MDZS Wangxian Fic recs (based on the novel canon and characterisation)
If you are in the mood for fics following the novel canon and characterisation, you might find it overwhelmingly difficult to find some considering how many fics labelled “mdzs” are actually based on or takes elements from the CQL!canon/characterisation.
Here are some of my favourites:
a stone to break your soul, a song to save it by rikke (M, 180k).
When the entire cultivation world turns against Wei WuXian, Jiang Cheng comes up with a plan to save him and arranges a marriage between his brother and the Second Jade of Lan, Lan WangJi.
Might be my absolute favourite in the fandom. A canon-divergent, case-fic that gets the characters absolutely right, and weaves an intricate plot following mdzs’ themes and plot beats. tbh I’d recommend all of rikke’s fics in the fandom.
Murder at the Masquerade by krazieLeylines (M, 60k).
“You better behave tonight,” Jiang Cheng spoke up, poking a hole into Wei Wuxian’s thoughts. “Just because we’ll be in disguise does not mean your actions won’t have consequences. If I hear of any mischief, I will know exactly who to blame.”
Wei Wuxian laughed again. “Well, that’s not fair,” he replied, “Is that not the whole purpose of a masquerade? To let ourselves be unrestrained, just for one night, with no strings attached?”
(In which the Jin family hosts a masquerade.)
Another of my favourites. Although it is a Victorian!AU case fic with western fantasy elements, this fic manages to stay fateful to the spirit of the novel. Very engaging. This fic is the first in a series set in the same universe: Detective Wei Wuxian Series.
The Guests of Cloud Recesses by cafecliche (M, 10k).
“We’re in this together, you know,” Wei Wuxian says. “You’re dead. I used to be dead.We’re both tolerated and incredibly unwelcome here. We both annoy the same people, as far as I can tell. I’ve built relationships on less. Let’s work this out.” But again, there’s no response.
(Or: there’s a ghost in the Cloud Recesses.)
Another of my favourites. Post-canon fic. It explores wwx’s “trauma” in a way that is consistent with his characterisation in the novel. Wangxian is also absolutely soft.
for you, a smile from heaven by jiazhen (T, 5k).
“You’re not fair at all,” he whines. “You don’t say a single word, and I’m already like this.Do you know what you’re doing to me? My heart is beating so fast right now. Lan Zhan, you’re making me sick. You’re making me lovesick.”
(or: The day is strange. Wei Wuxian wakes to see his husband still in bed.)
Post-canon fic. Extremely soft, will make you feel too many emotions. The author shows a great grasp of the characters.
A Justice for All (series) by firesonic52 (two completed fics within the series)
Completely delightful, even if the premise might appear a little wacky. Pre-relationship so far. If you love the murder mystery aspects of mdzs, you have to give this series a read.
Concerning Rabbits by pomme (G, 28k)
Years of silence have created gaps of conversation that are wider than Wangji has ever known, and isn’t sure how to fill. But while he’s quiet, the rabbits are even quieter, and he’s found it helps to talk to them.
“We have a—” and Wangji doesn’t know how to finish. “We have a guest,” he decides. “You do not know him, but your grandparents did.”
The black rabbit wrinkles its nose.
Wangji reaches out to stroke its back. “I also do not like strangers. But you will like him.”
In which Lan Wangji navigates life, family, grief, friendship, and love through the years—with rabbits.
A contemplative character study. One of my favorite take on the many iterations of lwj’s pov of the events of the novel.
kiss me back to sleep by museofwriting (M, 3k)
Lan WangJi gets to wake up to Wei WuXian asleep beside him for the rest of his life
Post-canon fic, full of soft wangxian.
To Capture a ghost by (M, 10k)
“Oh, Hanguang Jun is back from seclusion, after thirteen years?” Wei Wuxian perks up with practiced casualness. “Going to chase after me again ehe…”
He must be even more bored than Wei Sizhui thought to look forward to play hide-and-seek with a ferocious martial god he’s been religiously avoiding for decades. “Not that I know of. I believe he’s planning to descent to hunt down the bridegroom ghost.”
“What!” Wei Wuxian bristles at that, looking mortally offended. “Lan Zhan would rather capture some low class Menace over me, the Awful Terrible Not Good At All Yiling Patriarch? That’s unacceptable.”
Or: the Yiling Patriarch Crimson Light Dancing On Graves and His Highness the Crown Prince of Gusu Hanguang Jun, from the eyes of others. A Wangxian in TGCF AU.
TGCG!AU. Any fics dealing with wwx’s ridiculous and petty attempts to catch and keep lwj’s attention (as if he already didn’t have it) has a special place in my heart.
asymptotic by chinxe (M, 26k)
The members of the Lan Clan have never been particularly well-known for their good judgement when it comes to matters of the heart.
Which is why it should come as a surprise to no one when Lan Wangji falls in love with an actual ghost.
Canon-divergent!AU. I feel like everyone has read this one already, but it doesn’t hurt to make sure everyone gives it a read!
An arrow through time by syrus_jones (M, 8/?)
Lan Wangji stared at the bump beneath the covers of his bed. Stared at the intruding hand that led to the arm that led beneath said bump of covers. His mind was empty, as if refusing to process this image meant that it simply would not exist.
It had been a good plan, as far as Lan Wangji had been concerned, at least until he remembered that lying was prohibited in the Cloud Recesses. Surely denouncing the existence of something fell beneath that category on account of lying to oneself?
In which Lan Wangji passes out after leaving the QishanWen archery competition only to wake up an indeterminate time in the future with a beautiful, infuriating, very naked stranger in his bed. It goes about as well as expected.
Time-travel/Dimension-travel!fic. This fic yanks you in so many different directions. The author updates regularly, so you won’t have to wait for two months between chapters. This fic really understands the crafty, strategic side of wwx, and how lwj is also very good at deductive thinking.
Flowers of Blood and Bones by Sakurafubuki (15/?)
Wei Wuxian is a Hunter, like his mother was before him. He’s been trained since he was a child to answer the call of the Hunt, he’s survived until he’s become the most proficient slayer of his generation, and even if he’s been forced to learn how to fight the hard way, even if his siblings and himself are the only remaining Hunters in town, he’s always known where he stands, and what to do, and who the enemy is.
Part of him is very aware that a Hunt can go wrong, but he would have never expected to have his life spared by a vampire when it happens - not out or mercy or of concern, but because of sheer indifference.
And it’s not like he’s looking for this, or that he has any desire to collaborate with one of the creatures he’s been raised to kill, but something is happening in that small world of theirs, and when circumstances call for it Wei Wuxian will have to swallow his pride and be practical - and maybe realize along the way that there’s a lot he doesn’t know about vampires after all.
Vampire and Hunter!AU in a modern setting. I have literally harassed my friend who hasn’t read mdzs about this fic because it got me too hyped up. It is just that interesting and compelling–I find myself thinking about it out of nowhere or thinking about the choices the author made with their version of vampires and hutners. I love the take on lwj and the Lan’s infamous obsession with regulation. The author doesn’t update often, but the chapters are long and–just read it.
Thief of Souls by gotcocomilk (M, 5/?)
In the depths of the Stygian Tiger Seal slept a soul.
It was a relentless thing, bright and brilliant as the dawn. It was a fragile thing too, broken by tragedy too terrible to name. Through the resentful energy and in the cracks of cold iron it clung on, prisoner and patriarch. Beneath a bloody patina, it had no dreams but nightmares, and no thoughts but memories.
And now, in the cruel fingers of Xue Yang, it would awaken.
Gotcocomilk has written a lot of delightful pieces for the fandom, and I’m very curious where she’ll take this one.
The signal we send by flowercities (M, 1/?)
As head of security at Gusu Lan Industries, Lan Wangji is one of the rare androids to have risen this far up the ranks of the company he was created to work for. The last thing he needs is a wanted hacker ruining it all for him by bringing long-buried emotions to the surface.
A Cyberpunk!AU with an Android!lwj and hacker!wwx. The premise of the fic has been set perfectly with the first chapter. Unfortunately the fic has not updated since January.
Who Will Wed Wei Wuxian? by fancypineapple (M, 4/?)
The most famous, most powerful, most reviled black wizard alive, Wei Wuxian, is looking for a wife. Not just any ordinary wife - a black witch, one as formidably strong and wicked as himself, so their combined bloodlines bring about a heir to the throne of dark magic.
When he and his men put together a competition to find the witch of his dreams, what could be the meaning of renowed peacemaker and whiter-than-white wizard Lan Wangji being among the participants? A mistake? An assassination plot? How does he plan to compete in a Black Arts contest, righteous as he is? How do the other competitors feel about having a white wizard around?
And who the Hell wears a necklace made of human eyes?!
Modern AU! with magic. Absolutely delightful and entertaining, although the fic has not updated since February.
