Chapter Text
"Sandu Shengshou!"
The shout drew a fierce glare to Jiang Cheng’s features even as he turned to face the Jin guard that was yelling at him. He had only just arrived in Lanling but a few minutes before and he was tired from the annoyingly long trip. Usually he just rode his sword back and forth between Lotus Pier and Carp Tower, but his nephew's birthday was all of two days away so he'd been forced to travel with the wagon of appropriate gifts for the boy. It was his eighteenth and that meant he could now take place as the Jin Clan head if he wished, meaning that the Jiang Clan were making sure he had plenty of gifts so he wouldn't forget his ties to their Clan either. Jiang Cheng still thought it was ridiculous, but it was what seemed to be expected so he'd given in and done it. Now, after days of traveling in the cold, he was already being accosted by the Jin.
"What?" The single word was sharp, his expression and tone both warning the guard that whatever it was had best be serious.
"It's Jin Ling!" The guard all but slid to a stop in front of Jiang cheng, doing his best to hide the way he was panting. "He's presenting...as an Alpha."
The first mention of his nephew had struck the Jiang Clan Head through with worry alongside his frustration at being stopped from going to rest. Not that anyone ever saw through the aggression that bled out of him at all times. But it was the mention of the young man finally presenting that had Jiang Cheng sighing heavily and gesturing at the guard to lead the way.
Of all those living, Jiang Cheng was the only one that Jin Ling usually at least half way listened to so he supposed he was probably the best bet for getting through to the teen through his influx of hormones. Besides, the Jiang Clan Head had gotten a lot of practice dealing with moody Alphas over the last two decades and knew how to handle them. Even if he were just an Omega himself. Then again, he’d never let that stop him from doing anything he put his mind to. He refused to let his biology dictate anything about his life and today would be no different. If he were strong enough to earn the respect of all the Clans and to be recognized fully as the Jiang Clan Head by all of them, then he was certainly strong enough to face off against his nephew.
Stalking through the halls with a scowl on his face, he hoped that Jin Ling took more after his mother’s presentation as an Alpha than his grandmother’s. Jiang Yanli had been waspish for a couple days, her words sharp and her patience much more limited than normal before it all settled along with her hormones within a week. Madam Yu however had been straight up violent and had only gained control of her temper when she met Jiang Fengmian; and even then her violence had been well known.
When the guard stopped just outside of one of the gardens, Jiang Cheng drew in a slow deep breath to prepare himself for whatever form of acting out the new Alpha was engaging in. There was a slight scent on the air, sweet and spicy like sugared ginger, and he made a small mental note to track whatever it was down later. Lanling always had interesting foods to try even after all these years.
Masking his worry for his nephew’s late presentation behind a wall of annoyance, Jiang Cheng all but stormed into the garden, eyes narrowing the moment they landed on the golden robed teen standing there with his sword drawn. Zidian crackled to life without him even truly thinking about it and a quick flick of his wrist wrapped the purple whip around Suihua and yanked it from the new Alpha’s grasp. The scent of Alpha aggression was so strong that Jiang Cheng could feel the hair on his arms stand up and a faint urge to back off struck through him. Not that he’d ever backed down from any Alpha, not even an angry Nie Mingjue, and he didn’t plan to start with his foolish nephew.
Jin Ling gasped when his sword was ripped from his hand and his focus finally shifted from the Jin disciple he’d been threatening and over to Jiang Cheng. Eyes widening, the young Alpha suddenly seemed to deflate slightly and he even took a tiny step backwards.
“Jiujiu....”
“What the hell do you think you’re doing drawing your blade on an ally?!” Anger hardened his voice as he stormed closer, Zidian still sparking around his knuckles.
The young Alpha swallowed thickly, but met his uncle’s gaze as fiercely as he always had. “He hurt Fairy!”
Jiang Cheng’s gaze immediately dropped to the spiritual dog, looking for injury and frowning when the husky just wagged her tail and grinned at him.
“I stepped on her tail! That’s all!” The Jin disciple had apparently recognized that Jin Ling’s aggression was a sign of presenting and had not drawn his own weapon, instead just holding his hands up in front of himself protectively still.
“You stepped on her tail?” The Jiang Clan Head lifted a brow in question before sighing heavily, looking at the Jin disciple that Jin Ling had felt enough of a threat to draw his blade. “You’re an Alpha, aren’t you?”
“Y-yes, Sandu Shengshou.” He spoke with a quick dip of his head, trying to show respect but also not wanting to move too much with Jin Ling still standing there with a scowl on his face.
“Go. He’s not going to calm down with you right here.”
Jiang Cheng took a couple steps closer to his nephew as he spoke, carefully angling himself to be partially in front of the disciple. Only a crazed Alpha would attack an Omega and if Jin Ling could talk, then he was no threat to any Omegas. Besides, it wasn’t like Jiang Cheng wasn’t certain that he could take his nephew in a fight if he had to.
“Fairy is fine, Jin Ling, you’re overreacting.” Voice sharp, Jiang Cheng flexed his fingers, the purple sparks of Zidian all the more obvious, the promise to meet aggression with his own obvious. When his nephew’s dark expression didn’t change, he glanced down at the husky again, speaking instead to the dog this time. “Fairy, tell him you’re fine.”
The husky looked up at him for a moment, head tipped to the side before she darted closer to Jin Ling and stood up on her back legs, front legs landing against his waist and her head thumping into his chest. Gasping at the physical contact, Jin Ling flinched slightly and looked down, his face finally softening as he looked into his beloved pet’s smiling face. Both of the teen’s hands sank deep into her ruff and he bowed his head to bump their noses together, a slight smile playing over his lips.
After a few moments of focusing on his spiritual dog, Jin Ling swallowed thickly and made himself look up at his uncle again, guilt in his gaze but determination keeping his shoulders high as always. “I don’t know why I drew my sword. I should have taken care of her first.”
“And then drawn your sword?” Jiang Cheng’s voice was firm, the tone dry as he looked at his nephew.
“No I … I don’t know why I drew my sword on an ally. I...I would never…”
Jin Ling stumbled over his words much the way his mother had when she presented and had lashed out at Jiang Cheng for spilling a pot of soup by running into her and the Jiang Clan Head felt his heart clench. At least he didn’t have to fear Jin Ling completely losing himself to his aggression if he were going to be so like his mother in this.
Sighing softly, Jiang Cheng closed the distance between him and his nephew a little more so that he could talk a little more quietly. “You’re presenting.”
“What?”
Snorting at the shock on his nephew’s face, Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. “Don’t be dumb. You’re presenting as an Alpha.”
Jin Ling’s brows knit together and he mouthed the word ‘Alpha’ as if confused and his chin tucked slightly towards his chest. Hands flexing, clenching and releasing, he mouthed the word ‘Alpha’ again, eyes dropping to the ground in front of him rather than looking at his uncle any longer. Eventually he lifted one hand to press to his temple, frowning heavily.
“Head hurts?” Jiang Cheng still remembered the headache that had hit him when he presented.
Jin Ling nodded, jaw clenching as his other hand lifted to press carefully against his nose.
“You okay?” He remembered a headache, but it hadn’t been nearly to the extreme of causing nausea in him and he didn’t remember Yanli complaining about nausea either; in fact he was decently sure she’d ate almost double her usual amount for a week or so.
Jin Ling shook his head a bit, hand still tucked tightly to his nose and his eyes fell shut.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Cheng stepped in closer to his nephew, not quite reaching out to him yet, but close enough now to grab him in a moment if it became necessary.
“I don’t know.” The teen’s response was little more than a mumble.
“Well think.” Jiang Cheng’s voice was sharp as usual, the expectation of obedience clear in his voice even if he were an Omega speaking to an Alpha. “Look inward-”
“I can’t!”
His nephew’s snapped response confused Jiang Cheng and he snorted again, unimpressed with Jin Ling’s insistence on being a pain in the ass and refusing to do as told; even if his Alpha instincts were going to make it harder for him to listen right now. “Why not?”
Jin Ling flinched slightly at his uncle’s snarled words, but then opened his eyes, glaring at Jiang Cheng. “Because my head is pounding in time with my heart and your perfume is so damn strong I can taste it!”
While it was quite uncommon for Jiang Cheng to be without any retort, it did happen occasionally. At this moment, it was pure confusion that caused it. The Jiang Clan Head didn’t even use any bathing oils as he hated the way they smelled within a couple hours of being used. Besides, wasn’t that candied ginger scent nearly strong enough to choke on?
“I’m not wearing any perfume, idiot.” Words sharp, Jiang Cheng crossed his arms over his chest. “Besides who would wear candied ginger as a perfume.”
Jin Ling’s head tipped to the side in confusion suddenly as he looked at his uncle. “Candied ginger?”
“Isn’t that what you’re complaining about?” Jiang Cheng’s voice said that that should have been obvious.
“No…” Jin Ling blinked a couple times and dropped his hand a little bit, taking a quick breath in through his nose as if seeking the candied ginger smell his uncle was talking about. But the second he’d sniffed the air, he was pushing his hand back over his nose. “No. It’s that stupid mint and….flower?”
The Jiang Clan head rolled his eyes at the generic finish to the young Alpha’s words. “We’re in a garden, you idiot, of course you smell flowers . Stop blaming me.”
While he tried brushing off Jin Ling’s words, Jiang Cheng was still confused that the teen was more aware of the plants around them than that nearly suffocating candied ginger scent. It made his mouth water and hunger tug at him even through the worry he held for his nephew. Honestly, he’d have to track some down later after he’d gotten Jin Ling dealt with.
“I just didn’t smell it until you showed up.” Jin Ling’s words were mumbled through his pout as he looked down at Fairy who just wagged her tail at him as she sat there staring up at them, looking back and forth between her master and his uncle.
“You were focused on that other Alpha. Come on, it’s just the hormones making you over sensitive to everything right now.” Jiang Cheng bent and picked up Suihua, holding it out to his nephew who took it with the hand that had been pressed to his temple and sheathed it. “You should rest in your rooms for a bit, let the hormones settle before you deal with more people.”
“Is that what you did?” Jin Ling looked up at him, his youth showing in his hopeful gaze, as if hoping that if it helped his uncle then it would do the same for him.
“More or less.” Jiang Cheng let go of his nephew's shoulder in favor of turning and heading inside. “Now come on.”
Technically Jiang Cheng had been carried to his room and his rest was enforced by a Beta Lan doctor after he’d embarrassingly missed the start of his presentation and gone to class anyway and ended up going into heat and begging none other than Zewu-Jun to breed him. Thankfully nothing had happened between them and Zewu-Jun had merely taken him back to his room and told him they weren’t destined, that Zewu-Jun had already found his destined mate. Somehow only Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang had ever brought it up again and even their teasing had died out pretty quickly after Wei Wuxian had recognized Lan Wangji as his destined mate and started pursuing him.
How it had taken Wei Wuxian dying and then coming back over a decade later to get Lan Wangji to accept that fact, he still didn’t know as he’d always heard that once you found your destined mate that you wouldn’t be content until bonded. Not that he could say whether that was fact or just a fairytale. He’d never met his destined mate. In fact, as far as he was concerned, he didn’t have one at all and that was just fine by him. Why would he want to give up his right to be Clan Head just because biology thought he’d be better used to produce heirs than to lead? He had done his best with the Jiang Clan since his parents’ death and, as far as he was concerned, he wasn’t doing a horrible job.
Jin Ling followed after Jiang Cheng silently, one hand still pressed to his nose and the other hanging limply by his side, swaying with the way Fairy kept nosing at his palm as she trotted alongside him. His rooms weren’t all that far from the garden he’d settled in that morning to try to meditate so it didn’t take long before they were standing in front of the door to his room. Looking up at his uncle, Jin Ling chewed subtly at the inside of his lower lip, trying to decide whether he should say anything or just go inside to rest.
“Go rest, A-Ling,” Jiang Cheng’s voice wasn’t soft, but it didn’t have the anger lacing it as it had when they were in the garden anymore. “I’ll have someone bring you some tea in a bit.”
The teen nodded slowly and slid the door open; though he stopped just inside the threshold, hand still on the door and swallowed thickly, not able to make himself look back at Jiang Cheng even as he spoke. “I’m sorry.”
“I know.” Still his voice was calm as he spoke. “Go.”
Jin Ling nodded again, making a tight little sound of agreement before he tugged the door shut behind himself leaving his uncle standing in the hall alone.
Sighing heavily and rubbing a hand over his face, Jiang Cheng tried to focus himself and let go of the last of the worry that had clung to him since the guard had come shouting his name and saying something was wrong with his nephew. Jin Ling was safe, he was back in his rooms where he wouldn’t hurt anyone while his body adjusted to the surge of hormones. Now Jiang Cheng just needed to track down a Beta that he felt he could trust there in Carp Tower to bring the new Alpha some tea.
And find some of that stupid candied ginger that had been distracting him all this time.
His right arm folded back until his fist rested lightly against his lower back as he walked down the hallway. While he really wasn’t one to seek out sweets very often, the candied ginger just smelled too good to ignore. Besides, Jiang Cheng figured, the spiciness of the ginger would offset the sweetness and wouldn’t be as cloying. It could make a nice snack to go with tea while he took a chance to rest after the long trip from Lotus Pier.
Part of him was sad that he couldn’t rest and catch up with his nephew as he usually did once he made it to Carp Tower, but he knew how important it was to let Jin Ling settle into his hormones. Especially if he was so protective of Fairy who couldn’t even trigger his Alpha instincts. Alphas would trigger his aggression, and the extreme response he’d had to Fairy getting her tail stepped on meant that he’d probably show the same kind of over the top reaction to any perceived slight against any Omegas that came near him. For now, the teen was only safe among Betas for his own good.
Stepping back out into the garden, expecting to be able to track down the scent, Jiang Cheng frowned when he realized that the scent had faded. It had been so strong even all the way into Jin Ling’s room and now he couldn’t smell it at all. Breathing in deeply through his nose, he strained to pick up even a hint of the smell. Finally catching it, he closed his eyes, letting himself focus and took a few steps after the fading scent, assuming that it was just the breeze that had whisked the scent away. Eyes opening again to orient himself and make sure he wasn’t going to do something utterly stupid such as falling down the stairs leading down from the garden, his frown deepened instead when he realized he’d almost walked right back into the building he’d just left.
Which made no sense.
Yes, the smell had followed them down the hallway, but Jin Ling was the only one that spent any time in this wing usually. He’d taken over it a few years back when he learned it had been the one cleared for his parents and what should have been him and his siblings. Not that they’d had a chance to get that far. But it meant that Jin Ling was the only one that stayed in the wing, and if he didn’t know why Jiang Cheng had been smelling candied ginger, then it couldn’t have been something in his room.
The purple clad man’s frown deepened, eyes narrowing as he tried to figure out what that smell had been. It had been all but overwhelming to his senses, he hadn’t even been able to smell that other Jin Alpha and had to guess at his presentation based on his nephew’s reaction. Even now the hint of it fading on the air left his mouth watering and a need to taste burning on his tongue.
Dark eyes widened suddenly when he realized the only other possible source of the scent.
Jin Ling.
Breath catching, Jiang Cheng’s hands tightened until the nails of his right hand dug into his palm and his left hand ached from the way Sandu’s sheath bit into his palm and fingers. After all the years he’d spent accepting that he didn’t have an Alpha, that perhaps they were killed by the Wen before he had a chance to meet them, to learn that he had one should have been a happy thing. But how in the world could he be happy knowing that his supposedly destined mate was none other than his own nephew ?
Stomach rolling as guilt struck almost painfully through him, he barely managed to stumble over to one of the potted plants alongside the doorway to the building before he lost the remnants of his breakfast. Heart pounding, he spent several minutes completely emptying his stomach. When he had reached the point of simply retching and not even losing bile anymore, he straightened up, wiping at his mouth with the back of his hand.
A tentative sniff of the air told him that it was finally clear of that mouthwatering scent and he sighed heavily in relief. Wiping at his mouth one more time, he was relieved that there didn’t seem to be any remnants from him losing his stomach and he headed towards the stairs. He needed to find Jin Guangyao, the only Beta he knew and trusted to handle Jin Ling right now, and then hopefully Wei Wuxian to beg for help. Help that he could only pray the demonic cultivator could give him.
Jaw set and eyes fierce, no one dared to so much as try speaking to Jiang Cheng as he stormed through the halls of Carp Tower. The main hall was empty and so he changed directions, seeking out Jin Guangyao’s private rooms. After all these years raising Jin Ling together, the guards to the wing just nodded at him as he passed, assuming that the young master had done something again. In a way they weren’t completely wrong. Even if Jin Ling had had no control over what had happened.
Using Sandu to knock against the door, perhaps more harshly than he should have, Jiang Cheng tried to control his anger, knowing that the one he was angry with was none other than himself. And perhaps the gods.
The door opened, though only wide enough for Jin Guangyao to lean into the open space wearing simple robes even at the late morning hour. “Can I help you, Jiang Wanyin?”
“I need you to take tea to Jin Ling.” Voice tight, Jiang Cheng tried to use his whiteknuckled grip on Sandu and how the designs on the sheath bit into his skin to keep himself in check.
The petite man’s dark eyes widened slightly as he asked, “Are the serving staff giving you problems again?”
“No.” Jiang Cheng snorted, as if the staff hadn’t learned to listen to him by now when it came to anything to do with Jin Ling. “He’s presenting and will have questions.”
“And you’ve delegated this to me, because…” Jin Guangyao trailed off in question.
“Because he’s presenting as an Alpha and you’re the only Beta I trust.” His voice was still hard, but he could see how his honesty had struck the petite Beta with how the older man smiled.
“I see. Would you come in while I get ready for the day,” It would only be changing his outer robes after all, “And talk to me about how he’s doing so far?”
As much as he wanted to just run to find Wei Wuxian, he had always cared more about Jin Ling than anything else in the world (which made him sick to consider now), and he nodded. “Of course.”
Jin Guangyao looked over his shoulder and into his rooms for a moment before he finally stepped back, opening the door wider. “Please, come in.”
Stepping into Jin Guangyao’s room, Jiang Cheng understood the reason the petite man had checked the room first when his gaze landed on Lan Xichen standing next to the low table.
“Zewu-Jun.” Jiang Cheng gave a stiff bow to the Lan Alpha.
Lan Xichen returned the bow quickly before waving at the table lightly as if he had every right to invite Jiang Cheng to sit, though technically he did as Jin Guangyao’s mate. “Please, join me for a cup of tea while A-Yao changes.”
Jin Guangyao stepped over behind the privacy screen while Jiang Cheng took a seat at the table with Lan Xichen, purposely putting his back to the privacy screen. Lan Xichen poured them both a cup of tea and Jiang Cheng took his with a nod, sipping at it and letting himself subtly rinse his mouth before he swallowed.
“You’re sure that Jin Ling is presenting as an Alpha?” Jin Guangyao spoke calmly from behind the privacy screen.
“Yeah, I stopped him from going after one of your disciples for stepping on Fairy’s tail.” Jiang Cheng stared down at the cup in his hand, nausea rolling through him again as he his mind flashed back to the garden that morning and just how badly he had wanted to find the source of that sweet scent.
“It’s not uncommon for a young Alpha who cares for someone younger than them to treat the younger ones, or even pets, like they would a pup. That includes their protectiveness.” Lan Xichen spoke calmly as the only Alpha in the room and thus the only one who would truly understand what Jin Ling’s instincts were doing right now.
“Really?” Jiang Cheng couldn’t really remember Yanli being extra protective of him or Wei Wuxian, but he did recall that his mother had kept her distance for a time.
Laughing softly, Lan Xichen nodded, his voice taking on a hint of embarrassment. “I kept Wangji with me at all times for three days when I presented.”
Jin Guangyao laughed from behind the privacy screen. “That honestly doesn’t surprise me, Er-ge.”
Lan Xichen’s ears turned pink as he sipped at his tea before looking at Jiang Cheng. “Other than threatening one of the disciples, how does your nephew seem?”
Jiang Cheng sighed heavily, pushing away the guilt bubbling within him. “Once I sent the other Alpha away, he calmed down and recognized he was acting out. So I walked him to his room and told him to rest.”
“And came to get me.” The petite Beta stepped from behind the privacy curtain, finishing securing his belt as he stepped over to the table, sitting down next to his mate and pouring himself a cup of tea. “I have to say… I expected him to present as an Omega.”
“I think everyone did.” Lan Xichen reached up to tug lightly at Jin Guangyao’s collar to cover the edge of their mating mark.
While the Lan weren’t ones to spread gossip, that didn’t mean they were oblivious to the rumors and things that the servants and juniors said. And many of those servants, at least here in Carp Tower, spoke about how petite their young master still was, the way he’d never gone through a growth spurt like most teens did, just how much he had in common with his Omega uncle. Several had questioned if they were going to end up with someone of non Jin blood running their clan. At least it meant more of them were more content with their current Clan Head now since he at least had Jin Guangshan’s blood in his veins.
Even Jin Guangyao and Jiang Cheng had expected it to the point they’d already put together plans on how to handle everything. They had expected that Jiang Cheng would go and soothe his nephew, that he would explain things and remind him that it was perfectly possible to run a clan even as an Omega. And now they had to change everything in an instant.
Jiang Cheng nodded, doing his best to swallow his nausea again. “But he’s an Alpha now so we need to readjust how we handle things. I can’t be the one to talk him through everything anymore.”
“He’s my nephew too. I’ll handle it.” Jin Guangyao smiled gently at Jiang Cheng before he sipped at his tea. “Sleep helps Alphas the same way it does Omegas right?”
“It does.” Lan Xichen reached to pour himself more tea. “Just make sure Fairy stays with him even while he’s asleep or he could become violent when he wakes up.”
“I’m sure Fairy will stay put.” Jiang Cheng had never seen the spiritual dog leave Jin Ling when he was sick and he couldn’t see that changing now.
“Then I’ll take some incense to help him get some rest.” Jin Guangyao smiled placatingly at Jiang Cheng. “It’ll only make him sleep for a few hours. He’ll be awake before dinner. It’s just to let his body adjust without added stress.”
Jiang Cheng finally nodded his agreement. When the plan had been for him to sit with Jin Ling he’d planned to just comfort the boy himself, to give him a natural rest. But it did make sense for them to knock him out to let his body adjust to the Alpha hormones now that he couldn’t get comfort from someone he trusted. After all, Jin Guangyao couldn’t give the pheromonal comfort an Omega could. At least he could explain things so the poor young Alpha wouldn’t be entirely clueless about his presentation.
“Just ask him before you drug him.” His words were still sharp, but he couldn’t help that with his anxiety not only over the boy but over his apparent bond to the boy.
“Of course.” Jin Guangyao smiled and nodded.
“I need to go talk to Wei Wuxian about some things too, so I’m leaving.” Jiang Cheng spoke as he set his now empty cup down and stood.
“I’ll go see Jin Ling right away.”
“Thank you.” With that, the Jiang Clan Head headed out to seek out his brother again.
He truly hadn’t expected to manage to get close to his brother again, but over the last couple of years they had talked quite a bit, mainly through letters though to keep their tempers in check, and had learned how to forgive one another finally. At least for the most part. There were still bits of resentment that came up occasionally, but they were at least able to speak with one another in person again as of late.
Not that Jiang Cheng could have gone to anyone else about his current crisis anyways.
Thinking about what he needed to talk to Wei Wuxian about again caused his stomach to roll and he almost lost the cup of tea he’d drank. He had to get this under control before anyone noticed that he was acting as if sick. He was supposed to be a Clan Head damnit, he couldn’t be walking around Carp Tower puking.
Drawing a messenger talisman from his qiankun sleeve, he infused it with his energy and a message for Wei Wuxian to meet him in his usual rooms. Normally he wouldn’t rely on Wei Wuxian being there, but with Jin Ling’s birthday upon them he knew that his brother and his mate would be there at Carp Tower. Talisman sent off, he turned and headed for the guest rooms that had been all but permanently set aside for him with how often he came to visit his nephew.
Another wave of nausea reminded him that he needed to stop that going forward.
Slipping into his rooms, he all but threw Sandu down in its rack before going to dig out a few bottles of wine. Normally he chose to avoid drinking during the day, and drank only lightly here in Carp Tower either way, but right now he needed the fuzziness it gave him. The courage it should lend him so that he could actually admit his failings to his brother.
Jiang Cheng had made it through nearly an entire bottle of liquor by the time that someone knocked on his door. Not that he had time to answer before the door was being pushed open; Wei Wuxian not bothering to wait for permission since he’d been requested anyways. Most days Jiang Cheng hated his brother’s refusal to follow the expected rules of society, but right now it just meant that he didn’t need to talk just yet.
“A-Cheng?” Wei Wuxian’s voice was laced with worry as he watched Jiang Cheng pour another cup of wine.
“Sit. Drink.” Jiang Cheng’s voice was flat as he flipped another cup upright and filled it, his eyes staring down at the table rather than looking at his brother or his mate.
As much as he usually needed no reason to day drink, Wei Wuxian still moved slowly, as if approaching a skittish animal as he came closer to the table and sat down across from Jiang Cheng. “What’s wrong?”
“Drink.” There was a sharpness to Jiang Cheng’s voice as he lifted his cup to his lips and tossed back the liquor inside.
The first cup had caused his stomach to clench and he’d very nearly lost it, but now the wave of nausea caused by the liquor was barely noticeable past the constant ebb and flow his own thoughts caused. Part of him wanted to just lift the bottle to his lips, but he had more pride than that. Though not enough to keep himself from pouring another drink.
“Okay…” Wei Wuxian took his own cup and drank it, studying his brother closely as he set the cup back down.
Jiang Cheng had two more cups of wine, the second barely over half full, to finish off the first bottle. Setting the bottle off to the side, he was glad that he’d managed not to just throw it across the room but the heavy thud of it against the table was still loud and had caused both his guests to jump slightly. Jaw clenched tightly, he spun his cup with his index and thumb, trying to decide whether his pride could allow him to reach for a second bottle so soon when he had witnesses to his weakness now.
“A-Cheng…” Wei Wuxian reached out, setting his hand over the mouth of the empty bottle so his fingertips were brushing the back of Jiang Cheng’s hand where it still clutched at the porcelain neck. “I need you to talk to me.”
Dark eyes flicked instantly to where he was being touched, but it took him a few more moments to manage to pull his gaze high enough to look at his brother. Lan Wangji had sat next to his mate, but was sitting there with his eyes closed as if in meditation. Which was surprisingly relieving to Jiang Cheng as it meant he didn’t feel judged by the Alpha during this time of weakness.
Swallowing back his nausea, Jiang Cheng pulled in a deep breath before finally speaking. “How does one break a bond?”
Wei Wuxian blinked owlishly a couple times. “Um...normally spending time around one’s destined mate will dissolve any other bond they had….but I didn’t think you were bonded…”
“I’m not!” Jiang Cheng’s voice was sharp, acidic, panic flaring in his gaze even as he tried to control it.
“Okay...so...who’s bond are you trying to break?” Confusion drew Wei Wuxian’s brows together.
Jiang Cheng shook his brother’s hand off and reached for a new bottle of wine; fuck his pride. While many claimed that Omegas had a lower tolerance for alcohol, Jiang Cheng had rarely struggled to keep up with his brother and they could both drink most any Alpha under the table. And right now, the single bottle was not doing enough for him as he could barely even feel it.
Jaw clenched again, he poured them each a shot and tossed his back, refilling his cup, before speaking, staring at the cup of wine he held. “I need to know how to dissolve a bond between supposedly destined mates.”
The demonic cultivator laughed suddenly at that before he saw a flash of fear in Jiang Cheng’s eyes and he took a moment to calm himself, taking on a slightly apologetic look. “Sorry, A-Cheng. I just… who would want to dissolve their destined bond? It’s-”
Whatever Wei Wuxian was going to say was interrupted by Jiang Cheng tossing back the wine in his cup and slamming it down on the table so hard the bottles of wine rattled, his voice hard as stone. “ Me .”
The single word response was startling enough that even Lan Wangji’s eyes opened to look at the Jiang Clan Head. Destined mates were viewed as the best thing that anyone could find. It was something everyone supposedly longed for. And if Jiang Cheng were honest with himself, he had occasionally found himself wishing for someone that was truly able to handle his moods and still love him. But not when it was his own nephew .
Stomach rolling, he dropped one hand to press lightly against his belly as he did his best to will the nausea away. Grimacing, he pulled his mind away from thinking of the fact his destined mate was apparently Jin Ling and poured another cup of wine. Though, before he could lift the cup to his lips, Wei Wuxian had a hold of his wrist.
“You met your destined mate?” Wei Wuxian was obviously trying to keep himself calm as he spoke, and Jiang Cheng appreciated the effort even if the hint of excitement in his brother’s voice made his stomach churn.
Hand clenching the front of his robes, only his strength of will keeping him from crushing the cup he held, Jiang Cheng managed a tight little nod.
“Why do you want to break your bond before you even try giving it a go?” Mating Lan Wangji had been one of the best things that Wei Wuxian had ever done and he couldn’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to know that happiness.
The purple clad man tugged at his cup, growling slightly when Wei Wuxian refused to let him have it before he finally spoke, voice carefully flat again. “If it were anyone else I’d try.”
“Why is it such a big deal? I mean I know the Jin can be kind of pains in the ass, but your destined mate is perfect for you...”
Jiang Cheng’s eyes clenched shut and he shook his head, stomach rolling to the point he didn’t dare speak as Wei Wuxian’s words sent guilt rolling through him. He had raised Jin Ling, how could he possibly consider him a mate? The last few words that his brother had said all but echoed in his head, repeating that Jin Ling would be perfect for him. While he wanted to deny it entirely, a tiny part of him agreed, reminding him that the teen wasn’t afraid of him even when he was mad, that they already understood one another enough to know when to push and when to back down, that Jin Ling fit perfectly in his arms-
Stomach clenching, Jiang Cheng released the cup of wine, uncaring of the way it dropped to spill on the table. All he cared about right now was getting twisted to the side so that he could empty the contents of his stomach on the floor rather than all over himself or his brother. His whole body jerked as he heaved with all the force possible, eyes clenched tightly.
“A-Cheng!”
The worry in Wei Wuxian’s voice was obvious, but Jiang Cheng had no ability to even attempt to soothe his brother right now. Not when his stomach seized again leaving him heaving once more. He felt a hand settle on his back a moment before he felt a slight brush of fingertips against his neck and he forced his watering eyes open to see Wei Wuxian gathering the chunk of hair that had fallen forward in front of his shoulder up. Another wave of nausea washed through him and he heaved again, this time his stomach too empty to produce anything but a small amount of saliva.
“Lan Zhan.” Wei Wuxian’s voice was low and Jiang Cheng caught the lightly sweet scent of a blooming dove tree of the other Omega’s scent as Wei Wuxian pushed soothing pheromones at him.
The Alpha hummed faintly but Jiang Cheng didn’t bother to look to see whatever silent, or mostly silent, conversation the mated pair were having. All he cared about was trying to get his stomach to stop clenching so he could stop heaving again. What a waste of wine.
When white entered the edge of his semi-blurred vision, Jiang Cheng tipped his head up just a tiny bit to figure out why Lan Wangji had come over to them as well. The Alpha knelt just beyond the pool of Jiang Cheng’s sick, putting the wash basin with a couple clothes in it down between himself and Wei Wuxian. Panting softly, the Jiang Clan Head’s brows drew together in confusion as he watched Lan Wangji toss a dry cloth over the mess he’d made.
“Can you sit up for me, A-Cheng?” Wei Wuxian still used the same gentle tone trying to soothe his fellow Omega.
As empty as his stomach was there was nothing else to lose and so he gave a small nod and finally pushed himself up, settling in a kneeling position sitting on his own feet. His eyes still held a sheen of tears as he sat there looking almost sightlessly down at the ground before him as Lan Wangji cleaned away the wine he’d thrown up. Shame washed through him and his chin tucked towards his chest as he sat there, Wei Wuxian gently rubbing his back with one hand and keeping the handful of hair he had suspended away from Jiang Cheng’s body.
“Just breathe, we’ll get you some tea in a minute, okay?”
Jiang Cheng couldn’t do much but nod as he sat there. Part of him wanted to be angry at Wei Wuxian for treating him like some sick kid, but right now… he really wasn’t much different from one. Besides, he wasn’t sure if the way his nausea had calmed was due to his stomach being empty or due to the other Omega’s pheromones and he didn’t want to risk being wrong on that guess.
Lan Wangji finished cleaning with the dry clothes he’d grabbed and then took one of the wet towels and wrung it out to wipe away any last remnants from the ground. Both soiled towels were set off to the side and he reached to ring out the second cloth he’d grabbed. Though this one was held out towards the two Omegas.
“Wei Ying.”
“Thank you.” Wei Wuxian looked to his mate and smiled warmly as he changed which hand was holding the hair so he could take the cloth from Lan Wangji. His attention slid back to his brother as he carefully wrapped the cloth around the ends of Jiang Cheng’s hair. “I’ve got you, A-Cheng.”
A part of Jiang Cheng bristled, but between how worn out he was from heaving so many times that day and the fact that he really did want to be able to rely on Wei Wuxian again, he managed to just stay silent as he sat there. Wei Wuxian stroked the cloth over the ends of his hair several times before he finally handed the cloth back to Lan Wangji who took it, and the rest of the cloths as well as the washbasin, and stood up, leaving Jiang Cheng’s field of view again as he simply couldn’t be bothered to track the Alpha’s movements right now.
“A-Cheng… are you sick?” Wei Wuxian’s hand had returned to its spot on his back gently rubbing between his shoulder blades soothingly.
Shaking his head, Jiang Cheng’s hands curled into fists atop his thighs, his robes caught in the grip.
“Okay, so...what made you get sick?” They both knew it wasn’t the liquor as he’d proven many times since they were teens themselves that he could handle drinking just fine.
“I-” Jiang Cheng paused, sucking in a sharp breath when his voice nearly broke. Focusing on keeping his voice calm and steady, he shook his head slightly again. “I can’t bond to him.”
“Who’s so bad that-”
Whatever Wei Wuxian was going to say was cut off by Jiang Cheng. “He’s not bad!”
Leaning in closer to his brother, Wei Wuxian’s hand stopped on Jiang Cheng’s back, just sitting still as he focused his attention on trying to read Jiang Cheng’s face. “Who is it?”
Jiang Cheng winced, eyes clenching closed as he tried to gather his courage as Wei Wuxian took up rubbing circles on his back again to offer support. He wished he were drunk enough to not care what he said, to not care what he was admitting, to the shame that Wei Wuxian would know him to have. Alas, he had to find the courage himself.
His first attempt was just a silent shaping of the name; the second try came out as a barely audible whisper. “Jin Ling.”
Wei Wuxian’s hand froze for a heartbeat before he resumed rubbing his back again. “That’s what you’re so torn up over?”
“What?” Jiang Cheng’s voice was sharp with his usual attempt to hide his true feelings behind a harsh exterior.
“You’re getting sick because Jin Ling is your destined mate?” Wei Wuxian shifted, his body language going from worried to relaxed as he sat cross legged by his brother, still rubbing his back and sending out calming pheromones.
“You say that like I shouldn’t be.” Voice harsh, Jiang Cheng turned a fierce glare on the demonic cultivator.
“I mean… he’s grown up into a good man, he knows how to handle your mouth, he’s trustworthy, he’s-”
“Our nephew !” While he was quite skilled at making himself wait when dealing with others, interrupting Wei Wuxian had never been an urge he bothered to curb.
“Yeah… and Huaisang is Nie Mingjue’s brother. What’s your point?” Wei Wuxian let Jiang Cheng shrug off his hand and settled both his hands in his lap as he sat there.
There was a strange mix of anger and guilt in Jiang Cheng’s eyes as he glared at his brother. “I helped raise him.”
“So did Mingjue. Seriously, just calm down and breathe, this sort of thing happens.” Wei Wuxian shrugged slightly as he stood up, moving around the table to reach for one of the bottles that still had wine.
“Just because it happens doesn’t mean I have to give into it.” Words harsh, little more than a snarl, the purple clad Omega stared down angrily at the floor in front of him as he silently cursed the gods that had deemed it somehow appropriate to make his nephew his destined mate.
“Look, it's not that big of a deal-”
“What if it was Sizhui?” Jiang Cheng’s voice was flat, controlled with every ounce of self control he could summon.
“What?” Wei Wuxian froze, the bottle of wine nearly to his lips, and his gaze flicked over to his distressed brother.
“What. If. It. Was. Sizhui ?” There was a sharpness to Jiang Cheng’s words as he finally lifted his head, looking at Wei Wuxian, jaw clenching once he’d finished speaking.
“I…” The demonic cultivator paused, lowering the wine back to the table and frowned as he considered the question. “I would want to know... that it was something he wanted…. That I wasn’t... pushing him into it.”
Lan Wangji hummed a slight agreement to his mate’s words, as if that were all he would worry about too.
But… How could that be enough?
“You’re only saying that because you’re already bonded.” Jiang Cheng’s words were snarled and his hands clenched tighter into his robes, the heels of his palms pressing down and digging into his own thighs.
“Worried the same about Wei Ying.” Lan Wanji’s calm answer had Jiang Cheng’s brows knitting together.
“What?” He looked at the Alpha in confusion.
Wei Wuxian reached out to his mate, gently gripping Lan Wangji’s wrist and squeezing. “We thought we were wrong about being destined for one another because of how the war went. The choices we made were so vastly different that we both questioned if we were really destined for each other.”
Jiang Cheng had never heard Wei Wuxian speak so softly, his voice laced with the tiniest hint of pain even now as he recalled that time. Had it really been so painful for his brother to think that Lan Wangji wasn’t his mate? That they were destined for others?
The Jiang Clan Head sat there wishing to be wrong, praying that Jin Ling could find someone who would be kind to him and treat him well when all Jiang Cheng could offer was a sharp tongue and years of hurt that wouldn’t be soothed simply because of sudden bond. And yet his brother sounded heartbroken even now just recounting that thought from so long ago.
“When I died, Lan Zhan felt it to his core. It’s why he did what did, standing up against everyone. He knew when I died that we were wrong to second guess ourselves, that we were mates. And then I was brought back and he had to figure out if we were still mates. If I still wanted him or not.”
Jiang Cheng didn’t bother to point out how obvious it was, how obvious it had been , that Wei Wuxian’s heart would never belong to anyone but Lan Wangji. Frowning, he shook his head slightly. Even if Lan Wangji had been put through a short time of anxiety about whether Wei Wuxian wanted him or not, that was still vastly different from Jiang Cheng’s current dilemma.
Jin Ling was his nephew .
Jin Ling still looked to him for approval.
Jin Ling was just a boy .
Another wave of nausea rolled through him, though he managed to avoid heaving, and he made up his mind. Swallowing his pride down, he shuffled about to face his brother and dropped forward, hands bracing against the ground as he bowed.
“I am begging you, please, help me break this bond.”
Wei Wuxian gasped when the purple robed Omega bowed to him, the words that followed the bow causing a sad look to take his features. “I don’t know how.”
“But you-”
“A-Cheng, I had no interest in dissolving bonds between those who were destined. I’ve never looked into it. Not even in theory.” Voice laced with apology, the mated Omega sighed. “But…”
“But what?” Jiang Cheng’s head lifted suddenly, desperation and hope clashing in his expression.
The demonic cultivator took a deep breath and let it out on a sigh before finally speaking again, hesitancy in his voice. “But, Huaisang sent a letter yesterday saying he’d be here by lunch. The Nie have kept track of abnormalities in the different genders and bonds. He might have some idea of where to start.
Jiang Cheng could tell that his brother didn’t really want to do this, but for Jiang Cheng’s sake he was willing to push his comfort aside for the time being. He almost collapsed to the floor with relief at the fact Wei Wuxian was willing to help him find a way to avoid destroying Jin Ling’s future.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet, A-Cheng, I don’t know what’s going to happen yet.” Wei Wuxian’s voice was firm, almost dark as he shook his head.
“Tea.” As always, Lan Wangji kept his words limited, but still his mate still seemed to understand him.
“Mm, yeah, good idea.” Just like that, the darkness that clung to the mated Omega dispersed and he smiled again. “We’ll have some tea and then let the kitchens know we’ll take lunch here with Huaisang.”