Chapter Text
Guo Yan was sitting outside the house he shared with his sister in Ghost City.
He had truly never felt worse.
Not even dying had made him this miserable.
Guo Jie was missing.
Very likely her soul dispersed, but Guo Yan tried not to think about that.
He and the other players had looked everywhere, starting with where they had been practicing in the woods, but with no luck.
How could I have left her there?
Qiong Yan walked over, joining him on the porch. “I still haven’t heard from her. Shuang Mei is still asking around the marketplace...”
Guo Yan buried his head in his hands.
This was all his fault.
He had been so hard on Guo Jie.
He’d let himself be annoyed by something as harmless as her enthusiasm, and now look what had happened…
He heard Yong Feng’s voice, full of concern: “If she doesn’t show up, what will happen? What about the play?”
Fuck the play, Guo Yan wanted to scream.
“It wouldn’t be possible to go on without her.” Qiong Yan said.
“You’re right about that.” Yong Feng agreed. “Who else could play the Lan Wangji to my Wei Wuxian?”
“Who indeed.” Guo Yan said as he lifted his head.
He saw Song approaching from down the street, in somewhat of a hurry.
Guo Yan stood.
“Did you find her?” He called, hoping against hope.
“No, but there’s news!” Song said when he’d reached the bottom of the steps to Guo Yan’s house. “Chengzhu has returned to the city, and he brought someone with him!”
Despite everything, Guo Yan’s curiosity was piqued. He’s never heard of Chengzhu having guests. “Who?”
“No one is really sure… He looks like a Daoist priest.”
Guo Yan frowned.
Yong Feng scoffed. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Perhaps he’s Chengzhu’s prisoner?” Qiong Yan suggested.
“Uh, well… I don’t think so…” Song said, nervously shuffling his feet in the street.
Guo Yan’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you say that?”
“…You see, I thought the same thing, and I said as much to a couple of ladies I was standing next to, but then one of them said: ‘are you an idiot or something? No one would hold hands like that with a prisoner! Clearly Chengzhu has found a wife!’ …I told her it wasn’t very nice to call someone an idiot, and then her friend said I was an idiot for thinking I could tell them what to do… I don’t think they liked me…” Song said in conclusion.
The other three ghosts stared at each other.
Guo Yan had to hold back laughter. He couldn’t imagine Chengzhu taking a concubine, let alone a wife. The idea was too preposterous.
“Well, now that Chengzhu’s back, maybe he would listen to a petition for help in finding your sister?” Qiong Yan proposed.
It wasn’t a bad idea.
Guo Yan was half terrified by the lord of the city, as were most of the ghosts who lived here, but Guo Yan was fairly confident in Chengzhu’s desire to protect the citizens from outside threats, especially gods.
“…But won’t he be busy planning a wedding?” Song asked, confused.
“I don’t think Lord Crimson Rain Sought Flower is marrying a Daoist priest.” Guo Yan said gently.
Song brightened at that. “I knew it!”
“Let’s go find Shuang Mei.” Guo Yan began. “And then we can—”
“GE!”
Guo Yan’s head whipped around so fast it’s a wonder his neck didn’t snap in two.
Standing in the middle of the street was his little sister, grin on her face, ears standing tall as she waved at the gathered players.
Guo Yan couldn’t get to her fast enough.
They met in the middle of the street, Guo Yan gathering her up in his arms.
“You’re alright.” Guo Yan breathed, his relief palpable.
“I hope Ge wasn’t too worried about me.” Guo Jie said.
Guo Yan pulled back, holding her at arm’s length. “I was worried sick!”
By now the other players had caught up to them.
“Guo Jie, you’re back!” Song cried. “I was so worried that your brother was going to make me play Lan Wangji… I can’t memorize so many lines!”
“Glad you’re safe Guo Jie.” Qiong Yan said.
“What happened to you? How did you fight off a god?” Yong Feng asked.
“Let’s get inside, and then I’ll tell you all exactly what happened.” Guo Jie promised.
And tell them she did.[i]
[i] This scene is by far the shortest in the original play, but I just love the camaraderie and found-family the players have with one another, so my version is a bit longer.