Chapter Text
---
Jin Ling had come to Lotus Pier with a single purpose: to visit his uncle, Jiang Cheng. But the last thing he had expected was to find Wei Wuxian standing there, like he belonged there .
He stepped into the courtyard, his eyes scanning the familiar surroundings, when he froze. His gaze landed on the figure standing by the stone steps, a figure he never thought he’d see again so soon.Wei Wuxian.
The sight of him was like a punch to the gut. Here, in the place that once held so many memories, the man who had once been like a brother to his mother stood before him, looking almost the same as he had all those years ago. He wore the same dark robes, his hair flowing loosely, but it was his presence—the weight of the moment—that made Jin Ling’s heart ache with anger.
Jin Ling hadn’t come here to face Wei Wuxian, but here he was, staring at the man who had caused the greatest tragedy of his life. He hadn’t known that Wei Wuxian was even here at Lotus Pier. For years, he had been told stories of how Wei Wuxian had turned away from the Jiang family, how his decisions had led to the death of his mother, yet Jin Ling never truly understood the depth of it until now.
His breath caught in his throat, a mixture of surprise and fury flooding his chest. His eyes locked onto Wei Wuxian, and for a moment, it felt like everything around them had fallen silent. The courtyard, the birds, even the wind seemed to stop moving. Jin Ling’s hands clenched into fists, his body trembling with the anger that he had been holding onto for so long.
Before he could control himself, the words slipped out in a sharp, bitter tone, "You... What are you doing here?" His voice cracked slightly, but the emotion in it was unmistakable—years of grief, loss, and questions all wrapped up in that one question.
Wei Wuxian turned slowly, his gaze falling on Jin Ling with an expression that Jin Ling could hardly interpret. There was no anger in Wei Wuxian’s eyes, only a deep, regretful sorrow that Jin Ling had never expected to see from the man who had caused so much of his pain.
And in that moment, everything that Jin Ling had carried for years—the bitterness, the hurt, the blame—came rushing to the surface. He had wanted answers, he had wanted to confront this man, and now he stood before him, just as confused and conflicted as he had been all those years ago.
"Jin ling lets go inside to talk.This is not the right place to talk." Wei Wuxian said
---
Jiang Cheng
Jin Ling stormed into the room Wei Wuxian following him, his eyes full of fury as he locked eyes with Wei Wuxian. "You, What are you doing here. Who allowed you to come here " he spat, his voice full of grief and anger. "You don't deserve to come here after you killed my mother!"
The accusation hung in the air like a heavy storm cloud. I stepped forward quickly, trying to stop the rush of emotions from consuming him. So much for a peaceful day "I thought. "Jin Ling, calm down!" I urged, but his fists were clenched and his eyes brimming with sorrow and rage.
Wei Wuxian stood still, his expression hollow, the guilt written deeply on his face. He knew what this was about. He had lived with the weight of it for years, the truth that no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t escape the consequences of his actions. The death of Jin Ling's mother—Wei Wuxian’s sister, Jiang Yanli—had never been easy to accept. She had loved him as a brother, and despite the dangers of the path he had taken, she never once stopped believing in him.
Jiang Cheng, seeing the confrontation escalate, quickly intervened, his voice a low growl. "Jin Ling, enough! You have no idea what you're saying."
But Jin Ling wasn't having it. "How can you defend him, Uncle? You know it’s true! My mother died because of him!" His chest heaved with the weight of his grief, his words biting and sharp.
I placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, but he jerked away. "Jin Ling," I said softly, my heart aching for the young boy who never truly got to know his mother. "Your mother didn’t die because of Wei Wuxian. She died trying to protect him."
Jin Ling froze for a moment, his wide eyes reflecting a mix of confusion and disbelief. "What do you mean? She died because of him! She... she died saving him?"
Jiang Cheng stepped forward, his voice steady, though his own grief lingered just beneath the surface. "Wei Wuxian wasn’t the one who killed her. He would never have wanted her to die. Your mother—she took the sword for him. She sacrificed herself for him, Jin Ling. She loved him like a brother, even when she feared the path he had chosen."
Jin Ling's eyes flashed with anger again. "But she still died! My mother is gone, and he... he’s still here!"
I nodded slowly. "I know it's hard to understand, but your mother never hated him. Even when she feared what Wei Wuxian had become, she still loved him. She knew his heart. She died because she couldn’t bear to see him die, even if it meant sacrificing herself."
Wei Wuxian looked down, guilt overwhelming him. His voice was strained as he spoke, as though the words were a struggle to let out. "I didn’t want her to die. I didn’t want any of this to happen. But I was too late, and she... she died saving me." His voice cracked, a shadow of the boy he had once been now burdened by the weight of his choices.
Jin Ling’s face twisted with anguish, his fists still clenched tightly. "She died because of him! If he hadn’t..." He couldn’t finish the sentence, his words lost in the raw pain.
I stepped closer to him, my tone gentle. "If you want to blame anyone, blame the situation. Blame the circumstances, but not him. Your mother made a choice, a sacrifice. She knew what it would cost her, but she didn’t hesitate. It was the kind of love she had for him, even when the world turned against him. Even when she feared his darkness, she didn’t hate him. She chose to protect him."
Jin Ling stood still, the anger in his eyes slowly starting to waver. His chest heaved with each breath, the grief not yet subsiding, but the walls of hatred that had built up inside him were starting to crack. "But she never told me any of this... she was gone before I could understand anything."
"She never had the chance to tell you, Jin Ling," Jiang Cheng said softly. "She died to protect him before you could even know her side. You were just a baby... barely 40 days old when she died. But she would have wanted you to understand that she loved him, even when things were difficult."
Wei Wuxian's voice was quiet, full of sorrow. "I failed her. And I’ll never be able to forgive myself for that."
There was a long silence. Jin Ling’s face was a mask of confusion and pain. The room was thick with tension, yet there was something else, too—an understanding starting to form between the young boy and the man who had been his mother’s brother.
Jin Ling took a step back, wiping his eyes. His voice was quieter now, though still laced with sorrow. "I don’t know if I can forgive you, Wei Wuxian," he said, almost in a whisper. "But I won’t hate you. Not anymore."
Wei Wuxian nodded, the weight of the years of misunderstanding lifting slightly from his shoulders. "I don’t expect your forgiveness, Jin Ling. But I am grateful for this... this chance to explain."
Jin Ling turned, his back to us, his head slightly bowed. "I’ll try to remember her the way she wanted me to. She loved you... I can see that now. But she’s still gone. And that hurts. It will always hurt."
"We will all carry that pain," Jiang Cheng said quietly. "But we must honor her love, not with hatred, but with understanding."
Jin Ling nodded, his face still troubled but his steps lighter as he moved toward the door. Before leaving, he turned back to look at Wei Wuxian, his voice softer now. "I’ll try... I’ll try to understand."
Wei Wuxian watched him leave, his heart heavy but thankful. "Thank you, Jin Ling," he whispered, knowing that this was just the beginning of something that would take time to heal.
---