Work Text:
Special Mission: Find the Crimson Glass and Bring Him Back!
Qingjingfeng – Bamboo Pavilion
The sky was just beginning to pale with the first hints of dawn when Shen Yuan stirred, his body heavy with drowsiness. He reached out blindly, fumbling left and right, until his hand brushed against the warmth of another—his disciple’s hand, perhaps.
He clasped it gently, a faint comfort in the quiet morning, and let his eyes drift shut again, ready to surrender to sleep. But before he could sink back into dreams, a cold, mechanical voice shattered the stillness.
「 Special mission announcement: Locate the Crimson Glass and bring him back. 」
Shen Yuan froze. Really? At this hour? He was about to curse when the voice continued, flat and unyielding.
「 Appeals are not permitted. 」
He clicked his tongue in irritation. “Tch.”
「 If the mission is completed, you will receive a most extraordinary reward. 」
At the mention of a reward, Shen Yuan’s instincts kicked in. “What reward? And if I fail?”
「 The reward is of great value. Failure means you will never return to this world. 」
Shen Yuan’s mind went blank. Never return? Does that mean… death?
「 Please confirm the mission. 」
Still half-asleep, Shen Yuan pressed the confirmation without thinking.
「 The system will now transfer your soul to carry out the mission in Yunshen Buzhichu. Good luck. (◍•ᴗ•◍) 」
In the blink of an eye, Shen Yuan’s consciousness flickered out, leaving behind a body that collapsed limply onto the bamboo bed.
The sound of that fall startled Luo Binghe awake. He shot upright, panic flashing across his face, and turned toward his master—his master and wife, no less—who lay there with eyes closed. Shen Qingqiu’s complexion looked far from reassuring, and Luo Binghe, half-terrified, leaned in to test for breath at his teacher’s nose.
What he found nearly made his heart stop: a faint, fragile breath, so light it was almost nonexistent.
“Shizun! Shizun! Shizun!” Luo Binghe cried out, voice cracking with fear.
At that moment, Shen Qingqiu’s eyes fluttered open. He blinked several times, groggy and confused, before mumbling the most ordinary of questions:
“What time is it?”
Relief washed over Luo Binghe, and he answered at once, almost tripping over his words.
“Shizun, it’s the hour of Yin (between 3 and 5 a.m.). If you’re still tired, please rest a little longer. This disciple will go prepare porridge for you.”
Without waiting for a reply, Luo Binghe hurried off toward the kitchen, leaving Shen Qingqiu sitting dazed on the bamboo bed, utterly bewildered.
Disciple? A disciple? Since when did I have one of those?
As Yi Ling Laozu, famed across the land, Wei Wuxian—currently inhabiting Shen Qingqiu’s body—was quite certain he had never taken on a disciple in this lifetime.
And that voice just now… deep, warm, filled with concern. If someone told him it belonged to Lan Zhan, he’d laugh outright. No way.
Wei Wuxian, still in Shen Qingqiu’s skin, puzzled over this bizarre situation for a moment longer. Then, with the easy confidence of someone who had long since stopped questioning the absurdities of life, he decided it must all be a dream.
Satisfied with that conclusion, he lay back down and drifted off again—this time with a smile.
.
Hour of Si (9:00–10:59), Yunshen Buzhichu – The Quiet Pavilion
Shen Qingqiu—currently in Wei Wuxian’s body—sat up on the couch with surprising vigor. He blinked rapidly, glancing around with wide eyes. Ah… what a refreshing sleep. How long has it been since I last slept so deeply? He stretched lazily, savoring the rare comfort, before turning his gaze to the unfamiliar surroundings.
The room was filled with the fragrance of fine wood and delicate incense. Everything was arranged with meticulous order, spotless and serene.
Yet… none of it looked familiar. His own Bamboo House at Qingjing Peak was tidy enough, but this place rivaled it in elegance. Where on earth am I?
“System, are you there?”
「 The system is available 24 hours a day. 」
“What is this place?”
「 This is Yunshen Buzhichu, located in Gusu. It is the immortal residence of the Lan Clan. In this land, four great clans are recognized: the Jin Clan of Lanling, the Nie Clan of Qinghe, the Jiang Clan of Yunmeng, and the Lan Clan of Gusu. If compared to your world, they are like the four great sects. 」
“…And then?”
「 The body you currently inhabit is that of the Yiling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian… 」
Knock, knock, knock.
“Senior Wei, are you awake? Hanguang-jun asked me to fetch you. He wishes to discuss an important matter with you at Zewu-jun’s Winter Pavilion.”
The voice of a young man outside the sliding door startled Shen Yuan so much that he leapt up—only to trip and crash spectacularly.
Thud!
The door slid open. A handsome youth stepped inside, alarmed. “Senior Wei, are you all right?”
Shen Yuan scrambled to his feet, instinctively raising his hand as though to flick open a fan—only to realize he held nothing. Worse, this borrowed body was unfamiliar, and his movements looked utterly ridiculous.
“Senior Wei… what exactly are you doing?”
At that, Shen Yuan’s face flushed crimson with embarrassment. He coughed lightly, trying to regain composure, and fixed his gaze on the youth before him.
“Ahem.”
「 This youth is Lan Yuan, also known as Lan Sizhui, the chief disciple of the current Immortal Governor. In other words, he is the foremost disciple of Wei Wuxian’s husband. 」
Shen Yuan nearly choked. Cough, cough!
“Senior Wei…”
“Mm, Sizhui, do you happen to have a spare set of clothes for me?” Shen Yuan asked, adopting his usual air of elegance, the practiced dignity he always used to bluff his way through awkward moments.
Lan Sizhui tilted his head, then glanced toward a chest filled with black robes—the very ones Wei Wuxian had once claimed to favor.
Shen Yuan followed his gaze and spoke bluntly. “Today, I’d prefer something simpler, with lighter colors than what I usually wear.”
Understanding at once, Sizhui nodded. He reached into his storage pouch and produced a white robe trimmed with pale blue, offering it respectfully.
“Here you are, Senior Wei.”
As Lan Sizhui tucked the storage pouch back into his sleeve, something slipped free.
A white jade fan fell open, revealing a painted scene Shen Yuan knew all too well: a bamboo grove swaying in the wind, and a small, elegant bamboo house nestled within.
Shen Yuan bent down at once, scooping up the fan.
“Sizhui, where did you get this fan?”
“Senior, I received it from a wandering cultivator I met on the way back from a night-hunt near Yunmeng. If you like it, you may keep it.”
Shen Yuan nodded gravely. “Then I’ll take this fan for myself.”
“Yes, Senior. I’ll wait outside. Once you’re ready, we can go together to meet Zewu-jun and Hanguang-jun.”
“Mm. Give me a moment.”
Just as Shen Yuan was changing clothes, a commotion erupted outside the pavilion.
“Sizhui! Sizhui, where are you? Something terrible has happened at the entrance to Yunshen Buzhichu!” Lan Jingyi’s voice rang out as he half-ran, half-stumbled inside.
“What’s wrong? Why are you in such a rush?” Sizhui asked immediately.
“At the entrance—there’s a demon, a real one, wreaking havoc! I came to find you so you could call Senior Wei. After all, he was once known as the Yiling Patriarch!”
Before Jingyi could finish, the Quiet Pavilion’s door slid open. Out stepped the man in question—immaculately dressed in the Lan clan’s white robes patterned with drifting clouds, jade fan in hand.
The sight was so unexpectedly dignified, so excessively elegant, that both Lan disciples froze, staring wide-eyed.
“You said a demon is rampaging?” Shen Yuan asked coolly.
Both nodded at once.
「 The system has dispatched an assistant to aid you. He arrived here approximately ten minutes ago. 」
Shen Yuan’s eyebrow twitched. An assistant? A demon? He sighed inwardly.
“Then let’s see if we can handle this creature.”
“Yes, Senior Wei.”
Sizhui led the way, Jingyi trailing behind, while Shen Yuan followed with reluctant poise. Along the path, Lan disciples whispered and pointed, murmuring about Wei Wuxian’s sudden appearance in Lan robes.
At last, they reached the scene. A chilling demonic aura surged from the figure ahead, shards of ice forming and hurtling toward a Lan disciple.
Shen Yuan plucked a leaf, channeling what little spiritual energy Wei Wuxian’s body possessed.
The technique Petals in Flight, Leaves Falling burst forth, scattering the ice shards into fragments.
“Petals in Flight, Leaves Falling?” The icy demon’s voice rumbled. He turned his gaze toward the one who had used the technique.
「 The assistant provided by the system: Ice Demon, Mo Beijun. 」
The system’s voice was as flat as ever.
Shen Yuan pressed a hand to his forehead. Of all people, they send Mo Beijun? This is giving me a headache.
“Cease your attack, Mo Beijun,” Shen Yuan said, somehow already standing before him.
Mo Beijun narrowed his eyes. “You know me?”
“Of course. My disciple is Luo Binghe.”
“You… are Shen Qingqiu?” The question slipped out of Mo Beijun’s mouth almost involuntarily, as though his mind had bypassed reason.
Shen Yuan nodded. “My soul was brought here to seek something. Once I find it, my path home will reveal itself.”
Mo Beijun lowered his gaze, considering. “And what is it you seek?”
“The Crimson Glass—and one person.”
“Then I’ll help. I’ve been meaning to drag that careless fool back to the Ice Realm anyway.”
Shen Yuan could only sigh inwardly.
With the demon subdued, Shen Yuan and Mo Beijun turned to head inside. But a voice suddenly called out:
“Brother Wei! Brother Wei, over here!”
Shen Yuan turned to see a youthful face.
「 This is Nie HuaiShang, current head of the Nie Clan of Qinghe. A rough description: asks one question, knows nothing of three. 」
That’s exactly Shang Qinghua’s personality, Shen Yuan thought.
「 The system declines to comment. 」
Shen Yuan straightened his posture, adopting his usual air of false dignity. “Clan Leader Nie, what brings you to Yunshen Buzhichu?”
Nie HuaiShang looked utterly bewildered by Shen Yuan’s behavior, but managed to reply after a pause. “Ah… I came to see Zewu-jun…”
His words faltered as Mo Beijun turned back to glance at him.
“Da… ge…” The whisper slipped from Nie HuaiShang’s lips, soft and trembling.
Mo Beijun raised an eyebrow. Shang Qinghua had always called him Da Wang. Junshang had called him Mo Bei. Shen Qingqiu had called him Mo Beijun.
Da ge? Now that was new.
He locked eyes with Nie HuaiShang, noting the tears welling up there. Do I look that terrifying? Why does this man act as though he’s about to cry? Irritation stirred in Mo Beijun’s chest. This one was far too much like his troublesome Shang Qinghua.
Without a word, he pulled out a pouch of melon seeds, plopped it onto Nie HuaiShang’s head, and turned away.
Shen Yuan followed him immediately.
Left behind at the entrance, Nie HuaiShang stood frozen in shock. Only after a long moment did he gather himself, deciding to retreat to Qinghe. I’ll come back another time, he thought.
.
Winter Pavilion
When Shen Yuan and Mo Beijun arrived at the Winter Pavilion, they were immediately greeted by the sight of the Lan Clan’s Twin Jades.
「 The Twin Jades of Lan: on the left, Clan Leader Lan Xichen, Zewu-jun. On the right, the current Immortal Governor, Lan Wangji, Hanguang-jun. 」
“Wei-gongzi, you’ve come. And the one behind you…?” Lan Xichen broke the silence, his gentle voice easing the solemn atmosphere as Shen Yuan—still in Wei Wuxian’s body—entered with Mo Beijun at his side.
Shen Yuan clasped his hands in formal salute before speaking. “I must be honest with you both. I am not Wei Wuxian.”
What followed was a long-winded explanation, full of Shen Yuan’s trademark evasions and shameless improvisations. By the end, everyone in the Winter Pavilion had pieced together the bizarre truth of his situation.
“Then… where is Wei Ying?” Lan Wangji asked, his voice tight with concern.
“I believe his soul is currently residing in my body,” Shen Yuan replied matter-of-factly.
No sooner had he spoken than the system chimed in.
Ding!
「 Sub-mission One complete: Crimson Glass discovered. 」
Shen Yuan’s gaze snapped toward the tea table, where a crimson-glass mirror rested. Drawn as though under a spell, he stepped forward, eyes fixed upon it.
.
Hour of Chen (7:00–8:59), Qingjing Peak – Bamboo House
Wei Wuxian, now in Shen Qingqiu’s body, opened his eyes and sat up on the bamboo bed.
The unfamiliar surroundings made him pinch his own cheek just to be sure.
“Ouch!”
Spotting a brass mirror by the window, he walked over. Reflected back was a face he didn’t recognize: elegant features, long brows, perfectly shaped lips. Wei Wuxian stared at the stranger in the mirror for nearly fifteen minutes before finally deciding what to do next.
He rummaged through a chest, pulled out Luo Binghe’s black robe with a red sash, and slipped it on. Then, striking a pose before the mirror, he admired himself. “No matter what I wear, I look good.”
Just then, Luo Binghe entered the bamboo house—and caught him mid-pose.
The fragrant steam of freshly cooked porridge wafted in, distracting Wei Wuxian instantly. He turned toward the bowl set down on the small table.
“Shizun, you’re awake. I’ve prepared hot porridge for you. Would you like to eat now?” Luo Binghe asked, his tone gentle but his eyes sharp.
Wei Wuxian sat down and dug in without hesitation. Delicious. Perfectly balanced. So good it made him recall his own chili porridge disaster—never again.
He finished the bowl, only to notice Luo Binghe watching him intently the entire time.
“Uh… are you going to keep staring at me?”
Luo Binghe narrowed his eyes, voice heavy with suspicion. “You’re not Shizun. Where is my Shizun?”
He seized Wei Wuxian’s wrist, ready to demand answers—but before he could, Shang Qinghua’s frantic voice rang out as he burst into the bamboo house.
“Da Wang! Da Wang… Da Wang suddenly disappeared! I don’t know where he went. I couldn’t return to the Northern Realm alone, so I thought Junshang might still be here at Qingjing Peak. That’s why I came uninvited.”
Shang Qinghua looked pitiful, but Luo Binghe barely spared him a glance. His priority was still Shizun’s disappearance and the impostor before him. Yet, remembering Shizun’s request to help Shang Qinghua in times of trouble, Luo Binghe sighed and sent word to the demon realm.
“Mo Bei hasn’t returned to the Northern Realm.”
“Then where has Da Wang gone?” Shang Qinghua muttered.
「 The system has dispatched Mo Beijun as an assistant for the special mission: Find the Crimson Glass and bring him back. Mission location: Yunshen Buzhichu. 」
“Crimson Glass… Yunshen Buzhichu?” Shang Qinghua murmured.
“Eh! You know Yunshen Buzhichu?” Wei Wuxian exclaimed.
「 The system announces a special mission for you: Help Wei Wuxian find the Crimson Glass in Cangqiong. 」
“What!?” Shang Qinghua yelped, while Wei Wuxian kept repeating beside him, “This… this… this…”
After a moment’s thought, Shang Qinghua turned to Luo Binghe. “Junshang, do you know where the Crimson Glass is in Cangqiong Mountain?”
“Shang Shishu… do you mean Hongjing, the Crimson Mirror of Wanjiang Peak?”
“Oh! How could I forget Hongjing is at the Thousand Blades Valley?” Shang Qinghua slapped his forehead.
“Why are you searching for Hongjing? Does it connect to Mo Bei’s disappearance—and this impostor who looks like Shizun?” Luo Binghe pressed.
“Who said I’m pretending? I woke up here, that’s all!” Wei Wuxian protested.
“In that case, Junshang and… this gentleman should come with me to Wanjiang Peak,” Shang Qinghua declared, cutting off further argument.
Wei Wuxian sighed, then introduced himself. “My name is Wei Wuxian. And you two are…?”
“Luo Binghe,” came the curt reply.
“I am Shang Qinghua, one of the peak lords of Cangqiong Mountain,” Shang Qinghua added proudly.
The three crossed the Rainbow Bridge toward Wanjiang Peak. Along the way, disciples bowed respectfully.
“Greetings, Shen Shibo, Shang Shishu, Luo Shixiong.”
Wanjiang Peak – Valley of Ten Thousand Blades
At last, they reached the resting place of Hongjing. Shang Qinghua lifted the sword—nothing unusual. Luo Binghe tried as well—still nothing.
Finally, they gestured for Wei Wuxian to try. Of course, he had no fear. He drew the blade, and at once a crimson light flared.
When it faded, a red-framed mirror lay in his hand. The Hongjing sword remained untouched, as though he had never drawn it at all.
Ding!
「 Mission complete. 」
The system’s emotionless voice confirmed success.
That easy? Shang Qinghua thought, baffled but resigned.
The three returned to Qingjing Peak, placing the Crimson Glass on the small table in the bamboo house. They sat around it, pondering how to use it.
Wei Wuxian tapped the mirror lightly. At the same time, Shen Qingqiu approached from the other side.
When their hands touched the glass together, the reflection shifted—revealing the other side.
The image in the Crimson Glass shifted.
On one side, Shen Qingqiu appeared in black robes with a red sash, his bamboo house and simple furnishings reflected clearly. On the other, Wei Wuxian stood in Lan clan white robes patterned with drifting clouds, surrounded by elegant incense wood furniture.
“Binghe / Lan Zhan.” Two voices rang out simultaneously from opposite sides of the mirror, startling those who had half-doubted the soul-swapping tale until now.
Lan Wangji spoke with Wei Ying through the glass, their conversation steady until both understood. Then it was Shen Yuan’s turn with Luo Binghe.
“Shizun, may I see that fan more closely?” Binghe asked, eyes fixed on the jade fan in Shen Yuan’s hand.
Shen Yuan opened the fan and held it up. “Binghe, do you think this painting is Qingjing Peak?”
Binghe studied it carefully. “Disciple believes it is indeed Qingjing Peak. And the brushstrokes, the calligraphy… they look like…” He faltered.
“Like?”
“Like Shizun’s own hand.”
Shen Yuan blinked rapidly. So the one I must find and bring back is…!
「 Correct. The one you must seek is Shen Jiu. 」
“Ah, so that’s it. Well done, Binghe. I think I’ll be able to return soon.”
“Shizun, you already know who to find?”
Shen Yuan nodded, stepping away from the mirror. He called out, “Sizhui, can you take me to the one who gave you this fan?”
“Yes, Senior… Shen.”
And so Shen Yuan set out with Lan Sizhui, Lan Wangji, and Mo Beijun toward the Lotus Pier marketplace. Sizhui came because he knew who Shen Yuan sought. Lan Wangji came out of concern for Wei Ying’s body. Mo Beijun came because Luo Binghe had tasked him to guard Shen Yuan.
At the Lotus Pier Market
Sizhui led Shen Yuan to a modest house. Shen Yuan knocked, waiting.
The door opened—and there stood a man identical to himself. The original Shen Qingqiu, Shen Jiu.
“Immortals, whom do you seek?”
“I came to speak with you privately. May I enter?” Shen Yuan asked, flourishing the jade fan with practiced elegance.
Shen Jiu nodded and gestured him inside.
“What business do you have with me?”
“I came to bring you back to Cangqiong with me,” Shen Yuan said bluntly.
“You…”
“Someone is waiting for you to return.”
“Return? How could I? Qingjing Peak and Cangqiong were destroyed by that beast.”
Destroyed? Shen Yuan realized—this Shen Jiu was from the original novel, the one torn apart by Bingge.
“May I ask you something?”
“…Go on.”
“Do you know why Cangqiong fell?”
Shen Jiu lowered his eyes, lips pressed tight, then nodded. “Because of me. My jealousy of that demon. Because of me, Qige died pierced by a thousand arrows. Qingjing Peak burned. Cangqiong collapsed. It was all my fault.” Tears streamed down his face.
Shen Yuan reached out, wiping them away. He’s not pure evil. His past is tragic too.
“What if I told you that in my world, Cangqiong still stands, Qingjing Peak is whole, and your Qige lives? Would you come back with me?”
“A world like that exists? Impossible.”
“It does. Because I am you—Shen Qingqiu of that world. But I am not Shen Jiu. I cannot erase Qige’s guilt for you.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Have you ever entered Lingxi Cave?”
Shen Jiu nodded.
“Do you remember the bloodstains in the great hall?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know whose blood it was?”
“I thought it was from cultivators who died of qi deviation.”
“What if that person didn’t die?”
“…What are you saying?”
Shen Yuan pressed on. “Do you know why Qige never drew Xue Shu(the Winter Sword)?”
“No.”
“Because each time he drew it, his lifespan shortened. He had once suffered qi deviation so badly his master destroyed his cultivation and locked him in Lingxi Cave. He survived a year later, rebuilt his cultivation, and went to the Qiu family home to fetch someone. But the family was gone. The child he promised to take was gone. He returned alone.”
Shen Jiu’s tears fell harder. “So… he didn’t forget me. He couldn’t come back because…”
Shen Yuan continued. “Later, he found that child had joined the sect. He tried again to care for him, to give him everything, even when scorned. He hoped it would make up for his broken promise. Until Qingjing Peak burned. Until a box arrived with severed limbs he recognized as that child’s. He drew his sword, faced the demon, and died pierced by a thousand arrows. But he smiled—because he died for that child at last.”
Shen Jiu sobbed. “I never knew… I thought he abandoned me. But it was my fault. My fault he met such an end.”
Shen Yuan stroked his hair gently. “It’s different now. You’re here. and He’s alive. If…”
“I’ll go with you!” Shen Jiu interrupted. “I’ll see Qige again. I’ll never burden him again. Please, take me back!”
Shen Yuan nodded. Together they stepped outside. Mo Beijun stared, astonished—the man Shen Yuan brought out looked exactly like him.
“This is my twin brother,” Shen Yuan explained smoothly. “We were separated young. I never thought we’d be parted across worlds.”
Mo Beijun accepted the explanation with a nod.
They returned to Yunshen Buzhichu. Shen Yuan, in Wei Wuxian’s body, grew drowsy. As he closed his eyes, Wei Wuxian’s body collapsed into Lan Wangji’s arms.
Shen Yuan’s soul crossed back into his own body. Mo Beijun and Shen Jiu were sent back by the system shortly after.
.
Qingjing Peak – Bamboo House
Shen Yuan opened his eyes to the familiar bamboo house and immediately met Luo Binghe’s gaze.
“Binghe, help your Wei-shi sit up, will you?”
Binghe rushed forward at once, steadying him until Shen Yuan sat comfortably on a chair. Binghe settled beside him on a cushion, and Shen Yuan smiled fondly, reaching out to ruffle his disciple’s soft hair. Binghe’s satisfaction was obvious.
Moments later, Mo Beijun and Shen Jiu arrived. Shen Jiu looked around, overwhelmed by the long-lost familiarity of the bamboo house. Shang Qinghua, who had wandered in again, spotted Mo Beijun and immediately launched himself into his beloved son’s arms. Mo Beijun, unable to resist, returned the embrace briefly before whisking Shang Qinghua back to the Northern Realm.
The atmosphere inside the bamboo house soured. Luo Binghe’s eyes narrowed at Shen Jiu, displeasure radiating from him as though his mood had turned stormy without warning.
Seeing this, Shen Yuan rose, took Shen Jiu by the hand, and pulled him behind a screen to change clothes. When they emerged, there were suddenly two Shen Qingqius—identical in every way. Yet Binghe, of course, could tell them apart.
Finally, Shen Yuan introduced Shen Jiu. “Binghe, this is my elder twin brother, Shen Jiu. From now on, you must show him respect as well, understood?”
“Understood, Shizun.”
“Good child. I’ll take my elder twin to Qiong Ding for a while. Wait here at the bamboo house like a good disciple.”
“Yes, Shizun.”
On their way to Qiong Ding Peak, disciples stared openly at the two identical Shen Qingqius. At the hall, Yue Qingyuan’s chief disciple greeted them, and Shen Yuan asked him to summon the sect leader.
Soon Yue Qingyuan appeared, smiling gently. “Shidi, what brings you to Qiong Ding? Do you need something, or wish me to handle a matter for you?”
Shen Yuan smiled, then nudged Shen Jiu forward. Yue Qingyuan blinked in confusion as Shen Jiu stumbled into his arms.
“Zhangmen Shixiong, today I return to you the one you’ve longed to see all your life. From now on, I entrust Xiao Jiu to your care.”
Shen Yuan smiled once more, then turned and walked away.
「 Mission: Find the Crimson Glass and bring him back. Mission complete, 100%. 」
「 The system will now deliver rewards to you, your companions, and your assistants. 」
With that monotone announcement, a basket of fruit appeared in Shen Yuan’s hands.
「 Please enjoy the gift bestowed by the system (◍•ᴗ•◍) ❤ 」
Shen Yuan carried the basket of peaches back to the bamboo house. Binghe hurried to help him. The fragrance was irresistible, and Shen Yuan couldn’t hold back his craving. Binghe carefully peeled the peaches for him, feeding them one by one.
Shen Yuan ate happily, unaware that these peaches carried a burden he would have to bear for nine months to come.
.
Yunshen Buzhichu – Quiet Pavilion
After Shen Yuan returned to his own world, Wei Wuxian’s soul slipped back into his body once more.
Wei Ying opened his eyes to find Lan Zhan faithfully seated at his bedside, having kept vigil for hours. Rising, Wei Ying wandered to the small table, poured himself tea, and drank to quench his thirst.
In that instant, a basket of peaches appeared on the table, accompanied by a note. Wei Ying picked it up and read: “These fruits are given in gratitude for your help in finding the Crimson Glass.”
“Lan Zhan, I’m hungry. Do we have anything to eat?” Wei Ying turned, voice dripping with playful charm.
Lan Wangji stood, pausing only to say, “I’ll prepare food. If you’re too hungry, eat a peach first.”
Wei Ying wasted no time. Knife in hand, he peeled and devoured a peach. Then, feeling generous, he divided the basket: two for Lan Qiren (to be a dutiful nephew-in-law), three for Zewu-jun, three for Jiang Cheng, one each for Sizhui, Jin Ling, Jingyi, and Ouyang, plus one for Xiao Pingguo. The rest? For himself—well, and Lan Zhan, of course.
That night, after Lan Zhan’s cooking filled Wei Ying’s stomach, Lan Zhan himself feasted on Wei Ying until satisfied. Truly, as the saying goes: “Every day is every day.”
Two months later
Wei Ying barely left the Quiet Pavilion, refusing to move no matter how Lan Zhan coaxed him. But one morning, when Lan Zhan came to wake him, Wei Ying shouted for him to leave.
“Ugh—ugh—” Wei Ying retched violently. Alarmed, Lan Zhan rushed inside, only for Wei Ying to vomit harder at the sight of him.
When the sickness subsided, Wei Ying gasped, “Lan Zhan, fetch Zewu-jun. And please… stay away. Every time I see your face, I feel like throwing up again.”
Lan Zhan nodded silently and departed. Soon, Lan Xichen arrived to examine Wei Ying.
“Wei-gongzi, congratulations.”
“Congratulations? I’m sick! What’s there to celebrate?”
“You’re not ill. You’re two months pregnant—with a divine pregnancy. Do you recall eating anything unusual two months ago?”
Wei Ying froze, then knocked on the Crimson Glass.
“Wei-di, what is it?” Luo Binghe’s voice echoed through.
“Luo-xiong, Shen Xianshi—anything strange happening lately?”
“How do you know?”
“What’s going on?”
“It seems my Shizun is pregnant too—after eating heavenly peaches.”
Wei Ying turned away from the mirror, realization dawning. Joy and misery tangled together: joy at finally having the child he once dreamed of, misery at enduring the torment of morning sickness.
Soon Jingyi arrived, calling them to the reception hall where Jiang Cheng was raging.
Wei Ying sighed, asking Lan Xichen, “Zewu-jun, how many peaches did you eat?”
“Only one piece. I gave the rest to Huaiyin—he seemed to enjoy them.” Lan Xichen looked away, suspiciously evasive.
Wei Ying groaned and hurried to the hall.
There, he smirked at Jiang Cheng. “Stop thrashing about like a pregnant woman with mood swings.”
Zi Dian cracked through the air instantly, but Lan Xichen intercepted the whip. Jiang Cheng glared, then snapped at Wei Ying instead.
“You’re the pregnant one with mood swings!”
Wei Ying laughed. “Ah, Jiang Cheng, don’t be angry. I only realized today myself.”
“You just realized? Truth or lies?”
“Truth! I thought I was dying until Zewu-jun checked.”
“Humph.”
“Then let’s both return to Lotus Pier together.”
And so Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng departed, Lan Zhan shadowing Wei Ying from afar.
Seven months later – Lotus Pier
Jiang Cheng gave birth to twins. The elder daughter he named Lan Meng, the younger son Jiang Ming.
At the Quiet Pavilion, Wei Ying also bore twins: elder son Lan Xin and younger daughter Wei Lin.
The Lan Clan rejoiced—two new heirs to the Gusu line. Lan Qiren wept with joy, though he lamented losing his carefully tended “cabbages” to Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng. Still, he gained four new “baby cabbages” in return. A loss and a gain, unexpected yet oddly satisfying.
.
Back at Cangqiong – Qingjing Peak
Two months after Shen Yuan brought Shen Jiu home, three auspicious events unfolded at Cangqiong in quick succession.
First, Sect Leader Yue Qingyuan finally fulfilled his lifelong wish: he took Shen Jiu—the child he had waited for all these years—as his spouse. Their wedding was a grand affair, with invitations sent to the great sects and guests filling the halls in celebration.
Second, following the magnificent wedding, Shen Qingqiu—well, Shen Yuan—discovered that he himself was divinely pregnant. medetashi medetashi*~
And third, far away in the Northern Realm, Mo Beijun learned that Shang Qinghua was also divinely pregnant with his child. This revelation brought delight to many, though perhaps none more than Shang Qinghua himself, who now had yet another excuse to cling to his beloved demon king.
Naturally, such news spread quickly. Rumors flew across the cultivation world, and Liu Su Mianhua of Qianchun Mountain was already sharpening her brush. With so much fresh material, her could spin out several more volumes of scandalous tales without breaking a sweat.
The End
*medetashi medetashi (めでたしめでたし) is a traditional Japanese phrase meaning "happy ending," "all’s well that ends well," or "they all lived happily ever after".