I will wait

There is a path behind Cloud Recesses, meandering through the woods alongside a small brook until the trees clear and give way to a small meadow. Small bunnies gather around a figure clad in white, curiously sniffing the air and then curling up at his side. It has been a while since their guardian played his song for them.

The zither laments the loss of a loved one, yet again. Finger move on their own, a familiar tune fills the air.

Wei Ying, are you there?

He’s felt this ache before, old pain being brought up anew. He puts his palms down, softly silencing the strings and gazes up towards the sky. The tears roll silently down his face. Rule #5 Do not make noise, rule #73 Do not be overly sad. For too many years these rules have been drilled into his head.

Fate has been cruel, not only once, but twice. His love was brought back, but it had its price. The spell Mo Xuanyu used to offer his body to Wei Ying was fuelled by young master Mo’s resent. But after revenge was taken and all of young master Mo’s wishes were granted, the energy declined. One morning, his love’s eyes were not filled with their usual mischief and he knew that this was not his love anymore, but the man who had sacrificed his body before. That was a week ago. Since then, everything has seemed to pass by in a blur. People came, people went, but his Wei Ying was no longer present.

Lan Zhan!

Two notes and yet they mean the world. He suppresses a cry, his fingers tremble as he starts his reply.

I am here.

The zither vibrates as the invisible force pulls the strings. Like always his Wei Ying wants to say many things.

Lan Zhan! I am here, I am well! I had to depart so soon, I couldn’t even say goodbye! Aya, Er-gege, my Lan Zhan, don’t be too sad, don’t cry.

The song plays on and on, seemingly endlessly. He misses Lan Zhan, a-Yuan, his family. But it’s alright now, his time was up anyway. Wei Ying’s soul was fully restored and repaired, ready to move on and enter the circle of life. Maybe in a few years he’d be reborn again, wouldn’t that be nice? Though no, these things take time, don’t wait for him, his Lan Zhan deserves better, Wei Ying says. After all, there wasn’t even a guarantee that he’d be back. Wei Ying loves him. Wei Ying wants him to be well and with that he bids his farewell.

I love you too. I will wait.

His breath shakes as he ends the spell. He sits in trance, how much time has passed he cannot tell. Leaves crunch underneath gentle steps. A hand is placed upon his shoulder.

“a-Die.” Their son says as he helps him to his feet. “It’s getting cold, let’s go inside.”

It is not easy to cope within the next few days or weeks. But he manages somehow, at least he got to say goodbye this time around. He grieves, he recovers, he works and nighthunts. He cultivates and he waits as he cannot forget the man to whom he’s bound.

Time heals old wounds, but new ones arise. It is a cloudy day when his uncle dies. The brothers look worn after he’s been brought to the grave and for the first time he notices age leaving its marks on Xichen’s face. Wangji himself still looks the same. Surely his high cultivation is to blame?

He watches his brother age and grow grey, even a-Yuan looks older than Wangji now in some way. More time passes by and still he does not change, slowly he starts to think it strange. His high cultivation gets praised by all sects, though he is not sure if he likes its effects. And this is how his life went from normality to immortality.

At first he despairs. What use is eternal life if it is spent alone?

These things take time.

I will wait.

He remembers their words and the promise he made. He makes up his mind and gets on his blade.  Being where the chaos is, is what he is known for and that he does, always looking for what is his. His search for his love does not take long. The moment he crosses paths with that young man, he knows that they belong. Their song starts anew, but he knows it won’t last. His love is a human and in an immortal’s life he’ll soon be in the past.

I will wait.

He tells him once more as they part and the circle starts again.

Legend says there is a path behind Cloud Recesses, meandering through the woods alongside a small brook until the trees clear and give way to a small meadow. If you are lucky a rabbit will guide you to the immortal who’s residing there.