White Eyes of A-Qing

What if  A-Qing's unique white eyes indicated a special talent of "sight"?

In rewatching the anime, it struck me that A-Qing's eye color is very unique.  She is not blind, though she feigns it, and yet people remark about their singularity.  While not really "white," they are more a very light gray or silver.  

Perhaps this eye color could indicate someone born with a special talent or skill - foresight, visions, or prophecies... or, seeing auras, truth vs lies, or the like.  

Wei Wuxian has light gray eyes as well, though not to the degree of A-Qing.  Maybe they could be part of the same "clan" of people with a unique ability only identifiable by their eye color.  

There are lots of ways this could go in a story, as many fanfic readers could likely guess.  I haven't seen any stories personally which dwell on A-Qing's eyes and pose some variations of what it could do, and the potential comparability to Wei Wuxian's own eyes. 

Time Travel: Wei Wuxian is Third or Fourth Disciple

What if Wei Wuxian time travels to the past and, as part of fixing for the future, he does not assume the Head Disciple position in the Jiang sect?

I absolutely love time travel fics for the MDZS fandom.  The original story, the CQL derivation, and even the other media versions provide such a robust world and set of characters that there are so many avenue to allow for divergences or "what if" situations to take new paths. 

A lot of time travel fics I've read have Wei Wuxian reliving his time in the Jiang sect in mostly the same fashion - as Head Disciple and following the same dynamics he held with the Jiang family, OR where he does not engage with the Jiang much at all (grows up elsewhere).  However, what about something in the middle?  

Crossover: MDZS x Quanzhi Fashi (A Versatile Mage)

Quanzhi Fashi has elements that might merge well with MDZS's story, if a crossover were to be written:

• Teens attend the Gusu Lectures and learn what core they are most suited to, as well as its potential strength.  They take general courses on magical history and society, then are separated for training classes based on their element.
• There are 7 major elements: Ice, Fire, Earth, Water, Wind, Light, Lightning
• Certain families have longstanding affinities:  Nie_Earth, Lan_Ice, Jin_Light, Wen_Fire, Jiang_Water.
• Fire is the strongest, hence the Wen Sect is considered the leading family in the magic world.
• Light is the weakest, but the Jin are rich and use gold to hide their weak magical strength.
• Lightning is an extremely rare and volatile element that has not been seen in a century.  The last user was the Immortal Baoshan Sanren, who has isolated herself from society (unknown reasons).

Inn or Restaurant Owner / Spy / Smuggler ! Wei Wuxian

What if Wei Wuxian owned or managed a restaurant or inn, but was also secretly participated in a spy network and smuggled the Dafen Wens out of Qishan before the war broke out?

Given Wei Wuxian's gregarious and sympathetic nature, I think he would be a great inn or restaurant owner.  He would chat with customers, share stories he has heard from other travelers, ensure people are comfortable and have good food and wine!  He likes to talk and likes to take care of others. 

The inn or restaurant would be located in Yiling.  He has grown up there his whole life and is not a cultivator.  Jiang Fengmian never adopted him.  Instead, the inn owner (or someone else) who saw him waiting out on the streets for his parents, began to care for him as a child.  He then started working in exchange for room and board.  By the time he is 16-18 years old, he is well versed in running the business and has largely taken over management as the owner focuses on their grandkids (or retires).  He always has a welcoming smile for travelers.  He has learned some hand-to-hand combat for dealing with rough customers, but usually, his demeanor switching from cheerful to serious and angry with some sharp words, is enough to set people straight or to get them out the door.  

In such a role, he is very well informed about the happenings and gossip in the cultivation world and local areas.  He knows who each of the key people are in the Sects and knows many secrets.  He participates in information exchange with a mysterious benefactor.  This person is Nie Huaisang, who is starting to build up his spy network, unbeknownst to his brother and everyone else who believes his dandy behavior.  Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang share a good laugh about this.

Wei Wuxian raised by a Weapons Master

What if Wei Wuxian, orphaned in Yiling, was picked up and apprenticed to a Weapons Master, instead?

Young Wei Wuxian has been living on the streets of Yiling for two years.  He has established some relations with local store owners and aunties, as he is a small child.  They let him help do errands among the shops in return for food and shelter.  He has a kind and curious disposition, happy to help others with little desire for anything in return beyond his livelihood.  

In doing an errand one day, he observes a man talking with a grumpy store owner who deals in mined stone and precious jewels.  He is caught by the array of daggers being discussed and, peaking his head into the store as they walk in, sees the walls lined with intriguing talismans.  He is shooed off, but visits later and again the next day.  After the man leaves, he learns a bit from the shop owner who is willing to show him some basics on talismans.  

Lan Zhan's Golden Shield of Brightness

When reading this poem, I feel like Lan Zhan is talking about his Wei Ying.  It is a beautiful representation of how Lan Zhan admires and loves the brilliance of his husband.  I would greatly love if a writer could put a story together that evidences this poem's words. 

MY GOLDEN SHIELD OF BRIGHTNESS

i love how free you are
a golden shield of brightness
that both protects and projects
that floods your space
and overflows into illuminated waterfalls
i love how soft the air is when you smile
i could fall asleep in the curl of those lips
and drift off into precious ever after
i love how when we are laughing so hard
at nothing at all
it’s as if we might just float away
but you keep me grounded
while flying
and there is never a trying
to be anything else
i love how free you are
the world feels so free
i feel so free too
whenever next to you

– shilow

Source:  http://shilow.co/my-golden-shield-of-brightness/

Baoshan Sanren as Chief Cultivator

What if a neutral outside party, Baoshan Sanren, became Chief Cultivator after Wen Ruohan's fall from power instead?

Rather than Jin Guangshan, it would be interesting for a neutral, outside party take up the role of Chief Cultivator after the war.  Suspicion is high on all fronts and many Sects are recovering... resources are depleted, buildings need to be rebuilt, many lives were lost and need to be put to rest.  The fact that the Jins came out with the least damage is something recognized and resented by all.  People in cultivation society fear another dictator or warmonger and yet they need a break to recoup internally rather than worrying about inter-Sect politics.