Feng Xin

It took a surprisingly short amount of time for Nie Mingjue to heal and an even shorter time for him to bond with everyone. It took Nie Huaisang no time at all. It's like the brothers belonged with them.

After that first night of having Wei Ying, Feng Xin honestly didn't believe he'd adapt to the whole "parent" thing.

He did.

He certainly didn't believe he'd come to love them as he should.

He did, very passionately, as he did with most things.

He most definitely had no idea what he was doing at all. Yet apparently....that was okay.

None of them did, and quite frankly, most parents fucking don't. All they could do was play by ear and take it day by day.

However, despite not having kids for very long, Feng Xin quickly became used to them. It's to the point that he notices when they aren't there and finds it strange.

Dare he say, uncomfortable.

They all bonded with them. Wei Ying loves to go on adventures with them and explore their different worlds. Occasionally bringing him on less harmful missions or to their shrines.

Going scrap collecting with Gege. He and Huaisang love doing that. Letting Jiang Fengmian visit them in secret and sometimes bringing his baby girl.

He did once ask why he never brought his other son, and the man said, "Unlike the baby, Jiang Cheng can talk. If he lets it slip that Wei Ying is alive, it can put not just Wei Ying in danger but also Jiang Yanli and myself." It seems Jiang Cheng is the only one that the wench likes.

All Jiang Fengmian can do is wait until he can safely get them all out.

Anyways, back to the kids. Nie Huaisang fit in the fastest out of them all. Able to have quiet time with Xie Lian, painting or nature watching with him.

Learning to sew, read, and create beautiful things with Mu Qing.

Teaching Hua Cheng calligraphy, and in exchange, he taught Nie Huaisang to fight.

Feng Xin's favorite thing was just listening to his thoughts. His venting, his plans, and the deep inner workings of his mind. What he lacked physically, he more than made up for mentally.

This kid was horrifyingly brilliant.

Nie Mingjue took a bit more time to bond with them, but not from a lack of trying. It's simply been far too long since he's been able to open up, relax, and be a kid.

He loved sparring and joining missions, perfect practice for his cultivation. Exploring Ghost City was his favorite thing to do. However, he also loved learning more domestic things like cooking and became so proud when he did it right.

He also picked up a love of learning now that he had time to enjoy it. He loved trying out new hobbies and was mildly obsessed with learning about history and the Gods.

He lost his shit when he heard about Hua Cheng's triumph over the Gods.

He positively blossomed and found a way to connect with all of them. Feng Xin really felt like they were a true family, as weird as that is to say.

That's not to say that they don't have problems. Wei Ying has PTSD from his abuse and difficult past, and he also has trouble opening up and expressing the negative sides of his thoughts and emotions and prefers to hide it all behind a smile, never admitting when he was struggling until he had to.

Nie Huaisang could be a sassy little demon spawn and break you down with words alone if you get him too angry. He can also be completely uncooperative. He's a mini early-era overly intelligent Xie Lian.

Nie Mingjue has the second worst temper in the house, tied only with Mu Qing and occasionally Feng Xin himself. It's never his fault, as it's the issue with his cultivation. Something they're all trying to fix and allow him to practice safely without harming himself.

There are way more problems than that, but it's to be expected. No family is perfect as he is learning, but he thinks they're lovely as flawed as they are.

Now imagine his absolute joy when he was sent out in a horrendous thunder and lightning storm away from his family, where there were hugs, people who loved him, no lightning, rain, and thunder, warm clothes, and cozy drinks.

Yeah, he was fucking thrilled. The mission was boring as fuck, too. Simple creatures to cleanse, then some not-so-simple ones.

He understood why he was sent to handle this, but that didn't mean he had to like it. Searching for anymore, he missed; he saw a group go by some ways away from him.

Sensing something off, he turned into Nan Feng and tried to stay with them. 'Who the fuck has kids out in such dangerous weather?'

Lan Zhan was less than thrilled at being out in such horrid weather but was forced to be by his father and uncle. He'd much rather be looking for Wei Wuxian, Nie Huaisang, and Nie Mingjue.

He and his brother were the only two that believed they were still alive. None of their bodies were found to confirm a kill. He desperately held out hope that he'd find them.

Something, though he has no clue what must've shown on his face as his brother grabbed his hand. "Don't worry, we'll find them. Wei Ying is too clever to die, and the Nie brothers are too stubborn, all of them too smart. I know they're okay."

Lan Zhan squeezed his hand in lieu of a reply. He knows his brother misses Nie Mingjue. The two were platonic partners, after all. And he adored the younger boys, too, so inside, his brother is probably frantic.

However, Lan Zhan's main issue is that he's had a bad feeling since they left. Something was off, and from the way his father looked at him, he knew he was involved somehow.

His brother swiftly yanked him out of the way of something. "AMBUSH!" Several men came from the shadows and shot at the brothers. They were weird-looking arrows.

Wen Clan.

Lan Zhan and Lan Xichen defended themselves the best that they could but were quickly overwhelmed. Both were captured while his father went to the leader. "As promised."

He did do this. It was clear Lan Quiren didn't know about this but did nothing to intervene, despite both children pleading with him.

They were beaten into submission by their attackers, and neither of their "family members" did anything to help. They were taken, but that didn't mean they complied.

Lan Xichen learned a thing or two from his time with Mingjue. Slipping a blade from his sleeves, he freed them in two swipes before taking off with his little brother.

"AFTER THEM!"

They ran and ran. Getting cut up by branches, hail, and arrows. Even nearly struck by lightning.

Lan Xichen even took an arrow for Lan Zhan. He broke the majority of it off but never pulled it out since he'd bleed out.

They saw more than heard a small group of them catching up. 'NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!' Suddenly the group got ensnared in an overly complicated web of rope.

Lan Zhan heard a soft whisper of surprise, "I-It..W-ork...ed..." Turning, he saw a little Wen boy staring up in shock. "Wen Ning...?"

Finally locking eyes, he gasped and then gestured for them to run. "Go, GO!" Heeding his warning, Lan Xichen pulled Lan Zhan onward.

He looked back at the boy, worried but didn't have the chance to worry. They had to get away...

However, it wasn't long before they hit a dead end. They were surrounded and at the very edge of a cliff step cliff.

He wishes he had disobeyed his father and brought his guqin...

Lan Zhan saw Lan Xichen stumble and realized how much blood he's lost. He was paler than normal, and his eyes were slipping closed.

The youngest desperately tried to hold his brother, but it was no use, and they both fell off the cliff. He heard the men try to grab them, but they barely missed him.

"LAN XICHEN! PLEASE!" He tried to wake his brother or use his sword but realized he didn't have it.

That bastard didn't let them bring weapons!

They were going to die. Tears well in his eyes in frustration, and he yells in anger.

Not a moment later, an arrow pierced through his collars deeply and pinned him securely to the rock cliff by all of his robes. The same happened to his brother. The shots should've been impossible, but they were devastatingly accurate.

They were saved...?

A man slid down to him. He wasn't a Wen, but that didn't mean they could trust him. The man grabbed them, ascended to the top of the cliff, and sat them in a tree out of the way.

His face was dark with rage, and in a split second, he was on a rampage. Killing, injuring, he didn't care, simply decimated everyone around. He just needed them to suffer as these kids did. Not even the men from the boys' Clan got spared from his wrath.

He glared down at them with pure hatred. "You don't deserve them."

Their father sneered at him, "No one would want them." He got brutally stomped for that one. Feng Xing scoffed angrily before returning to the boys.

Lan Zhan growled at his father's words before focusing on his brother. Their hero returned and took them away from these monsters.

"WAIT! PLEASE! YOU HAVE TO HELP XICHEN!" The youngest startled him as he hugged his brother. He looked like he wasn't used to expressing much, but he couldn't control it now.

Nan Feng didn't expect him to.

Nodding, he stopped in a clearing and tended to his brother's injuries using bandages, stitches, and salves he brought along.

He looks a little bit like a mummy, but he's not Mu Qing, so...

"May I look you over as well?" Lan Zhan looked ready to refuse it outright but knew that wasn't practical.

He begrudgingly nodded, and Nan Feng looked him over and treated him where necessary.

"Am I right to assume you all were out here for that ambush?"

Lan Zhan frowned in realization. "That's why he didn't let us bring weapons..."

"I really want to go back and destroy him all over again....now let me guess, those were your only relatives, and you have nowhere safe to go?"

Lan Zhan gave him a guilty look. "Yeah, I figured. We can go back to Gusu and retrieve your belongings."

"I-I can't go!" Nan Feng raised an eyebrow. "Is there a reason why?"

"I'm...looking for people...If I leave, I may never find them!" Nan Feng's eyebrow went higher, "Can't find them if you're dead either."

The boy looked down, not having a response. "Who are you looking for?"

"My friends...two boys that went missing recently, and my brother's best friend is gone too, the older brother of one of them...."

Nan Feng saw where this was going. "Again, let me guess one last time. Wei Ying, Nie Huaisang, and Nie Mingjue?"

Wide eyes looked at him. "Yeah, I figured. So as I said, we can go back to Gusu and retrieve your belongings."

"H-How...?" Picking the boys up, Nan Feng got a move on. "Long story, but we have time."

By the time they arrived, Nan Feng had halted. He again had a bad feeling. "Lan Xichen should remain out here...tell your brother what we're getting for you."

Lan Xichen looked like he wanted to argue, but after reading the man's face knew he shouldn't. Relenting, he told Lan Zhan what he wanted. "Lan Zhan, we're doing your room first. Grab your weapons first."

'He'll need them....'

After making sure Lan Xichen is wholly hidden and using an invisibility spell on him for good measure, he does the same for them.

They silently snuck into Lan Zhan's window that he forgot to close. Immediately, he went for his guqin and sword, then quietly gathered his belongings.

Picking the boy up, they slipped back out the window and went into Lan Xichen's window that's always open.

Just as quietly as before, they got to work gathering everything. Just as they got the last thing, the window slammed shut, and the spell broke.

They were surrounded by Wens. 'TIME TO DIP!'

He grabbed the boy and ran, but even in the hall, there were too many.

They had no choice but to fight. Lan Zhan used his Guqin, and Nan Feng used a mix of his palm torch and bow.

These pests wouldn't stop coming. "Lan Zhan! Don't stop playing!" Picking the boy up with one arm, he lifts his other. "SHIELD!" As soon as their invisible protection formed, Nan Fang booked it.

They're protected on both ends. They almost escaped the house when they saw Lan Xichen being grabbed by his hair. The spell broke for him too.

'Hahahaha, no one touches my kid.'

Nan Feng immediately sat Lan Zhan down and pulled out his bow. Making an arrow appear, he aimed. He could hear Wen's charging them from his left. "Now."

He released the arrow, and Lan Zhan struck his guqin, both taking them all out. Grabbing the boy, he ran over to his brother before grabbing him as well.

He wasted no time getting the hell out of Gusu.

"Thank you...for everything." Lan Xichen looked at him gratefully and ignored the tears of pain in his eyes. Feng Xin let his hair loose and soothingly stroked his scalp.

"I'm sorry I didn't protect you better." Lan Xichen shook his head, "You did more than enough, really!"

"Well...I'm not quite done yet..." He held the boys securely. "Close your eyes." They obey, and soon they feel cold, then warm.

"You can open now." As they did, they saw the most beautiful place they had ever seen. It looked breathtaking.

It was then that they noticed Nan Feng looked different...and familiar.

Both gasped in shock. "Y-You're-!" He smiled softly and nodded. "I am the Martial God, Feng Xin. Now, I have somewhere to take you."

Their jaws slacked, and all they could do was nod. The God carried Lan Xichen to keep his wounds from reopening.

Everything they saw was so magnificent that they couldn't comprehend it. Were they really...?

They finally went to the nicest place they'd seen so far. It looked beyond magic, straight from a dream or a story. It just couldn't be real, but it was.

"Welcome to the Palace of Xianle."

"W-Wait, as in...? So does that mean...? I-Is he really here?" Feng Xin laughed at their questions. "Let's go find out." Heading to his home, the boys were in love with everything they saw.

Lan Xichen looked up at the colors in the sky enchanted, while Lan Zhan smiled at the different water bodies and maple-colored flora. It was like autumn land.

They heard laughing and splashes as well as gentle humming. Locating the sound,s they saw Wei Ying, Hua Cheng, and Nie Huaisang playing in one of the many water pools around, and Xie Lian watching them humming. Mu Qing and Nie Mingjue fell asleep together.

"WEI YING! NIE HUAISANG!" Lan Zhan dropped everything and sprinted to them. Feng Xin barely caught his guqin.

The boys turning to the voice, gasped in surprise. "LAN ZHAN!? LAN ZHAN!!!!!!!!" Running to meet their friend, and three falling in a hug pile.

"Feng Xin!" Xie Lian smiled and ran to his husband, hugging him. "You're okay...but you're soaked to the bone. Was the weather bad?"

The scrap collector pulled away and gently took the boy in arms from him. "And I see you brought two munchkins with you?" He smirks playfully at him.

Soft eyes looked at a stunned Lan Xichen, "Hello there, I'm Xie Lian. What's your name?"

"It really is you...." His young eyes widened in wonder, and he hugged him gently. "My name is Lan Xichen, and that's my brother Lan Zhan!"

Upon being mentioned, Lan Zhan immediately bowed. "Your majesty!" Chuckling, Xie Lian hugged Lan Zhan too.

Despite his now glowing ears, the boy hugged back immediately. The weight of today's circumstances caught up to him as he sniffled.

"Lan Zhan...? What's wrong...?" Nie Huaisang and Wei Ying frowned concernedly before running to Feng Xin. "WHAT HAPPENED TO LAN ZHAN!? AND LAN XICHEN!?"

They looked ready to stab a bitch, as they should.

They've raised them well.

"What did happen?"

"Hm...?" Two drowsy yawns filled the air as the formerly sleeping pair looked around. "Feng Xin baba...?" They snapped into consciousness upon seeing the new arrivals.

"LAN XICHEN!" Nie Mingjue sprinted to Xie Lian and took the boy from him. "I-I can't believe you're here! I missed you so much..." He placed a soft kiss on his temple and held him close.

"Hold the fuck up. WHO HURT YOU?! FENG XIN!" He snapped to him, actually ready to murder.

"Calm down, Mr. Nie. I'll explain everything." Everyone sat down so Feng Xin could explain the bullshittery that led them here.

"I knew Lan Qiren sucked, but your dad...that's low..." Wei Ying looked ready to fight.

Nie Mingjue was holding Lan Xichen protectively, "Who tries to have their own kids kidnapped or killed or whatever the fuck he was doing....?"

The adults were trying to breathe and summon their inner patience, except for Hua Cheng, who was blatantly pissed.

"Please tell me you made them suffer." Hua Cheng looked at him with the fakest smile he's ever seen.

"I don't miss." Feng Xin returned the smile, and their smiles became genuinely dark smirks.

Xie Lian raised an eyebrow and begrudgingly added, "But they're alive, yes...?" The archer shrugged uncaringly, "I don't know, maybe. Who cares?"

They couldn't argue, but it also wasn't their place to infer, let alone kill them. Instead of voicing this, he sighed.

Lan Zhan looks at the adults anxiously, "What now?"

The adults shared a look before his husbands singled out Feng Xin with their staring.

"No other family, nowhere safe to go?" Upon shaking his head, they facepalmed laughing. "Amazing."

Mu Qing smiled at them, "Welcome to the growing family."

Lan Xichen looked at them, shocked, "W-Wait, that's it? You'll take us in just like that?!" Hua Cheng raises an eyebrow, "Are we not supposed to?"

Mu Qing laughed, "Are we supposed to leave you to die?" Feng Xin followed with a raised eyebrow, "Hurt, alone, and hunted?"

Scooping Lan Zhan and stealing away Lan Xichen, Xie Lian smiled at the pair. "Why do that when we have several perfectly fine homes for you to stay at and a big family with lots of love to give?" All of them smiled at the pair, and their eyes widened in surprise.

A pretty flush and big smile painted Lan Xichen's face, while Lan Zhan had a tiny, almost unnoticeable smile on his face.

It was absolutely sweet, and they all piled in for a gentle hug since Lan Xichen was still injured.

From there, as it did for the other boys, things fell into step naturally. Feng Xin and Hua Cheng played in the water with Wei Ying, Nie Huaisang, and eventually Lan Zhan, with Xie Lian joining later.

Mu Qing stayed on the nice dry land with Lan Xichen (not by choice) and Nie Mingjue (who wanted to stay by Lan Xichen.)

It was a wonderful outing together, and when the kids got hungry, Mu Qing and San Lang prepared food while the rest chatted and gazed at the stars in the sky.

Finally, everyone relaxed.

They happily got to know one another or reunited as they fell into a rhythm. Nothing truly changed; they added more, and it felt...right.

If you were to ask Feng Xin if he could picture this a few months ago, he'd laugh in your face. Now he can't imagine his little world without them all. He couldn't imagine having pure silence. It'd feel too...empty.

He'd miss Wei Ying's excited little self, Nie Huaisang's sassiness, Nie Mingjue's inquisitory fiery passion, and now he can add Lan Xichen's rational but passionate demeanor and Lan Zhan's unseen but intense emotions to that list.

He'd miss them all. Maybe that's too soft for him, but it's the truth.

He'd never say this out loud, but hopefully, he doesn't have to.

He still has no fucking clue what he's doing or if he's doing it right. And that's okay; he doesn't have to. All he has to do is love, protect, and listen to them. The rest will fall into place.

Feng Xin loves his family and has very little doubt that it won't grow. Only this time, he's excited about it.