their faces.

Also, they’ve seen the grumbly but ultimately obedient way he deals with WWX and JL. They have started to realize that he’s (1) all bark no bite (2) human. So more and more they begin to approach him, talk to him, openly and more insistently care for him.

The villagers have all also started sending food and letters and FLOATING LANTERNS DOWN THE RIVER when they hear that he’s sick again. A lot of them remember him from when he was a child. The younger ones also respect him, for maintaining peace, security, and trade in the region.

Just... JC realizing that he is loved, that in the eyes of so many people, he is capable, respected, and worthy. JC finding peace in small comforts, in the people around him, and learning to LIVE again. No more paperwork machine. He’s a Real Boy again.

After JC is well again, the villagers begin a tradition of floating lanterns down the river once a year, on JC’s birthday, to wish him well. Fic ends with JC sitting with his family and disciples, watching the lanterns float down amidst the lotuses.