Chapter Text
"Jin Ling, What were you thinking?! Next time you run off like that, I'll break your legs!" yelled Jiang Cheng with an empty threat.
You see, what led to this unique situation was quite a simple one. So, there was an issue near Yunmeng, Yiling actually, and of course, Jiang Cheng was the one who needed to deal with it. It was just some minor corpses bothering a smaller village, nothing too big or too concerning. So course, Jiang Cheng thought it could have been a bit of a learning experience for Jin Ling, as was suggested by Wei Wuxian in that Jiang Cheng wanted to be somewhat less hostile to people and rekindle the friendship he once had with him. Sure, he was still rude to him at times, but Wei Wuxian could be so annoying. But then Jin Ling wanted to bring some friends, which Jiang Cheng allowed (though with some minor aggression, but in his defense, Jiang Cheng just wanted some bonding time with his nephew because since Jin Ling became a sect leader, there was less time for him being able to hang-out with the latter).
Anyway, so Jin Ling brought Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, and Ouyang Zizhen along with him and Jiang Cheng to the woods near a remote village in Yiling. Now, you may be wondering why Jiang Cheng wants to break Jin Ling's legs. Well, Jin Ling (being Jin Ling) heard a noise and ran off from the group (he was in the back, and Jiang Cheng was lecturing them on something or another) in an attempt to prove himself once more to his uncle. Then Jin Ling tripped and fell down a large hill, basically a small mountain, and only had alerted the group through his yelling.
These events led the group to where they are now, Jiang Cheng yelling at Jin Ling (who's acting as though he didn't fall down a small mountain as he brushes off his clothes) and threatening to break his legs. Though, at this point, it was just Jin Ling and Jiang Cheng bickering; it eventually subdued due to Lan Sizhui calming down Jin Ling, which led to the teenager stepping down, but either way, Jiang Cheng would have won with a simple "Shut up," which had yet to come.
Eventually, when silence fell upon the group, the atmosphere and environment seemed, then, finally noticeable. It was similar to the Burial Mounds, maybe the outskirts; regardless, it had been recognizable to those present. The fog had a strange tint to it, almost like a maroon, which would be unnoticeable to the average eye, though, to a cultivator, it was easily observable when paying attention.
The first to point it out was Lan Sizhui, "Sect Leader Jiang, the air, it's strange... almost like something is in it."
Jiang Cheng acknowledged this and told them to cover their mouth, as well as their nose, thus making sure they didn't breathe in anything as of then (due to the fear of it being poisonous). He then inspected the air with the help of the Juniors. Though even after its inspection, the answer to what it was was still unclear.
Soon following, they transported into some memory. And there the group stood, seemingly non-existent to the world around them, like a ghost. Ouyang Zizhen, alongside Lan Jingyi and Jin Ling, visibly started to panic, though the other two denied it. Jiang Cheng and Lan Sizhui panicked as well, but unlike the rest of the group, it wasn't as visible. Nevertheless, there stood the group looking out onto a snow-covered market place in Yiling. Everything seemed ordinary, except for the fact that it was nearing noon and that five minutes ago, it was nighttime in the middle of Spring- though still in Yiling.
What stood out the most to everyone, though, was the sound of barking and a child crying. Thus, the group searched for the noise, and there it was; a small boy- possibly five or six -covered in dirt, wearing rags, holding some bread. The child was backed against a wall as three large dogs barked and came closer; he screamed and hollered for them to leave him be. He cried for his mother and father. He cried out for someone to help him; for someone to save him. And within that moment, Jiang Cheng had shivered; he had realized who the poor child was.
"Wei Wuxian," whispered Jiang Cheng, shock filling his eyes and fear detectable in his voice. There was a pity that surrounded the Sect Leader as he looked on, knowing the fate of his brother, his past closest companion.
The Juniors looked at Jiang Cheng with confusion and bleak curiosity, switching their gazes between each other, the boy, and Jiang Cheng. There was an unspoken silence between them as they decided who would speak up to make sure that the Sect Leader was alright as if they were playing rock-paper-scissors with their eyes. Eventually, one spoke up.
Jin Ling, "Uncle Jiang, are you alright?"
Jiang Cheng kept looking straight forward, unable to look at his nephew as he responded to him quietly, as if it slept out then and there. "That's... Wei Wuxian."
Jin Ling gawked loud enough so that the others could hear, "What do you mean 'that's Wei Wuxian'?"
Jiang Cheng, "That's Wei Wuxian before we brought him to Lotus Pier," he paused, took a long breath, as to hold himself from barreling over the edge, "this is probably close to the time of his parents' death."
The juniors turned their attention back to the child, now identified as Wei Wuxian, and stared. They all observed as the hapless child backed down in defeat, throwing what is probably his only source of food for the day at the ravaging dogs, which ran off, satisfied with the meal they had obtained. Lan Sizhui looked at the younger version of his father in unexplainable awe as he wondered how this powerless child became the compelling adult he is now; the Yiling Loazu.
Ouyang Zizhen quickly felt tears fall down his face, unable to look away from the adversity that had occurred. The other juniors, excluding Lan Sizhui, proceeded to judge him, yet they were experiencing the same feelings as they felt their chests tighten.