The Demonic Clan of Yiling (MDZS Fanfic)

Father and his Sun

Jin Zixuan couldn't help but smile as Jin Ling made his way over to him. It was nice to finally have him back in Lanling. He had never minded when Jin Ling went away either to visit his uncle or one of his friends, but whenever he did Zixuan always felt like everything was a little darker. Like Lanling lacked it's usual brightness. He used to feel that way when Yanli wasn't there. I guess that was one of the many ways Jin Ling took after her.

"Papa!" The boy smiled as his father wrapped him in a tight hug. "You're squeezing me!"

"Oh stop whining!" Zixuan chuckled but let go all the same.

He had his hands on the boy's shoulders and eyes him up and down. He always forgot how quickly kids grew.

"You're so tall now!" The man pointed out but Jin Ling let out a huff.

"I'm still no where near as tall as Zizhen or Sizhui." He groaned.

Oh right. Jin Ling had befriended Wei Ying's son. Zixuan remembered reading about that in one of the boy's letters. The thought made his gut clench, but before he could dwell on the matter a cheerful voice rang out.

"Oh there's my favourite nephew!" Guangyao made his way over and Zixuan snickered.

"I'm your only nephew Shushu." Jin Ling sighed as he let his uncle hug him.

"I'm not so sure about that. If my sources are correct, and they better be since Zewu-jun told me himself, Lan Jingyi is now technically my sworn nephew." Guangyao teased and Jin Ling gasped in horror.

"If you replace me with Lan Jingyi, I will tell Jiujiu about your meetings with sect leader Nie!" The boy threatened and Guangyao chuckled.

"I would never!" He laughed. Zixuan smiled as he watched them.

The world really did light up when Jin Ling was home, even Guangyao seemed happier.

"Okay A-Yao, you can have your time with him later, right now I think it's time we went to visit a certain someone." Zixuan said, giving a look to Jin Ling who's smile softened gently.

"Alright then. We'll have tea later A-Ling, I want to hear everything." Guangyao smiled and walked away. Jin Ling waved after him, before turning to his father and gazing up at him patiently.

"Let's go see Mama."

---<~>--- 

"And then Jingyi and I fought, but Jiujiu caught us and scolded us. Hanguang-jun made Jingyi do handstands the next morning. It was funny, but I didn't want to laugh because Jiujiu would punish me." Jin Ling said from where he sat in front of his mother's grave with his father.

He was telling the two of them about his time away and how much fun he had had. The entire time Zixuan's smile didn't leave his face. Jin Ling seemed so happy to be talking about his trip and about the adventures he had been on.

However at some points Zixuan noticed Jin Ling get awkward and stumble over his words nervously. These things happened most whenever Wei Wuxian was brought up and sometimes even when Wei Sizhui was brought up. Zixuan couldn't help but worry that this was because of him and his relationship with Wei Wuxian. He didn't want Jin Ling to feel like he had to take on that burden too.

Once the boy was finished talking the two of them sat there with Yanli for awhile, before Zixuan finally broke the silence.

"A-Ling, is there something bothering you?" He asked and Jin Ling blinked at him.

"I-I'm not sure Papa..." He answered honestly. He than sucked in a breath and looked down at his hands sheepishly. "Who is Wei Wuxian? To me, I mean? Is he my uncle? Or is he a stranger?" He asked and Zixuan let out a sigh.

He had expected something like this to come up at some point. As Jin Ling got older he would learn more about the Yiling Patriarch and who he was. He would have questions.

"He's whoever you want him to be." Zixuan said calmly and Jin Ling looked up at him confused. "He was close with your mother and Jiang Cheng, it wouldn't be a stretch to call them siblings and Jiang Cheng even accepts this now. However Wei Wuxian is not their sibling by blood and he was gone for many years of your life, A-Ling. You do not know him and that was his choice. Therefore you don't have any obligation to call him your uncle. If you want him to be then, that is your choice. If you want him to continue to be a stranger then that is fine too. If you don't want that then maybe he could just be the father of your friend, Sizhui. Either way, it's up to you. You owe him nothing."

Jin Ling sat quietly for a second, tears slipping down his cheek. Zixuan could see that his words had resonated with him. The man wrapped an arm around the boy and patter his shoulder softly.

"I don't want to disappoint her..." He sobbed quietly and Zixuan smiled, pecking his son's forehead.

"She could never be disappointed in you, A-Ling. You're an amazing kid. Every time I look at you I feel proud and I'm sure your mother would feel the same."

"Thank you papa..." Jin Ling cried softly.

They stayed like that for awhile. Jin Ling's shaky breaths being the only thing that made noise. The two of them were just watching Yanli's grave. Taking it all in. The candles. The incense. It was still hard for Zixuan to accept that she was gone...

"Papa?" Jin Ling suddenly broke the silence and Zixuan looked down at him carefully.

"Yes, A-Ling?"

"I think... I think I want to know Wei Wuxian... But I don't think I want him to be my uncle yet." The boy's voice was just barely above a whisper, but his words met his father's ears and the man smiled proudly.

"I'm proud of you for trying, A-Ling. I'm sure your mother would agree." Zixuan said and at that same moment a flash of purple caught their eye's and they watched as a tiny purple butterfly fluttered past the window. A bright contrast to all the gold around.

Zixuan sighed just slightly as he watched it, squeezing Jin Ling a little tighter. Fuck... he missed her... 

---<~>---

A few days went by. Jin Ling had gone back to his training and Zixuan was back to his paperwork with the help of Guangyao. They were going through some of the many letters that had yet to be organised when suddenly Guangyao picked one up and stared at it.

"What's wrong?" Zixuan asked as his brother's face turned into a frown.

"It doesn't say who sent it and is addressed directly to you. There's no crest or anything." Guangyao said as he passed the letter to the older man.

Zixuan opened it carefully and examined the contents, while Guangyao made his way over to read as well. The man really had developed a lack of respect for other people's privacy. He'd do anything to find something to talk about with Huaisang!      

Just as Zixuan he noticed Guangyao's face go pale in the corner of his eye and turned to look at him curiously. 

"The village they speak of... It's not marked on any maps." He pointed at the map on the wall of the room and Zixuan looked up too.

He was right! There was nothing there... How odd...