Archive of Our Own ^beta

Jiang Cheng had always enjoyed the fact that he was a beta. He didn't have to deal with all that weird scent and pheromone nonsense. He didn't have raging hormones causing him to act irrationally or compel him to find a mate. He had seen the change in his peers once they presented as an alpha or omega, how all their smarts would sometimes seem to leave them, being driven by their baser instincts like wild animals. Settling down early in life, with whoever they happened to make a bad decision with during one of their early heats or ruts. Having far too many children far too early in life. No, he was proud to be a level-headed beta. 

He was even more proud that he could say that both of the twin prides of Yunmeng were betas. Although he wasn't sure he could call Wei Wuxian the most level headed. But neither one of them was affected by all those stupid pheromones people used to try to manipulate others. They couldn't be controlled by an Alpha Command. They could trust their brain was running on logic and not hormones. 

In a world that seemed to value alpha and omegas more, it was good to have someone by his side who was just as unaffected and unimpressed with all that other nonsense. Someone else who got it. They had been raised like brothers, and one day Jiang Cheng would be sect leader and Wei Wuxian would be his right hand man. They would be life long companions. His sister, Yanli, was an omega, and as such would one day live in her betrothed alpha's sect instead of staying in Yunmeng with their family. They were close but one day she would be gone. But it was alright. Jiang Cheng still got to keep Wei Wuxian. No mate would be stealing him away to live elsewhere. 

With his boisterous and flirtatious nature, he had worried Wei Wuxian would turn out to be a knotheaded alpha, but luckily that never came to be, and eventually Jiang Cheng realized that all that flirting was for show. Wei Wuxian was like a dog chasing a cart, he wouldn’t know what to do if he ever caught one! 

Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian were like brothers… platonic life mates…they were completely inseparable. That is, until tragedy struck, and they were separated. For 3 months, Wei Wuxian went missing. Jiang Cheng searched high and low for him in that time. And surprisingly, so did the Lan Wangji. Why the strict alpha who seemed to make it his life mission to catch Wei Wuxian breaking rules and personally oversee his punishment during their school days now suddenly seemed worried about and cared enough about Jiang Cheng’s shixiong to help hunt for him was beyond Jiang Cheng, but he wouldn’t complain about having help.

Then, after 3 months of tireless searching and warring with the Wen, they found Wei Wuxian.

But he seemed… different. His once jovial smile had become a knifeblade of a smirk. An aura of resentment seemed to surround him. He used a flute to speak to the dead. There was a cold taunting lilt to his voice. He wore his hair down, his eyes were sunken in, he looked frail and thin, yet more intimidating than ever. It was like he was a completely different person. But it was indeed his lost shixiong at last. Jiang Cheng was so relieved he apparently missed the biggest change of all. Although, how could he notice something like that? Beta’s can’t smell pheromones after all. So it was a surprise to him, as he was hugging and reuniting with his shixiong that he heard Lan Wangji speaking.

“Wei Ying, your scent. You are… An omega.” Lan Wangji stated stiffly, seemingly frozen in place. 

“Ah, very astute of you Lan Zhan. It would appear that way, yes.” Wei Wuxian replied, finally giving the alpha in the room his attention. Their eyes met and seemed to lock into some sort of mental battle. 

Jiang Cheng couldn't help but inspect Wei Wuxian, trying to decipher any omega traits or scent but he seemed… Like Wei Wuxian always had. Well—not exactly, he seemed quite different actually, but nothing about him seemed omega. And it is very odd for one to present this late into life. What exactly happened to trigger this change now? 

Lan Wangji must have had similar thoughts because he suddenly spoke again. “How…” He began, then seeming at a loss for words. His brows furrowed as he stared at Wei Wuxian, looking as though he were reevaluating everything he knew. Then an idea seemed to come to him and his eyes widened suddenly. 

“An excess of yin energy.” 

Lan Wangji glanced over at the ghosts Wei Wuxian seemed to be controlling, he thought of the tortured soldiers they had passed in the way in, Wen Chao whimpering nearby, the resentful energy that seemed to roil off Wei Wuxian in waves. “How are you controlling them?” He asked, nodding towards the lingering ghosts. 

“What does it matter how I do it? I took out this entire outpost alone. Don't you think you should be thanking me instead of antagonizing me, Hangjung Jun?”

”Exposure to excessive amounts of yin energy has been known to …alter ones presentation. Resentful energy and—demonic cultivation— are forms of Yin energy.”

”And what exactly are you implying Hangjuan-Jun?’’ Wei Wuxian sneered.

“Perhaps it is best if Wei Ying were to come back to Gusu with me.” Lan Wangji responded.

Jiang Cheng had heard enough at that point. “He won’t be going anywhere with you. What authority does Gusu Lan think it has over Jiang Yunmeng’s first disciple, huh? He will be coming with me. The two of us can finish…” He glanced over to Wen Chao “cleaning up here. You are not needed here any longer, Hanguang Jun. You are dismissed.” He snarled.

”My apologies for overstepping. I did not mean to offend.” Lan Wangji replied with a stiff bow. “I was nearly concerned for Wei Ying’s wellbeing.”

”Well, his wellbeing is none of your concern. It’s mine. Being as he is the head disciple of my sect.” Jiang Cheng spits out with venom. He stands protectively in front of Wei Wuxian. “Being an alpha doesn't mean you get to boss around other sect's disciples, even if you think they are an omega.”

“Mn.” Lan Wangji replies with a solemn nod, eyes lingering before he turns and leaves the room, fleeing like a dog with its tail tucked between his legs. 

Why'd he spend so long helping to look for Wei Wuxian, only to react like THAT the second he turns up! 

The nerve of some alphas. 

It turns out Wei Wuxian really had come back as an omega, which was hard for Jiang Cheng to wrap his head around. 

“How do you think I feel?!” Wei Wuxian would reply with a huff. 

It was weird because he didn't act the way omega's usually did. He was just as brash and loud and independent as always. Maybe a bit more private and less jovial, but that was from the trauma of war. And he was into the dark arts now it seemed, but that was a whole separate matter. 

The point is, on the surface, Wei Wuxian still seemed like a beta. Jiang Cheng had to remind himself that wasn't true anymore. 

He was surprised when one day he walked into Wei Wuxian’s tent and found piles and piles of extra blankets and pillows on his cot. 

How wasteful!! He had thought. Until his sister reminded him that Wei Wuxian was new to nest making and perhaps got overzealous, as the newly presented often do. It's just his nstincts taking over. 

The whole thing is so weird. 

“So do I smell different to you now?” Jiang Cheng couldn't help but ask one day. 

“Yeah you stink!” Wei Wuxian replied, mock shoving him away. “But everyone stinks now. Especially alphas.” He said, fanning a hand in front of his nose. “Who knew everyone actually smelled so bad all the time?” 

Wei Wuxian's eyes narrowed as a group of Lans being lead by Lan Wangji marched by. “Well, I guess not everyone. A few people still smell good at least.” He mumbled. 

Lan Wangji's nose flared and he stopped in his tracks, staring right at Wei Wuxian as if just noticing his presence. 

Jiang Cheng turned around and shot Lan Wangji a deathly glare that said ‘keep moving’ until the uptight alpha got the hint and did just that. 

Jiang Cheng was so sick of that knothead Lan Wangji harassing his shixiong! 

Everyday he was trying to put out fires between the two. They were constantly fighting and at each other's throats these days. Everyone in camp was sick of overhearing it. 

That overbearing alpha just couldn't stop himself from sticking his nose in other people's business! He was always chastising Wei Wuxian for his cultivation methods, trying to cleanse him, asking him to come back to Gusu with him! He was constantly chasing him around just so he could cast judgment on him! 

It was an odd reversal from how things used to be when they were all teens. When Wei Wuxian was the one always chasing Lan Wangji around to badger him. 

Alphas were all known for being temperamental and hot headed, especially in their teen years, but Lan Wangji had a reputation for being a model alpha who was above such things. He always carried himself as being cool and calm and completely unflappable. Wei Wuxian saw through that ruse and seemed to enjoy doing anything he could to make him snap. 

He was always chasing after Lan Wangji trying to get his attention, distract him, pull pranks on him, and annoy him endlessly, seeming to think it hilarious every time he managed to make the stuffy alpha lose his cool. He loved proving that alpha wasn't any different than the rest of them. 

But now things seemed reversed. The second Lan Wangji learned Wei Wuxian was an omega he was suddenly the one chasing him around and harassing him everywhere they went, as if being an alpha automatically gave him authority over any omega! As if it were perfectly fine for him to lecture disciples of another sect and seek to punish them and steal them away to his own sect! 

And yet everyone acted as if Hanguan-Jun was this parable of virtue, who could do no wrong. His reputation was so high no one could correct him without catching heat from the entire Lan contingent. Jiang Cheng was sick of it! 

But this is probably Wei Wuxian's own karma for harassing the Lan heir so much in their youth. So whatever. They are both adults and Wei Wuxian can handle himself, he guesses.

Things got even more out of hand when one day those two were arguing as usual, while everyone else was doing their best to ignore the ruckus, including Jiang Cheng. When Wei Wuxian had had enough and tried to walk away from the argument, Lan Wangji reached out and grabbed the back of Wei Wuxian's neck and his legs instantly went out from under him! Wei Wuxian’s knees hit the ground with a thud as that alpha loomed above him with his hand still firm on his neck.

That's enough of that! 

“Hey, what exactly do you think you're doing?!” Jiang Cheng shouted at the alpha. “Do you always scruff omegas when you can't win an argument against them?!” 

The alpha had the good sense to at least look guilty and he let go of Wei Wuxian’s neck. “I apologize, I let my emotions get the better of me.”

“Yeah well, it better not happen again!” Jiang Cheng sneered as he helped his shixiong up off the ground. “Or I’ll tell your uncle how you treat omegas!”

Lan Wangji made his retreat with that. Jiang Cheng had almost thought Lan Wangji and himself had started to get along during the months they spent searching for Wei Wuxian, but now that Wei Wuxian was back in the picture, all ofl Lan Wangji’s worst personality traits came back out and Jiang Cheng was reminded how much he loathes that guy.

Wei Wuxian looked embarrassed, with pink dusting his cheeks and a hand rubbing the back of his neck as he got to his feet. “Ah, I didn't know that would happen.” He chuckled nervously. “Scuffing. Forgot that was a thing for omegas.”

“Well, be more careful next time! Don't show your back to that knothead and stop antagonizing him! Honestly, maybe next time you should just let him play his stupid guqin for you instead of egging him on. Maybe if you actually let him play cleansing just once he'll actually leave you alone. Like Yanli says, you catch more flies with honey and all that.”

“Pfft, first off I highly doubt that. Second off it's the principle of the thing.  “Wei Wuxian replied with a wave of his hand. “Who does he think he is to tell me what is best for me? I'm fine the way I am. And whose side are you on here anyway?!” 

“The side that doesn't have to listen to you two bickering all day.” Jiang Cheng said while rolling his eyes. “Whatever, just try to stay out of his way.”

Of course Wei Wuxian did no such thing and their fights continued. Lan Wangji did not try to scruff Wei Wuxian again but he sure had gotten handsy with him. Everytime they fought he seemed to be grabbing at Wei Wuxian’s wrists, trying to keep him from walking away. Wei Wuxian would wrench his arm free only for Lan Wangji to immediately grab at him again. Wasn’t this the guy who hated physical touch? And who refused to touch Wei Wuxian specifically when they were teens? Since when did he get so handsy?!

One day the two were having one of their fights again. Jiang Cheng sat watching a ways away. He was having his lunch at a table near the medical tents, having come this way to visit his sister. Of course Jin Zixuan was found lingering about awkwardly, looking like a child caught with his hand in a cookie jar when he stumbled into Jiang Cheng.

“Sandu Sengshou.” He said with a suspicious amount of respect. “You, uh, here to see lady Jiang?”

Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes with suspicion. “I already saw her, but she’s pretty busy at the moment. No time for visitors today.” 

“Ah.” Jin Zixuan replied looking a bit deflated. “Well, mind if I join you then?” He said as he sat down before even waiting for a response and taking out his own lunch. Jiang Cheng mentally grumbled.

Jiang Cheng was aware that this man was trying to suck up to the Jiangs lately to try to make peace after that whole disastrous soup incident. Probably his mother pushing the alpha peacock to act like he actually has a conscience. He still didn’t like the guy.

In the distance they could both hear Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji arguing. Mr. Grabby Hands once again kept putting his hands on Wei Wuxian. Jiang Cheng bristled.

“I’ve been meaning to ask, what exactly is the deal with those two anyway?” Jin Zixuan asked.

“What do you mean what’s the deal? They hate each other. Or at least Hanguang-Jun hates my shixiong and Wei Wuxian is over it. You saw how they were as teens. Hanguang-Jun has always had it out for Wei Wuxian. Looking for any reason to punish him.”

“That’s not what I meant. …It’s just that-” He hesitated as he looked at Jiang Cheng. “Right, I forgot you’re a beta so you might not know.”

“Might not know what??” Jiang Cheng bristled.

“It’s just, I noticed… Lan Wangji keeps scenting Wei Wuxian.” 

“What??? How so??” Jiang Cheng demanded.

“Well, some of us have noticed Wei Wuxian lately tends to smell like Lan Wangji. It's… Noticeable. But I notice when they fight he keeps-”

He cut off as they observed Lan Wangji grab at Wei Wuxian's wrist again. This time Jiang Cheng noticed how Lan Wangji drug his wrist, where scent glands were, against Wei Wuxian's own wrists as he did so. 

“That. See? He keeps doing that and flaring his scent when they fight. It comes off as… Territorial. Like he's trying to stake a claim on him. Has he ever said anything to you? About, you know, intention to court your head disciple or whatever?” Jin Zixuan asked carefully. 

Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but laugh. “Court? I promise you Lan Wangji has no desire to court Wei Wuxian. First off I don't think the guy has ever had the desire to court anyone. But certainly not the guy who harassed him constantly as a teen and now insists on using a heretic cultivation method. And he certainly wouldn't be going around starting fights and threatening to imprison the object of his affections. That's definitely not it. Besides, Wei Wuxian would never.” Jiang Cheng scoffed, not liking the thought that now that Wei Wuxian was an omega, he might eventually have some interest in finding a mate one day. He shook the thought out of his head. “Lan Wangji is just a typical spoiled alpha who was never told ‘no’ so now he thinks everything he wants automatically belongs to him. Including disciples from other sects he thinks he can reform.”

Jin Zixuan made a face, looking a bit offended by the ‘typical spoiled alpha who was never told no’ comment, but wisely chose to hold his tongue. “If you say so.” He eventually replied. “I still think it's odd. It's true alpha pheromones can calm an upset omega, but scenting like that is usually something mates do, not… Whatever it is that's going on with them.”

“So he picks a fight, then scents him so he can win the fight. I see what he's doing.” Jiang Cheng muttered.

The figures in the distance seemed to finally be done fighting. White robes retreated away while black robes held ground in apparent victory. A moment later Wei Wuxian started heading their way, seeming to have finally noticed Jiang Cheng. 

“Well, I'll leave you to it then.” Jin Zixuan says, looking to make a hasty exit. 

He's not quite fast enough though, Wei Wuxian approaching quickly. 

“Jiang Cheng! Finally, a beta! I'm so sick of being surrounded by these bossy alphas! Oh, hey, peacock.” Wei Wuxian said with a flat voice and narrowed eyes. 

Jin Zixuan tensed, expecting the usual argument that every interaction between the two tended to lead to, but instead Wei Wuxian ignored him in favor of stealing food from Jiang Cheng. He popped a loquat in his mouth and sat down. He set his elbow in the table, hand resting on his cheek with his nose suspiciously close to his wrist. 

Jiang Cheng glanced at Jin Zixuan, also seeming surprised to see Wei Wuxian not try to take every opportunity to antagonize the peacock. 

The Jin raised his eyebrows and shot a look at Jiang Cheng before making a silent but swift retreat. 

“Can you believe the nerve of Lan Zhan? He was trying to drag me off to Gusu again, to punish me for my evil and wicked ways I'm sure. You know he never treated me this way before I presented as an omega!” He complained while stealing another loquat from Jiang Cheng.

“What are you talking about? He dragged you away for punishment all the time at Cloud Recesses! He's always been like this with you! And now-hey! Get your own damn food!” He shouted as Wei Wuxian stole another fruit. 

Quickly the conversation changed topic to things like ‘where was Shijie and her delicious soup today?’ And ‘how come he can't just steal all of Jiang Cheng's food?’ But all the while they sat together, Jiang Cheng noticed how Wei Wuxian kept his hand on his face, and every now and the seemed to lean in, as if to smell his wrist. 

Must be distracting him, he thought, to have a smelly alphas scent on him like that. Ignoring the way Wei Wuxian seemed more soothed than disturbed by it.

The things Jin Zixuan said along with Lan Wangji's behavior grated on Jiang Cheng the more he thought about it. Just exactly what kind of a game is that alpha playing with his head disciple! 

The next time he was alone with his sister, he decided to bring it up. 

“Jie… What do you think of the whole Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian situation?” He asked abruptly. 

Yanli had an amused look on her face. “Not you too now! Why do you ask so suddenly?”

“The two are always fighting, but if I step in I get a ration of shit from the whole Lan contingent. But now others are telling me that Lan Wangji has been scenting Wei Wuxian and he keeps threatening to take him away to Gusu. I would think he wanted to steal our head disciple for his own sect if he wasn't always condemning him for his cultivation methods. He just wants to play hero and try to ‘fix’ our shixiong. I don't get why he hates Wuxian so much. He's had it out for him since we were teens but now he's making it a public spectacle.” Jiang Cheng fumed. 

“I don't think Hanguan-Jun hates A-Xian.” Yanli replied softly. “Wasn't he the only other cultivator who was searching for A-Xian as much as you were? Weren't you two united on finding him during those months? Why would he put so much effort into finding him if he hated A-Xian?” 

“Beats me. Maybe he missed having someone to bully.” Jiang Cheng shot back. 

“He was worried about him. And he's still worried about him. You have to admit, A-Xian has been rather different since he came back.”

Jiang Cheng made a face. “But why would he care? Why would he be worried about Wuxian?”

“Hmm.” Yanli hummed. “I get the impression Hanguan-Jun had a very strict upbringing. He doesn't seem very good at expressing himself and I don't think he has any real friends. In fact, I think A-Xian might be the closest thing he's ever had to a friend. And now A-Xian has changed so much and I think it scares him and he doesn't know how to express his fears in a way A-Xian understands.”

“Or in a way anyone else understands.” Jiang Cheng snorted. “Ok, let's say that is the case, what do I do about it? He's still an alpha harassing my omega disciple, and if I don't step in he gets away with acting like a bully, and if I do step in the Lans have a hissyfit because I dared to say their golden child was wrong! Either way looks bad on me!”

“A-Xian knows how to take care of himself. Hanguan-Jun just needs to learn to respect the boundaries he sets. If A-Xian needs your help he will let you know. Until then let them work it out on their own. It might be good for A-Xian to let Hanguan-Jun help him after all. Would it be so bad if he let him play his guqin for him like he keeps offering? Both are being too stubborn for their own good, but they will figure it out.” She said with an amused smile. 

“Stubborn is right.” Jiang Cheng grumbled. “But I guess you have a point.”

It was just a few days later when the two were at it again. It was hard to ignore their arguing, but Jiang Cheng tried his best to tune out the noise. But then arguing abruptly stopped and was replaced with the gasps of spectators instead. Sensing something was wrong Jiang Cheng stomped over to see what the fuss was about. 

What he found when he walked into the clearing was Lan Wangji having scruffed Wei Wuxian yet again, but this time he had not just immobilized him. Wei Wuxian had wide eyes as his apparently limp body was dragged across the ground like a sack of potatoes. Lan Wangji held firmly onto the back of his neck as he attempted to drag Wei Wuxian back to his campsite. 

Okay, that's enough of that!! 

“HEY!! Lan Wangji!! Unhand him! What exactly do you think you are doing with my shixiong?!” He demanded as he quickly approached the alpha. 

Lan Wangji paused unhurriedly as if he wasn't currently dragging a person around like a rag doll. “I am taking Wei Ying back to my tent so that I may play cleansing for him.”

“You can't just force people to do things if they say ‘no’ you know!” Jiang Cheng spat with a red face full of anger. He turned to Wei Wuxian. “Wuxian! Do you want Lan Wangji to play cleansing for you?!” 

But before he could answer, Lan Wangji interrupted. “Wei Ying.” He said in a deep baritone voice. Wei Wuxian looked up at him, blinking slowly. “Say yes.” His golden eyes boring deep into Wei Wuxian's silver. 

Wei Wuxian turned back to Jiang Cheng and replied quickly “Yes.” He breathed. He then blinked rapidly then looked back up at Lan Wangji with pinched brows, mouth agape, as if confused. 

Jiang Cheng was thrown for a loop not expecting that response. He found Wuxian's behavior to be off as well, but he thought back to his conversation with Yanli, and he supposed it wouldn't do any harm for Lan Wangji to play cleansing for him. It might even actually help. And if Wei Wuxian wasn't going to take the out Jiang Cheng had offered him he might as well let them work it out on their own. 

“Well,... alright then.” He said awkwardly. “Play your guqin if you think it will help. But don't drag him around like that!! Let him walk! He's a person not a sack of grain! And don't you dare scruff him again!!!” Jiang Cheng threatened. 

“Mn.” Lan Wangji nodded. He helped Wei Wuxian to his feet, patted some of the dirt off his robes, and finally released the hold on his neck. Lan Wangji took a few steps towards his camp, then called for Wei Wuxian who was still standing still, looking dumbstruck. “Wei Ying. Come.” He said again in that deep baritone voice, that sounded even deeper than usual,  and began walking off again. 

Wei Wuxian scrambled after him and appeared to follow of his own free will. Jiang Cheng huffed and went back to his own tent, yelling at the gawking spectators to mind their own business along the way. 

Like dealing with a bunch of children! 

The next day Wei Wuxian never showed up for duty. Jiang Cheng was accustomed to him sleeping in later than everyone else, but he still normally managed to show up before noon. Jiang Cheng went to his tent to drag his lazy ass out himself, but he wasn't there. No one had seen or heard from him all morning. Jiang Cheng was betting he stayed up late getting drunk after having to play nice with Lan Wangji earlier, and passed out somewhere random. Sadly, it would not be the first time he had done something like that. 

Around late afternoon a disciple reported seeing Wei Wuxian making his way back to his tent. Jiang Cheng rushed over and found Wei Wuxian looking like a mess. 

His hair was wild and unkempt. He was covered in bruises. And he limped when he walked. He looked as though he wrestled a yao beast and lost. 

“What the hell happened to you?!?!” Jiang Cheng demanded. 

“Ah! Jiang Cheng! Oh, nothing, nothing, bit of a rough night is all.” Wei Wuxian said lightly.

“This is nothing?! I leave you with Lan Wangji and you come back the next day looking like you've been dragged by a donkey! Where on earth have you been!?”

“Um, with Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian said sheepishly. 

“You've been with Lan Wangji? This whole time?! How did you end up like this?! Did you end up in a wrestling match with him or something? Or did you get piss drunk again and pass out in his tent?” Jiang Cheng accused. 

“No, No, nothing like tha—Well, actually, it’s a little bit like that. But I swear I didn't even drink last night! Actually, funny thing, Lan Zhan and I worked some things out and turns out he doesn’t hate me and we've just been misunderstanding each other this whole time! So, I've decided to take him up on his offer to go to Gusu with him.”

“YOU WHAT???” Jiang Cheng exclaimed. It was then that he noticed what Wei Wuxian was doing. He seemed to be packing, shoving all his belongings around his tent into a qiankun bag. 

“Ah, but don't worry, I'm not going to Gusu now. That won't be till after the war!” Wei Wuxian chirped.

“So why exactly are you packing all your stuff now then?” Jiang Cheng spat. 

“Ahaa, well you see, that's because from now on I'll be staying with Lan Zhan. In his tent.” Wei Wuxian replied.

“What?? And why on earth would you be doing that?!” Jiang Cheng sputtered. 

“Ah, Jiang Cheng, you know bonded mates should stay as close as possible once the bond has been made. It wouldn't make sense to keep sleeping in separate tents.”

“BONDED WHAT?!?!” Jiang Cheng screeched. It was to his horror that he then noticed it. A red ring of teeth impressions on the side of Wei Wuxian's neck, right over his scent gland. A perfect bond mark.  “How— He was just supposed to be playing cleansing for you!! How did this happen??!!”

“Like I said, we, uh, we worked some things out. Anyway, we can work out the finer details later. Right now I gotta go build a new nest before my heat starts.”

Jiang Cheng was left frozen in place, sputtering incoherently as his brain tried and failed to make sense of the situation. He was reeling. He was in shock. This couldn’t be real!! 

Meanwhile Wei Wuxian rushed around the tent continuing to shove blanket after blanket into his bag.

“Wei Ying” A deep voice interrupted. 

“Ah, Lan Zhan! You’re here!” Wei Wuxian squeaked, before bounding happily towards the alpha.

“Are you ready to go?” Lan Wangji inquired.

“Yep! I've got everything we need for the nest right here!” He said, holding up his bag like a prize.

“Mn. Good.” The alpha said while wrapping a hand on the omega’s waist and pulling him closer. Wei Wuxian’s face tinted red and he buried his face in Lan Wangi’s shoulder. “Lan Zhaaan.” He whined.

Lan Wangji glanced over at Jiang Cheng. There was a look on his normally stony face that looked downright smug. “Jiang-zongzhu.” He greeted with a nod. “Xiongzhang will be in contact with you soon to discuss the wedding arrangements.” There was a hint of a smile at the edge of his lips.

JIang Cheng was dumbstruck. Wedding? Wedding??? But before he could argue back the couple were already out of the tent and canoodling with each other. He unfortunately caught too much of their conversation for his comfort before they departed.

Lan Wangji unsheathed Bichen and mounted the sword.

“Eh? Aren’t we walking? It’s not like your tent is far away Lan Zhan.” Wei Wuxian replied.

Lan Wangji bent over and swooped Wei Wuxian into his arms, carrying him bridal style while he balanced effortlessly on his sword. “I was too rough with Wei Ying last night. He should not be walking in his condition.”

“Eh? I’m not an invalid Lan Zhan! I can walk! I’m not that delicate! But, well, I guess I’ll let my big strong alpha carry me around if he wants, but only if he promises to be just as rough with his Wei Ying again tonight.” He cooed with pouting lips, tracing a finger on Lan Wangji’s robes. The alpha responded with a growl, clutching Wei Wuxian tighter before speeding off towards his campsite, Wei Wuxian’s delighted laughter sounding through the trees as they went.

Jiang Cheng’s head was still spinning. What on earth had just happened?! How did things go so sideways? Yanli was supposed to be the sibling that got married and moved away, not Wuxian!! Wei Wuxian was supposed to be by his side forever! His platonic lifemate partner! Wei Wuxian was supposed to be his head disciple! His right hand man! Wei Wuxian was supposed to be a beta!!!

He can’t believe it. That alpha… That alpha…

That alpha stole his platonic lifemate head disciple!!!!

Suddenly Jiang Cheng felt a hand clasp on his shoulder. He turned his head to be greeted with Lan Xichen’s smiling face. “Jiang Zongzhu. Why don’t you have tea with me. I believe we have much to discuss."