Read on Twitter
what if in cql-verse post-canon wwx spends entire years travelling all around not only the country but the entire world, & lwj just... loses hope of him ever coming back. not that he expected it, not that he thinks wwx is obligated to return to him. but he’d thought he would.
during the 1st year, wwx sends him letters. he always reads them w a smile & looks forward to the next one. but after the 2nd year, the letters arrive few & far between, until by the 3rd year he doesn’t receive any at all. & okay, wwx must be busy. he must be travelling so much–
that he hardly has time to sit & compose a letter. lwj doesn’t mind as long as wwx is happy. as long as he gets to see him again soon.
but soon 5 years have passed, & wwx still hasn’t returned. he’d thought that when they separated they had an understanding, that no matter–
but soon 5 years have passed, & wwx still hasn’t returned. he’d thought that when they separated they had an understanding, that no matter–
where wwx decided to go, he could – & /would/ – come back to lwj. even if it was only for a short time. even if he decided to leave again.
lwj thought he’d come back.
during the 7th year of wwx’s absence, lwj finally gives up hope. he’s already experienced loss w wwx once–
lwj thought he’d come back.
during the 7th year of wwx’s absence, lwj finally gives up hope. he’s already experienced loss w wwx once–
before; 16 years of mourning & wishing he’d just come back. at least back then it was easier to accept that it was impossible for wwx to return, & yet against all odds he /had/. he’d been /dead/, but he’d still come back to lwj. now he’s alive, healthy – but he still isn’t–
coming back again.
during the 8th year, lwj begins to think that maybe wwx has settled down somewhere. maybe he has a family now, children who he’s raised from birth & a partner he loves just as much as lwj loves wwx. & this is the final tipping point for lwj – he needs closure.
during the 8th year, lwj begins to think that maybe wwx has settled down somewhere. maybe he has a family now, children who he’s raised from birth & a partner he loves just as much as lwj loves wwx. & this is the final tipping point for lwj – he needs closure.
the world is vast, & there are so many places wwx could’ve gone to. but lwj has a strong core & a bucket-load of patience, & he’ll search anywhere & for as long as he needs.
he means to set out alone, but 2 days into his journey he catches lsz sneaking around the town he’s–
he means to set out alone, but 2 days into his journey he catches lsz sneaking around the town he’s–
resting in for the night. he isn’t angry – after all, he knows lsz is just as curious as he is. lsz misses wwx too. so lwj lets him tag along, & together they travel for months on end in search of wwx.
after a year, they stumble across a small village separated from their home–
after a year, they stumble across a small village separated from their home–
by land & ocean & language. it’s here that they finally find wwx; he’s set up a small farm for himself, has made a living on the crops he produces, has learned this new land’s language & is on good terms w the locals. nobody knows who the yiling patriarch is – they just know wwx–
the farmer, the man who grows turnips yet refuses to eat them, the man who will fix things in the town & only ask for a bottle of good wine as payment, the man who spends much of his time alone yet never fails to smile & joke w anyone he gets the chance to meet. there’s no–
pressure on him to cultivate, no pressure on him to impress the sects. here, he’s like a new man. more sure of himself.
lwj knows immediately that this is where wwx wants to be. he knows that no amount of pleading would bring wwx back to gusu where lwj would so like him to be.
lwj knows immediately that this is where wwx wants to be. he knows that no amount of pleading would bring wwx back to gusu where lwj would so like him to be.
lwj & lsz spend a month on the farm w wwx, helping him to grow crops & spending night after night discussing the last few years’ events. lsz says that working on the farm makes him nostalgic, which makes lwj & wwx share knowing smiles – a little sad, but happy too.
eventually, once that month has passed, wwx tells lwj he should return to gusu. he tells him that he shouldn’t leave his responsibilities behind for so long; lwj knows this. he’d been planning on returning. it still doesn’t make this any less painful.
but, he thinks, at least–
but, he thinks, at least–
he knows now that wwx is safe. he’s also happier here. to him, that’s all that really matters.
lwj & lsz return to gusu, & now that lwj knows where wwx lives (finally) he begins sending letters again. they talk weekly if they can, though sometimes it takes a little longer to–
lwj & lsz return to gusu, & now that lwj knows where wwx lives (finally) he begins sending letters again. they talk weekly if they can, though sometimes it takes a little longer to–
write when lwj has important sect business to attend to or wwx is struggling on the farm. lwj also insists on visiting monthly; he takes lsz along much of the time, but sometimes he goes alone. on one particular occasion, he happens to cross paths w wen ning on the way & invites–
him along for the journey. wwx is happy to see him again, & the three of them spend time in e/o’s company.
eventually, the monthly visits become weekly visits. they hardly write to e/o anymore bc lwj insists on making the journey to the farm instead. & it’s on one of these–
eventually, the monthly visits become weekly visits. they hardly write to e/o anymore bc lwj insists on making the journey to the farm instead. & it’s on one of these–
weekly visits that something between them finally locks into place, & they both think: “oh. I don’t want to be apart from him anymore.”
this time, lwj doesn’t feel guilty when he says, “come back to gusu with me.”
wwx agrees.
they enter an arrangement; the two of them–
this time, lwj doesn’t feel guilty when he says, “come back to gusu with me.”
wwx agrees.
they enter an arrangement; the two of them–
alternate between the cloud recesses & wwx’s farm, spending a few weeks in each place at a time yet never parting from e/o. when life on the farm becomes lonely & boring & wwx decides he wants an adventure, they head back to gusu. when the rules of the lan sect become too–
rigid & the cultivation world feels too oppressive, they escape to the farm.
meanwhile, wen ning moves onto the farm permanently. he takes care of it whenever wangxian are away, & occasionally lsz will visit so that the two of them can go on night hunts together & catch up.
meanwhile, wen ning moves onto the farm permanently. he takes care of it whenever wangxian are away, & occasionally lsz will visit so that the two of them can go on night hunts together & catch up.
life goes on for all of them, whether it’s in the lan sect or on the farm or somewhere in between. it suits them, lwj thinks. it was well worth the wait.
