Work Text:
On that bitterly cold night, the skeletal branches of the trees were enveloped in a delicate layer of snow, appearing as though they were trembling in the harsh wind. The sky was a vast expanse of clarity, revealing the elegant crescent moon nestled among an infinite array of shimmering stars. In addition to the serene clarity of the sky, a profound stillness enveloped the surroundings, broken only by the hushed murmurs of the occasional passerby on the tranquil street.
Wei Wuxian's heart grew heavier as he stepped into his old home on the night of Yanli’s Birthday, feeling the chill of the air wrap around him like a shroud. Despite his yearning to pay his respects, he couldn't shake the coldness that permeated the place. He insisted that Wangji stay behind, wanting to make a solitary visit to avoid posing any threat to Jiang Cheng or Jin Ling.
As he approached the glorious building that held his long-departed family, one or two people waved to him, their friendly smiles warming his heart. Returning the gesture, he made his way inside, feeling the weight of the heavy air pressing down on him as if threatening to suffocate him.
He looked at the large altar, there were small stubs of burning incense from the past people. He picked up three sticks and placed them in the burner, lighting them, kneeling, and kowtowed.
One time
two times
He then stood up to take some out of his sleeve, but before that, he heard the big door open behind him.
”So you only came here when night fell. Guilty conscience, Wei Wuxian?” A familiar voice echoed from behind Wei Wuxian. Jiang Cheng stood there. He was investigating the sudden presence of a person in the ancestral shrine
"I don't mean any harm by my visit." Wei Wuxian replied, continuing to reach into his sleeve to pull out a gift. Offering it before the tablet before placing it next to the incense burner.
"I thought I told you that you were not welcome here." Jiang Cheng continued, crossing his arms and leaning against the door.
"You would be just as offended if I didn't come. Please don't just berate me in front of Shijie." Wei Wuxian said he turned around after bowing. He had a small smile, but it was shaky. The day hadn't been kind to him, there was a reason why he couldn't make it during the day, and he already felt terrible for it.
Jiang Cheng found himself speechless, unable to offer any commentary in the face of Wei Wuxian's disarming smile. He looked at the person he once knew, who seemed to be a stranger now. A small pang of guilt settled in his chest, though he was determined not to acknowledge it. "After everything, you still have the nerve to refer to her as 'shijie'...?" Jiang Cheng's expression hardened as he spoke.
Wei Wuxian remained silent, his gaze dropping to his worn shoes. After a moment, he turned away and settled on the floor, surrounded by the lingering scent of incense. The flickering light of the incense cast ever-shifting shadows across their faces, adding an ethereal quality to the tense atmosphere.
Jiang Cheng Stared down at the figure in front of him, mind filled with countless unanswered questions for Wei Wuxian. He stepped away from the doorframe and carefully kindled some extra sticks before settling down not too far from Wei Wuxian. With reverence, he kowtowed before the altar, a gesture he had been repeating for nearly half a day.
"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Jiang Cheng suddenly spoke up, his voice laden with emotion, after performing the ritual bow.
"What?" Wei Wuxian responded, clearly puzzled by Jiang Cheng's statement.
"Wen Ning explained to me that you entrusted your core to me, which is why I can wield Suibian. In the temple, you were glued by Huanguang-jun's side, you never spared me a word since then. You even left Jing Ling with uncertainties." Jiang Cheng's expression was stern as he confronted Wei Wuxian. "You claimed you didn't cause Yanli's death, yet you refused to clarify. You kept me in the dark about everything." Jiang Cheng's words felt like they were laced with poison as they reached Wei Ying.
Wei Wuxian didn't know where to start, so he began answering his first question. "You...You had lost your core, you were devastated. You felt you were better off dead. I couldn't put up with it, so I gave you my core"
"Wen Chao was the reason I began demonic cultivation. I was thrown into the burial mounds." he continued, "I somehow survived there for 3 months, while everyone thought I died." Wei Wuxian began fussing with his sleeves, uncertain what to do as he explained. "During that time in the Nightless City...Shijie....Yanli...pushed me from being stabbed, to take my place. I know what you will say, it should have been me. but I am forever in debt to Shijie, even if she has passed." Wei Wuxian finished.
There was an overwhelming amount of information to process. Jiang Cheng gazed at him with a distant, unfocused look in his eyes, and his lower lip trembled with emotion. It was a rare and poignant sight to witness as tears welled up and streamed down his cheeks. He struggled to accept Wei Wuxian's words, refusing to believe them. However, as Wei Wuxian gave his explanation, everything became much clearer to Jiang Cheng.
Wei Wuxian struggled to find the right words to comfort him. His explanation was brief, as he wasn't entirely sure how to express everything that had happened. If he had tried to explain, it would have taken almost as long as the actual events had transpired. Jiang Cheng found himself consumed by self-hatred at that moment, a deep sense of regret washing over him for directing all his pent-up emotions at Wei Wuxian. As tears streamed down his face, he struggled to come to terms with the overwhelming realization that he had misplaced his anger onto the wrong person. Unable to vocalize his remorse, Jiang Cheng gazed at Wei Wuxian with the haunted eyes of one burdened by guilt.
Sensing Jiang Cheng's internal turmoil, Wei Wuxian chose to remain by his side, unwilling to depart from the shrine until Jiang Cheng had addressed his emotions. Tenderly, he enfolded Jiang Cheng in a comforting embrace, his hands tracing soothing patterns along Jiang Cheng's trembling back, reminiscent of the way Yanli once had. Knowing Jiang Cheng's aversion to physical touch, Wei Wuxian was surprised when Jiang Cheng didn't resist, instead yielding to the embrace without protest.
Wei Wuxian felt certain that he could hear Jiang Cheng quietly muttering an apology, but he couldn't bring himself to shatter Jiang Cheng's already destroyed face any further. Instead, he chose to embrace him as Jiang Cheng buried his face in Wei Wuxian's shoulder. The warmth of Jiang Cheng's tears seeped into his sleeve, contrasting with the cool air of the shrine, and gradually, the atmosphere seemed to grow warmer around them.