Chapter Text
1...
Someone was screaming, loudly and breathlessly, the sound full of pain and just a touch of terror. The sound was loud enough to echo back on itself and something in the distance was howling in response. Slowly, the screams died away, leaving pitiful whimpers and gasps in their place.
How much more can you take?
As much as is necessary!
For all I know, this is killing you.
I... I don't care. I have to do it. It's too late to go back now.
I warned you...
Wen Qing... I know... I knew before we started. Ju... just keep going... finish it... please...
The screaming began again, though the voice cracked and shattered as the night went on. By dawn, there was no more voice to scream, but there was agony in the sounds that still filtered from the man lying on the ground, writhing, fingers digging into dirt. A strong set of hands held his shoulders tightly, holding him in place as the man's head thrashed against his thighs, the face hovering above it all twisted in concentration and worry.
A woman knelt to the side, her hands slowly, painstakingly drawing the golden core from the man. Behind her, another young man lay silently, waiting, unconscious and unaware of what was happening. The other three knew he'd object harshly and loudly if he were awake, so they were grateful that the sedative was still doing its work.
Almost. Endure it. It will be over soon. I promise...
>
Dark eyes opened slowly, their vision blurred and shaky as they rolled side to side, trying to make out the surrounding area. A hand swam into view, drawing the focus of those eyes until things began to come into clarity. He was laying on the ground again, he could feel it cold and hard beneath him, but there was no sky above him. Only more cold, unforgiving stone. A groan left the man as he began to move his limbs, feeling stiff and sore from head to toe.
Why am I barefoot?
The thought sounded funny in his head, his inner voice unfamiliar and echoing. Rolling to his side, he forced his body to sit up, feeling a wave of nausea overtake him at the movement. He dry heaved a few times, coughing painfully.
My ribs are bruised... what happened to me?
It took a while before he got to his feet without falling, and when he finally managed it, he was nursing a gash on the palm of his hand from catching himself on a jagged rock. His head swam and he felt like he was drowning despite being able to breathe.
Where's Lan Zhan? I need to find... wait... who's Lan Zhan?
Step by stumbling step, he made his way toward the source of light across the cavernous room, the ragged red robe he was wearing dragging on the ground around his feet. Blood dripped from his hand, leaving a trail of tiny droplets in his wake, but he didn't notice, not really. All he wanted was the sunlight. His entire being throbbed and he wondered if he'd been in a fight and lost. Everything ached and screamed, even his teeth.
He finally made it to the mouth of the cave and looked out, squinting against the bright light.
Where am I?
Using his clean hand, he shoved at the mess of his hair where it lay in his face, taking slow steps out into that light, feeling it warm him so suddenly that he shivered violently. He dropped to his knees, dry heaving again as the warm wind stirred up the dirt in the courtyard, sending it into the air in tiny tornadoes. His stomach ached and his ribs felt tight around his lungs. Panting, he remained on his hands and knees for a time, fingers making furrows in the hard packed earth. When the vertigo passed, he got to his feet again, looking around through burning eyes.
… Burial Mounds... this is... this... he threw me in... how... did I live?
Trying to remember made his head spin and he nearly fell again, so he shoved the thoughts away. Instead, he focused on walking, one foot ahead of the other, and staying upright. From the tilt of the sun, it was early in the day, not yet noon, and it was already getting hot. Sweat gathered on his brow and neck, running down his skin in sticky streams, making the robe he wore stick to him. He knew there were other layers he should have on, but he had no idea where they'd gone. Best not to think about that right now.
At the head of a path, he had to lean on a tree, using both hands now to shove at his hair, uncaring of the blood he was adding to the dirt already in it. He was hot, he was exhausted, and worst of all, he had no idea what had happened to him. He stopped, his eyes going wide with shock.
Who am I?
No. No, don't think about that. He had to keep moving.
It took him hours to descend the path, his legs repeatedly giving out and spilling him into the dirt again. He lay there longer each time before he was able to get up again and keep moving, tears cutting clean tracks in his dirt stained cheeks. He could imagine what kind of fright he must be.
When he finally reached the bottom and stepped out of the dark, twisted trees, he thought his lungs might burst as the air was suddenly clearer in them. Stumbling forward, he cried out and collapsed into the tall grass, feeling the sunlight burning into his back, even warmer than it had been on the mountain. Rolling over, he let it bathe his face as he lay there, crying again though he didn't know why. Panting, gasping, his entire body sobbing with pain, darkness stole over his vision and he fell away into nothingness for a time.
Something licking his fingers woke him hours later. Turning his head slowly, he watched a fox kit nudge his hand and lick at him again, making soft chirping sounds. His fingers twitched and the kit took off into the grass. A moan filtered from him as he pushed himself upright, though he felt a little clearer this time. His hand wasn't bleeding anymore and the cut had started to scab up, though it was an angry color. Reaching for the tattered hem of his robe, he yanked off a large piece and wrapped his hand tightly before getting to his feet again.
Which way?
Turning in a slow circle, he chose at random and began to walk. The day dragged on but he fell a lot less the more he moved. The foothills slowly fell away to an open plain and in the distance, he could see a city. Obviously, he'd chosen correctly in which way to go, so he kept his eye on it. As the sun was setting, he found himself looking at a river he hadn't even realized he was following. Stripping out of his clothes, he threw himself into the icy water, drawing a series of loud gasps from his lungs as he scrubbed the dirt and blood from his skin and hair. His feet were the worst, torn and bruised from the rocks and hardpan earth he'd traveled all day. Afterward, he sat naked on a rock, letting the warm evening dry his skin before pulling his robe back on and wrapping his hand with another strip from the bottom of it.
He felt a little better as he twisted his hair to wring it out, tossing it back over his shoulder where it finally stayed put. It wasn't clean by a long shot, but he could manage it now. He started to walk again, feeling the first faint rumble of hunger in his stomach, but he had no food and he was worried that drinking the water in the river would make him throw up, it was so cold. So he walked and he ignored it, the city coming closer a little at a time.
It was full dark when he finally reached the gate, his hair dry and his feet aching worse than ever now. Sticking to the shadows, he slipped inside the city, hurrying into the first alleyway he spotted.
Why am I hiding?
He didn't know, but he did it anyway. Probably because he looked so bad. As he moved slowly and carefully at the fringe of the evening crowds, his mind kept flashing back to a pair of child sized hands reaching out to vendors stalls, sometimes able to snag some tiny morsel, but more often than not those hands were slapped and their owner cursed and beaten. Shaking his head, he pushed the thoughts aside, ignoring the growling in his stomach as the smell of food wafted over him. Blinking, he realized that he was standing behind one of the food vendors, an arm outstretched as if to take the meat that lay so tantalizingly close.
Just as he was about to draw away, the vendor turned and spotted him, giving a shout as he lashed out. The words jumbled in his mind as he backed away, making sounds he hoped were words, his hands up in surrender. He tripped and fell over the display of the vendor beside the food stall, bring more shouts and waving arms. He was grabbed by the two men and dragged into the alley where they set upon him with fists and feet, shouting unintelligibly as he simply tried to protect his head.
From the other end of the alley came the sound of a zither chord being struck, hard, followed by shouts as the men beating him were sent flying. He lay on the ground, trembling, his vision blurring again. Something swam into view, a face, he could see the mouth moving.
I know that face...
Blinking, he reached out his bandaged hand to the one before him, but barely touching that face before his strength failed him and his arm dropped back down.
"Wei Ying...? Wei Ying!"
The words suddenly came to him clearly and he sighed, a tiny smile curling his lips.
Yes. Yes, that's my name. I'm Wei Ying. I remember now.
Hands were on him, lifting him and he gasped as new pain settled over his old pain. The hands gentled, but still lifted him firmly, carrying him away. His vision danced and his mind floated in and out, but he clung to the other, fresh blood dripping from him, his clothing further torn and tattered. He was a wreck, probably a terrifying mess, but he couldn't bring himself to care at the moment. His mind floated away again.
Coming to, he felt something warm and wet against his cheek, jerking away from it involuntarily, grunting softly.
"Wei Ying. Be still."
The voice, low, deep, comforting, settled him and he leaned into the feeling when it came again. It took a while, but he got his eyes open and the face leaning over him slowly came into focus.
I know you. I know you. Don't I? I feel like...
But his head swam and he bit back another groan, feeling like it would further upset the man who was currently tending his wounds. If the other guy's expression was any indication, he was plenty upset already.
Reaching up a shaky hand, he took a weak hold of the other's wrist, stopping his motions. Blinking a few times, he stared up at him, concentrating as hard as he could, knowing he knew who this was, desperate to remember.
"La..." he tried, though it felt like he was choking on his tongue. "Lan... Lan Zha... n..." He frowned, knowing he could say it, he'd been speaking in his own head all day. "Lan... Zhan..."
"Yes," came that voice again, though it was flooded with relief now. "Wei Ying, it's me."
"Lan... Zhan." Wei Ying gave a weak nod, smiling faintly. "I... I know you... I... but I..."
"Don't speak. Rest." Lan Zhan carefully removed his wrist from Wei Ying's hold, leaning aside to rinse his cloth so he could continue to clean the other's face. "We'll speak of all of this later."
Wei Ying closed his eyes again, feeling exhaustion and pain pulling him down. Lan Zhan's hands were gentle and he felt safe here with him. He let himself fall into a deep sleep, unaware that Lan Zhan, against all of his levels of propriety, removed the tattered remains of his clothing to clean the rest of him. He missed the hard look that crossed the other's face at the cuts and bruises that covered him, most certainly older than the beating he'd just taken. He carefully redressed him in clean pants and a soft shirt, then left him to sleep.
He sat himself at the low table with his zither, playing the Song of Clarity, both for himself and for Wei Ying. Something was definitely wrong, but he would have to wait to find out when Wei Ying was ready.
>
There was screaming again, but it wasn't the kind he'd been dreaming of before. Where that had been his own voice echoing off of mountains, he now realized, what he was hearing now was a cacophony of voices screaming out in agony, terror, desperation, and some laughing madly all around him. He curled in on himself, his face soaked with tears as unseen hands reached out for him, clawing at him, trying to rip him to shreds, screaming and wailing in his ears, in his head.
Please. Please stop! Please, let me go!
The screams grew in pitch and volume, as if the number of unseen souls had doubled, then quadrupled.
I don't want to die like this!
Laughter now, and he recognized it as his own, so very close but not coming from his own lips.
"But this is how you'll die," he heard his own voice whisper in his ear, inside his head as well as from by his side. *You are weak. You are nothing. I will do what must be done. You just lay here and die."
No... no! What are you saying? What are you doing?
The laughter faded, but the screams did not, the tearing hands now claws that were tearing and scratching and rending his flesh...
Wei Ying jerked awake with a yell, bolting upright in the bed, straight into Lan Zhan's hands. Tears spilled from his eyes as his hands gripped pure white robes in a white-knuckled grip, staring into Lan Zhan's eyes desperately.
"Lan... Lan Zhan..." he panted. "Wha... what ha-ha... have I... done?"
Chapter 2
Summary:
Three months after his disappearance, Wei Wuxian walks out of Burial Mounds, full of malignant power and a thirst for revenge, not only against the Wen clan, but ALL of the clans.
Weeks later, a lost and confused Wei Ying arrives in Yiling with no memory of who he is or where he's been. Worse, he seems to have momentarily lost every skill he's ever learned, leaving him defenseless against anyone mistaking him for Wei Wuxian.
Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian shows no sign of slowing down in his mission to bring the cultivation world to its knees.
Chapter Text
2...
For three months, Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng had searched for Wei Wuxian. It was hard not to fear the worst as every lead ran them into dead ends and no one they spoke to had seen him at all. What made it worse was that the place in the back of Wangji's mind where the mental connection he and Wei Ying had made when battling the Tortoise of Slaughter still lingered remained stubbornly silent. In the time between their separation and Wei Wuxian's disappearance, there had been a constant soft whisper that he'd learned to ignore for the most part until the noise grew and he knew something was happening. He didn't know if Wei Ying was aware of it, so he kept himself as calm and quiet as possible. Now, he regretted not knowing as the silence loomed day by day.
"Kneel," he growled, his face hard as he faced down the soldiers of the Wen army, disgusted at their drunkenness, appalled by their blatant disregard for Wei Wuxian's life. "Now."
The trembling men fell to their knees, swords clattering to the ground as they whimpered. Lan Wangji's face remained hard and impassive, even as Jiang Cheng arrived just ahead of the Lan disciples that he'd brought with him. Swords were trained on the cowering men, keeping them in check.
"Where is Wei Wuxian?" he asked, his voice dangerous, causing even Jiang Cheng to flinch.
Terrified glances went around, but no one answered, the swords drawing closer to the gathered prisoners. A hand rose, the man gagging where the zither string held him fast to the stone leg of the torch. Lan Wangji raised his hand and the man was released, leaving him to gasp and wheeze as he crawled forward.
"W-we... we dropped him in the Burial Mounds!" the insect babbled, his head nearly touching the ground. "Th-there isn't anything l-left to find! Not body or bone or soul!"
It took every ounce of will power Wangji possessed not to end the bastard's life right there. Jiang Cheng's face contorted in rage and grief, but he, too, kept himself still. He refused to believe what he heard. The two exchanged a look before Wangji ordered the men taken into custody and turned away, making his way back down the steps, Jiang Cheng following a few steps behind.
The two of them had been traveling together for a while, though they rarely spoke to one another. They didn't really need to, both knowing they had the same goal in finding someone they both cared about. It was an alliance of necessity, even if Lan Wangji wasn't particularly fond of Jiang Cheng most days. Months of watching the new clan leader scold Wei Ying for every minor thing while they'd been in Cloud Recesses, then blame him for just being himself when they'd been held by the Wen Clan for indoctrination had not endeared the younger man to him in the slightest. He understood that their relationship was complicated, but he still didn't like it.
Standing near one another, Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng made awkward small talk, both skirting the edge of what they really wanted to say until Jiang Cheng couldn't help himself.
"He's still alive. I can feel it."
Lan Wangji wanted to agree, but his rational mind had a tendency to override his heart. As much as it pained him, he couldn't ignore what was likely the truth. Especially after he was given Wei Ying's sword. It felt good to have Bichen in his hand again, the weight of it a familiar comfort. But Suibian made his heart ache because when he held the grip and gave a slight tug, the blade would not move. The silence in his head deepened somehow and Wangji had to remove himself before anyone saw the tears threatening to fall. He hated to cry and he'd be damned if anyone saw him do it.
He and Jiang Cheng traveled to the Unclean Realm, arriving in the aftermath of a great and bloody battle. Leaving the other to greet his sister, Lan Wangji surveyed the bodies strewn across the ground. Beside him, Jin Zixuan was talking, but there was a pounding sound growing in his ears, making it hard to concentrate. He let the sound of Jiang Yanli crying behind them answer Zixuan's question, his hand tightening where he held both swords.
"Congratulations on your victory," Jiang Cheng was saying, drawing Wangji out of his thoughts. "By killing Wen Xu, you've taken off one of Wen Ruohan's arms."
"But it isn't enough." Nie Mingjue's face was dark, a storm of emotion where he sat on his dais, hands clenched in hard fists on the surface of the table before him. "There are still too many grievances unanswered. We need to remove the head." He slammed a fist against the table, knocking over an empty wine jar and causing his ink pot to splash. "If we could do that, this entire war would be over in an instant."
Jiang Cheng was nodding in agreement, his own expression cloudy as he thought of his parents and his home. And Wei Wuxian, lost somewhere among the dead. Lan Wangji remained impassive, his eyes directly ahead, his mind following paths of thought he had never entertained before. Something in his heart was darkened, and he wasn't sure if he disliked it or not. The conversation continued around him and he responded automatically when addressed, but he kept his silence otherwise.
Finally, he approached the sect leader, bowing deeply.
"I request a battle assignment," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Jiang Cheng was immediately at his side, requesting the same. Lan Wangji was not surprised. They had been thinking the same things for the last few weeks, after all.
"Where?" Nie Mingjue asked after a few moments consideration.
"Yiling," they said together.
-
It was there that they started seeing the evidence of someone's dark cultivation. Bodies sprawled in a courtyard, each death painful and terrifying. Walking amongst the corpses, both men felt a mixture of revilement and excitement. Someone who could inflict this much damage on his own was surely powerful and not to be trifled with. While Jiang Cheng's mind was filled with thoughts of bringing whoever this was to their side in an effort to change the course of the war, Wangji's heart was filled with worry. This person was risking damnation following this course. He wondered if it was Wei Ying, but kept those thoughts to himself.
They followed the path of bodies through Yiling, finding more and more of them scattered on the ground. For four days, they tracked this mysterious being, growing numb to the discoveries of Wen clan bodies. Jiang Cheng constantly mentioned forming some sort of alliance if they could find this person, ignoring the looks Wangji gave him each time it came up.
"I'd rather this person be my friend than my enemy," Jiang Cheng said, pointing at yet another group of dead Wen clan soldiers. "If he turned this power on the rest of the clans, we'd be decimated in days if not hours."
Wangji couldn't help but agree with that assessment, but he chose not to respond. It wasn't worth discussing.
The full moon was creeping into the sky on the fifth night when they spotted a familiar figure on the rise ahead of them. Drawing their combined disciples to a stop, Jiang Cheng and Wangji moved forward together, staying in the shadows. Wangji kept his grip on Bichen, his eyes on the man standing in the middle of the path, watching the moon climb its slow way up.
"Jiang Cheng." The figure turned, smiling in their direction, hands folded behind his back.
"Wei Wuxian..." Jiang Cheng broke cover and hurried up the hill before Wangji could stop him, fear and relief on his face as he made for his brother.
Hesitating a moment, Wangji stepped out and followed. His steps were careful and wary as he approached, finally seeing Wei Wuxian's face in the moonlight. He was smiling, but it was slightly off from what Wangji remembered. It set him on edge.
"Wei Wuxian, where the hell have you been?" Jiang Cheng grabbed his brother's arm, not registering that Wei Wuxian flinched slightly at the touch. "We've been looking for you. Here." Pulling Suibian from his belt, he pressed it into the other's hands. "We've been carrying it around, hoping to find you. Now you can take it."
Wei Wuxian accepted the sword, stepping back a few paces as he pulled the blade free. It glowed faintly in the moonlight as he examined the edge, smiling wider at the sharpness. He sheathed it and held it at his side.
"Thank you, Jiang Cheng," he said, and Wangji felt that even his voice was slightly off. "For keeping it for me. It's good to be reunited."
"Wei Wuxian... I have to ask. All of these bodies that we've seen, and the talismans..."
"Yes," Wei Wuxian said, nodding. "That was me."
Jiang Cheng's facial expression battled with his emotions. He was disturbed by and proud of his older brother all at once. In the end, he simply punched Wei Wuxian in the shoulder, but said nothing.
"How did you do it?"
Finally, Wei Wuxian let his gaze travel to Wangji where he stood behind Jiang Cheng. The clan leader turned to look at him.
"Is that really important?"
"It is." Wangji glanced at Jiang Cheng, taking a few steps closer to the two of them. "Wei Ying... how did you kill them?"
"Kill them?" Wei Wuxian laughed. "I didn't kill them. They either killed each other or themselves. I did not lay a hand on them."
Wangji's eyes narrowed. Wei Wuxian was deliberately twisting things.
"Whether or not you did it, something tells me that you caused it. So tell me how."
"Lan Wangji, now isn't the time," Jiang Cheng said, taking hold of Wangji's arm. "We can talk about it later, not in the middle of the road like this."
He shook Jiang Cheng off, still unsettled by something about Wei Wuxian's face. He took a step forward and the man in question took a step back.
"Wei Ying..."
"My brother is correct, Hanguang Jun." Wei Wuxian's voice was soft, low in the darkness that seemed to grow around them despite the full moon. "Now is not the time or place. In fact, I think Jiang Cheng and I should take it from here. You're on Wen Chao's trail, too, right? Well, I know where he might be going, and this is a matter for the Jiang Clan of Yunmeng to deal with. You can take your disciples and go."
Wangji's heart twisted at the dismissal, his expression turning angry. He made to move forward again, but Jiang Cheng stepped in front of him, putting a hand on his chest.
"Lan Wangji," he said softly. "Maybe Wei Wuxian is right. Your revenge has been taken with Wen Xu's death. Now it's our turn. Go back."
Glaring, Wangji brushed Jiang Cheng's hand off, stepping back finally. This entire situation felt wrong and he wondered why Jiang Cheng didn't see it. Something about Wei Wuxian was different, and not in a way that made sense or felt safe.
"We should all go back," he said roughly. "The other clan leaders will want an explanation for your absence."
"That's where you're wrong," Wei Wuxian said, folding his arms over his chest. "The only clan leader that needs or deserves my explanation is my brother. He is right here and I will explain it to him. Like I said, you can go back now. Tell them whatever you want."
Wei Wuxian turned away and Wangji saw the flute tucked into the back of his belt. He couldn't see it clearly, but he didn't like the feeling he got from it.
"Look," Jiang Cheng was holding his arm again as Wei Wuxian walked down the other side of the hill. "I'll find out what's going on and I'll convince him to come back somehow. Just tell them... tell our sister... that he's alive at least. Will you do that for me?"
Clenching his jaw, Wangji stopped himself from brushing the clan leader off again. He had to remind himself that Jiang Cheng was young and his only remaining family were his older brother and sister. It wasn't fair that he was letting his personal feelings for Wei Ying get in the way of that. Looking down, he finally nodded. Jiang Cheng gave a tight smile and let Wangji go, calling out to his disciples to come up to him. Standing with his own followers, Wangji watched the Jiang clan members disappear into the darkness. His mind whirled and worry built, but still there was relief. Wei Wuxian was alive and still in the world, despite something being fundamentally wrong with him.
"Let's go," he said, turning to go back the way they'd come. "There's nothing else we can do here."
-
Word came in over the next few days, then couple of weeks, that Wen's Chao and Zhuliu had been seen in different towns and cities in different regions. Wen Chao, it was reported, had gone mad and was always raving from beneath his cowl, practically being carried by Zhuliu as they fled something. Or someone. It seemed that any time they got close to Qishan, they were redirected and ended up somewhere else entirely.
Wangji was certain it was Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng. They were toying with the Wen's and the longer it took and the wilder the stories were, the more frustrated he became. They should just end this, not torture the men. It didn't make sense, this behavior, and he was left wondering why Jiang Cheng was allowing it. Then again, considering that Wei Wuxian had little trouble convincing his brother to do anything...
His fingers stuttered over the strings of his guqin, the sound as unhappy as his thoughts. Wangji had not left the Unclean Realm, thinking that Jiang Cheng would steer their path back to this place. But time was passing faster than he liked and there was no sign of the two at the gate. The clan leader had sent a few messages at first, but those had stopped quickly. Other leaders were starting to demand answers he didn't have.
Lost in his thoughts as he was much of the time anymore, Wangji almost missed the knock on his door.
"Come," he called out, getting to his feet to greet whoever it was.
The door slid open and Xichen stepped inside, quickly closing them behind himself. Gasping, Wangji crossed the room quickly, reaching to grasp his older brother's hands.
"Xichen," he said, giving a bow without letting go. "I..."
"I know, Wangji," Xichen smiled, pulling his little brother into a rare hug. "It's alright. I'm sorry I took so long. Things were happening so fast."
Awkwardly, Wangji returned the embrace, feeling the first spark of happiness he'd felt in months. Closing his eyes, he let out a shuddering breath before pulling free of his brother's arms. Xichen let him go, looking the other over carefully.
"Wangji, you're getting too thin. Aren't you eating properly?"
Shifting, Wangji half turned away, looking at the floor.
"As you said, things are happening so fast. It's hard to maintain my personal schedule, much less remember meals some days. Come sit, let's talk. There's things to catch up on."
"I wish I could, Wangji." Xichen bowed his head. "I haven't been to see Mingjue yet. You were my first concern, but I must go." His smile bloomed again. "Come with me. You can hear everything as I report it."
He was quick to agree, collecting Bichen and following behind his brother. Having Xichen in his sight again seemed to anchor his mind and he was able to think about Wei Wuxian without feeling anger rise in his chest.
Listening to Xichen recount what he'd seen and heard while he was making his way to Qinghe and the Unclean Realm, Wangji realized that things were worse in some places and better in others, but no clan, be they gentry or not, was left untouched. Only a handful of scattered small clans had somehow managed to hold their ground and chase the Wen clan off. It seemed, too, that after the death of Wen Xu, morale in their forces had begun to fall away.
"But there's something else happening," Xichen said. "Someone else is out there decimating the Wen clan forces. Very few if any are left alive, and those who haven't gone completely mad speak of flute music in the night."
Wangji, who had just lifted his tea cup for a drink, dropped it back onto his table. Mingjue and Xichen both looked at him in alarm, but he shook his head, accepting the maid who quickly appeared to clean it up and pour him a fresh cup. The older men exchanged a glance and Mingjue shrugged. The matter was left for the moment.
"The puppets are also growing in number," Xichen continued. "Though oddly I have heard that they have begun turning on each other in large groups. It's strange."
"Let them kill one another," Mingjue said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "We have more important matters to deal with. Like taking out Wen Ruohan."
The doors opened and a Nie clan disciple rushed in, dropping into a deep bow.
"Clan leader, forgive my intrusion, but we've just gotten word that someone was seen leaving the Burial Mounds and heading for Yiling. Do you wish us to pursue them?"
Mingjue frowned. Only Wei Wuxian had been there recently, if what Wangji and Jiang Cheng had reported was true. It was strange that someone else would come out of those cursed mountains.
"I'll go," Wangji said, already getting to his feet. "I'll investigate and report back."
Another glance passed between the clan leaders and both men rose, coming to meet Wangji. Mingjue waved the disciple away, only speaking again when the doors were closed.
"What are you thinking, Wangji?" Xichen asked.
Wangji quickly brought his brother up to speed on the search for the missing Wei Wuxian, of finding him ahead of a trail of dead bodies, and the conversation they'd had before Jiang Cheng had left with him.
"So, you think this person is connected to it all somehow?" Mingjue inquired, his expression thoughtful.
"Yes."
"Alright. Go. But you have five days to report back, or I'll come myself," Mingjue pointed a finger at Wangji. "Five days. Understand?"
"Yes, clan leader." Wangji bowed deeply to the two men in turn, catching his brother's eye for a long moment before leaving the hall.
"Was Wei Wuxian really in Burial Mounds for three months?" Xichen asked, turning to Mingjue. "How could anyone survive that?"
"Wei Wuxian has always been special," was all Mingjue could think to say as he returned to his seat and his bottle of wine. "I hope one day he will appear and explain it himself."
Notes:
This one got away from me a little. :P
Chapter 3
Summary:
Three months after his disappearance, Wei Wuxian walks out of Burial Mounds, full of malignant power and a thirst for revenge, not only against the Wen clan, but ALL of the clans.
Weeks later, a lost and confused Wei Ying arrives in Yiling with no memory of who he is or where he's been. Worse, he seems to have momentarily lost every skill he's ever learned, leaving him defenseless against anyone mistaking him for Wei Wuxian.
Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian shows no sign of slowing down in his mission to bring the cultivation world to its knees.
Notes:
WARNING FOR NON-EXPLICIT NUDITY! -- just so you know it's there. :P
Is it slightly OOC for Lan Zhan to stare too much? Because he stares a lot.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
3...
Wei Ying slept solidly finally a few hours before sunrise. Lan Zhan was exhausted, but he remained awake and vigilant regardless. He would sacrifice a night's sleep to ensure that Wei Ying didn't have more nightmares. Once he was certain the man was fully asleep, he returned to his guqin, but didn't play again. He simply sat before it, meditating to rest his body while remaining alert. When it was fully daylight, he was going to send a message to Xichen, though he wasn't sure how he would explain the situation.
How was he going to explain the man sleeping in his bed here at the inn, this man who was an exact doppelganger for Wei Wuxian. From his voice to the scar on his chest, down to the tiny beauty mark just beneath his lip. Though he wouldn't admit it, Lan Zhan had found other things that proved Wei Ying's identity while he was trying to clean him up and dressing him. What he could see amidst what looked like repeated beatings, that is. His hands clenched into hard fists against his knees, his jaw clenching hard. He'd love to find whoever did that to Wei Ying and return the favor.
Lan Zhan's eyes snapped open, startled by such a thought. He knew he was breaking a fair number of his sect's rules already, and that was yet another. Turning his head slightly, he looked at Wei Ying where he slept, his chest rising and falling steadily, his fingers twitching where they lay on the blanket that covered him.
It had taken a while to calm him when he'd sprung awake in a panic, clutching at him so fiercely that Lan Zhan feared his robes would be ripped. "
Lan... Lan Zhan... Wha... what ha-ha... have I... done?"
He'd had to ask repeatedly what Wei Ying meant by that, but the frightened man hadn't known, or his words failed. There had only been moans and sobbing, incoherent sounds that were probably supposed to be words until even that had run out. Wei Ying had laid in a stupor for a while after that, refusing to let go of his sleeve as he sat on the edge of the bed. Lan Zhan had allowed it, watching him closely. Eventually, Wei Ying's grip loosened and his lips had moved without a sound, but Lan Zhan knew the words.
"I'm sorry."
Reaching out, he'd pushed a bit of hair from Wei Ying's face, offering a tiny rare smile to the other.
"Don't be," he said softly. "We will get you better, I promise. Rest, Wei Ying. It will all look better tomorrow."
Obediently, Wei Ying had closed his eyes, sinking into the deep sleep he was now in. Lan Zhan sighed and closed his eyes again, returning to his meditation. Looking at the other had calmed him somehow, soothed the ragged edges of his nerves just enough. He wasn't sure how Wei Ying was here and out there in the world at the same time, but he would find out somehow. First, he had to help Wei Ying find his voice again it seemed.
Lan Zhan left the room quietly once the sun had risen, going downstairs to the innkeeper to order a hot bath, tea, and light foods delivered to his room. He set a gold ingot in front of the man, ensuring that all of his requests would be met as quickly as possible before returning to the room. Wei Ying was sitting up on the edge of the bed, eyes wide as he stared around, clutching at the clothing the was obviously Lan Zhan's.
He visibly relaxed when the other entered the door, letting out a slow breath.
"Wei Ying," he said, closing the door and crossing the room quickly. "Are you alright?"
Wei Ying shook his head, then shrugged one shoulder.
"D... dream..."
"Another nightmare?" He settled beside him on the bed, gently pressing fingers to Wei Ying's wrist, only slightly surprised when the man jerked away.
Frowning, Wei Ying crossed his arms across his stomach, hiding his hands from Lan Zhan as he worked his jaw. Lan Zhan waited patiently, letting him take his time.
"You... you le...ft..." he managed, though it seemed to take more energy than he had.
"I went to order a bath and food for you," Lan Zhan said gently.
Wei Ying shook his head, looking frustrated, reaching up to hit himself in the head a few times. Lan Zhan caught the hand, unsurprised again when Wei Ying pulled away, tucking it back out of sight.
"In your dream?" he offered, earning a nod. "I won't do that, Wei Ying. I won't leave you."
The other looked skeptical, but he nodded again. Lan Zhan couldn't blame him, not with as confused and distraught he seemed to be.
"I mean it," he insisted, laying a gentle hand on Wei Ying's shoulder, outwardly ignoring the flinch though it stabbed at him. "Not without saying and not without assuring you that I'll be back. You have my word."
Your word? Wei Ying heard in his head. Haven't you broken that before? When you left Cloud Recesses without me?
Frowning, Wei Ying shifted away from Lan Zhan, wondering where that thought had come from. Everything was foggy in his head, memories a mess of colors and loud sounds. He felt dizzy and made himself stop thinking about it, hating the reactions he was having to his own mind. Closing his eyes, he breathed slowly until the feeling passed. Once he felt a bit steadier, he looked at Lan Zhan again, smiling a little.
"I... I know," he said slowly. "Trust. Trust you."
Do you? Do I? Should I?
He ignored the voice in his head, watching as relief briefly colored Lan Zhan's face before he was on his feet, going to answer the knock at the door. Servants filtered in, bringing the tub and buckets of hot water, towels and soaps. Others brought the tea and food, laying it out neatly on the table for them. They moved quickly and efficiently, bowing and leaving before Wei Ying really registered what was happening. Lan Zhan closed the door and returned to him, holding out a hand.
"Come. Eat. Or would you rather bathe first?"
Taking the offered hand, Wei Ying got to his feet, wincing as pain shot through them. Lan Zhan kept him upright with an arm around his waist, sending a familiar tremble through him. He looked up gratefully at the other, smiling again. Looking back and forth between the table and the tub, he pointed to the former first. The food would be fine cold, but the bath would not. Lan Zhan nodded and helped him over to it. They were both only slightly embarrassed as the Lan helped him undress and get into the water. Wei Ying hissed, then groaned as the hot water surrounded him, making every cut and bruise on his body scream.
Gritting his teeth, he waited for it to pass, vaguely aware of Lan Zhan behind him, working his hair free from the mess it was tied up in, deft fingers easing knots out of it gently. Closing his eyes, he focused on that instead, letting it soothe him. By the time it was done, he had become accustomed to the throbbing pain and started to relax.
"Thank you," he whispered, sinking further into the water, his hair floating around him.
Lan Zhan hummed and politely turned away, not that it did much good now, but he still wanted to give Wei Ying something akin to privacy to bathe. He heard splashing as Wei Ying went under the water completely to wet his hair. Sitting at the table, his back to the tub, he poured himself a cup of tea, refusing to eat until Wei Ying joined him. It took some time and lots of scrubbing before Wei Ying felt clean. Some of his bruises were ugly and his hand was still an angry color. He was sure Lan Zhan would have medication for that and he could find something to wrap it up with. Standing up carefully, he used his uninjured hand to wring his hair before stepping out and drying himself carefully. Glancing at his quiet companion, he carefully redressed himself, wrapping one of the towels around his shoulders to keep his wet hair off of the shirt before going to join Lan Zhan.
"Mu... much better..." he said with a nod and a smile, sitting down across from him.
"Mm. Good." Lan Zhan poured another cup of the tea and handed it across the table. "Eat now. You need your strength."
Taking the cup, he saluted with it and took a drink. It was still warm and splashed heavily in his empty stomach, which growled loudly in protest. Lan Zhan raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment on the blush that fell on Wei Ying's cheeks in response.
As hungry as he was, Wei Ying ate slowly, letting it settle a little at a time until he felt he wouldn't make himself sick. Lan Zhan watched as color returned to Wei Ying's skin, his body already reacting to the nutrients it seemed to need. Even his body language was improving, the tension easing out of his shoulders and neck, his eyes less frantic every time he looked around. Catching himself staring, Lan Zhan looked down at his own bowl, realizing he wasn't really eating much himself.
"Wei Ying," he said softly when the other seemed to be slowing down. "I will need to go out. You need clothes. I will go buy you some."
Blinking, Wei Ying looked down at himself as if realizing he was wearing what was technically underwear. Lifting his gaze again, he laughed for a moment, shaking his head.
"Just..." He stopped, his mouth working again. "Just loan... me yours." Wei Ying looked pleased, gesturing at Lan Zhan. "Don't spend... your money."
He pointed at himself, shrugging as if to say, 'I'm wearing them already anyway.' Lan Zhan stared, his mind rushing to the image of Wei Ying in Lan robes, wrapped in blue and white. Blinking rapidly, he cleared his throat and gave a nod. If that was what Wei Ying wanted right now, he'd broach the subject of purchasing him clothing again later.
It turned out that Lan Zhan's imagination was not on par with reality as soon as Wei Ying was wearing a spare set of his blue and white travel robes. He'd managed to settle them onto his frame in such a way that one wouldn't be able to tell that they were slightly too big for him. He sat on the edge of the bed, adjusting the sleeves a little, a content little smile on his face.
Lan Zhan was still at the table, watching. Wei Ying's hair was still damp in places, still loose and hanging around his face and shoulders in soft waves. Lan Zhan was sure he'd never seen anyone else so beautiful in his life as he openly stared. He was drawn roughly from his musings as Wei Ying hit the floor with his heel, holding his wounded hand out. Clearing his throat again, Lan Zhan launched into action, producing medicine and a cloth, wrapping the hand carefully.
"Is that too tight?" he asked, holding Wei Ying's arm carefully as he made sure the bandage was secure.
"No. It's good." Wei Ying smiled, flexing his fingers. "Thank you."
Lan Zhan looked up from where he crouched in front of Wei Ying, caught by that smile. He'd missed that smile these past months, had dreamed of it over and over as he'd desperately searched for him.
"What?" Wei Ying asked, shifting a little.
Shaking his head, Lan Zhan rose gracefully to his feet and stepped back.
"If you trust me, I'll comb your hair," he offered, unsure why he felt bashful all of the sudden.
Wei Ying looked surprised, smiling widely before shaking his head.
"You don't have to," he said with a little effort. "I will manage. Might be... messy... but I can."
Lan Zhan sighed and shook his own head. "I want to. Your hand." He motioned.
Looking down at it, Wei Ying flexed his fingers again, then shrugged. Directing the other back to the table, Lan Zhan spent time combing Wei Ying's long hair until it was fully dry, then styled it in the fashion he knew Wei Ying liked, affixing the red ribbon and leather cuff back into place, the only part of the other's attire that hadn't been damaged or stained somehow. Stepping away, he poured them both more tea, using it as an excuse to keep from looking at Wei Ying for a few moments.
"Thank you," Wei Ying said softly, the words a little easier this time.
Nodding, he handed the cup across the table, their fingers brushing slightly in the exchange. They sat quietly for a time, neither speaking as they enjoyed a comfortable silence. Lan Zhan broke it first, setting his cup down with a sharp thump.
"Wei Ying," he said softly, but firmly. "What happened to you?"
For his part, Wei Ying looked confused, his eyes casting back and forth over the table top as he tried to think, tried to make his thoughts fall into place.
"I don't know," he got out, choking slightly on the syllables. "I don't know. Can't think. Remember." He tapped his temple, looking unhappy. "Messy."
Lan Zhan nodded, though he wasn't entirely sure what he meant. Had something happened to Wei Ying's memories? That seemed likely, given the few words he was managing. Frowning, he found he was disturbed by the fact that Wei Ying was having so many issues with his words. He could tell he knew what he was trying to say, his own frustration evident each time he tried to express himself. What had happened in the months that he was missing? And who was this other person that was with Jiang Cheng?
Studying Wei Ying as he tried to work more words onto his tongue, Lan Zhan decided against telling him about the other Wei Ying... Wei Wuxian... that was with his brother right now, terrorizing Wen Chao and Wen Zhuliu.
"Messy," he mumbled, refilling his cup. "Perhaps a head injury?"
Wei Ying shook his head. "No pain. All down." He pointed to his shoulders, then swept his hand downward over the rest of himself. "Head is fine."
Lan Zhan nodded again, looking down at the liquid in his cup. He'd checked for wounds while he'd attended to Wei Ying's hair and had found none, not even the telltale swelling that came with a blow to the head. It was part of why he'd insisted on doing it.
Still, even without there being proof, a head injury was still possible. It could account for lots of things. But Wei Ying's expression was sure, so Lan Zhan was inclined to believe him. It would take time, but all he could do was continue to engage the man in conversation, to coax the words out of him until they were normal on his tongue again. It meant that Lan Zhan would have to do the majority of the talking for a time, but it was yet another sacrifice he would make for Wei Ying.
"How do you feel otherwise?" he asked, looking him over from his place across the table.
Wei Ying frowned a little, tapping his nose.
"Sore." He seemed pleased with the word, then lifted his arms to flex a little. "But good. Tired."
Lan Zhan understood, having seen the damage that had been done to Wei Ying's body up close. He couldn't say much for his internals, though, since he seemed adamant about keeping Lan Zhan away from his pulse points, but his eyes were clear and he didn't seem weakened in any way. So for the moment, Lan Zhan took his friend at his word, letting himself believe it for now.
"Liquor," Wei Ying said suddenly, holding up his tea cup with a bright smile.
Lan Zhan couldn't help the disapproving look that crossed his face.
"Not until you are healed properly," he said firmly.
Wei Ying pouted, propping his elbow on his knee and his chin on his fist. Lan Zhan held back a smile, holding firm in his denial. Wei Ying's body needed time to rest and heal, his mind needed to remain clear if he was to get his mental cognition back in order. Alcohol would not help. But, oh, how he'd missed even this pouting expression.
"One week," Wei Ying said, daring to look hopeful.
"Two," Lan Zhan countered.
"One and a half."
"Two."
Wei Ying huffed, then sighed. "Fine."
Lan Zhan did smile then, even letting himself chuckle softly. Unlike his run-in with Wei Wuxian, this felt more natural. Other than the obvious, there was nothing off about the Wei Ying before him. He didn't set his nerves on edge and he didn't feel the need to clutch his sword at the ready. The entire feeling of Wei Ying now was very similar to the days only a year past when they'd first met and Lan Zhan's own emotions had gone awry. Lifting his cup, he hid a smile behind it, looking away from Wei Ying again.
Wei Ying retreated when the servants came in and cleared away the dishes and bath, staying on the far side of the room and eyeing them warily. Lan Zhan remained in place, giving them specific times to return with meals and tea, not wanting their unexpected arrival to upset Wei Ying further. He wasn't worried about the other hurting himself or someone else, but he wasn't going to risk it. Wei Ying's trauma seemed to run deep if he was forgoing his usual desire to make friends with everyone in exchange for cautious distance. He only returned once they'd gone, looking sheepish and apologizing. Lan Zhan waved it off and poured another cup of tea.
Over the course of the day, Lan Zhan found topics of conversation to keep them talking, patiently waiting out Wei Ying's bouts of frustration when the words wouldn't come. As the hours passed, Wei Ying was finding it easier, but he was also becoming more tired, his shoulders sagging a little. He retreated to the bed just before their evening meal was brought in, laying with his back to the room. Lan Zhan sighed, rubbing his jaw as he studied Wei Ying's figure. He'd spoken more in this one day that he likely had in an entire month of his life so far, he thought. But it was worth it as Wei Ying's sentences were getting stronger and his casting about for the word he wanted to say didn't take him quite so long.
Rising, he moved to the small desk to one side and set brush to paper, giving as much detail in as few words as possible in a letter to his brother. He rolled and sealed the paper, handing it and an appropriately sized silver ingot to the innkeeper when the meal was delivered for the fasted delivery he could manage. It would take half a day to reach the Unclean Realm, and if Xichen rode his sword, his brother would be in Yiling before nightfall tomorrow. As much as he didn't want to overwhelm Wei Ying, he felt Xichen would be more help in this matter than anyone.
"Wei Ying, come eat," he said as soon as the door was closed. "You are not asleep, and you still need to build your energy."
Smiling, the other rose obediently and shuffled back to the table.
"I know," he said softly. "I won't ask how much money you're spending on this room and service. But I thank you for your... your... care."
Wei Ying drew his arms up, touched his fingers together, and bowed. Lan Zhan moved forward quickly, taking hold of Wei Ying's arms to stop him. He didn't want this from Wei Ying, this propriety and respect. They knew one another too well, were too equal. Outside of public spaces, he only wanted Wei Ying to be himself.
"You are welcome. Now sit. There is no need for this."
Smiling, Wei Ying nodded and pulled away, taking his seat. Lan Zhan remained standing for a few moments, looking at his hands. Sighing faintly, he took his own seat again and they ate in silence this time.
-
Xichen arrived the next evening as their dinner was being brought into the room. He politely waited until everyone had left before knocking, earning a happy little smile from Wangji when the door opened.
"Brother. Come in."
Stepping inside, Xichen was caught off guard by the sight of Wei Ying standing in the middle of the room in Wangji's robes, looking nervous as he shuffled his bare feet against the floor. Swallowing hard, Wei Ying saluted the older Lan.
"Z-Zewu-Jun," he said. "It is... good to see you."
Rising, he looked pleased with himself, glancing at Lan Zhan, his expression turning slightly accusatory for a split second. They'd both been happy when Wei Ying's words were still flowing and getting stronger. He still had sporadic moments of struggle, but they were getting fewer. He hadn't told Wei Ying that Xichen was coming, though, hadn't mentioned the letter to him. He worried that Wei Ying would retreat somehow, or else leave for some reason. He wasn't sure why he'd thought that way, but the look he was given caused him no regret.
"And you as well, Wei Ying," Xichen replied with a gentle smile. "You look well."
Wei Ying shrugged, moving to sit. Lan Zhan followed, motioning Xichen to join them. He'd asked for an extra setting for his brother. Wei Ying shifted awkwardly throughout the quiet meal, picking at this and that despite Lan Zhan's repeated efforts to get him to eat more. The other's appetite fluctuated with his mood, it seemed, but some was better than none, so he eventually left him to do as he pleased.
Once the meal was eaten and they were sitting with their cups of tea, Xichen broke the silence.
"Wangji, your letter was sparse. Please, bring me up to speed."
Notes:
This chapter isn't long, but it feels really full. I hope you don't mind. ^__^ Also, please bear with me and Wei Ying. He won't stay too broken for too long. Promise.
Chapter 4
Summary:
Three months after his disappearance, Wei Wuxian walks out of Burial Mounds, full of malignant power and a thirst for revenge, not only against the Wen clan, but ALL of the clans.
Weeks later, a lost and confused Wei Ying arrives in Yiling with no memory of who he is or where he's been. Worse, he seems to have momentarily lost every skill he's ever learned, leaving him defenseless against anyone mistaking him for Wei Wuxian.
Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian shows no sign of slowing down in his mission to bring the cultivation world to its knees.
Notes:
WARNING FOR DEPICTIONS OF VIOLENCE, DISFIGUREMENT, AND GENERALY NOT-NICENESS FROM PEOPLE!
For the JC fans out there, please forgive me.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
4...
Jiang Cheng existed in a fog.
There was a dull hum behind his eyes that sometimes seemed to cause his vision to waver, but he could never be too sure. If he thought about it for too long, the trilling notes of a flute would echo softly in his ears and he would drift away again.
He'd followed Wei Wuxian freely that night. He'd gone with his brother without a second thought. He'd been so happy, so relieved to have Wei Wuxian back, he hadn't hesitated when his brother had simply said, "Let's go."
Leaving Hanguang-Jun had been easy; Jiang Cheng felt that whatever attachment they'd had to one another was dissolved the moment they saw Wei Wuxian on the hill. His thought was further strengthened by Lan Wangji's dismissal.
They were right. This was a matter for the Yunmeng Jiang. What other clans thought or wanted didn't matter.
"Wei Wuxian." Jiang Cheng had followed in silence as long as he could manage. "Where are you going? Do you even know?"
"Patience, Jiang Cheng," Wei Wuxian had said, pulling the ebony-colored flute from his belt. "You'll see soon enough."
Jiang Cheng huffed. "Who do you think you are to tell me to be patient? You've been gone for months now, and you tell me to be patient?"
Wei Wuxian laughed and began twirling the flute between his long fingers. It flashed in the full moon light, the deep red tassel dancing. Jiang Cheng found himself mesmerized and shook his head.
"I'm asking because I don't feel like following you blindly in the dark," he snapped. "Where have you been? What have you done?"
"Jiang Cheng," Wei Wuxian's voice floated between them. "You're not following me in the dark. Look. The moon is surprisingly bright tonight." He stopped and pointed upward with the flute, the tassel swaying.
Jiang Cheng followed the line of sight, frowning. It was the moon. The moon was always bright at its fullest, even behind the clouds. But there were no clouds tonight. Every star shimmered in the blanket of the dark sky. His disciples gathered around him, eyes drawn to the moon as well. And then the flute sounded all around them, and Jiang Cheng was certain he heard someone scream before the black wave of resentment coiled around him. Grunting, he tried to brush it off, but his limbs felt like lead. Whipping his head around, he stared at Wei Wuxian as he stood in the path, bathed in moonlight as he continued to play. The look in his eyes chilled Jiang Cheng's soul and he felt Zidian spark a few times on his wrist.
"Wei... Wu... xian..." he growled, feeling the oily black cloud reaching into his mouth, creeping into his ears and nose, strangling him. "Stop... stop..."
Wei Wuxian did not stop, and neither did the resentment as he crept and clawed into his mind. After a time, he remembered nothing at all.
Coming to some time later, Jiang Cheng realized how high in the sky the sun was now. Groaning, he rubbed his eyes as he sat up, wondering when the hell he'd laid down in the ditch to sleep. Looking around, he finally spotted his brother lounging in the shade of a nearby tree, examining his flute.
Flute... what about the flute?
His head lurched and his vision blurred, a sharp sound ringing in his ears.
"Wei Wuxian... did we get drunk last night?" Jiang Cheng shoved himself to his feet, trying to shake the sound away. "I don't remember having any drink."
"I think you got overexcited at my return," Wei Wuxian answered from his seat, watching his brother stumble toward him. "We walked a while and you suddenly felt tired. Is it my fault you decided to lay down there?"
Jiang Cheng sneered, dropping down to sit beside his brother.
"You could have at least pulled me out of the sun," he grumped. "You want me to cook?"
Wei Wuxian laughed, reaching over to smack Jiang Cheng in the chest.
"You woke up in time, didn't you? Stop complaining, you slept well. I heard your snores all night."
Rolling his eyes, Jiang Cheng relaxed against the tree, looking around. It took him a few minutes to realize what he wasn't seeing.
"Where are my disciples?"
"I sent them home." Wei Wuxian's tone was flat, uncaring. "We don't need them."
"Since when do you decide?" Jiang Cheng's face twisted in annoyance.
"Aren't I still your head disciple?" Turning slightly, he smiled at Jiang Cheng. "Your right hand man? Why can't I decide?"
Huffing, Jiang Cheng crossed his arms, but silently conceded that Wei Wuxian was right. He was still head disciple and his second in command even though Jiang Cheng hadn't had his leadership ceremony yet. No one would complain or protest, though, and the disciples had always more or less willingly followed Wei Wuxian's orders and advice. So maybe it was okay this time.
"Still, you should have told me," he groused, elbowing Wei Wuxian.
"Yes yes, Jiang Cheng," Wei Wuxian said, sounding playfully put-upon and annoyed. "I'll do as you wish. Come on for now. Let's go. There should be a place nearby to get breakfast."
-
They found a roadside pavilion a short time later and stopped there. Wei Wuxian immediately ordered alcohol with their meal. Jiang Cheng scowled, watching his brother pour it directly from the bottle to his mouth. Wei Wuxian's drinking was no surprise, but at one time, he'd had the manners to use a cup and not start so early in the day.
"What are you doing?" he demanded once their dishes had been delivered and the waiter retreated. "Is that what you consider breakfast?"
Something sparked in Wei Wuxian's eyes when he turned to look at him, some dark cloud that sent lightning bolts into Jiang Cheng's mind. He stiffened and tried to pull his gaze away unsuccessfully.
"Don't mind my drink, Jiang Cheng." Wei Wuxian's voice was low, melodic. "Just eat your food and gain your strength."
Obediently, Jiang Cheng ate without further complaint or comment.
He couldn't remember when he'd begun to notice that something was wrong with him. He thought it might have been connected to the night at the Yiling Supervisory Office when he'd stood a few feet behind Wei Wuxian on a rooftop, feeling the cloud of resentment roll around him as his brother played. The oily smoke held him, but did not touch him even as the screams and moans of those dying inside reached his ears. Jiang Cheng wanted to protest, to question what was happening, but his mouth wouldn't work. The words stalled to shouts trapped in his mind.
Lowering his flute, Wei Wuxian motioned Jiang Cheng forward, a dark smile on the other's lips. Unsure why, Jiang Cheng walked (was moved) forward to stand at his brother's side. The older pointed with the flute and through the open window, Jiang Cheng saw the disfigured, bloodied body of Wang Lingjiao hanging from the rafter in her room. Disgust and victory coiled in his stomach and Zidian sparked on his wrist, feeding on his more deeply seated rage. Gritting his teeth, feeling restricting cloud of resentment release him, Jiang Cheng leapt forward from the rooftop and through the window. He wanted to see up close the beast that was responsible for so much, the bitch that had sent up the flare that drew the rest of the monsters to Lotus Pier that night.
The bitch he'd failed to stop when it mattered the most.
Letting out a scream of rage, Zidian burst to life and Lingjiao flew across the room, landing hard on the floor. Again and again, Jiang Cheng lashed out until his arm was tired and he knelt on the floor, panting but not crying. His head hanging, he didn't react to the familiar hand that touched his shoulder.
"Madame Yu would be proud," Wei Wuxian said lightly, unbothered as he looked at what was left of the woman on the floor. "Does it make you feel better, doing that? Destroying that?"
Jiang Cheng didn't answer. Wei Wuxian didn't mind. He simply walked over to the mangled body, tilting his head as he looked at her face.
"I think you look much better this way," he told her. "It suits you."
They stepped out into the courtyard a few minutes later, taking in the destruction the soldiers and disciples had brought upon themselves. After what he'd done to Wang Lingjiao, Jiang Cheng did not flinch as he stared around.
"So... this is your power now?" he asked, his tone more curious than accusatory. "This is what you are capable of?"
Wei Wuxian laughed, twirling the flute around his fingers again.
"This and so much more, Jiang Cheng. You'll see."
"Wen Chao and Wen Zhuliu aren't here."
"No. They got away."
"We should hurry then, before they get away." Jiang Cheng started forward, only to be stopped by Wei Wuxian blocking his way with his flute. "What are you doing? They must answer for our clan, too."
"I know, Jiang Cheng," Turning, Wei Wuxian's gaze sent lightning into Jiang Cheng again, taking some of the fight out of him. "And they will. But do you remember what I told Huaisang before? Before anything in life, you must first learn to play."
"Play? Play what?" Jiang Cheng felt like his own voice was reaching him from far away. "This isn't a game, Wei Wuxian."
"It is a game," Wei Wuxian insisted. "It's all a game. Life and death. Cat and mouse. Predator and prey." He tapped Jiang Cheng's shoulder with the flute before tucking it back into his belt next to Suibian. "It's time to go, Jiang Cheng. Time to start our night hunt. It might take a long time. Are you willing to stay with me and do what needs to be done?"
"Yes," Jiang Cheng answered readily. "Of course. I want revenge for Lotus Pier and my parents."
"Very good." Wei Wuxian's smile as he turned away was dark and ruthless.
Were Jiang Cheng in his right mind, he might have been terrified.
In the days that passed, Jiang Cheng felt himself being torn apart. He hated what they were doing. He hated how every new glimpse they got of Wen Chao; the man was more ragged, more unstable, more disgusting. Part of him wanted to rush in and end the creature, but another part of him was enjoying the fact that Wen Chao crawled now, simpering and whining and begging. His skin was torn and bloodied, barely clinging to the flesh beneath in some places. Gone was the haughty, ignorant man from the days of indoctrination, replaced by a mewling worm.
Wen Zhuliu fared better only in that he was of stronger mental constitution and the torturous sounds and hallucinations that followed the two of them had little to no effect on him. Still, he looked exhausted, his face thin and worn from so many days of running with no food or sleep between them. His vigilance, however, was still top notch.
Any time Jiang Cheng tried to question why they did not just end this, end them, the fog in his mind would close in further and he'd forget what he was saying. Wei Wuxian seemed to like it that way. All he could do was stand there in the shroud of resentment as his brother played that damned flute and the Wens were sent fleeing into the night.
"Wei Wuxian, we should kill them soon," Jiang Cheng said as they sat in another roadside pavilion in the light of mid-morning. "We've been two steps behind them for three weeks now. The other clans will likely have heard something about it by now. They'll..."
"Stop it, Jiang Cheng," Wei Wuxian said, and Jiang Cheng's words ceased. "The other clans have no business in our work. What they think doesn't matter." His expression darkened as he lifted his wine bottle to his lips and drank. "They're all hypocrites anyway. In the end, they'll see what we're doing has been just and necessary."
"How?" Jiang Cheng managed, his face in a scowl. "Torture isn't..."
"Torture?" Wei Wuxian's voice rose, causing those around them to flinch, but no one dared speak or look around. "You call this torture? Jiang Cheng, you have no idea what torture really is." He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. "This is not torture. This is repayment for the hell they put the small clans through, for their destruction and torment. For what he put the sect heirs through at indoctrination, for leaving everyone to die in that pit. And when I finally decide they are worth killing, that..." Wei Wuxian leaned closer to Jiang Cheng, smiling sunnily though his eyes were hard. "That will be justice for the Yunmeng Jiang Clan and Lotus Pier. For your parents."
Jiang Cheng held those eyes until he felt his skin begin to crawl and he looked away, clenching his jaw. Wei Wuxian snorted and straightened himself up, taking another long drink from his wine. They didn't speak as Jiang Cheng decided whether he was still hungry or not, then pushed his dishes away, unable to stomach anything more, words or food alike. Instead, he snatched an unopened bottle of wine and downed half of it quickly. Wei Wuxian laughed and slapped his shoulder, encouraging him to drink the rest before they continued on.
Jiang Cheng happily did so.
He found himself wishing he could send a message to Hanguang-Jun, or even Nie Mingjue, to explain what was happening. But Wei Wuxian watched him closely and seemed to know what he was thinking. Each time a thought lead him to questioning what they were doing out here, following these empty roads and two insane men, Jiang Cheng would hear the lilting notes in his ears and the thoughts were simply dissipate.
This isn't what I wanted, he thought as he stumbled after Wei Wuxian, feeling the effects of drinking the bottle so quickly. This isn't what we're supposed to be doing!
"But it is what we're doing," Wei Wuxian said from ahead of him, not turning to look back. "And we will continue to do until I am satisfied."
Jiang Cheng paled, his steps faltering for a few moments before a coil of resentment pushed him forward again.
"Yes... of course..." he said, swallowing back fear and guilt. "I understand."
"Good. Now hurry up. We'll have them again by nightfall and I can't wait to see how they're doing today."
-
Mingjue had seen Xichen off following Wangji's letter, having been convinced by his friend to stay put.
"If anything comes up that I need you for, I'll send word. I promise." Xichen smiled, giving Mingjue a reassuring squeeze to his arm. "You're needed here more than you're needed in Yiling."
Now, he sat in his hall, reading reports that came in daily about losses of territory, life, resources, and any of it they gained back if they could. He hated these reports, hated to read them, but knew he must. War was hell, and these records were needed so they'd never forget.
Not that one could forget war even if they tried.
Setting down another one, he lifted Wangji's letter from his desk, looking it over again.
"Zewu-Jun, I have arrived in Yiling and made a discovery. It may help or hurt in the long run, but I cannot decide on my own. My apologies to Nie Mingjue, but please come to Yiling as soon as you can. I could use your advice."
Xichen had seen something in those words that had spurred him into direct action. Mingjue couldn't seen anything deeper than what was there or out of the ordinary, but Xichen was convinced and he'd left right away.
Mingjue trusted Xichen, and Xichen trusted his brother. The two of them had a bond, something unspoken and unwritten, so if there was more to the message, Mingjue would simply believe it, as simple as that.
Closing up the letter, he stored it inside of his robes before going back to the battle reports. All clans that were capable were taking in those that escaped the Wen occupation of their lands and destruction of their homes. There was an odd agreement in place that had the majority of the sects working together, and he wondered if there was a way to make it stick once this war was finally over.
That meant they had to win it first.
To the side, Baxia began to rattle and jerk in its stand, feeding off of the intense emotion Mingjue was working to control. He couldn't afford deviation now, not with so many different sect armies relying on him to lead them. How quickly they had all looked to him to be their commander in chief, and his pride would not let him let them down. The saber fell silent after a few moments and he let out a sigh. Good thing Huaisang hadn't been in the room. His younger brother always looked on the verge of tears when he had an episode. Sighing again, he dropped the current scroll and got to his feet. Huaisang would not be training with his saber that he barely touched, he would not be studying the things he would need to know when he took leadership. Huaisang would be the closest he could get to nature while he was locked behind the walls of the Unclean Realm.
Mingjue headed for the family garden.
Xichen and Wangji could communicate so much with so few words. Mingjue could barely speak two words without Huaisang cowering. He wanted to fix that, and soon, because he didn't know how much longer he could hold on in this war. There were things Huaisang needed to know before it was too late, as long as it wasn't too late already.
Mingjue spotted his little brother right away where he stood amidst what was left of the family garden, much of which had been destroyed when the Wen clan had briefly occupied the place. Most of it was burned, other parts simply ripped apart, only a portion of it remained unharmed. Huaisang was releasing birds from their cages, watching them fly away into the afternoon sky. Hearing Mingjue approach, the younger Nie glanced over but continued his work.
"What are you doing?" he asked, stopping a few feet short of his brother.
"Some of them were killed in the occupation," Huaisang said, trying to mask his sorrow. "Others were hurt. I'm letting the rest of them go. It was wrong of me to keep them when they have the choice of freedom."
Mingjue wondered how much of that was about the birds and how much of it was just a metaphor for his own circumstances. Since their return to Unclean Realm to drive the Wen out, Mingjue had made sure Huaisang stayed within the walls, watched so he couldn't slip away. After the indoctrination fiasco, Mingjue didn't trust very many people with his brother's safety, not even himself.
"I see. If that's your choice then."
Huaisang tossed the final cage into the pile of them he'd created and pulled his fan from his belt. Snapping it open, he turned to face Mingjue, hiding part of his face behind it.
"What brings you here, elder brother?" he asked, looking at Mingjue without actually looking at him. "Taking a break?"
"I wanted to see you," Mingjue said, holding his hands at his sides. "I wanted to visit my little brother."
Huaisang's eyes widened slightly and his fanning hand faltered, a tiny oh coming from behind the painted paper.
"Can we talk?" Mingjue asked, motioning to a table where tea had been provided for Huaisang.
He could see that Huaisang was calculating the distance to the nearest door, as well as his own strength against that of his clan leader. Deciding it wasn't worth it, he nodded and they took their seats.
Mingjue wished he knew how to connect with Huaisang. He didn't care to admit his jealousy of the Twin Jades or the Jiang siblings, but he was. He wanted Huaisang to understand and to trust him. It was just going to take a lot of time to break down the barriers between them.
"Huaisang..." he started, feeling awkward. "I want to say some things. Please, just listen for a while. Alright?"
After a moment of thought, Huaisang agreed.
Notes:
Congratulations! You made it! I didn't want to end with JC being like that, so I added a bonus round of Soft Nie Mingjue that I hope you enjoyed. It's my secret little subplot. <3
Chapter 5
Summary:
Three months after his disappearance, Wei Wuxian walks out of Burial Mounds, full of malignant power and a thirst for revenge, not only against the Wen clan, but ALL of the clans.
Weeks later, a lost and confused Wei Ying arrives in Yiling with no memory of who he is or where he's been. Worse, he seems to have momentarily lost every skill he's ever learned, leaving him defenseless against anyone mistaking him for Wei Wuxian.
Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian shows no sign of slowing down in his mission to bring the cultivation world to its knees.
Notes:
Firstly, I apologize to the Jiang Cheng lovers of the world. I am very, so very sorry.
Secondly, it will get better for him. Promise.!!!WARNING FOR MORE ICKINESS!!!
I know the Wei's are a bit out of character. I'm trying, I promise. ^__^
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
5...
Wei Ying started. Zewu-Jun listened quietly and intently.
He closed his eyes and clenched his hands on his knees, knowing that remembering even the last few days was going to take some work. Thankfully, he didn't have a lot to tell, and Lan Zhan's hand on his arm kept him grounded.
"Burial Mounds," Xichen said thoughtfully, looking down at his empty tea cup. "You truly were in Burial Mounds."
Wei Ying nodded silently, casting Lan Zhan a grateful look as the younger Jade withdrew his hand. His own shook as he refilled his own cup, simply holding it without drinking. Xichen noted how tired he looked, frowning slightly.
"I came across him here," Wangji was saying, though he kept his eyes on Wei Ying. "I'd only arrived a few hours before and gotten the room. I don't know what I was looking for when I went out into the crowd, but it seems good that I did. Merchants were..."
"It was a misunderstanding," Wei Ying said quickly, shaking his head. "They still should not have attacked you that way."
"Attacked?" Xichen's frown deepened.
"It's nothing," Wei Ying said, shaking his head again. "It's really nothing."
Wangji and Xichen exchanged glances, but said nothing for a few moments.
"You cannot see it," Wangji finally continued, "but Wei Ying has been through something. His entire body looks as if he's been repeatedly beaten for days." He fought the urge to reach out as Wei Ying looked away. "Healing is slow, though, but that is likely due to his body being weakened from lack of food and rest. I can think of nothing else."
Xichen looked at Wei Ying, deciding against asking to be shown what Wangji was talking about. Wei Ying looked shaken and unwell, so he wouldn't add to the trauma if he could help it.
"He had no speech when I found him," Wangji said. "Only sounds, though he told me that he could hear his voice speaking the words clearly in his head, he simply could not speak them. We've been working at it since yesterday and he's greatly improved."
Wei Ying smiled, a little bashful at what passed as praise from Lan Zhan. Xichen ducked his head to hide his own smile. His brother certainly was taken with Wei Ying, whether he fully realized it or not.
"I am glad to hear that," he said, raising his eyes to the younger man again. "Is there any speculation as to the cause?"
Wangji and Wei Ying both shook their heads.
"I wasn't injured," Wei Ying said, touching his head. "Not that we can tell. I just... it was gone. And my mind is..."
"Messy," Wangji offered.
"Yes. That's the word I chose. It's messy. And trying to think makes my feel ill." Wei Ying frowned. "Like I'm not supposed to... supposed to..."
"It's alright," Xichen said. "Don't force it, Young Master Wei."
Wangji sensed it before it happened. Wei Ying slammed his hand on the table, upsetting his cup and splashing tea onto the surface. Coils of resentment curled around his wrist, crawling up his arm as he clenched his jaw.
"I... I want to... remember..." he hissed. "I want to... know!"
Xichen was on his feet quickly, staring at the oily black cloud stood starkly against the Lan blue that covered Wei Ying's arm. The man barely seemed to notice it as he clawed the tabletop.
"Give me my memories," he growled, slamming his other hand down beside the first. "Let me see!"
The resentment reached his shoulder before Wangji snapped out of his shock. He reached out, grabbing Wei Ying's free arm, gripping hard and shaking him.
"Wei Ying," he called out. "Wei Ying, stop. Stop. Calm down."
Wei Ying's eyes snapped to Wangji's face, going wide as the resentment reached his throat, sliding around it slowly. He gasped as it suddenly tightened, crying out as he fell backward onto the floor, clawing at his throat.
"Wei Ying!" Wangji moved to his side, panicked for probably the first time in his life. "Wei Ying! Don't struggle. Concentrate. Concentrate!"
Xichen summoned Liebing and brought it to his lips. Without thinking, he began to play, doing whatever he could to quell the dark mass that was threatening to strangle Wei Ying.
Tears ran from Wei Ying's eyes and into his hair as he stared at Wangji, his face reddening as he struggled to breathe. Wangji had never felt more helpless, knowing he should bring out his guqin and help Xichen, but all he could do was hold onto Wei Ying's shoulders and urge him to still his mind and concentrate on controlling the resentment.
What is this? he thought, his own inner voice as terrified as the rest of him. He's stronger than this. How... how is this happening?
Xichen's song changed, grew stronger, louder, and the resentment began to waver. He stepped closer, standing nearly over top of Wei Ying as he played and there was a nearly audible scream from the black cloud as it suddenly threw itself away from Wei Ying and vanished. Gasping and coughing, Wei Ying fell back against the floor. Wangji quickly gathered him up, bringing him into a halfway sitting position so he could catch his breath easier. Wei Ying leaned into him gratefully, gasping still.
Crouching beside them, Xichen reaching out gently and moved Wei Ying's hair back. Wangji caught the shocked expression on his face and looked down. There were definitely hand prints beginning to bruise the skin of his throat. The brothers looked at one another, speaking silently in the way they did before Wangji carefully helped Wei Ying to the bed.
Xichen waited quietly at the table as Wangji sat with Wei Ying for a while, sharing his spiritual energy to ease his pain and help him to sleep. Only when Wei Ying had released his sleeve and sighed softly did he return to his brother's side.
They sat silently for a few moments, both lost in their own thoughts. Wangji sat so he could keep an eye on the bed, watching Wei Ying breathe. Xichen studied his younger brother, noting the way his face had softened, the severe look gone from his eyes. He knew as soon as he broke the spell, that hardness, that coldness would seep back in and he would go back to closing out the world.
"Xichen, that song," Wangji broke the silence first. "Was it...?"
"Yes," he cut across his brother, nodding. "It was from the Forbidden Chamber. Collection of Turmoil."
Wangji glanced at him. "When did you start studying that book?"
Xichen gave a little smile, shaking his head. "It doesn't matter. It helped him. That is what counts."
The younger let it go for now, reaching to refill his cup now that things had calmed down.
"Resentment," Xichen said softly, looking at Wei Ying thoughtfully. "Did it seem to you that he didn't even notice it at first?"
"Mm." Wangji nodded. "Until it attacked him."
"Where do you suppose it came from?"
"No idea. The better question is... where did it go?"
-
Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng stood over the bodies of Wen Chao and Wen Zhuliu, watching their blood seep into the wooden floor. Zidian still sizzled and sparked on Jiang Cheng's wrist, as if it wasn't through doing its work. Try as he might, its owner could not unclench his fist, his jaw clenched nearly to the point of breaking teeth.
What lay before them was hardly recognizable as human, so thorough had their torture been. Jiang Cheng's stomach roiled, but try as he might, he could not turn away. Wei Wuxian smiled, moving to throw an arm around his shoulders.
"Lotus Pier is avenged," he said, pointing with the bloodied blade of Suibian. "Your parents spirits should be at peace now."
"But this..." Jiang Cheng's breath caught and he was finally able to look up and away. "This isn't what..."
"Isn't what?" Wei Wuxian patted his brother on the back as he pulled away and began to circle the mess like a prowling cat. "Isn't what they'd want? Jiang Cheng... you saw what they did to them. You saw the damage that was done to their bodies. The desecration. Right? When you buried them in Lotus Pier. Think of them and tell me that they didn't deserve this."
Jiang Cheng closed his eyes, fighting to keep the image of his parents out of his head. There were nights he woke up in a cold sweat, sure he'd called out to them in his sleep. They didn't stay at inns often. In fact, Wei Wuxian seemed to avoid the towns and cities altogether, preferring to stick to the wilds for some reason. Jiang Cheng could never get himself to question it, but because he didn't want to. Like a lot of things, he simply couldn't ask. Something stilled his voice when the thoughts began to form.
Those nights he woke from his nightmares, Jiang Cheng was certain he heard something moving in the grass and trees around them, something shambling that growled and grumbled. He lay awake for a while, listening intently until the noises stopped and the crickets began to sing again. Then the fog would wrap around him again and he'd sleep.
Now, though, he was getting fed up. Zidian sparked again and he worked his jaw, fighting the shroud that was descending over him again. With a grunt, he unfurled the whip and swung it around. Wei Wuxian sprung out of reach, but Jiang Cheng hadn't been aiming for him. Zidian struck him in the back and Jiang Cheng went to his knees. He'd never been struck full on by Zidian before and he knew in an instant why no one who did could stay on their feet. But it had its desired affect, Jiang Cheng's mind was clear for the first time in weeks.
Dragging himself to his feet, he staggered a little, breathing heavily as the pain in his back soared. He looked at Wei Wuxian where he stood, his sword and flute in his hands, looking both bored and ecstatic.
"Wei... Wuxian," he hissed, his own hand clutching his sword tightly. "What are you doing? Why are you like this?" He took a few steps forward, his free hand going to his sword but not drawing it yet. "No. No, those aren't the questions I should be asking." Wei Wuxian's smile appeared, stoking Jiang Cheng's ire and he drew his sword finally, swinging it up to just inches from Wei Wuxian's face. "Who the hell are you?"
Wei Wuxian laughed, looking down the length of the blade at his brother. He'd wondered how long it would take for him to break loose, even for a moment. The laugh faded into a sigh and Suibian flashed free. Jiang Cheng barely kept up as Wei Wuxian pushed him back across the room until he collided with a wall.
Jiang Cheng panted, feeling Suibian's blade against his throat, its owner's face filling his vision. Sandu clattered to the floor as his strength failed him. Tears leapt to Jiang Cheng's eyes and he fought to keep them from falling as he worked to hold Wei Wuxian's gaze, refusing to be the first to look away.
"Who the hell am I?" Wei Wuxian asked, his voice amused. "Who the hell am I. That... is a good question." Suibian backed off slightly, but was not removed fully. "All you need to know, Jiang Cheng, is that I am your brother, Wei Wuxian. I was gone for a while, but I'm back now and we have avenged our home and family." Reaching out, he gently brushed the loose tears from the corner of Jiang Cheng's eye, causing the younger to flinch slightly. "It's time to rest, A'Cheng. You're tired. We've traveled for a long time. It's time to go see our sister. I'm sure she misses us."
"A’jie," Jiang Cheng whispered, feeling the fog resettle in his mind. "A’jie..."
Wei Wuxian smiled and sheathed Suibian before bending to retrieve Sandu, pressing it into his brother's hand. "Put this away, Jiang Cheng," he ordered lightly, smiling as he was obeyed. "It's time to go to Lanling and collect Yanli."
He glanced at the dead bodies as he followed Wei Wuxian out of the building, feeling the now familiar touch of the resentment that coiled around his wrist and pulled him along. It was as familiar on his left wrist as Zidian was on his right at this point. Jiang Cheng's back still hurt where Zidian had struck and his legs felt weak, but he kept himself upright through sheer will power alone. He wasn't going to need Wei Wuxian to carry him, not after that.
After what?
Jiang Cheng blinked and the last few minutes of time faded from his mind. There was no pain and the idea that he had ever been able to attack his brother, or be attacked in return, wasn't even a whisper of thought. He could never attack his brother, not counting what he'd done after the massacre at Lotus Pier. He felt his stomach turn at the thought and he clenched his hands into fists against the memory of wrapping them around Wei Wuxian's throat and trying squeeze the breath out of him.
Blaming him. Hating him. Thinking that if Wei Wuxian died, the universe might give them back, might return his home to its glory and everything will have been a nightmare.
He would've traded his own brother, his best friend, for his parents that night.
"How did you know A’jie was in Lanling?" he asked, falling into step beside Wei Wuxian as they followed the dirt track back the way they'd come from.
"Where else would she be?" Wei Wuxian nudged Jiang Cheng playfully. "All of the other clans have been attacked or destroyed. Lanling is the safest place for her right now. I'm sure that peacock was thrilled."
Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything about it. The one night he'd seen Yanli in Unclean Realm before he and Lan Wangji had departed for Yiling, she'd looked exhausted and sad despite her smile. Jiang Cheng, for all his own awkward social abilities, had seen the tension between Yanli and Jin Zixuan, in the way they couldn't look at one another. It seemed at the Jin clan heir was still a useless ass.
"She'll be happy to see you," he said instead. "You've been gone for so long."
"True." Wei Wuxian sighed, his expression slipping a little. "I've missed her. Say, Jiang Cheng... let's keep the things we've done to ourselves. What do you say? Shijie doesn't need to know all of these dirty details."
Jiang Cheng nodded. "I agree. All she needs to know is that our parents can rest in peace now. They've been avenged."
"They have. I only hope Madame Yu is finally pleased with me. Do you think she'd still try to beat me or make me kneel?" He laughed. "I think I'd welcome her shrill voice right now, even if she was calling me a bastard and telling me how much she hates me."
"She didn't..." Jiang Cheng stopped, remembering the last time they'd seen his mother alive and the way she'd shaken Wei Wuxian, cursing him. "I'm sure she cared about you, even a little."
Wei Wuxian shrugged, pulling his flute free to twirl in his fingers again. "It doesn't matter anymore, does it?" He glanced at his brother. "I mean... the hate of the dead doesn't bother me anymore."
He felt his teeth grind as he clenched his jaw against the slight. Jiang Cheng understood that Wei Wuxian had lived a life of hell under his mothers roof, but did he have to make those kinds of comments? He looked away, his hand tightening on Sandu again.
"Ah, I'm sorry, Jiang Cheng." Wei Wuxian's arm was suddenly around his shoulders. "I didn't mind my words, did I? I'm sorry, I'll speak more carefully in the future, I promise."
Clicking his tongue irritatedly, Jiang Cheng shrugged him off, pushing him slightly.
"To hell with your promises," he snapped. "You say and do what you want. You always have, so why try to change now? Besides, I knew my mother, I know she could be a bitch. But she was still my mother and she loved me. And whether you believe it or not, she loved you."
"Ah, it's okay Jiang Cheng," Wei Wuxian said, crowding in again, wrapping him in a half hug. "Be mad at me, I deserve it. Just remember that you're the one who said it when you remember this moment. I didn't prompt you to refer to her that way."
Jiang Cheng sighed, half-heartedly pushing at Wei Wuxian again.
"Shut up. I want to listen to the night sounds. You're too loud."
Wei Wuxian laughed and moved away, but he did stay quiet once his voice faded into the darkness. Jiang Cheng listened to the crickets and night birds, letting his mind drift a little. The last of the Wen clan responsible for the destruction of Lotus Pier was gone. They could go back and clear out whatever was left behind easily enough, and then they could begin to rebuild. They could make it right.
"We can go home now," he said to himself, smiling. "I'm ready to go home now."
Up ahead of him, Wei Wuxian turned his head slightly, looking back at Jiang Cheng. A smile curled his lips as his eyes darkened. They wouldn't be going home just yet. Yes, they would collect Yanli out from beneath the Jin clan, and then the real work would begin.
Reaching out his hand, he collected the cloud of resentment that slithered out of the darkness, absorbing it into himself. It seemed a little bug was skittering about, waiting to be squashed. His smile grew more twisted. There was time. Lots of it.
Wei Wuxian had a plan for this cultivation world.
>
Wei Ying woke in the hours before dawn, gasping softly. His throat burned and felt tender to the touch. He pushed himself upright, looking around. Xichen was gone, but Lan Zhan remained. He was seated near the foot of the bed, looking for all the world like he was in deep meditation, but Wei Ying knew that he was asleep. Otherwise, he'd have reacted as soon as he sense Wei Ying was awake. Moving slowly, he put his feet on the floor, keeping an eye on Lan Zhan as he got to his feet. The wooden floor was cold as soon as his bare feet touched it and he shivered. He'd have to find shoes, but Lan Zhan didn't have an extra of those.
Still moving slowly and carefully, knowing it wouldn't be long before Lan Zhan woke for the day, Wei Ying made his way to the door. Glancing over his shoulder a few times, he slid it open just enough to slip through, then closed it securely behind himself.
It was still early enough that only some of the vendors were out, so he passed mostly ignored. A few of them glanced at him dismissively, the Lan robes long enough on his frame to hide his feet. He didn't know where he was going, but he felt restless. No, not restless. Something was pulling him away from Yiling. He couldn't explain it as he passed through the city gates and turned his eyes toward Lanling.
He felt that Lan Zhan might be upset when he woke to find him gone, and it probably wouldn't take him long to catch up if he could figure out which way he'd gone. His feet were numb by the time he found the road and set off. The rest of his body ached, but warmed to the task as he continued to move, his pace steady as the day rose and the world around him stirred to life.
I'm sorry, Lan Zhan. I couldn't wait so I could explain it to you. I can't even explain it to myself. Please, forgive me.
Notes:
Thank you for sticking it out with me. <3
Chapter 6
Notes:
WARNING FOR NIGHTMARE DESCRIPTION BEING A TINY BIT GRAPHIC!!!
Chapter Text
6...
Lan Zhan woke an hour after Wei Ying had departed, feeling a stab of worry as he searched the room and the inn. He questioned the inn keeper, trying his best to quell his temper as he clutched his sword. He thanked the man briefly and left the inn, his eyes scanning the crowd. Wei Ying wouldn't simply be wandering around the city. He was still very jumpy and his speech was still rough at best. He'd want to avoid interactions as much as he could.
There was something else bothering him, though.
After he'd been sure Wei Ying was asleep, Lan Zhan had checked the pulse point in his wrist. Aside from the general assessment of Wei Ying's internal organs and some injuries that were slowly healing, Lan Zhan had felt nothing.
No stirrings of power, no vibration of the strong, healthy golden core he was familiar with, no hum of his meridians as his cultivation ebbed and flowed within his body.
Wei Ying was powerless. Utterly powerless.
He was out here somewhere, powerless, unarmed. He likely couldn't even summon a talisman if he wanted to at this point.
The thing he needed to figure out was, where would he be going? Back to Yunmeng? No, there was no reason. Jiang Wanyin was somewhere on the wind with Wei Wuxian, and Jiang Yanli was being protected in Lanling. Would he go to Carp Tower then? That seemed likely, given how close he was to his elder sister.
He made a few stops on his way through the city, tucking a few items into his quiankun bag before tucking it back into his sleeve.
Lan Zhan stepped out of the city gates, letting his eyes slide from one direction to the other. He wouldn't go back to Burial Mounds, so Lan Zhan set off in the opposite direction. He set a brisk pace, certain that Wei Ying wouldn't have been able to get too far ahead in his current condition. The thought of the man being alone and defenseless threatened the Lan with panic, but he held it resolutely at bay. It wouldn't do anyone any good, least of all himself. He simply needed to catch up and get Wei Ying to explain why he'd left and what he could do to help.
He just wasn't sure if he should tell him what he'd discovered, given that Wei Ying was adamant that Lan Zhan didn't check his health. He'd already intruded where he wasn't wanted in that sense to begin with, so he wasn't sure if he should make it worse or not.
As the day crept on, Lan Zhan did not slow his pace, his eyes always searching in the off-chance Wei Ying might have stopped on the side of the road to rest.
He found him mid-morning doing just that. Wei Ying had made his way off the main road to sit beneath a tree. His feet were numb and blistered, bleeding in a few places again. One look and he could see that Wei Ying had been crying, but he didn't comment as the man looked away. Crouching, he pulled medicine and bandages from his pouch, silently treating Wei Ying's feet before helping him put on the socks and boots he had purchased before leaving Yiling. The man sighed and some of the tension went out of him as the pain-relieving medicine went to work.
"Wei Ying..." he said, tucking the pouch away again.
"Lan Zhan," the other cut across him, finally looking at him. "Thank you. I'm sorry for... for sneaking away. I... I know you want to... ask. I can't explain. I had to. I had to."
Wei Ying looked away again, his hands twisting in the borrowed robes he wore. He didn't want Lan Zhan to ask, he didn't want to have to try to tell him what he didn't understand. He couldn't. He didn't know how.
A hand floated into view, reaching out for him. Wei Ying followed the fingers up the arm to Lan Zhan's face where he stood over him, waiting.
"Then don't," he said softly. "Just let me help you. I will go with you wherever it is you need to. I promise."
It took a moment before he took the offered hand and let Lan Zhan pull him to his feet. Neither let go for a time, letting Wei Ying get his bearings. A breeze stirred the leaves of the trees around them and Wei Ying suddenly smiled.
"Alright," he said. "Let's go."
Reluctantly, they let go of one another and stepped back onto the road, continuing on the path that Wei Ying was following. They didn't speak and they didn't hurry, but that was alright for the moment. Wei Ying didn't feel the urgency he'd felt before, not with Lan Zhan at his side.
Maybe I was wrong...
>
Jiang Yanli tossed and turned in her bed, small sounds of discomfort falling from her lips. She'd been up most of the night, tending to the wounded that were being brought to Carp Tower for treatment. She would likely still be out there if Madame Jin hadn't practically ordered her to bed, then had a small regiment of maids escort her to her room. They were very likely posted outside to ensure she didn't try to go back for at least a few hours.
Yanli hated to feel useless, she hated to be idle. It didn't suit her, knowing she had the skills to be helpful. She did all that she could, helping with food, bandaging wounds, dispensing medicines.
Burying the dead.
Those that couldn't be taken home for whatever reason were being buried in Lanling in parcels of land the Jin clan were giving to each of the other clans. Yanli had overseen the burial of many of her own clan's disciples in the last few weeks, weeping for them, knowing that many of them lost their families in the attack on Lotus Pier. Her clan was dwindling and her brothers were nowhere to be found. She knew that Madame Jin and Jin Zixuan were trying to keep her far away from everything if they could, but the rumors still reached her about what A'Cheng and A'Xian were doing. Or had done, if the most recent rumors were to be believed.
Now, her exhausted mind was plaguing her with nightmares that she couldn't escape. She gasped, frantically shoving at her blanket as the dreams continued, each vision darker than the last.
She was speaking to A'Xian and he was smiling, laughing as he teased her. The day was growing darker, shadows crowding around them but he didn't notice. Unease grew and she tried to warn him, but he wasn't listening. He only continued to smile at her, reaching out to take her hand.
A'Xian... A'Xian why don't you see it? she thought frantically, his name falling from her in a terrified whisper. A'Xian, don't you know what's happening? How can you still smile this way?
He was glowing in blue robes as the darkness crowded in around them and she shook his arm, trying to stop his words, his laugh, his smile. Fear bit at her with sharp teeth, and try as she might, she couldn't see anything through the shroud that felt suffocating all of the sudden.
Please, A'Xian! she cried out frantically. Listen to me! You're in danger!
A'Xian did stop then, his eyes widening slowly as his smiled faded away, replaced by an expression of fear and pain. Red bloomed across his chest, spreading like a wave, turning the blue robes purple, then black. Looking down, she saw the blade of Suibian protruding from A'Xian's body, dripping blood. She screamed as it was wrenched away, blood spilling from her brother's lips as he sank to his knees before her. She followed him down, trying to stop the flow of blood with her hands. It was so hot against her fingers, spilling out and staining her sleeves.
A'Xian! A'Xian! she cried over and over.
Why are you calling for me? The voice was all around her as she cradled her dying brother in her arms. I'm here, Shijie. I'm right here.
Yanli cried, burying her face in A'Xian's hair. The darkness grew, pushed in on them, stealing the breath from her lungs as A'Xian bled to death in her arms.
A'Xian... what is happening? Are you really going to die? Please, A'Xian...
Yanli jerked awake as a hand clamped down on her shoulder from the shadows, swallowing back a shout as she sat up quickly. Panting, she tried to pull her hair from her face, her hands shaking. She felt weak, as she so often did when she had these dreams. Prophetic, her father had called them once. Foolish, her mother had said. But sometimes, her dreams did come true, though they usually weren't this awful.
"Please..." she whispered, closing her eyes.
"Lady Jiang?" One of the maids knocked on the door. "Are you alright? Lady Jiang?"
Yanli took a few slow breathes before opening her eyes again.
"I'm alright," she called out. "Don't worry. Will you bring a bath please?"
"Yes, Lady Jiang. Right away." The maid didn't sound convinced, but Yanli heard her steps receding.
Images from the dream played in her mind as she got up from the bed. The sun was high, near mid-day now, and she was still so tired. She'd need time to recover, but she wanted to go back and help.
She was torn and unhappy.
After bathing, the maids helped her dress in fresh robes and redid her hair in Yunmeng fashion, leaving her feeling a little better, though the dream still haunted her.
"Lady Jiang, Madame Jin would like you to join her for your lunch," one of the maids said, bowing politely.
"Of course," she said, though she really didn't want to. "I would be honored."
She knew that Madame Jin was still hopeful for a marriage between herself and Jin Zixuan. Yanli still secretly wished for it as well, though she honestly wasn't sure if she really wanted it anymore or not. Zixuan had hurt her often in the last year or more, and though he tended to look unhappy as he did it, it did not stop him doing so. She was sure it was just his upbringing at work, being the spoiled single heir of his clan. But it didn't excuse him. She could only hope he learned and grew eventually.
Making her way through Carp Tower, Yanli pushed those thoughts aside, knowing she could normally easily deflect any conversation about it if she tried. Madame Jin, on the other hand, liked to use her mother against her. Yanli's heart ached each time it happened, but she was too polite to ask her to stop. Perhaps she should anyway. It was cruel and unfair.
"Madame Jin," she said with a polite bow once she was shown to the courtyard where the lady was waiting. "I thank you for your invitation."
"A'Li, come," Madame Jin replied with a motherly smile, motioning to the seat across from her. "You look tired, child. Did you not sleep well?"
Yanli smiled softly and went to the offered place, settling gracefully.
"Not well," she admitted, lowering her head. "But with everything that is happening in the world, who can sleep well at all?"
She caught the twitch in Madame Jin's cheek and smiled softly to herself. The Jin clan all slept quite well, she knew. They took little part in the war effort aside from letting some wounded be amassed here and the dead buried, but that was likely only showmanship. Yanli was not so removed from the politics of the world that she didn't know what was really going on.
"You should get more rest, A'Li," Madame Jin was saying, waving over a maid to pour their tea.
"I will, Madame Jin," Yanli responded, reaching quickly to pour the tea herself. "Eventually, when there is time."
Madame Jin frowned faintly and the maid retreated. The elder woman sighed softly, taking the cup offered by Yanli.
"You do too much," she said. "You are of the gentry, you should not be so entangled in these things."
"Madame Jin, my younger brothers are out in this war somewhere." Yanli looked up at the Madame, her expression worried and her eyes hard. "They are fighting a war that never should have begun, protecting the people of this world. How can I, their older sister, sit idly and do nothing when their hands are drenched in blood? The Jiang clan motto lives on in we three and I will not be the only one that does not adhere to it."
Madame Jin looked flustered, opening her mouth a few times.
"We are all entangled in this, Madame Jin," Yanli went on, taking up her own cup. "The entire world is part of this, regardless of whether we are gentry clan or lower. We must rely on one another to survive. Once this war ends, we will have to rely on one another to rebuild. No one clan is worth more or less than another in war. No one clan should be expected to do more or less than another, either."
"A'Li... your mother..."
"Madame Jin." Yanli set her cup down a little harder than she meant to. "Please. My mother, if I knew anything about her, went down in her fight with blood and a cursing tongue. She would not expect me to be idle when there are things that I can do. Please, if you have respect for her name or for me, do not use her to persuade me. My mother did nothing she did not want to do, and she did as she pleased otherwise. I would rather be like her than anyone else."
The Jin matriarch wilted a little, lifting her cup to hide her disappointment. When Yanli had been younger, she had been so obedient and gentle. Yes, her relationship with her brothers had always been strange, but the betrothal between her and Zixuan had been meant to correct that. They hadn't realized, though, that her brothers' opinions on the matter would affect Yanli's own judgement. She'd been more than disappointed when the sect leaders had ended the betrothal after that awful Wei Wuxian had attacked Jin Zixuan in Cloud Recesses. Honestly, she couldn't wait for the day she had a real reason to send that boy away for good.
"Yes, you are right, of course." Madame Jin put on her best apologetic face. "Forgive me, A'Li. I worry about you, that's all. A young lady like you tending wounded like a simple nursemaid. I worry more when you insist on going out to the battlefields. What if something were to happen to you?"
"Then that would be my fate, Madame Jin." Yanli's smile was soft and sad, but her hands were steady as she lifted her cup again. "And everyone knows that we cannot defy what fate has in store for us. I could only hope I would give my life in defense of another."
Yanli drank from her cup, ignoring the appalled expression that crossed the Madame's face. She was choosing her own path now, making her own way. No one was going to decide for her now.
"Alright," Madame Jin said, sighing. "Let us not argue. Please keep my worry in your mind as you do your work. It would pain me so if you were to be hurt or killed out there."
"Thank you, Madame Jin. I will."
Silence fell as they both drank their tea and ate, though neither ate much. Yanli was very nearly finished when one of the disciples entered and dropped into a low bow.
"Madame Jin. Lady Jiang," he said, glancing between the women. "Sect Leader Jiang and young Master Wei Wuxian have arrived. They wish to see..."
Yanli didn't wait, leaping to her feet and hurrying away at a near run, ignoring Madame Jin's voice calling for her to wait. She couldn't, she wouldn't wait. A'Xian had been gone for so long and A'Cheng had stopped sending word weeks ago. She apologized as she made her way to the great steps in front of Glamour Hall. Her steps faltered as she saw them there.
"A'Cheng... A'Xian..." she panted, beginning to cry as they came to her, each taking an arm. "You're here. You're both here."
Yanli pulled her brothers to her as she cried. Everyone around them politely turned away as the three siblings embraced, Yanli's soft crying the only sound other than birdsong.
From inside the Hall, Madame Jin looked on, her expression impassive. Sect Leader Jiang, she could handle. He was still young, malleable, and could be swayed if given the proper amount of push. But that Wei Wuxian, he...
As if hearing her thinking, Wei Wuxian looked up and met Madame Jin's eyes over Yanli's shoulder. She gasped and took a step back, one hand going up to clutch at her chest. The longer their eyes were locked, the less she could breathe, so she wrenched her gaze away. The pressure in her chest immediately eased and she glanced over at the three again. Wei Wuxian wasn't looking at her anymore, though the threat that his eyes had sent her way hung in the air.
Gritting her teeth, Madame Jin turned and made her way back toward her chambers. She suddenly felt the urge to lie down for a while.
"The rooms beside mine are not being used," Yanli said, pulling away from the two men finally. "I'll have them prepared for you. In the meantime, come. You can rest and clean up in my room."
She smiled brightly when they agreed. But Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian barely had time to put on clean clothes before they were summoned back to Glamour Hall by Jin Guangshan. The Jin sect leader smiled haughtily from his table on the high dais, his hands resting on either side of his cup of wine.
"Sect Leader Jiang," he said as the two younger men settled into their offered places. "It is good to see you've returned unharmed. We were all worried when we heard your reports stopped coming."
Jiang Cheng nodded politely, settling Sandu near his right hand.
"Thank you, Sect Leader Jin. I know I stopped sending word, but the hunt for Wen Chao took us in quite a few directions. There wasn't always time. But Wen Chao and Wen Zhuliu have been eliminated. They are no longer a threat to anyone."
"Good! Good!" Jin Guangshan laughed, applauding loudly. "Then your clan and your parents have been avenged! That is great news, indeed! Congratulations!"
He lifted his wine cup, waiting for Jiang Cheng to do the same, saluting the young sect leader before draining it. Jiang Cheng followed suit, wincing slightly as it hit his empty stomach.
Wei Wuxian sat silently to his left, smiling in that way he did. His flute, which he was calling Chenqing, was tucked into the back of his belt while Suibian sat near his own right hand. The spirits of the two weapons were slowly learning to get along, which amused Wei Wuxian to no extent. Weapon spirits behaving like children. Ridiculous. Chenqing was stronger by far as it was.
"Wei Wuxian," Jin Guangshan said, setting his cup down for a maid to refill. "It is good to see you have returned as well. Your sect leader was quite worried about you."
"Thank you, Sect Leader Jin," Wei Wuxian smiled, bowing politely from his seat. "I appreciate your concern for my brother, and thank you for your guidance of him while I was away. I am in the debt of the Jin clan and that of Chifeng-Zun."
Jiang Cheng threw a glance at Wei Wuxian, frowning a little. It wasn't like his brother to be so... courteous.
"It has been my honor," the Jin sect leader said, his smile widening. "Sect Leader Jiang has great potential as a leader."
"Of course," Wei Wuxian agreed, reaching to fill his wine cup. "I've known that my whole life."
Jiang Cheng felt his face warm and he fidgeted a little. Wei Wuxian chuckled into his cup.
"It will take time to rebuild Lotus Pier. Sect Leader Jiang, if there is anything the Jin clan can do to assist you, please do not hesitate."
Jiang Cheng looked up quickly, his eyes widening. Ask for help and become indebted to the Jin clan? That didn't sound like the best idea, really. Yes, the Jin clan had the finances, but what would Guangshan ask for in return? Could the Jiang clan, still reeling from their losses, afford it?
"I think the Yunmeng Jiang clan is strong enough to stand on its own, Sect Leader," Wei Wuxian said with a smiled. "Your offer is appreciated, but I believe we will find our feet on our own quite soon."
"Wei Wuxian," Jiang Cheng hissed, looking over sharply. "Mind your manners."
"It's alright, Jiang Cheng," Jin Guangshan said, waving a hand dismissively. "Your head disciple is correct. The Yunmeng Jiang clan are not weak, despite a few set backs. You need not take my offer now, but it is available in the future."
"Yes. Thank you, Sect Leader Jin." Jiang Cheng inclined his head and saluted with his wine cup again. "It is appreciated."
The Jin sect leader nodded in return, letting his gaze roll from Jiang Cheng to Wei Wuxian. The older of the two brothers was sitting with a relaxed posture, but his eyes were very aware of his surroundings. Jin Guangshan could see him looking around, marking every guard and maid in the hall, noting every movement any of them made. Had he always been so observant? Wei Wuxian's eyes came round and met the sect leader's gaze, his smile growing slightly. Jin Guangshan felt something unpleasant settle into his stomach.
"Does Sect Leader Jin have something he wishes to say to me?" Wei Wuxian asked, tilting his head a little. "Please, don't hesitate."
Jin Guangshan cleared his throat and drained his cup again, taking a moment to shake off the cold fingers that were suddenly creeping up his spine. He looked at the young man again, finding nothing strange about his gaze this time.
"Yes," he said, trying to relax. "I was wondering if you would tell me where you've been. You vanished suddenly after Lotus Pier was taken and no one knew where you'd gone. Lady Jiang appeared here with young Master Song Lan, saying she'd been sent by the two of you to be kept safe. Sect Leader Jiang sent word some days later that you'd vanished and he was searching for you. So tell me... where have you been?"
Wei Wuxian's expression shifted and Jiang Cheng stiffened slightly. The two shared a look and Wei Wuxian let out a light laugh.
"I've been here and there, Sect Leader Jin," he said simply. "Events led me away and I was simply out of contact for a time."
"For three months?" Jin Guangshan sounded perplexed.
"Unfortunately so. But as I told Hanguang-jun when he tried to question me, the only person who truly needed to know the details is my brother, and we have discussed it at length, so there are no more questions to be answered."
Jin Guangshan frowned. "Hanguang-jun? You met with him? He has not reported that."
"Is that so? I'm sure he has his reasons." Wei Wuxian shrugged as if he didn't care. "You would have to ask him why. I haven't seen him for a while."
The Jin sect leader's frown deepened. Everyone knew that Wei Wuxian was a nuisance to Lan Wangji at best, constantly following the man around. To hear him admit that he didn't know where he was and that he hadn't seen him was odd. But even more bothersome was the way Wei Wuxian was saying things. Placing the explanation in the realm of clan business effectively placed a barrier between Guangshan and what he wanted to know.
"I will ask him next time he comes to Carp Tower," he said, motioning for his cup to be refilled. "He knew many people were searching for you, yet he kept it to himself that he'd seen you."
"I'm certain he is likely to have told Zewu-jun and Chifeng-zun," Jiang Cheng chimed in, instantly regretting it at the dark expression that crossed the other sect leaders face for a moment.
"That is a likely assumption," Guangshan said, nodding, barely keeping the edge from his voice. "There is very little I'm sure Hanguang-jun doesn't share with his brother. So perhaps I should question why Sect leaders Lan and Nie did not share this news."
"They had their reasons as well, I'm sure." Wei Wuxian chuckled, shaking his head.
Jin Guangshan didn't like this. There was knowledge of things happening that he was not privy to. Other sect leaders were purposely leaving him out and withholding information. And now this Wei Wuxian and Sect Leader Jiang being cryptic and secretive. He'd heard the rumors that the Wen clan was claiming to have thrown Wei Wuxian into Burial Mounds after besting him in a fist fight. No one had seen him for months and the rumors continued to spread. The entire world knew the story of that place, how anyone who had gone there was never seen again. So if the rumors were true, how was Wei Wuxian sitting here before him now.
"Maybe you can indulge me one small curiosity, young Master Wei," he said, putting on his most charming expression. "While you were away, we were told that the Wen clan claims to have sent you into Burial Mounds. None of us wish to believe that, but there was no one to tell us otherwise. Is it true? Have you been in that damned place all this time?"
Wei Wuxian's smile didn't change, but that unsettled feeling washed over Jin Guangshan again.
"Sect Leader Jin," he said slowly, as if he was speaking to a child. "We all know that to enter the Burial Mounds is to invite death. Yet, I am here, very much alive and well. How can you believe such rumors? I would be devoured, soul and flesh and bone, had I been sent to that place. Isn't that true?"
Jin Guangshan found himself nodding in agreement, despite his misgivings. Something in his mind whispered that he shouldn't press this issue, that something in Wei Wuxian's eyes was dangerous.
"Sect Leader," Jiang Cheng was getting to his feet. "If you don't mind, my brother and I are tired and hungry, and our sister is waiting for us. I hope we can continue this discussion later." Wei Wuxian rose beside him and they both saluted. "If you don't mind, we'll take our leave."
Guangshan considered it a moment, then waved them away. The young men collected their swords and left the hall quietly.
Once they were gone, Jin Guangshan let out a long breath, then slammed his hand down on the table, causing the maids to flinch. He didn't care, though. He got nothing out of this meeting. The two had found ways around his questions and he knew no more now than he did yesterday. It was infuriating to know that other Sect Leaders had known what was going on, but none of them shared it with him. Clenching his hands into tight fists, he ground his teeth. They would learn that the Jin clan was not to be trifled with.
Outside, Wei Wuxian bumped his shoulder against Jiang Cheng's smiling brightly.
"That wasn't so bad," he said. "You did well."
"Of course, since you did most of the talking," Jiang Cheng huffed, taking half a step away from his brother. "Since when did you get so good at telling lies to Sect Leaders?"
"Lies? I didn't lie, Jiang Cheng. Jin Guangshan knows as much as he needs to know right now. Don't worry. They'll figure it out sooner or later."
"Figure what out?" Jiang Cheng eyed Wei Wuxian, his hand tightening on Sandu's sheath.
"Don't worry about that," Wei Wuxian nudged Jiang Cheng again. "Let's go see Shijie. I bet you she's made us some soup. Wouldn't that be nice?"
Jiang Cheng found himself smiling at the thought of Yanli's cooking.
Nekotsuki on Chapter 1 Tue 31 Aug 2021 05:45AM UTC
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prettieburd (avadedrahetarra) on Chapter 1 Tue 31 Aug 2021 01:17PM UTC
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Account Deleted on Chapter 1 Tue 31 Aug 2021 11:42PM UTC
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prettieburd (avadedrahetarra) on Chapter 1 Wed 01 Sep 2021 01:48AM UTC
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Jotem27 on Chapter 1 Wed 01 Sep 2021 06:50AM UTC
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prettieburd (avadedrahetarra) on Chapter 1 Wed 01 Sep 2021 11:45AM UTC
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Jotem27 on Chapter 3 Sat 02 Oct 2021 12:55PM UTC
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prettieburd (avadedrahetarra) on Chapter 3 Sat 02 Oct 2021 05:01PM UTC
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Figurantebatata on Chapter 5 Fri 08 Oct 2021 10:29PM UTC
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prettieburd (avadedrahetarra) on Chapter 5 Fri 08 Oct 2021 10:42PM UTC
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Jotem27 on Chapter 6 Mon 08 Nov 2021 07:26PM UTC
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prettieburd (avadedrahetarra) on Chapter 6 Tue 09 Nov 2021 04:02AM UTC
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Tink01 on Chapter 6 Thu 21 Dec 2023 11:08PM UTC
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prettieburd (avadedrahetarra) on Chapter 6 Tue 26 Mar 2024 05:55PM UTC
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