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Published:
2025-11-19
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2026-01-20
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3/?
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One Impulsive Action

Summary:

One impromptu rescue earns Wei Wuxian a firm ally at the beginning of Cloud Recesses. subsequent events differed greatly in his favour.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Chapter 1: Prologue

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian was in a great mood, but something was still worrying him at the back of his mind, something that he couldn’t put a finger on. They had arrived at Caiyi town and ran into the Long clan disciples also coming for the same purpose.
The heir, come head disciple of the Long clan, was very amiable, but there was something wrong about him. No, not about him, but his presence.

Suddenly, Wei Wuxian sat up on the bed. The thing that was off about Long Mingsheng was a lingering trace of resentful energy around him. It was very faint and barely perceivable.
Wei Wuxian frowned. There were two possibilities. Either some kind of creature was targeting Long Mingsheng, or some person was doing that and using the creature as a cat’s paw.

Either way, the night was the most suitable time for it to act, as from the next day, Long Mingsheng and the others would come up to Cloud Recesses, and it was simply impossible for any resentful creature to gain entry there.

So the night was crucial. Wei Wuxian jumped off the bed, grabbed his sword, sneaked out of Cloud Recesses and dashed off toward the Long residence at Caiyi town.

He got there just in the nick of time. It was a Gudiao that was hell-bent on killing Long Mingsheng to avenge its mate. Thanks to Wei Wuxian’s timely intervention, it was unable to get to its intended target. The din of the fighting woke everyone, and the Gudiao was disposed of.

Long Mingsheng was very grateful. Let alone anyone else, even he himself had not realised that he was being targeted. He thanked Wei Wuxian profusely.

It was only after arriving at Cloud Recesses that he realised that Wei Wuxian’s position in the Jiang clan is very tenuous. Jiang Wanyin berated him for showing off while from what Wei Wuxian himself had said, it was clear that he didn’t have time to gather people for it. Long Mingsheng casually chatted with other Jiang disciples and learned that it was a common occurrence. He was troubled.

That night Long Mingsheng was restless and unable to sleep. Suddenly he saw some movements from the outer part of the mansion and went to check.

He came upon Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji caught in a loggerhead and hastily intervened. "My apologies, Lan er gongzi, I know I shouldn't have, but I asked him to get me some alcohol as I was restless. If you have any issue please take it up with me. But please stop fighting with Wei Wuxian."

Before either of them could say anything, he went beside Wei Wuxian, grabbed one of the jars and drained it then and there.
Wei Wuxian recovered first and followed suit. Lan Wangji was incensed.

The next day both Long Mingsheng and Wei Wuxian were summoned. There was Lan Qiren, along with both the jades of Lan. Lan Qiren started by lecturing him on the error of his way.

Wei Wuxian listened with rapt attention, frowning slightly. Long Mingsheng suspected that it was not the lecture, but the quotations from scriptures that he was being mindful of. As for his honest opinion, he was rather judgemental about the rules. In the end, their punishments were copying the Lan clan rules, decided by Lan Wangji.

But there was more if he was reading Lan Xichen's face right, so he lagged behind. Once Wei Wuxian was out of the door, he turned and faced them. Instead of polite chit-chat, he went straight to the point.

"You wish to ask me something, right? Please feel free."

Lan Xichen smiled slightly, and said, "you are very forthright Long gongzi. I am just curious as to why you covered for Wei gongzi?"

"Before I answer your question, let me ask you one, Lan gongzi. Do you know how the Jiang heir reacted when he learned that Wei gongzi had saved my life?"

Lan Xichen frowned, "he must have praised him."

"Wrong, Wei Wuxian was berated for showing off. Most likely Jiang Wanyin thought that he deliberately left him behind. I talked to the other disciples and found out that his life in the Jiang clan is more like that of a servant than a head disciple. He is not even given his proper remuneration as the head disciple. In simple words, they are exploiting him in every way they can, and there's nothing I can do about it."

Lan Xichen looked both troubled and disgusted. "Do you want to get him away from them? It should not be very difficult given how he is being treated."

"You don't understand him. Wei Wuxian is unswervingly loyal. Unless they do something that is morally unacceptable, he would not leave them. So, there's nothing much I can do." Long Mingsheng gave vent to his inner frustration.

"I thought about sworn brotherhood, but the sect madam might see that as him overstepping his boundaries. So the only thing I can do is to make sure that the year he spends here remains free of any physical punishment." Long Mingsheng bowed and left, leaving a rather troubled silence behind.

Chapter 2: Resolve

Summary:

orchestration of W W departure from the Jiang sect

Chapter Text

For someone like Long Mingsheng, blessed with great acumen and emotional quotient, it didn't take long to figure out Wei Wuxian’s role in the Jiang clan. It was to be the shield and buffer for that incompetent nincompoop by the name of Jiang Wanyin. A heaven-blessed genius's gift was getting wasted. He was determined to get him away from them at any cost.

Long Mingsheng wrote to his father, the leader of the Lingui Long clan, Long Shaoran. They hatched a plan.

The Long clan was the uncrowned great clan. Their wealth and number of disciples rivalled that of the Wen and the Jin combined. Only because the clan was founded much later than the Great Five sects, and also because none of the sects had achieved any memorable feats, they could not claim the honour.

In Wei Wuxian, they saw a solution for both problems. If Wei Wuxian thrived better at Dragon Nest than Lotus Pier, it would prove that the Long were better at cultivation than the Jiang. Also, it would show their might to the cultivation world if they managed to force the Jiang sect to hand over their head disciple.

They put some disciples to trail the Jiang senior disciples who were out night hunting. Then the best opportunity simply dropped in their lap.

On the other side of things, the guest lectures started, and it became apparent that for some reason or other, Lan Qiren wasn't very fond of Wei Wuxian and wanted to humiliate him. After the 3rd question, Long Mingsheng raised his hand in a silent request to speak.

“What is it, Long Gonzi?” Lan Qiren was slightly miffed at being interrupted.
Long Mingsheng stood up and bowed. “I understand that Master Lan wishes to determine the depth of YungmengJiang's head disciple. The Long is not a great sect like that of Lan or Jiang, but surely we don't deserve to be ignored like this?”

Lan Qiren went purple for a moment. Then he gallantly changed focus and started to quiz Long Mingsheng. However, he never got his desire as Long Mingsheng was as thoroughly well-versed as Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian and stuck to the textbook answer.

Upon exiting the Lanshi, Lan Qiren heard that a message from the Jiang and Yu sect leaders had arrived, and it was urgent. Lan Qiren was further displeased. He was still smarting over the stunt that Long Mingsheng pulled in the class. And he couldn’t say that it was unwarranted. Long Mingsheng had declared in front of his nephews and him that he would shield Wei Wuxian in every way he could.

What's more, he couldn’t fault the boy for it. Being ungrateful to one's lifesaver just wasn't done. And what the boy had revealed about the situation of Cangse’s son at Lotus Pier was rather worrying. Moreover, his eldest nephew was firmly on the boy's side.

Given all that, he had prudently assigned his second nephew to oversee those two's punishment of copying rules. There had been no problems with it. According to Wangji, Wei Wuxian was a chatterbox and very restless, but Long Mingsheng's mild reprimands and tactful directives had managed to stop him from creating a ruckus.

Outside the library, from what he heard, Long Mingsheng had almost alienated Wei Wuxian from the Jiang disciples and other guest disciples. Apparently, those two had discovered a similar liking for talismans, and they talked about it in every spare moment. Well as long as they don't cause any mischief, they could do whatever they want.

Lan Qiren went to his study and absent-mindedly picked up the letter from the Jiang sect leader. After he finished reading it, he was vexed. Apparently, a joint team consisting of senior disciples from both the Jiang and Yu sects were unable to deal with a pack of yao. Just then some Long disciples were passing by and they quickly dealt with it and parted ways saying that they were in a hurry.

Later that night, the two groups happened upon each other again at an inn. The Longs were apparently making fun of the Jiang-Yu mixed group. The one leading the group was the grandson of the first elder of the Jiang clan, and the young man was rather temperamental. He promptly became furious and attacked the Long disciples, headless of propriety.

Although caught on the wrong foot by the sudden attack that injured three of them, the Long managed to pull themselves together and counterattacked. None of the Jiang or Yu disciples was injured, but a number of them had their swords shattered. Afterwards, the Long disciples picked up their injured friends and went back to their clan.

The Long sect leader was incensed and had threatened to punish both sects for their disciples' insolence. Both sect leaders were justifiably worried, given the sort of background the Long sect leader possessed, and had requested the Lan sect to mediate on their behalf.

Lan Qiren was vexed. The Jiangs were turning out to be more unscrupulous by the day. How could the Jiang disciples simply attack like some hoodlums? But it was not enough to allow a feud to start. He agreed to mediate and sent some disciples to gather information from the place where everything happened.

From the testimony of the inn-keeper and the attendants, the version presented by Jiang Fengmian was quite accurate, only the group leader was not the only person to attack; all the Jiang disciples attacked together. The Yu's didn't attack, but they didn't stop the Jiang either. Lan Qiren wrote three letters to the three clan heads, asking them to visit Cloud Recesses. He also asked Long Shaoran to bring his injured disciples for checking.

 

 

Jiang Wanyin was waiting impatiently for his father to arrive. He had a very serious worry that Long Mingsheng was trying to coax Wei Wuxian into their sect. Apart from the time Wei Wuxian spent pestering Lan Wangji and attending classes, the two of them were always together, pouring over some books or treatises about talismans. Before he knew it, Wei Wuxian had become distanced from the whole Jiang group. The confrontation about the night hunt incident worsened the situation further.

When the fact became known through Nie Huaisang, Long Mingsheng had sneered disdainfully but didn't make any comment. However, that sneer was enough to infuriate Jiang Cheng and he rose with wrath.

“Exactly what do you think you are, looking down on us?” The Jiang heir yelled.

“I think of myself as a capable and honourable cultivator, which the night-hunting group of Jiang cultivators were most definitely not.” Long Mingsheng replied without missing a beat.

“Watch your tongue,” Jiang Cheng screamed.

“Why should I? Attacking people who were dining without any challenge because they pointed out the inefficiency of your disciples, their inability to deal with some Yaos, is certainly not an example of proper conduct.”

It would have become a fistfight if Wei Wuxian didn't stop them. He pulled back Jiang Wanyin and apologised to Long Mingsheng. "Long-ge, I apologise. Jiang Cheng did not mean to disrespect you, but he has trouble controlling his temper." Wei Wuxian then coaxed the Long sect heir away from the gathering.

It was the familiarity of that address that scared Jiang Wanyin. Once the business with the Long sect was done, he was going to get his father to take Wei Wuxian back to Lotus Pier no matter how displeased it might make him.

 

Alas for Jiang Wanyin, it was not to be. The three injured disciples brought by Long Shaoran proved to be gravely injured. Even their meridians appeared damaged. As such their future was uncertain. What nobody but the three fellows and Long Shaoran along with his son knew was that the injuries were exaggerated by cleverly concocted medicine. They would make a complete recovery. It was only for show.

Lan Qiren decorously thanked the three sect leaders for agreeing to his request and asked how Long Shaoran wished to resolve the grievance. He replied that as long as the Jiang and Yu clans paid proper compensation, he was willing to let the matter go.

When asked what he considered to be the proper amount for the compensation, Long Shaoran named an astronomical amount. Predictably, Jiang Fengmian professed inability to pay the sum.
The leader of the Yu sect tried to object that the sum was truly extravagant. In return, Long Mingsheng turned to Lan Qiren and asked him to describe the diagnosis of the Lan physicians about his three disciples and their treatments.

Realising that he was playing right into Long Shaoran's hand and doing a poor job as a mediator, but seeing no way out of it, Lan Qiren recited the diagnosis that the three needed very expensive treatment to recover, and it was doubtful if they would ever recover completely.

Both the Jiang and Yu sect leaders looked at Lan Qiren beseechingly, and Lan Qiren took the hint and asked if there was something else that the Jiang clan could give instead of money. Long Shaoran said that he was willing to take a replacement for the injured disciples as compensation.

Relieved, Jiang Fengmian asked if he would like to see the disciples at Cloud Recesses and choose from them. Long Shaoran replied that from what he had heard about them from his son, only one of them was worthy of consideration, and that was Wei Wuxian. If he was given to the Long clan, he would call the matter settled. Not seeing any other way, Jiang Fengmian agreed.

Chapter 3: Ceremony

Chapter Text

After settling the score with the Jiang sect leader, Long Shaoran turned to sect leader Yu and demanded three spiritual tools as recompense for the Yu disciples' inertia. The tools would have to be remarkable. Sect leader Yu was relieved and agreed without any objection.

Grievances settled, both Jiang Fengmian and Long Shaoran expressed the desire to see their son and disciples. It was determined that the Yu clan would hand over the spiritual tools near the end of the lectures, as she needed time to sort out a number of tools to determine which of them were most fulfilling to the condition set.

Jiang Fengmian went to see his lot with a heavy heart and related what agreement he had reached with the Long clan leader. Wei Wuxian was stunned, while Jiang Cheng was furious. However, he was told that the Lan physicians had determined the inflicted wounds to be extensive. As such, they had to agree to the terms of Long Shaoran to avoid a blood feud.

On the other hand, Long Mingsheng was delighted to learn from his father that their plans were a resounding success. The leader of YungmengJiang had agreed to hand over his first disciple.

Long Mingsheng could hardly wait for the day to come. But he had to hide his excitement as he knew that Wei Wuxian would be upset, though he would not show it. He had only known the younger man for a few months, but he had a firm grasp of his character. Wei Wuxian always downplays his pain and grief so as not to worry others.

Long Mingsheng had determined that he would make him see that it was unnecessary, and if his situation required him to do so, then it was a very unhealthy environment.

After taking leave from his father, Long Mingsheng went in search of his soon-to-be shidi. He found Wei Wuxian at the back hill of Cloud Recesses, sitting there with a rather strange expression. As soon as he saw Long Mingsheng, he brightened up and gave him a brilliant smile.

Most people, Long Mingsheng knew, would let it slide and tell themselves that Wei Wuxian was fine. Too bad, Long Mingsheng was not like most people. So, he asked, “That was rather a strange expression you were sporting.”

Wei Ying chuckled. "What were you expecting?"

“To find you pretending that you are fine when you most obviously are not.” Was the reply.

"There's no need for that." Wei Ying tried to assure.

“I guess not.” Long Mingsheng sighed.

Wei Wuxian was stumped for a moment before he rallied. “Long ge, you really are thinking too much. I am not upset about being given to your clan. If anything, I'm relieved.”

“But the casual way clan leader Jiang gave you away, as if you were expendable with no importance, had to have hurt. Tell me I'm wrong.”

“You are not wrong, but I owe them.” The very thought that the Jiang’s had turned providing the basic necessities into a debt made Long Mingsheng furious. However, Wei Wuxian was not finished.

“I always knew that I was being trained as Jiang Wanyin's second-in-command, to help him with the task of running the sect. I could not leave, as everyone would have called me ungrateful. After all, they took me in.” Wei Wuxian explained.

“And what about the debt Jiang Fengmian owed your mother?” He said through clenched teeth. Wei Wuxian looked at him confusedly.

Long Mingsheng snorted, "figures." He took a deep breath, composed himself and then said, “your mother saved your uncle Jiang’s life when they were attending the lectures at Cloud Recesses. In comparison, what you owe them is a lot less. And the moment they agreed to hand you over, those debts are cleared as well. You owe nobody anything anymore.”

Wei Wuxian smiled. “It is now. And I am glad.” He clearly didn't want to continue the topic of conversation.

But Long Mingsheng was far from being done. “I know that you feel kindly towards them, but do you really believe that Jiang-zongzhu only had your welfare in mind when he went looking for you?”

Wei Ying simply stared at him, nonplussed.

“I have investigated your past, Wei Wuxian, and I learned that you lost your parents when you were around five years old, and you were brought to Lotus Pier when you were around nine. So it took a great sect leader more than three years to find you. Isn't that a long time?”

Wei Ying didn't reply, but he looked troubled. But Long Mingsheng was relentless.

“If you ask me, he only started to really look for you after he realised that his son is mediocre through and through and needs someone as support. And who better than a child with nowhere to go but with talented parents, which would mean that the boy would be talented one way or another.”

A cold edge slipped into his voice. “He took you in and burdened you with the notion of debt so that you will stay even when you're all grown and continue to take his wife's abuse and his son's unnecessary rebukes and punishment for others' wrongdoings in exchange for empty flattery. Just so YungmengJiang's strength and reputation don't suffer. He didn't even tell you anything about your parents, nor acknowledged his debt to your mother. You are neither stupid nor ignorant, so why do you insist on caring for them?”

For the first time in his life, Wei Wuxian had no witty return, because deep down he knew it all to be true. Having vented his piece, Long Mingsheng composed himself. “I want you to be well and happy and safe, and I have already concluded that it is impossible while you remain with the Jiangs. So when the opportunity presented itself, I chose to utilise it. I just hope you can accept it as a sign of my appreciation.” Saying that he turned to leave, but stopped as Wei Ying spoke.

“Thank you Long ge, for caring enough.” Only one sentence, but the things communicated were numerous and complicated. Witnessed by the twin Jades, this heartfelt exchange changed many things going on towards the future.

 

The handover ceremony was performed with due gravitas, with the two jades of Lan, as well as Nie and Jin heir as witnesses. Wei Wuxian had brought his notebooks with him when he came to attend the lectures. The possessions that were left in his room at Lotus Pier had been brought over. Seeing how few and cheap those were, Long Mingsheng was appalled.

Once the ceremony was over, he asked for leave and dragged Wei Wuxian towards Caiyi town. There, he made Wei Ying gave away his old possessions to the poor and brought him new top-quality things.

When Wei Ying tried to protest that there was no need for all those extra expenditures, Long Mingsheng simply replied that he should not cheapen himself and that he was worth much more than the possessions he had. Wei Ying sighed and gave in.

Some guest disciples had followed them, and when they returned, told everyone what had transpired.

Notes:

I started this fic on a whim. it is not completely drafted and it's my first time. will be grateful for constructive suggessions