Chapter Text
As sudden as the spring turned to summer, the cultivation world shook in its foundations of the surge of resentful energy that suddenly erupted from the Burial Mounds. It was unheard of that this would happen... Unless.. He is back.
The cultivation clans immediately went to work while some directly informed the most outstanding and currently head clans. GusuLan CLan, Yunmeng Jiang Clan and Qinghe Nie Clan. The Lanling Jin Clan never responded to the emergency, but some disciples did venture towards the burial mounds to check the scene out.
In the calm and serene world of the GusuLan Clan, Lan XiChen was suddenly interrupted from his meditation in his chambers when a powerful and deadly amount of resentful energy suddenly engulfed his chambers. Lan XiChen shot his eyes open, his hands shaking as he looked to his door, it was ajar. The resentful energy was that powerful that it broke through his protection spells on his door? How could this be..?
In a panic, he rushed outside after he steadied himself, only to be met halfway by a panicked Wangji. Even if it wasn't visible on his stoic face, XiChen knew his brother was worried and cautious too.
"Wangji.." XiChen started, halting in his steps. "Mn. Felt it too." Wangji replied. They nodded to each other, turning to move not too fast or too slow, they were running in a hurry. This was an urgent matter.
As they rode in their swords towards the blue crystalline skies, somewhere else near a bountiful lotus pond lay, the Yunmeng Jiang Clan's clan leader- Jiang Cheng was in full alert as well. His Zidian sparking dangerous albeit small strikes of lightning on his finger as he twisted and fiddled with the ring. He was glaring, a scowl on his usual grumpy face. He walked from one bridge to another, clearly getting more agitated, yet clearly worried inside.
That surge of resentful energy felt all too familiar. Yet it was in great amounts he cannot fathom. And what was worse- Jin Ling was at Lotus Pier at this very moment. He grew all the more angry as he heard that Jin Ling went to check out the source of the surge as well.
'What a problematic brat.' Jiang Cheng thought as he soared in the sky, expecting to catch the little young jin. He can;t have left for that long. The surge just happened a few minutes ago.
At another location, the "Head-Shaker" himself was pacing in his throne room. Fan in hand as he thought hard and deep. The surge wasn't at all what he had planned. Did something happen that he overlooked? Did anything happen to his package?
He was shook out of his trance as a Nie disciple came up to him to deliver him the news. "Sect Leader," the disciple bowed respectfully, "We have received news that the clan leaders of GusuLan and Yunmeng Jiang Clans have made a move towards the Burial Mounds. Should we send our spies and disciples to the area as well?"
Nie Huaisang thought long and hard before snapping his fan close, a sheepish yet determined look on his face, "Have a few spies and disciples follow.. I uhh.. Have some important duties to attend to." He mused, looking over to a stack of unopened scrolls and parchments on his desk on the right. The disciple nodded, bowing once more with a salute as he went on his merry way. Nie Huaisang cut his little facade as quickly as he put one on. A more serious face now on his face.
He was going to find out the truth. I can't let that jin bastard leave a dent in my plans. This is something i must see myself.
The air was tight. It was suffocating and reeked of death and decay. Every single person's nose scrunched at the scent, each of their instincts wanting to take over to stop them from going any further. Even some disciples and clan leaders from minor clans have arrived as well.
Jin Ling scrunched his nose at the scent but didn't seem too affected with the impact of the resentful energy, thanks to his clarity bell. He walked close to the border, ready to brave himself and go in when suddenly-
"Jin Ling?! What are you doing here?? Shouldn't a princess like you be staying at Carp Tower?" a voice perked from behind him. Jin Ling hadn't need to turn around when he heard that annoying voice again.
It was Lan Jingyi along with Lan Sizhui and.. Hanguang-Jun. Jin Ling bit his tongue to hold back a retort towards the smug Lan as he respectfully bowed to Lan Wangji, who merely responded with a raise of a hand and a small hum.
"Hanguang-Jun."
Lan Wangji looked on into the Burial Mounds where surges of memories penetrated his head, memories of what had happened. A sense of longing lingered in his stone eyes before he was brought back from reality by yelling.
"JIN LING!!" An angry shout surged from the mass of cultivators. A purple man with lightning sparking in and out his physique swiftly walked towards Jin Ling, who cowered behind Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji stayed composed in front of the man. He looked into his eyes and spoke, "Sect Leader Jiang, I'd advise you to not shout within the range of the barrier in the mounds. You might attract unwanted company of corpses."
"Those were already disposed of Hanguang-Jun, had you already forgotten?" Jiang Cheng replied, a scowl on his face, now glaring at the hiding Jin Ling. "Have not, but plea-"
"IT'S OPEN!!!" Another loud yell sounded from the mass, all cultivators looked on to the red shining barrier covering the burial mounds slowly fade and evaporate. But in its place, a sudden gush of bitter smoke was running at them, invading all their senses and leaving them all caught off guard. The smoke made them all dizzy, as the more they inhaled, the more they had smoke in their lungs and head, the more they felt resentful energy engulfing each of their bodies.
Some low cultivated cultivators have already collapsed, it was now a surge of masses panicking while some collapsed one by one until the last ones standing were Jiang Cheng, Jin Ling, the lan's and surprisingly Nie Huaisang. Lan Wangji's brows furrowed. This... Is the work of a powerful demonic cultivator. But, it can't be. His Wei Ying is dead.. How could he....?
Jiang Cheng whipped out his ZiDian and ran straight to the fog of gray and bitterness, his weapon flashing a dash of purple strikes and cleared the fog in one whip, yet once more like that of a stubborn mule- the fog raised once more and covered every single one of their senses, rendering their surroundings even more dangerous as it was. Jiang Cheng coughed a fit, his ZiDian now weakened within the smoke had retracted into its ring form. The juniors wasn't spared either, they all lay unconscious beside Lan Wangi who was now deep in worry.
And before both cultivators could react, they too- have succumbed to the effects of the smoke.
The air was calm so suddenly, the atmosphere tranquil, the surroundings... Different?...
What Lan Wangji saw in front of him was something he couldn't fathom. He was back at Cloud Recesses? That was impossible, he was just at the Burial Mounds wasn't he?
He looked around, the scene felt so nostalgic. This scenery was when...
Before his home was burned down by the Wens... But how could this be? This was years ago.
He took a few steps, his hand touching a tree, it felt... real. This can't be. A lucid dream? no, if it was he could've controlled it as of now.
As he continued to walk, he soon came upon a familiar scene- as he looked on, he saw himself standing behind a tree covered by shade. In front of his past self was Jiang Cheng, Nie Huaisang and.... Wei Ying. It was the same old scene from when he was told to get out of class by Lan Qiren.
"Wei-Xiong!! You're so bold!! When Old Man Lan told you to get out- you actually went out!!" Nie Hauisang said with asnap of his closing, a look of awe and worry on his face.
Wangji remembers now. A gloom now appearing on his face as he looked on to the three conversating with free of worry. How Wei Ying was still full of sunshine, how Jiang Wanyin never actually hated Wei Ying at all yet.. And Nie Huaisang without the grief of the death of his brother.
"Oh-?! WANGJI-XIONG!!!" Lan Wangji became startled, his eyes widening, his lips opening to respond- "Wei-"
"Enough Wei Wuxian, you've made yourself an enemy of Lan Wangji this time." He stopped, looking behind him to see his past self walking away with fuming cheeks. Oh...
Wei Wuxian chuckled before he was told he was going to be punished by copying the Lan Clan's "Chapter of Conduct" a hundred times. And was to be supervised by him for months.
He remembered every single moments they had as the scenes all played in front of him. Every emotion, every interactions he missed and wished he could experienced once more.
He closed his eyes, feeling the sting of tears pierce his eyes once more. No, he's stronger than this, Why was he getting carried away by measly memories? It's time for him to wake up. The juniors are all waiting for him.
As hard as he may, he couldn't. No matter how many times he tried to steer the painful memories away, they all keep resurfacing. The sting on his back seemed to worsen. His head hurts. His eyes were blurry. What was happening to him?
It hurts. Wei Ying.. Come back. Come back to Gusu with me.
Gusu...? Go back to Gusu with you? Who do you think you are? Who do you think you Lan Clans are?! You want me to go back to Gusu with you just so you can cleanse me? I know you people. You also want me to hand over the Stygian Tiger Amulet don't you?! DESPICABLE!!
The words rang through his ears like an arrow piercing his heart. It was more painful than the thirty-three lashes he endured for saving him. He didn't want to take him back to Gusu for that... He wanted to hide him away. To keep him safe. Even if the cultivation world were to cast him and his reputation. He would've done anything to bring him back with him and yet... He was too powerless to do so.
The pain engulfed his entire being, he was slowly forgetting why he was there in the first place, it was too much. The tears kept forcefully leaving his eyes, his lips won't stop trembling, his body won't stop feeling the pain of the lashes on his back. He was in too much pain to care about anything.
It has been years since he has able to express such emotions. Known as the Ice-Cold Jade has gotten into his head, but now the ice has melted in the smile of the pain that has now shunned upon him. His hands reached for something, anything. Anything that could keep him together. His facade of being stone-faced has now cracked. He wanted someone to be with him right now. Was it too much to ask? Is it too much to ask? Why was his only love.. His Wei Ying the one who had to suffer? Why couldn't it be anyone else instead? Why.. Why.. Why... Why... Why... Why....
It hurts.
It hurts.
It hurts.
It hurts.
It hurts.
It hurts.
The same words drifted into his head. He cried out. He was in pain. Has it always been this painful? Has it been this much? Has it been this long he's been in pain? When will it be gone..?
Wei Ying... Wei Ying.. Wei Ying....
WEI YING...!!!
It... Stopped...? Lan Wangji urged his eyes to open, yet all he could see was black, he moved his hands towards his face, feeling a cloth on him- he pulled. A sudden bright light penetrated him, raising his hand to cover the intrusion- now he could see where he was. He was in Nightless City. Qishan.
His eyes widened, he turned around- no one. To the left- no one. Behind him- no one. What is happening?...
Lan Wangji's heart was now shrouded with immense dread. No matter how hard it was to keep composure- he had to. Even as his eyes narrowed, brows furrowed and his lips in a frown. His hand reached for his sword, BiChen- he clenched the hilt as tight as he could. His breathing unsteady- even with years of self cultivation, practice and whatnot, he couldn't keep his damn composure. What is this. What is happening..?! He was growing tired of the play. Hiss mouth was dry, eyes twitching at every single sound.
Without a single thought, he pulled out his Guqin, he began to strike chord after chord- just trying to escape from this devil dream, remembering his dear Wei Ying whom has tortured him so. He grew restless, after hours and hours of playing, striking chord after chord again and again and again. His tears finally surfaced once more as he put down his Guqin, his fingertips bleeding as the strings came loose. Raising his hands to cover his tear-stained face, the blood staining his pristine white robes, wiping them over his soothing skin, tainting them more with his own blood.
"Aw... Lan Zhan.. You look pathetic, I just played your memories and made you feel all the things your dear Wei Ying had experienced... I thought you would be able to handle such emotions, anything for him and yet.. Even you weren't able to handle it. What a shame."
"Who are you....?! What do you want?! What did you do to Wei Ying..?!" Lan Wangji snapped, his eyes glaring at the shadow in front of him, his fingers were shaking in pain- his lips quivering once more.
"Now why would you assume I did something to him..? Wasn't it you and the rest of the cultivation world who did this to him..?" Suddenly, a pit appeared before Lan Wangji, he peered down only to be met with a gruesome sight of his beloved eaten alive by corpses.
The blood was scattered, fragments of his soul slowly floating away, in a moment of desperation he leapt to his feet, reaching for the fragments- the last of his Wei Ying's remains.. No, he can't let it go. But with a cruel snap of the finger of the man before him, he disappeared along with the fragments. With that, Wangji knelt on the ground, digging deep into the dirt as Wei Ying was slowly buried beneath it. His fingers now tainted with dirt, blood, bone remains and disgust. His eyes became blurry once more, he just wanted his Wei Ying. He just wanted to love him. He just wanted to be happy with him. He just wanted him.
A dark chuckle sounded before Lan Wangji, he glared up to meet face to face with a shadow, only a smile had stared back at him- "If that's what you wanted.. Why didn't you say so..?"
What..?
A snap of the finger rang through Wangji's ears before he could do anything, everything was once again dark- and his back was once more hurting, hit with a pain he was all too familiar with, it was the feeling of stone hitting his back, he opened his eyes, his breath stuck in his throat as he gazed at the man before him, it was him. He was back. He's alive...? He's alive..!!
Lan Wangji tried standing up, yet his legs hadn't listened to his desire, he stumbled to the ground, falling from the stone bed he had laid on. The sound caught the attention of Wei WuXian, who wore the robes of what was despised by the world- was this when he was still Yilling Laozu? Wei Ying...!!
"Ugh..." Lan Wangji grunted, his hand holding on to his sprained ankle. "Lan Zhan..!! I told you to not move...!! You are injured! You're still healing..!" A worried Wei Ying immediately went to his aid. Lan Wangji thought this was another cruel joke, another joke of an illusion the shadow had made for him to suffer once more. He ignored him, Looking away, he tried to hold back his tears as he did so- his hand trembling in restraint to jump into his arms, hug him once more. To see if this was the real thing. Yet he knows Wei Wuxian is dead, he just.. He just..
"Lan Zhan..? Don't ignore me now..." Wei WuXian's voice was soft, so real. It sounded so real. It all felt so real. He kew it was wrong. He knew he had to wake up, to rid himself of this painful reminder of a dream. He had to stop, he needs to wake up. He needs to make sure the juniors are okay. He needs... to... to.... What was he supposed to do again..?
"Lan Zhan? Can you hear me? Aiyah... Looks like you need more rest, come on now. Let's get you back to bed." Wei WuXian said, holding out a hand to touch his shoulder.
"Mn.. Wei Ying."
"What kind of sick joke is this?!" Jiang Cheng screamed as ZiDian sparked from his hand, turning into a whip as he stared at the young Wei before him. The playful young man before him flinched before him as the weapon sparked, he could feel his anger rising seeing the face of his enemy, his past senior and his past friend.
Wei WuXian.
But why was he wearing his past get-up? He defected from the Sect!! How ludicrous of him..!
"Woah-!! Woah!!... Calm down Jiang Cheng!! Wait- Why do you have Yu-Furen's ZiDian-" The young one asked before he was cut off once more, "Shut up!! You have no right to say my mother's name in front of me you defect!!!"
"What..?! What has gotten into you..?!!? I never-!!" Wei WuXian retorted, his brows furrowing at the accusation. As he dodged a whip of ZiDian, their surroundings slowly changed, from the Lotus Pier he once knew to the burnt one- all to the new one and in the dining hall where he once ate with his family. When they were alive.
"JIANG CHENG STOP..!!" Wei WuXian yelled, now more scared for his life as Jiang Cheng whipped and went after him, he knew the power of ZiDian was powerful and incredibly painful, he had no intention of ever getting hit by that.
"Shut up. Shut up. Shut up... Shut up... SHUT UP..!!" Jiang Cheng grew more furious, a vein appearing on his forehead as he slashed and whipped at the young Wei, he never even once made a hit on him. He could never hit him. He never had the opportunity nor the chance to. The bell on his waist jingled with every movement its owner made, yet even as it jingled- he never woke up. It felt like hours as he chased Wei WuXian all over the Lotus Pier, his hand slowly going numb as hours slip by in mere moments, his ZiDian slowly lost its power the more he went on, and on. As the time ccame to a close, the sun had now fallen beneath the waters of the Lotus Pier, the moon now rose along with the shimmering moonlight shining upon the tears of the young clan leader, his hand slightly bruised from the hard grip he had all day. He glared at the young man, who seemed to not have a single sweat on him despite having run around all day, evading his whips and avoiding him entirely like the elusive monster that he is.
This was how it was. He was better. He was the most loved one. Even his father, and everyone else except his mother had thought of him the greatest. But what about Jiang Cheng?! The heir and son to Jiang Fengmian and Yu ZiYuan?! What about him?! What about me?...
He was always the preferred one, the most admired one by all, especially to the other juniors. He was the one who was always loved. But what about me!?
"Who do you think you are.... You're a good-for-nothing, troublemaker, monster and a murderer!! You promised you'd be my second hand man!! You promised you'd stay with me for the rest of your life!! You promised to never betray me!! You said so yourself... So... So.. Why?! Why do I have to suffer for you mistakes!?? Was all that I did not enough?! Why did I deserve to lose everything I have loved, including my mother, my father and my Shijie, my home.. What right do you have to make me lose everything I have loved and call yourself undeserving of such fate?! Why is it that I'm the one who's in the wrong?! Why does it always revolve around you..?! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! TELL ME... ANSWER ME WEIWUXIAN!!!"
He snapped, his tears now uncontrollably streaming down his face, for some unknown reason, he couldn't stop it. No matter what he did, no matter how hard he tried to hold his tongue back, he could not control it. All the words seemed to spew out of his mouth uncontrollably, his emotions rising with every single word he spoke, the words he yelled nowhitting his heart- yet it wasn't enough. He had more to say. So much to blame him for. Yet.. And yet.. Why did it seem wrong to blame him..?
The young Wei before him only stayed silent, as the more his tears fell, the more the image of the man in front of him wither and glitch. Jiang Cheng strode towards the man, aggressively wiping away his tears with his sleeve, leaving red marks on his puffy face. He had never felt his emotions get so strong before, he doesn't even know why he's suddenly pouring them out like waterfalls. It seems uncontrollable, he doesn't even know why he can't control his body.
"Why... Why does it always have to be you who gets the nicest things?... What about.. Me...?" He asked, his voice broken, the glitching image of the young wei was disappearing once more. His brows furrowed, he immediately ran to the retreating figure, yelling out his heart to him. "WEI WUXIAN...!! ANSWER ME...!! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME LIKE... This....! Come back... Please... Wei.. Ying..."
He knelt to the floor, the figure now disappeared, shadows engulfed him. Although he could hear the faintest voice of something familiar. It was calling to him... Sh... Shijie...?
He turned and turned, but all he could see was darkness, his heart shrouded with pain as the voice of his shijie rang through his mind. Her death.. He had to save her... No... Shijie... Not again...!!
He got up, fighting against his numb body. His Shijie needed him, he needed to be there for her. Where is she...? Where is his Shijie..?!
He ran, ran into the seamless dark, hoping- hoping that his Shijie could be saved- he failed last time- he cannot fail now!!
He can get there... He can.. He will..! Just.. A... Little.. More...!
.......
Why. Why did everything had to go wrong..? Why has everything have to be taken away from me? Why do they all get a happy ending? Why can't it be me? Why shouldn't it have been me? Why does it have to be him? It should've been me. Why. Why not me..? Did i not deserve it? What did i do to deserve this fate? Whatever did i do to have this tragic mess blamed upon me? Why do i have to shoulder everything? Yet he deserved the praise that i should've received. Why. Why does it have to be you.. Wei WuXIan...? I...
I just wanted to be loved. Why can't I.... Why can't anyone... Just... Love me..? Appreciate me..? Why can't... Anyone notice me...? I tried my best. I did my best. I did everything i could. I really did... Why.. Why...
"Why didn't you say so...? Jiang Wanyin.... If you so badly wanted someone to love you... Why didn't you ask?"
What...?
As he looked on, he had mixed emotions. The sight was rare, his entire being shook and shivered at the thought. As the wind blew through the magnolia trees, a white ribbon flew in the air as gracefully as a swan dips in the clear crystalline water, the scent of jasmine wafted in the air, teh scent so calming, his brows- once furrowed, now calm and resting, his lips- once in a frown, now in a gentle smile..
"Jiang-Xiong!!" A certain Nie spoke, a bright smile upon his face as he closed his fan, "Well, ready to have tea, Wanyin?" The Lan spoke, his voice as gentle as ever. Soothing him more than the calming wind and scent ever could.
He felt himself relaxed, His hand reaching for a cup, "Mn. Huaisang, Xichen."
xoxo