Chapter Text
“Who knew that a simple nighthunt could turn out to be such a disaster?” Jiang Cheng thought as he watched people slowly blur into swatches of bright flowing colours. With all the commotion and the quite frankly, unnecessary number of disciples rushing around, the mix of purple, white and gold disciple robes were akin to an elaborate tapestry of flowing dyes and silks. He honestly didn’t know why they bothered, even his youngest disciple could tell that it was a lost cause, a waste of resources. His once dark purple robes were dyed with a blood red and his breathes were shallow, the gash on his chest was strangely numb despite the tremendous pain he should be feeling.
He was tired of fighting, at first it was for his father’s love, then for recognition from the other sect leaders and now here he was fighting for life, his life felt like he was fighting a constantly uphill battle. The tiredness he felt wasn’t something caused by training or a bad night’s sleep, it was a tiredness that was deep set in his bones, its roots sunk deep into his soul. He considered just closing his eyes right now and just letting go.
“JIUJIU!”
Ah, he forgot about Jin Ling.
Even with Jiang Cheng’s blurry eyesight he could see how distraught his nephew was. His eyes always betrayed his true emotions and right now, they were filled with layers of panic and terror. Jin Ling’s short quick breathes were loud against the static noise of the disciples as his chest heaved.
Jiang Cheng watched passively as Jin Ling turned towards the Lan sect healer that was currently supplying him with qi. As Jin Ling interrogated the healer, Jiang Cheng’s mind wandered in a clouded fog. He knew that his death would hurt Jin Ling, but he would move on. Afterall, Jin Ling didn’t need him anymore, he was nothing but a bother. Jin Ling had been his anchor for so long, gold eyes grounding him in reality when he feel too deep into a spiral of grief. And now those same gold eyes are going to be the last thing that he sees before he dies.
“A-Ling, come here”
Jiang Cheng’s voice was barely a whisper, but Jin Ling whipped his head to face him, and Jiang Cheng was confronted once again with those grief-filled eyes. Jin Ling shuffled over to kneel by Jiang Cheng side.
“Jiujiu?” Jin Ling questioned; his voice hoarse from his shouting. Jiang Cheng knew in that moment that he had to say something before he died.
“A-Ling… I’m sorry. Please forgive me”
As Jiang Cheng’s vision darkened and blurred, he watched as Jin Ling’s eyes filled with tears and his nephew reached out and hugged his uncle for one last time. A sense of regret filled him as he watched his nephew cry, he didn’t want to make his nephew cry over him, he wanted the wipe away his tears and gather him in his arms like he was a child having a nightmare.
He didn’t want to die yet.