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There was the soup.
Made for those who entered reincarnation.
Meng Po Soup and the Bridge of Oblivion.
This was something they had to drink before entering the cycle of reincarnation. The place was lovely, after having one's soul tortured into purification, everyone was allowed to enter this peaceful place.
Meng Yao recalled a voice speaking to him that he was pure, now allowed to move on. The pain dissolved after what felt like a century, and he woke up at a table.
A simple table.
Blinking slowly he rubbed his cheeks with his hands, trying to feel more than the numbness that came after the pain. Letting out small whining huffs of air, able to breathe now without feeling like he was being constantly choked Meng Yao looked around.
There were many people.
Blinking he held himself, rubbing his arms. He had heard of this place, of what happened in the afterlife. While tormented he wasn’t sure if he’d ever end up here.
“Ah, a new arrival,” A voice called.
Looking over Meng Yao paused seeing a person there, in his hand, he held an odd bored and what looked like a strange writing brush. Opening his mouth, he paused when nothing came out.
“Come along, we need to get you set up,”
Standing Meng Yao followed him, rubbing his neck. He looked around, seeing a few more people dressed all the same, all of them speaking with new people appearing, and they couldn’t speak either. That made him feel a little better.
As they walked on they got to a huge place, the field was lovely, and peaceful, almost like the places in the books his Mother used to read to him, along with a tree there with his favorite fruits growing.
As they walked he swore the man grew taller, to the point he had to jog to keep up and soon was almost running. Just when Meng Yao thought he was going to fall behind the man stopped.
“Ah, here we are,” He waved and stepped aside. “She’s been waiting for you,”
“Waiting?” Meng Yao reached for his throat, surprised he could talk but that didn’t matter when he saw who was standing there. “Mama!”
Meng Shi knelt with her arms open. “A-Yao!”
That’s when Meng Yao realized why he was having such a hard time keeping up with the man. He was back in a child’s body, small, little like when they lived in the brothel.
Running as fast s he could he jumped into his Mom’s arms crying as she kissed his cheek, nuzzled him, and spoke of love to him and he got out that he loved her too.
--
Meng Yao learned he was in a waiting cycle.
The reason he was in this body was because at the time he was truly happy when he had his mom. Before it all went to crap. She was a teenager now before they sold her to the brothel for money.
They would sit, talk, things about the past, regerts, dreams, would play in the river nearby. Meng Yao learned that she was going to leave in a few hundred years, but she asked to wait for him.
Others had to die before, time that must pass before they could all go back.
Meng Yao didn’t mind, because they’d be together in the next life.
--
Meng Yao was walking around the place looking at the realm in awe. He was still in a five-year-old body, but his mind was still sharp. He could recall everything, but here? No one would send him away, abuse him, or harm him because of his blood.
In fact he ended up having fun with some of the vendors who compared to those who traveled between realms. He even managed to help one set up games and even got to play.
Once while he was walking he spotted someone off in the crowd. A man, young, thin and handsome. The look on his face was much younger than he ever saw but no doubt who it was.
The Grandmaster Lan Qiren.
A pang of sadness hit him.
This means that Lan Xichen and his brother had lost their Uncle.
The man seemed slightly aggravated, and that was answered when Wen Ruohan approached him, pink petal in hand, a kiss to it and holding it out to Lan Qiren who huffed, frowned but then took it, looking at the man still frowning but the affection was there.
So the rumors had been true, Meng Yao mused, they had been lovers once.
He avoided them as best he could, only one day running into them. He was scared and pale, but they seemed to think he had the mind of a five-year-old for a while and let him be.
It wasn’t until he felt bad enough he confessed to Lan Qiren, and if he had been standing behind one of the Ghosts while doing so, he’d admit he was scared.
The Omega put his hand on his head assuring him that the past was that. The past and that there was a reason they entered this place. Meng Yao wished he had bowed, thanked the man, and went on his way.
Instead, Meng Shi had a surprise visitor who was carrying his sobbing body and returned him to his mother.
--
Nie Mingjue had found him.
Sought him out and Meng Yao had climbed as high as he could into a tree to keep away from the Alpha. The Alpha was maybe fifteen, before his Father’s death, so he assumed this was the time he was the most happy.
“Come down!”
“No, Dage will kill me!” Cried in fear. He still remembered the hundred years of violence in the coffin. “Please leave.”
“I’m not going to hurt you!” Nie Mingjue had to dodge the apple that came hurling at him, then another one. “You…! A-Yao, I’m not going to hurt you!”
“Why should I believe you?!” Grabbing more Apples Meng Yao started to throw them as the Alpha moved back. “Go away!”
Growling in frustration, he backed up, hands held up. Slowly turning to leave. Meng Yao was leaning out of the branch watching. Scooting further out onto the branch worried, he wanted to make sure that Dage left when there was a crack.
Gasping he tensed. Being so high up he wasn’t sure if falling in the after would hurt. One didn’t need to eat or drink, but one could, so did one get hurt when falling.
A second cracking had Meng Yao turn to try to hurry back to the safer part of the tree when it broke. Crying out he clung to the broken part, clawing to get a better hold but he was slipping.
Whining he closed his eyes feeling his grip starting to slip until the whoosh happened. Screaming out as he went down he braced himself to hit the ground only to hit something warm and soiled and being rolled
Nie Mingjue had started to leave not wanting to upset the Omega, when he heard a gasp. He turned around in time to see the branch Meng Yao was on starting to break. Running back as fast as he could, the brack broke, crashing to the ground and Meng Yao struggled to pull himself up when he fell.
With seconds to get to him, the Alpha lunched himself, grabbed hi,m and flipped so they’d roll and soften the save. Holding onto Meng Yao who held tight, he stood up.
The Omega had his eyes closed, shaking, then slowly opened his eyes, only to start pushing him away at the face, little hands shoving his cheek and forehead.
“No!”
“Meng Yao!”
“Let me go!”
“Meng Yao!” He didn’t use his voice but he did shout. “It’s me, Nie Mingjue!”
“I know who you are!” Trying to get away he went limp. “Just get it over with, Dage,”
“What do you think I’m going to do to you?”
“Kill me?”
“…I did that already,” Nie Mingjue set the limp down on his feet but kept a hold of him. “Don’t run… we need to talk,”
After a long while they spoke of things. Meng Yao felt a lot better, and they parted ways. A lot was lifted off his chest. It was a lot, but the heaviness was gone.
Ultimately, he was able to meet the Nie’s and there was some drama with Nie Huaisang, but years passed, healing in this afterlife helped and they grew close again even making some jokes about their masterful plans.
Nie Mingjue didn’t find them funny.
Nie Huaisang made more of them.
--
When he met his brother it had been by chance.
Jin Zixuan had found his wife, they were living together while waiting. He had been fishing with Nie Mingjue, but he ended up following the small river finding shining rocks, and like any Omega, he liked small shiny smooth rocks.
He was abruptly snatched out of the water, he hacked out a breath before being crushed in a hug. Oh heavens, was it another person who had beef with him until he picked up his brother’s scent?
Sobbing he curled into Jin Zixuan's arms.
They had been awkward at best when he entered the tower, but Yanli had helped them and he grew close. When Jin Xiuan who didn’t go and didn’t die and word got back about Jin Ziuan had been killed Meng Yao broke down sobbing.
Kindness and love were rare and hard to come by and once they had gotten passed the awkward phase he often sought out his elder brother for comfort, nuzzles, and hugs, his sister-in-law provided the same.
Their Father had been furious not only for the death of the only Son he loved but also because it took Meng Yao a week to stop being depressed and hysterically crying.
The beatings helped, the torture and then a threat to offer Meng Yao to Alphas, got him back to work. When his sister-in-law died he was truly trapped in hell unable to leave and even seeking out his sworn brother did nothing.
Nie Mingjue said he wasn’t welcome back, to get back to serving his sect and Lan Xichen spoke words but words didn’t stop the pain and abuse, nor did it stop the beatings.
The breaking point had been after his Father couldn't stand his vanishing for a day. Which he did often. Having to visit Xue Yang and see what he was doing to humans always left him vomiting and hiding in his closet for nearly a day.
Even if he managed to look calm the aftermath was always the same. He asked for a day. His Father took this away because things were moving too slowly for his taste, and Meng Yao broke when he was offered to one of the Alphas at a sect meeting.
That was the last straw, Meng Yao choose to kill Jin Guangshang, after the violent rape, his bleeding body, the fear of possible pregnancy, and all the hate he had boiled over.
The plan went slowly, but as it did his Father introduced him to a new person, Qin Su, and he felt an instant connection to the Beta, it was strong and for the first time he felt close to someone as he had to his brother.
They got along while, his father approved of them, which should have been a sign. The way his Father always seemed amused by seeing them together.
Soon, he arranged for them to marry, he had gone into heat, and she was trigged into a mock rut. Why they had been alone, it never crossed his mind until they woke up tangled together and by the time they managed to hide the fact they had spent a night together and not see each other he found himself pregnant.
The wedding was rushed.
The night of the wedding his Mother-in-law approached him in his wedding clothes wishing to speak alone. For a moment hoped that she’d have kind words for him.
Rather, she told Meng Yao that Qin Su was his sister.
Half an hour before the ceremony he was vomiting into a vase, while the horror and shock took over him that he was carrying a child of incest. Somehow he managed to pull himself together.
Saying that he could marry her, calling it off was a no. For one his Father would not only kill him, but the shame brought on her was far more damaging them to him, but since he was the only temporary heir until Jin Ling was an adult he was a holder.
That night he asked they never touch again using the fact he was pregnant as an excuse, but over the years he lied, spinning tales on why they couldn’t sleep together. She gave up and when he confronted his father before he gave birth to Rusong, the man laughed at him.
Laughed.
As if it was funny that he knew they were siblings and let them marry.
Meng Yao wanted to kill him then.
Worse if anyone found out that his baby was a product of incest, the fate of them would be… would be…
Hearing Qin Su screams in pain while she found the baby murdered had been hard. It was worse to sob and scream in pain knowing he’d never see his baby again either, but silently he begged that the woman he traded his live baby to would raise him while.
It was hard to scent a dead baby, but he managed.
As the years passed he often wondered how the baby was going out in the world. Slowly years passed, and things unfolded until the end and with the death of all his family, all aside from Jin Ling, he loved that child, even though he knew what he did was wrong.
Being pushed, hurt, and cornered constantly until the only thing was fear left in his body. Running on a constant thing such as that, well, he was surprised he didn’t Qi deviation from that alone.
Why was he alive Meng Yao had no idea, but in the end, he was scared to die alone telling Lan Xichen to die with him. When the Beta was going to, he shoved him away.
At least, even in a horrific way, he’d at least be with one of the people he loved most.
Jin Zixuan was an adult, in his body before his death, his happiest moment being with his wife and son. Meng Yao was tiny in his arms, and he nuzzled and scented him, rocking them back and forth as the Omega cried loudly.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He kept repeating. "I'm sorry, Dage!"
“I got you,” Jin Zixuan had whispered. “Its alright now, I'm here, Didi,"
And that was all Meng Yao needed.
A few years later he was able to meet Qin Su and Mo Xuanyu, begging for forgiveness, while there were spoken words forgiveness and love were the result.
--
Meng Yao was there when he heard there was a huge war, and many died and he was there when he saw two familiar figures, they must have died together, because Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian had their hands clasped together while entering this place, waking up at the tables.
Wei Wuxian’s parents came to seek him out while Lan Qiren was there embracing his nephew.
Poor Lan Xichen, he thought, he must be devastated.
--
When Lan Xichen did arrive he was about ten, before the death of his Mother, and before the rules of the Lan Sect restricted the love his Uncle could give him.
He was confused andalmost wandered off until they took him to his family, like he when was little held his arms up to his Uncle who picked him up as if he was still just that, a child, and held him tightly.
Meng Yao heard this from Nie Mingjue, who often came to visit him, they spent a lot of time with each other, and yes, Meng Yao ignored all the short jokes the Alpha had.
Worse because he was a teenager, Meng Yao was stuck at five. It wasn’t funny! It did become funny when Lan Xichen found them and he joined in the jokes almost tackling them to the ground to hug and nuzzle them.
They had no idea, but he finally felt whole again meeting them.
--
The adults were gone.
It made sense they’d leave first.
Meng Yao had watched his mother drink the soup before crossing the bridge.
It was a cycle, they’d all have to do so. After all the man years, thousands by now, even if time was different here, they all had to drink it should they want to go back to Earth, to live a clean slate life.
They took their turns when it was time. He was a nervous. To do so, he watched as they sipped the soups. Nie Mingjue wasn’t taking it well. He didn’t want to forget them. They got along well here, and now to forget it all.
Lan Xichen shared the sentiment, he had the hardest time watching his Uncle leave, but then shared something he saw. When Wen Ruohan had been up to leave he had taken half the bowl, and then he saw him being odd with the robe of his sleeves.
When he handed the bowl back, he thanked her and then looked at Lan Qiren who frowned at him and the Alpha crossed the Bridge. When it was Lan Qiren’s turn Meng Yao saw him do the same thing and informed the others about it.
Nie Mingjue saw this as a chance.
In the end, he saw that Nie Mingjue managed to only drink half the soup, and when he handed back to bowl to Meng Po he rushed across the Bridge to avoid getting caught.
When it was Lan Xichen’s turn he drank a little more than half, for a second backing out of the plan, but when Meng Po dropped her spoon, he quickly tossed it off the side of the bridge and pretended to be finishing up when she stood up.
He nervously walked across the bridge but made it to the other side.
Meng Yao held the bowl in his hands looking at it for a long moment then looked at the Spirit mixing her never-ending soup. She looked at him, waving her hand up for him to drink.
Looking back at it Meng Yao took a few sips, then slowly drank it. He took a breath, then continued on, the leather back in his sleeve arm that was to hide the soup, at least half, still there, but he didn’t use it.
Instead, he drank it all, and when someone tried to pass by them, running to get the other side, knocking a few people over. They caught him of course, pulling him back but the numbering of the people around them caused enough for Meng Po to ask whose soup got knocked out.
She did pause when Meng Yao came up to her but took the bowel and filled it halfway since she had seen him nearly done with it. He took it going back to stand in the middle of the start of the bridge.
A clean slate.
Meng Yao didn’t want to remember his past life, not even a chance, and if the people he loved the most were out there, well, he’d find them by fate. Downing the half of the soup, he felt warmth starting to bubble up in his chest.
Running across the bridge, the world got brighter, his soul lighter, and he jumped into the unknown as memories started to fall and shatter around him into warmth.
--
Nie Mingjue drank half a bowl.
Lan Xichen drank two-thirds of the bowl.
Meng Yao drank one and a half.
He’d never remember his past life.
But what was the point of starting anew if he had all the answers?
--
“Excuse us?”
Meng Yao turned from where he was standing, about to cross the street. In his hand his favorite coffee and snack that were from his favorite coffee shop on the corner of a fancy penthouse.
“Yes?” He asked blinking at the Alpha and Beta couple, they were together if their holding hands was anything to go by. His heart did do an odd skip and hop. “Is something wrong?”
“I…uh,” The Beta blushed, smiling as he blinked unsure why his heart fluttered. “I just wanted to know your name?”
“My name?” He turned looking at them, his heart did another funny flip. “It’s Meng Yao,”
“Meng Yao,” The Alpha mumbled, testing it out as if it had been long since he had muttered a name he never heard of before. “It’s a nice name.”
“Lovely even,” The Beta looked nervously giddy. “I’m Lan Xichen,”
“Nice to meet you,” He bowed and then paused at the Alpha. “And you?”
“Nie Mingjue,” The Alpha coughed into his fist, his face flushing a little because the Omega was cute, his heart beating faster. “You’re adorable,”
Blushing Meng Yao had to laugh and smile. “Thank you?”
Was this couple hitting on him?
Surely not!
They ended up all walking across the street together to chat, one thing led to another a year later he found himself in a relationship, content, and happy, and he got all the kisses and love he wanted.