Everyone Lives With Knives is a fic series by tucuxi based on The Untamed. It diverges from the main series when Wei Wuxian notices Su She at Qiongqi Path and kills him. This action results in Jin Zixuan's survival, and the series deviates more heavily from there.
Thus far, this series has four installments:
- "What Could Have Been": Follows Jin Guangyao as he attempts to rise through the ranks at Koi Tower, and the abrupt shifting in his plans when he ends up caring for his four nieces and nephews.
- "Always walked a very thin line": Follows Wei Wuxian before and during "What Could Have Been", starting with his surrender to the Four Great Clans after Qiongqi Path.
- A short installment which follows Wen Qing and A-Yuan in Cloud Recesses.
- A short installment from Nie Huaisang's perspective about Wei Wuxian.
It can be read on Archive of Our Own here
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This series provides examples of the following:
- Adaptational Heroism: Jin Guangyao, once his character development has kicked in. By the end of "What Could Have Been", he is truly loyal to his half-brother's family.
- Babies Make Everything Better: Variant in that they’re not his own children and it's not his own marriage, but Jin Guangyao’s situation and personality alike are greatly improved thanks to the four children Yanli and Zixuan have.
- Becoming the Mask: Jin Guangyao goes from using his nieces and nephews’ need for his care as a way to increase his own fortune to genuinely loving them.
- Blatant Lies: Jin Guangyao does not love his nieces and nephews and does not melt whenever he gets affection from the children, no, not at all.
- Death by Childbirth: Narrowly averted for Jiang Yanli. In-series her mother-in-law assumes that this will happen to her.
- Dies Differently in Adaptation: Su She is killed at Qiongqi Pass by Wei Wuxian, dying over a decade before his canon end.
- Jin Guangshan still falls victim to his son, but by a venereal disease worsened by the Song of Turmoil this time.
- First-Name Basis: After seeing him with his nieces and nephews, Nie Mingjue use Jin Guangyao’s full name for the first time within his earshot.
- Fix Fic: Things are almost universally better than they were in canon as a result of the For Want of a Nail discussed below. Many of the "good" characters—Jin Zixuan, Jiang Yanli, and the Wen Remnants—have thus far outlived their canon counterparts, Wei Wuxian's first death has been averted, Nie Mingjue's canon death by qi-deviation looks far less certain to happen, and both Jin Guangshan and Su She have died faster. Jin Guangyao also redeems himself.
- For Want Of A Nail: Wei Wuxian notices Su She at Qiongqi path and kills him, preventing Zixuan’s death. He then quickly surrenders and destroys the Stygian Tiger Amulet.
- This results in Zixuan surviving Qiongqi, though Zixun is still killed. Zixuan’s survival means that he and Yanli have several more children, spurring the beginning of "What Could Have Been”.
- The presence of the children prompts Jin Guangyao’s redemption.
- With Jin Guangyao too busy helping run the Jin Sect and look after his nieces and nephews, he hasn’t had time to play music for Nie Mingjue. Lan Wangji plays instead; there are implications that the music is genuinely helping Mingjue, as his appearances in "What Could Have Been" and later on in "Always walked a very thin line" show his temper is in better control.
- Four Is Death: Discussed in-universe due to cultural norms, but narrowly averted with Jiang Yanli's fourth child. She has a difficult pregnancy and an early childbirth that nearly kills her and the baby.
- Happily Married: Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan. Zixuan is known to be devoted to her, spending a lot of time with her when she is recovering from giving birth to Jin Hua.
- Heel–Face Turn: Jin Guangyao has one of these.
- Heel Realization: Very subtle one, but Jin Guangyao realizes that the neglect baby Jin Hua has been subjected to could well be traced to the rumors he himself encouraged that the baby was cursed. While he mentally admits that he was willing to let the child die at first, he works very hard to keep his nephew alive from that point on, even getting the baby food and letting him sleep in his room at night himself.
- In Spite of a Nail: Jin Guangyao still ends up pushed down the steps at Koi tower a second time, and then learns the song of turmoil to worsen an advancing mental condition. Only this time it’s his own father rather than Nie Mingjue.
- A-Yuan still ends up at Cloud Recesses…with the rest of the Wen Remnants
- Irony: A conversation in "Always walked a very thin line" shows that most of the Nie characters fear for the Jin children now in Jin Guangyao's care. Those who have read “What Could Have Been” know that Jin Guangyao is at that very moment developing into a true ally of the four children, and wouldn't dare hurt them.
- Love Redeems: Platonic version. Jin Guangyao’s love of his nieces and nephews prompts his Heel-Face Turn.
- Wei Wuxian's love for A-Yuan and Jin Ling prompts him to stay calm and avoid giving into resentful energy.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: Nie Huaisang, as in canon. Unlike in canon, Mingjue is on to him to a degree. Wei Wuxian is on to him fully.
- Patricide: A very, very justified one by Jin Guangyao, who worsens Jin Guangshan's STD-induced disease until it becomes fatal.
- Promotion to Parent: Jin Guangyao serves as a temporary one to his four nieces and nephews, including a sickly, premature infant whom he keeps with him at nights.
- A throwaway line by Nie Mingjue suggests that he was one of these with his own brother, as is Xichen with A-Yuan.
- Screw This, I'm Out of Here!: The children’s nurse. Madam Jin claims she ran off with a man. Jin Guangyao believes it was due to Madam Jin herself.
- Shell-Shocked Veteran: Everyone from the sunshot campaign is suffering from this. Jin Guangyao specifically has a freak-out with one of his nieces hits her head and nearly draws his sword.
- Wei Wuxian too, worsened by his resentful cultivation. He seems to be recovering, however.
- Series Fic: Consists of four installments thus far.
- Silk Hiding Steel: Jiang Yanli. After one meal with her, Jin Guangyao knows not to cross her.
- Single Tear: Lan Xichen cries one of these when Wei Wuxian is admitting why he cannot cultivate anymore.
- Spared by the Adaptation: Wei Wuxian kills Su She at Qiongqi Path, ensuring the survival of Jin Zixuan. In turn, Jiang Yanli, Wen Qing, the rest of the Wen Remnants, and Wei Wuxian himself survive. It's hinted that Nie Mingjue has also outlived his canon end.
- Unishment: Wei Wuxian is honestly relieved to be told to stop cultivating and to not have to look after everyone anymore
- Wise Beyond Their Years: Jin Qing, who is very inquisitive and whose trust of Jin Guangyao is taken very seriously by those around her.
- Would Hurt a Child: Jin Guangyao subverts this. He's perfectly willing to imply he'd hurt Jin Ling to keep Wei Wuxian in line, and considers all sorts of ways to keep him and his siblings in line...but as soon as he’s confronted by a very sick Jin Hua, he does everything to keep him alive.
- You Are Not Alone: From Mingjue to Jin Guangyao - “Rest. You need not do everything alone.”
- You Can Always Tell a Liar: Exploited by Jin Guangyao, who works to convince his brother that he’s got a specific tell when he lies.
