Chapter Text
The Cultivation World lives in fear of a cruel, monstrous man and the great army of traitors and corpses he was building in the dangerous Burial Mounds. Every day, every minute is spent discussing over his outrageous, unrighteous behaviour and the methods of dealing with him. An old man in gold being the most vocal regarding the need to kill this man once and for all.
The people of Yiling, on the other hand, were of two minds. Some are afraid of what this man, christened as Yiling Laozu, and his army would cause to their town which was already suffering due to its closeness to the Burial Mounds. While others were confused, as the rumours do not match the actual situation. The thin man with a quick smile and sharp wit, who haggles and jokes, and sometimes brings along a child hanging onto him doesn't look like a cruel or evil one. As a matter of fact, the old owner of the vegetable stand, maintains that he is barely a man at all "He looks barely twenty. If he indeed did something he wasn't supposed to, he should be corrected, as should all young adults, not exiled. Besides, he didn't do any such thing, iam sure. He is such a sweet boy, I wouldn't believe him even if he himself said he murdered dozens of the jin cultivators as they claim."
However, all of them agree on one thing. As long as the group settled over that cursed mountain do not bring any problems to them, They wouldn't mind their presence. This cheerful young man and his companions are not that bad of a company anyway.
Meanwhile, inside the Demon Subduing Cave, a young man was hunched over a table and scribbling urgently when suddenly, "WEI WUXIAN!!!"
Wei Wuxian, the aforementioned man startles at the sudden shout, "Ah! Shit!
Wait, Wen Qing, whatever it is, I didn't do it!"
Wen Qing was rushing to the cave with a scowl followed by a somewhat sheepish Wen Qionglin. At his words, her scowl deepened further "Oh, So you are saying that A-Ning was lying when he said he saw you play until you collapsed!??"
Wei Wuxian turned towards Wen Qionglin, "Wen Ning! You promised!!"
"Promised what? To watch you collapse and lug your body around and not tell me? Why do you think he did that, Wei Wuxian?
Why are you so reckless?"
Wei Wuxian immediately replied, " I wasn't being reckless. I-"
"Oh, So you meant to collapse? Or are you saying that you didn't, you just fell asleep while standing and hence fell down. Is that it? You know you cannot handle such harsh conditions anymore. You-"
Wen Qing stops, realizing she went too far, but the damage was already done. Wei Wuxian, the ever smiling idiot lost the cheerful facade, because that was what it was, a facade. She knew the other was completely exhausted, physically, mentally and emotionally, and she knew it's caused by her.
Wen Qing is no fool, She knew Wei Wuxian lost his home long before he left it for them. In fact, he lost it the day he managed to convince her to perform the surgery and keep quiet about it. And he knew it too. But that doesn't wash away her sins. She regrets not burning the research papers before he found them, for some knowledge is best forgotten, but she doesn't- can't bring herself to regret the day she begged him to save her family. She just can't.
And it led to his damnation, by the same fools who praised his methods once and used him for their gain. Even his so called siblings were so quick to get rid of him.
Wen Qing is so mad at them all for treating him, treating them like they were dirt on their shoes. She knows how much it is eating him up from inside, how much it hurts. Wei Wuxian loves as easy as he breaths, and it hurts to realize that it is not reciprocated. And he deals with it by throwing himself at problems and overworking himself till the point of collapse. She hates it, but she knows this isn't the way to deal with it.
Wen Qing sighs, "Iam sorry"
Wei Wuxian looks at her piercingly, "What are you sorry for? It's not like you are wrong. Iam weak and powerless. But this group of 53 people rely on me to keep them safe and sound. And iam not the kind of man to disregard that responsibility. I will care for them to the best of my ability and I will not apologise for that."
Wen Qing feels herself softening and sighs " I know that, I truly do understand, but you need to take better care of yourself. We need you, that is true but Wei Wuxian, don't you understand, each and every single person here agrees that we do not wish to have anything that comes at the price of your wellbeing. We care for you. Iam not saying to stop doing whatever you are doing, but please, have some restraint. If you wouldn't listen to me as your healer, then please listen to this plea from a friend and rest. Please!"
She is pleasantly surprised to see him agree, but perhaps he was much more tired than she thought. Whatever it is, she will not look a gift horse in the mouth.
She, however, does send A-Yuan into the cave to keep Wei Wuxian company. They act their age most when they are with each other. And she cannot fault them for that.
Wen Qing checks in on them an hour later to see both fast asleep. They look so peaceful, with A-Yuan held in Wei Wuxian's arms, head on his chest, probably the safest place for him in the whole world. And Wei Wuxian himself looks finally at peace, his features softened by sleep and also, the child in his arms.
She allows herself a smile and hopes that one day a miracle would happen, because that is the only thing that might save them now.