"I wished to set forth my thoughts and explain my actions," MianMian recited, "I little dreamed this would be held a crime."
"Is that where he got the name from?" Qin Su wondered, "Poetry?"
"I don't know," MianMian shrugged, "It certainly fits, doesn't it?"
Wei Wuxian didn't want the fate he'd resigned himself to. What he wanted most in the world was to be with Jiang Wanyin and Jiang Yanli. Possibly Hanguang-Jun too, but since he didn't believe he could have that he pushed that desire down. All it took to avoid that fate was an explanation.
But he couldn't. While it wasn't a crime, he didn't want to condemn Jiang Wanyin to a fate of knowing the core within himself wasn't his. Jiang Wanyin struggled so much to make a name for himself. It would weigh on him forever that all his accomplishments were built on his brother's core.
So not a crime, but not something Wei Wuxian would willingly do.
He just never thought Wen Qing would take that choice away from him.
MianMian could see why, of course. Wen Qing was an intelligent woman. She could see the future of herself and her people if they continued without an explanation. It wasn't good. Jiang Wanyin could learn to live with this knowledge. The Wen Remnants could very well have died just so everyone could remain ignorant.
Jiang Yanli nodded, then went back to bring in the soup, "A-Xian, I saw you didn't eat much at the banquet. Have some soup."
He set Chenqing down to eat, then saw her worry, "Shijie, what is it?"
"A-Xian," She shook her head, "You've changed. During the past three months, where exactly have you been?"
He faked a smile, "Shijie, you worry too much." He tried to make himself look cute.
"XianXian," Jiang Yanli sighed, then caressed his cheek, "I've seen you grow up. You can hardly hide it in front of me, but what matters is your safe return. It's most important that we three are together. As for other things, you can tell me when you want to. Deal?"
Wei Wuxian nodded.
Nie Mingjue huffed.
When Wei Wuxian wanted to was never. Just like Huaisang would have hidden his cunning forever. Just as he himself would never have told Xichen about his imminent death.
He stared down at his pathetic attempt at a letter.
Chenqing meant to explain oneself.
How long had Wei Wuxian had that name in mind? When he held the flute between himself and Wangji, did he know the only thing separating them was an explanation? When he fiddled with it, and reached for it whenever someone asked about his sword, was that his way of acknowledging his inner desire to explain?
This was his chance to explain, and still Wei Wuxian would have left much out.
Nie Mingjue couldn't do the same to Huaisang.
"Is writing about your feelings really so difficult?" Lady Luo inquired.
Nie Mingjue half wished they could go back to the previous day when Lady Luo still respected him. Or maybe she was just speaking for his brother when Huaisang couldn't.
"Well then," She smiled, "Let's change the topic. You've just returned. Some sleep is necessary. I...I'll deliver some soup to A-Cheng."
"You're so unfair, Shijie," Wei Wuxian pouted, "You left Jiang Cheng with so much soup."
She smiled and rose.
"Shijie," He called after her, "It tastes fantastic."
Jiang Yanli's smile grew wider, "XianXian, you're really back." His smile dimmed a little, "It's so comforting."
The next morning Wei Wuxian tried meditating again. The resentment poured out of him, filling the room in inky black tendrils. He struggled against a mental foe, culminating in a shout of pain as he released his control. He struggled to breath on the bed, his hand coming up to cup the pouch holding the Stygian Tiger Amulet.
He got up and walked out.
Jiang Cheng clenched his hands into fists, "He was being responsible."
That was why he went missing before such an important meeting. If he couldn't control the resentment within him while he was all alone, it wouldn't be improved by surrounding himself with hostile 'allies' and talking about the Wen Sect he wanted to fight.
Still, there were a few murmurs about Wei Wuxian.
"The responsible thing to do would be to inform someone," Sect Leader Su sneered.
"And be forbidden from fighting?" Zewu-Jun asked sharply.
"If there was a chance his weapon would turn on us-"
"We took many risks during the war. Trusting Wei Wuxian was one of them," Zewu-Jun interrupted, "I don't expect Su-zongzhu to understand. He never had to make such decisions."
Nie Huaisang snickered.
Jiang Cheng fought back a smirk. He didn't think Zewu-Jun had it in him. Then again, the entire Lan Sect took the existence of the Su Sect as an insult.
All it took was one mishap with Su She's robes and they could prove he was the one who cursed Jin Zixun. Between all of them, they could find a way to make that mishap happen.
Or they could just throw Lianfeng-Zun under the cart.
As tempting as the thought was...he remembered how hard it was when he became Sect Leader. He wouldn't undermine Jin Zixuan in a matter he claimed responsibility for. Lianfeng-Zun was his brother. His decision.
Jiang Cheng let others convince him what to do with Wei Wuxian. He couldn't do that to Jin Zixuan.
The memory switched to the full meeting of the Sunshot Campaign. Jin Zixun stood with Jin Zixuan. Lan Xichen stood with Lan Wangji. Nie Huaisang stood with Nie Mingjue. Only Jiang Cheng stood alone on his side of the map.
"Even though we are not holding an official conference here," Jin Zixun said, "Isn't this Wei Wuxian a little arrogant? We waited for him for so long on account of his slaying Wen Chao. Chifeng-Zun, he killed Wen Chao, but you also killed Wen Xu. Meritorious as he is, he still has no right to let us wait for him."
Lan Xichen glanced at his brother, who was stubbornly not reacting.
Jiang Cheng saluted, "Gentlemen, Wei Wuxian just arrived at Qinghe and he has survived a severe wound."
Which was true.
Outwardly, Wei Wuxian had seemed fine. They saw his behavior had changed, so they assumed his intentions had changed.
They couldn't see the injuries inflicted upon him, so they assumed they were nonexistent.
They couldn't see the battles he was fighting, so they assumed there weren't any.
Oh how wrong they were.
"A severe wound?" Jin Zixun echoed in disbelief, "I could hardly see any severe wounds on him." He rounded the table, "Jiang-zongzhu, you're the leader of the Jiang Sect now. Wei Ying is your subordinate. You ordered him to attend the meeting. There should be no reason for him not to come."
"I just wonder if he's doing something without your knowledge again," Jin Zixun provoked, "It can't be that he has gone to practice those crooked tricks again, right?"
Jiang Cheng finally looked at him, "This is a domestic affair. It's none of the Jin Sect's business."
Jin Zixun inhaled sharply.
"Enough," Nie Mingjue interrupted, "Let's stop discussing such matters."
Nie Huaisang hid a smile behind his fan.
"No wonder Jin Zixun was cursed," Qin Su murmured.
She gasped immediately after saying that, too mortified by her own boldness to hear how the Nie Sect disciples behind her laughed and echoed her sentiments.
But really. With the way Sect Leader Yao and Sect Leader Ouyang went on about events, she expected more from Jin Zixun. They appreciated his frankness, but all she saw was someone who felt he deserved to speak on matters that were none of his business. They thought him righteous to oppose Wei Wuxian when he was just kicking a man while he was down.
"Are you suggesting Wei Wuxian cursed him?" Sect Leader Yao asked.
"Can Wei Wuxian even use that curse without a golden core?" Luo Qingyang asked, then rolled her eyes, "Besides, is that Wei Wuxian's style? If he wanted someone dead he'd just go and kill them, wouldn't he?"
Which wasn't exactly helpful to Wei Wuxian either.
"I just meant…" Qin Su trailed off, collecting her thoughts, "If Jin-gongzi felt he could speak to Jiang-zongzhu in such a manner, then he has likely insulted others, yes?"
"I wouldn't let anyone speak to me about my own disciples like that," Chifeng-Zun supported her.
"The same goes for me," Zewu-Jun agreed, and Qin Su felt like she could breathe again, "Jin Zixun took advantage of Jiang Wanyin's recent rise to Sect Leader to be disrespectful."
Jin Zixun rose in his seat to argue, but what could he say? Wei Wuxian was traumatized, carrying an evil beyond comprehension that he would use against their enemy to win the war. Comparatively, he was picking fights amongst his allies, and the Jin Sect was already on thin ice for their meager contributions to the war.
In the end, he said nothing.
"I'm glad he finally has some sense," Luo Qingyang whispered.
"Now that Wen Ruohan has lost his two sons, he is like a man without arms," Nie Mingjue continued, "So it's our best chance to stick together and conquer Qishan. Victory or defeat is in this battle. We shall make a concerted effort."
"Chifeng-Zun is right," Lan Xichen agreed, "Jiang-zongzhu, if Wei-gongzi can't make it here today, please relay to him our discussion today."
Jiang Cheng saluted him, then Nie Mingjue.
"That's enough. Let's resume our conference," Nie Mingjue declared.
Lan Xichen just looked back at Lan Wangji again, who only seemed more upset.
They had taken advantage of Jiang Wanyin's youth, hadn't they?
They thought he was too weak to control Wei Wuxian, when in reality, no one could have controlled him. It wasn't a matter of experience or power.
They forced him to apologize for actions that weren't his own. They forced him to give ground on matters he should have stood strong on. They forced him to kick out Wei Wuxian. They hinted the Jiang Sect was diminished under his leadership, when they should have been supporting him to ensure that didn't happen.
Not that the other major Sects had any right to judge them for it.
Hadn't they done the same? Why wasn't Sect Leader Jiang included in the sworn brotherhood? A member of the other three major Sects was there, including two Sect Leaders.
Wasn't their support now too little too late?
Wei Wuxian stood on a ridge near the Unclean Realm. He listened as crows cried, and Nie Sect disciples led prisoners away, "Move! Catch up! Hurry Up!" If the prisoners didn't comply fast enough, they were whipped.
Even from his distance, he could tell not everyone in the group were cultivators. He spotted old men and women.
As his anger rose, so did the resentment he carried with him. He pressed a hand to his chest, but the dark energy nevertheless poured out. He fell to one knee, Chenqing supporting him. One Wen broke away, only to be brutally beaten and left at the mercy of the crows.
"Popo," Wen Qing comforted the elderly woman, "Don't be afraid. We just need to follow."
"A-Qing, where are they taking us?" The older woman asked.
Wen Qing just shook her head, "I have no idea. Maybe to the Wen slave camp. I wonder if A-Ning is also there."
"Retributive," Madam Wen muttered, "If Wen-zongzhu hadn't released the fairy, today you would not...you and A-Ning would not be incriminated by the Wen Sect."
"Popo, it's alright," Wen Qing said, "As long as A-Ning's alright."
Wei Wuxian continued to struggle to contain himself. When the elderly woman fell, his arm with the flute came up to his mouth. When Wen Qing was beaten, he began to play.
"My sincere apologies for the actions of my Sect," Nie Huaisang recited.
It was the least he could do. Well, he supposed if Jiang Cheng was really going to activate Zidian in the hall he could take a few blows.
Wen Qing dipped her head in a small nod of acknowledgment.
"You were so close," Jiang Cheng growled.
"I would never have dared to go to the Unclean Realm," Wen Qing explained, "And I let myself be captured. It was the only way to see if A-Ning was in that prison."
"I don't remember this incident being reported," Jin Guangshan commented.
Nie Huaisang did, and he'd burned the report before it could reach the eyes of anyone who would do something about it. He hadn't been happy about who they were taking prisoner either, but potential spies were potential spies.
"He was already struggling to control his new power," Nie Huaisang reasoned, "Did you think the sight of an old woman being beaten would help?"
"I only meant that no one died here," Jin Guangshan raised his eyebrows, "Shouldn't he improve over time?"
"Shouldn't anger lessen over time?" Jin Zixuan challenged, "It's one thing to beat prisoners during the war, when there was a chance the Wen Sect could beat us through any means. It is another to continue the practice after the war is over and there is no threat."
"There is always a threat," Jin Guangshan warned.
Jin Zixuan huffed, "Are we so weak as to be unable to handle it? Did we not defeat the Wen Sect at the height of their power? What are you so threatened by?"
That was poorly said. Nie Huaisang didn't think Jin Guangshan would kill his own son, but it wasn't like he didn't have plenty of spare heirs scattered across the land.
That's when Jiang Yanli found him.
The effect of his music was immediate and powerful. Everyone clutched their heads. Rocks fell. The crows scattered as the wind blew.
Wei Wuxian was swathed in energy, and he didn't look in complete control of himself as he played. He finally did stop when Wen Qing's hood fell off.
"This place is haunted!"
Wei Wuxian continued to watch them, unnoticed by all but Wen Qing, who looked back and made eye contact.
There were a few sighs of relief.
Wei Wuxian regained control of himself before any devastating consequences could occur.
And it wasn't like this was unprovoked aggression. Wei Wuxian was a righteous man who knew that not all Wens were evil. Of course he would be angered at the site of civilians being beaten. Once that anger was released, reason returned and he realized he was hurting those civilians as well.
Was he always provoked?
Jiang Yanli chose then to approach him, "A-Xian, what's the matter?"
"Nothing," He shook his head, "Shijie, why are you here?"
"On Zewu-Jun's arrival, Chifeng-Zun called everybody to a meeting," Jiang Yanli explained, "A-Cheng was looking for you everywhere. A-Xian…" She followed his gaze and looked out over the cliff, "What...what just happened?"
"It was…" Wei Wuxian trailed off, "It was the strong wind. It broke several branches."
"Really?" She asked skeptically, but accepted his lie, "Since it's nothing, let's go back now." She turned to leave, but he didn't follow. She turned back, "A-Xian, what is it?"
"I'm fine," He came back to himself, "Let's go, Shijie."
"He didn't even know about the meeting," Jin Guangyao felt the need to comment.
It didn't matter in the grand scheme of things, but they couldn't accuse Wei Wuxian of disobeying orders he was never given. If he'd meditated early enough in the day, if he'd left before Er-ge returned and didn't know about the meeting, then how could they say he was being disrespectful?
Then again, if he was ever to undo the damage to Wei Wuxian's reputation, he couldn't let these little details go unnoticed.
Jin Guangyao ignored the tension between Zixuan and their father. It was too...tempting. He hated that there was still a part of him that was so desperate for his father's recognition that he was considering widening the gap between the two. He hated that the allure of being the Sect Heir made him come up with plans he'd never get away with carrying out.
He hated himself more and more.
Back in the war meeting, Nie Mingjue brought them back to the table, "As all of you have just stated, Wen Ruohan lost his sons. There is no one capable of leading troops to flank us. Only the army in Qishan remains. We can lead our troops straight to the Wen Sect's den and devastate it for good."
"Be that as it may," Lan Xichen said, "I hope everyone keeps their guards up. Wen Ruohan's sons are not his ace. It's the Yin Iron and his puppets."
"Zewu-Jun is right," Jin Zixuan agreed, "Wen Ruohan was able to slaughter various cultivation Sects, just because of his control over the Yin Iron. He can manipulate other people. Turn people into puppets against us."
"This is exactly what we shall deliberate over today," Nie Mingjue said, "How to cope with the Yin Iron in Wen Ruohan's hands."
With perfect timing, Wei Wuxian entered the room. Everyone inside had to shield their eyes from the win he brought with him.
Still so angry, but with just cause.
Here he was, before the man who ordered elders be taken to prison and beaten along the way.
Should he have pretended to be happy? Wouldn't keeping more of his displeasure inside have caused a larger explosion later?
"Wei-xiong," Nie Huaisang greeted.
"Wei Wuxian," Jin Zixun regarded him suspiciously.
Jiang Cheng walked up to him as Wei Wuxian offered a shallow greeting, "Nie-zongzhu, Wen Ruohan's Yin Iron might be outside of our concern."
Might be.
Wei Wuxian was confident in his abilities, but he didn't have full control over the Amulet yet.
Like all things, it took time and practice.
He just didn't have the time, and there was nowhere safe to practice.
Nie Mingjue shot a look at Lan Xichen, who was only focused on Wei Wuxian.
"What do you mean? Jin Zixuan asked.
"Maybe there are some countermeasures against Yin Iron," Wei Wuxian continued.
"Wei-gongzi," Lan Xichen stepped closer, "Please elaborate."
"Zewu-Jun," Wei Wuxian replied, "I don't mean to conceal it." He brought his hand up to where he was concealing it, his confidence faltering as he also looked at Lan Wangji, "We'll see in about a month." He then bowed again and left.
"Wei-gongzi," Lan Xichen called after him, "Why did you stop carrying your sword?"
Wei Wuxian turned, "I'm just not in the mood."
He nodded to Jiang Cheng, then they both left.
"Thank you for trusting him," Jiang Yanli offered a small smile.
It wasn't like there were many options, but they could have also chosen to press the issue. They could have tried to force answers from A-Xian. They could have raided his rooms or searched his body for the Yin Iron they suspected he stole.
Instead, they chose to push forward with their plans with nothing more than a flimsy promise from A-Xian.
It was far nicer to frame it as trust rather than desperation.
If they really trusted A-Xian, Chifeng-Zun would never have tried to assassinate Wen Ruohan.
But no one pointed that out.
"That Wei Wuxian...is he intending to fool us?" Jin Zixun demanded, "How can there be something to counter the Yin Iron? Does it counter itself?"
Lan Xichen shared a long look with Nie Mingjue, then took his leave with his brother.
"Wangji," He started as they reached a pavilion, "Why is Wei-gongzi so confident that we can acquire the Yin Iron against Wen Ruohan in a month?"
Lan Wangji stayed silent for a moment, before admitting, "I don't know."
"So many predecessors failed for Yin Iron," Lan Xichen shook his head, "I'm afraid Wei-gongzi is overconfident." He looked down, then back to his brother, "Wangji, I'd like to ask you something." Wangji met his gaze, "Were the deaths at the Supervisory Office really related to Yin Iron?"
"No," Lan Wangji answered, "Xiongzhang. He's not like that."
Lan Xichen nodded, "But what happened there was strange indeed. When you approached Yiling, was there anything unusual?"
"Xichen," Lan Wangji started, "Are there rules already set for everything in the world?"
Hanguang-Jun avoided the question.
Though Wei Wuxian's demonic cultivation really wasn't the same as the other usages of Yin Iron. For one, he hadn't used it to create any puppets. Nor did he use it on anything still alive. He wasn't like Xue Yang or Wen Ruohan.
So while the deaths of the Wens were certainly related to the Yin Iron, it wasn't in the cruel manner the others used it.
Honestly, with the exception of Wen Chao, the other deaths were rather quick. One night instead of the several of Xue Yang's torture and Wen Ruohan's months of control.
Jin Zixuan found himself perking up at the question Hanguang-Jun posed.
He found himself in an impossible situation with little to no precedent. There weren't rules set for what to do about Guangyao. He couldn't ask Zewu-Jun for advice now that he was biased, but hopefully he could use his past words on his present situation.
When a matter wasn't black or white, how should one decide where grey belongs?
Lan Xichen thoughtfully looked away, "I once thought that if I spent my life reading all the books from the Lan Sect's library, I could figure out the truth of the world. But I found out that even if I finish all existing books," He walked past him, "There are still so many puzzles in the world."
He turned back, "There are no set rules. There isn't a clear line between right and wrong."
"If people can't be judged simply in this way," Lan Wangji faced him, "Then how can we evaluate a person?"
"What makes us human," Lan Xichen answered, "Can't be judged simply as right or wrong. It lies within ourselves. As we evaluate others, we shall not label them as black or white," He brought his hand to his chest, "But know their deep intentions inside." He smiled.
Xichen was probably thinking about Lianfeng-Zun when he said that.
It turned out he didn't know Lianfeng-Zun's intentions.
Lan Wangji should have trusted Wei Ying more. There should never have been any doubt about his intentions. Wei Ying wanted to stand with justice and live with no regrets. He heard his wish, his heart's intent. Just because the method had changed didn't mean the intention had.
"There can't be a rule for everything, I suppose," Nie Huaisang said.
If only there could.
But he wouldn't have Wei Ying any other way but his unique, unprecedented self.
Lan Wangji looked at his hand over his heart, then to the side, where Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng approached. Wei Wuxian froze, making eye contact with Lan Wangji.
Jiang Cheng watched his brother worriedly.
Lan Xichen watched his own with the same worry.
Wei Wuxian forced a smile, greeted them, glanced at Lan Wangji again, then left. Jiang Cheng frowned, then hurried after him.
"Wangji," Lan Xichen said, "If you're worried about Wei-gongzi…"
"Not a bit," Lan Wangji turned the opposite direction and left.
Such foolishness!
How could they have been so mistaken? They thought Hanguang-Jun disapproved of Wei Wuxian's cultivation style out of his inherent righteousness! They never thought it would be anger born from worry, or that the worry came from love.
This wasn't a battle between a righteous hero and a wicked villain.
This was as Nie Huaisang said earlier. A lover's quarrel.
"Be frank with me," Jiang Cheng demanded as he caught up to Wei Wuxian.
"What do you mean?" Wei Wuxian asked.
"You and Lan Wangji decided to cut your association just like that?" Jiang Cheng asked.
"Lan Zhan cut the association," Wei Wuxian corrected, "I didn't."
If Wangji were holding anything in his hands, he would have crushed it.
Lan Qiren almost wanted to crush something himself. It was frustrating to watch, and every misunderstanding was just another knot to detangle later.
The only bright side was that Wangji had his work cut out for him convincing Wei Wuxian he didn't hate him. That meant the danger of elopement was far lower. Wei Wuxian was stubborn like that.
"He didn't want to respond to you anyway," Jiang Cheng pointed out.
Wei Wuxian stopped and turned to him, "Jiang Cheng, I remember you did not like him. Why are you speaking for him now?"
"Nonsense," Jiang Cheng huffed, "We are on the same side now. The four major Sects are sticking together. There is no need to fuss about such trivial things." Wei Wuxian crossed his arms, "Besides, back in Yiling it was...ay, anyway, you should not talk about that nonsense again. You should stay on the righteous path of swordsmanship."
Wei Wuxian nodded, puffing his cheeks out.
"What's the matter?" Jiang Cheng demanded.
"Just now," Wei Wuxian said, "You really acted like a Sect Leader."
Jiang Cheng shook his head and stormed off.
"Nonsense?" Wen Qing asked.
Jiang Wanyin huffed, "If Hanguang-Jun was going to be an idiot I didn't want Wei Wuxian worrying about him."
"Hm," She thought about all the times Wei Wuxian fell into moping about Hanguang-Jun and wished it were so easy to do away with longing.
"Will you let him go to the Lan Sect?" Nie Huaisang asked, "If he chooses more nonsense?"
"He doesn't exactly make the best choices for himself," Jiang Wanyin muttered, "But if he genuinely wants to go to Cloud Recesses...I didn't stop A-Jie from marrying that peacock."
"All this effort and you might not get him back," Nie Huaisang said, "Not in the way you want."
"As long as there is a him to have-" Jiang Wanyin cut himself off with an apologetic look towards her.
As long as Wei Wuxian was alive, Jiang Wanyin could make peace with his decisions. All his decisions.
Wen Qing's brother was long dead. There was very little that could be done to hurt him now. She didn't have to worry about him being married off to another Sect either. He would never leave her side.
Unless he wanted to. After all, corpses didn't age. Wei Wuxian assured her A-Ning's life force wasn't tied to him. A-Ning would continue to exist far longer than she would. Would it be kinder to let him go out and experience the world so he wouldn't be lost without her? Or could she be selfish and keep him by her side until she was no longer able to?
It was tempting to be selfish. It was hard to let go.
Lan Wangji tried again to approach Wei Wuxian's room. He lifted his hand to knock, but ended up clenching it into a fist and turning away.
Jiang Yanli caught him as he tried to leave, "Lan-er-gongzi."
He turned back to greet her, "Jiang-guniang."
"You're here for A-Xian?" She asked.
Lan Wangji just saluted again and made to leave.
A few snickered at how strange this all turned out to be.
Hanguang-Jun faced down demonic entities on a regular basis. He went into battle unafraid. He helped kill the Xuanwu of Slaughter with no weapons except the bloodied bowstrings of the enemy. Many considered him fearless.
Yet he couldn't knock on Wei Wuxian's door. He was too scared of rejection.
Nor could he face Jiang Yanli when she caught him there.
It was all too...human, of their hero.
"Lan-er-gongzi," She stopped him, "I need to ask you about something." He only hesitated a moment before turning to her. Taking this as permission she asked, "A-Xian's new methods...are they dangerous?"
"This method will harm the body and distort the temperament," Lan Wangji answered.
"What…" She trailed off, "What should be done then?"
"Swordsmanship is the most decent technique," Lan Wangji said, "Talismans and spells can only assist it. They can't be used as a cultivation method."
Wei Wuxian rounded the corner. They both looked at him, "Lan Zhan, what did you tell Shijie?"
"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji replied.
Wei Wuxian stepped closer, "I remember telling you to stay out of our business."
"A-Xian," Jiang Yanli interjected, "Lan-er-gongzi was just-"
But Lan Wangji was already leaving.
Creating more misunderstandings.
Nie Mingjue reread the letter he planned to send to Huaisang. He couldn't let this situation between them escalate to this point. He didn't want his brother to return to hiding. He didn't want his brother to push him away.
Once Jin Guangshan had been dealt with, he would put down his saber. He would submit himself to whatever treatment Wen Qing advised. He would stop going on night hunts for glory. If he needed to for appearances sake, he would have Xichen and Jin Guangyao beside him to make up for his inability.
If another large threat appeared, then he would trust Huaisang to deal with it.
He was sacrificing a lot, but it was the only way he could think of to prove to Huaisang that he valued him more than his cultivation. He was a man of his word, and once the vow was made he wouldn't go against it.
Besides, compared to what others had sacrificed, this felt like very little.
"What happened, A-Xian?" Jiang Yanli asked, "I was worried about you, so I asked Lan-er-gongzi. Why are you so mad?"
"Shijie," Wei Wuxian's anger left him, "Has he...told you about the Yiling Supervisory Office?"
She glanced away, then shook her head, "He said nothing."
Wei Wuxian ran off, chasing Lan Wangji down before he got too far, "Lan Zhan!" Lan Wangji slowed, "Lan Zhan, listen to me."
Lan Wangji drew his sword and slashed at Wei Wuxian, who stepped back in time to avoid it. He blocked the next blow with Chenqing, and the next two after. He then had to flip back to avoid the fourth. He didn't try to defend himself as Lan Wangji brought his blade point first to Wei Wuxian's throat.
"You attacked him?" Jiang Cheng nearly shouted.
Hanguang-Jun grimaced.
"How was that going to convince him you wanted to be friends again?" He continued.
"I…" The love of his idiot brother's life shifted, "I expected him to defend himself."
Jiang Cheng scoffed, "As if he would ever raise a hand against you."
"He wouldn't?" Jin Guangshan asked.
Fuck. Jiang Cheng's anger died down immediately at the interest in his tone. It wasn't a strong possibility. Just as there were no circumstances he could imagine Wei Wuxian actively trying to kill Hanguang-Jun, there were even fewer where Hanguang-Jun would try to kill Wei Wuxian. Not without significant misunderstandings and pressure from other people.
But the fact of the matter was plain.
Wei Wuxian would let his defenses down for Hanguang-Jun. He'd let himself be vulnerable in a way he wouldn't be around Jiang Cheng.
If there was anyone who could kill Wei Wuxian with minimal collateral damage, it was Hanguang-Jun.
Who people might actually expect to kill him.
"I don't know," Jiang Cheng lied.
Wei Wuxian just closed his eyes, accepting his death.
When it didn't come, he looked down at the blade, then at the man wielding it.
"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian sighed, "After several months, you've made progress again."
"It's you who didn't make any progress," Lan Wangji replied, "Where is Suibian?"
Wei Wuxian's hand clenched Chenqing tighter, before he forced himself to relax. He led Lan Wangji elsewhere as the sun set, eventually climbing onto the roof.
"Lan Zhan," He leaned back, "Don't you feel this place is very familiar?" He crossed one leg over the other, "That year, in Cloud Recesses, you and I were face-to-face like this."
"We were fighting," Lan Wangji corrected.
"Right, right," Wei Wuxian rocked forward, "It's when I broke curfew and was caught by you, Lan-er-gongzi." He laughed, "It's a pity that there is no Emperor's Smile now." He laid back with a sigh.
"Things change," Lan Wangji said, "How could it be the same?"
How could they be the same?
Was it possible for love to persevere through all that?
And yet, there they sat. This time, Lan Wangji could stay to sit on the roof with Wei Wuxian. This time, Wei Wuxian was sober and fully conscious of where he was. They were dressed differently. There was no longer the lightheartedness of the time before the war. Wei Wuxian was the one with Yin Iron, but all Sects were threatened now.
Too many of them watched, waiting for what seemed like an inevitable fallout.
Was that not going to happen?
Were they going to come to some understanding?
Then...why was Hanguang-Jun sitting here and not in the Burial Mounds with Wei Wuxian?
Wei Wuxian smiled, then got serious, "Lan Zhan, thank you."
"For what?"
"Thank you for not telling Shijie," Wei Wuxian elaborated, then chuckled.
"Demonic cultivation will harm your body and your temperament as well," Lan Wangji warned.
"I know," Wei Wuxian admitted, "But Lan Zhan, what I'm practicing is not Xue Chonghai's manipulation of Yin Iron. It's something else."
"Something else?" Lan Wangji repeated.
"Yes," Wei Wuxian nodded, then sat up, "It was what I learned in a sunless, dingy place for three months." He looked lost in thought for a moment, "But, after all, I have to thank you for the Lan Sect's temperament technique. My new cultivation requires practicing temperament and studying talismans."
He twirled Chenqing, "With a bamboo flute, everything can be controlled."
"It was more of the truth than anyone else got," A-Yao offered.
Lan Xichen noticed that too. Wangji even got Wei Wuxian to admit to knowing that what he was doing was harmful.
It really showed that Wei Wuxian wasn't arrogant. He wasn't messing with resentful energy without due caution. He knew he needed to meditate to keep himself from going crazy. He also knew to use talismans to avoid using too much energy all at once. He was taking as many precautions as he could.
But he couldn't give Wangji what he wanted. He couldn't give it up entirely.
"You said it yourself, people change," Lan Xichen comforted.
"Circumstances change," Wangji said, "Wei Ying's heart is still the same."
He worried that seeing how close he'd come to killing Wei Wuxian had shaken him. He certainly hadn't expected the attack. Wangji just tried to prove that traditional cultivation was stronger, but Wei Wuxian took it as an attempt to stop him permanently. He took Wangji's hesitance as an opportunity to explain a little.
A compromise.
Wei Wuxian wasn't the same person he'd been. He wasn't what any of them expected him to be. As much as they wanted the old Wei Wuxian back, it was impossible to go backwards.
There was only forward.
"Does your control rely on the spirit?" Lan Wangji asked.
Wei Wuxian nodded, not bothering to come up with a lie.
"Mastering it by mind would be like taking a grain from a burning fire," Lan Wangji continued, "If not done carefully, you're at risk of degenerating into demonic cultivation. The consequences will be unimaginable."
"I know," Wei Wuxian insisted, then leaned closer, "Lan Zhan, I understand your concern. But I, Wei Ying, promise you that I will never degenerate into demonic cultivation." He brought his hand down, "Do you believe me?"
Lan Wangji slowly averted his gaze in a small nod.
Wei Wuxian got up and descended from the roof.
"Let me help you," Lan Wangji requested.
Wei Wuxian glanced back, "Okay." Then he walked away.
MianMian huffed as she drew the proper symbols on the note to send it directly to Nie Huaisang.
Hanguang-Jun got more of the truth than anyone else.
Then he got three consecutive lies. A lie of omission when Wei Wuxian said his new cultivation depended on his spiritual energy. Not that he could say he didn't have any. Then he promised to never degenerate into demonic cultivation. This one could be dismissed as word play. He was obviously using demonic cultivation, but he himself wasn't being demonic.
Was it really demonic cultivation if he wasn't using it for evil purposes? He used Chenqing and the Amulet to end the war. Others used traditional means to kill innocents. Who was worse?
Then the last lie. Permitting Hanguang-Jun to help.
As though Wei Wuxian would allow Hanguang-Jun to taint his reputation by involving him in his plans. Even now, people wondered why Hanguang-Jun was here when his heart was elsewhere.
The answer was simple. Hanguang-Jun would stay with Wei Wuxian if he asked.
Wei Wuxian would never ask.
MianMian poured a little of her spiritual energy into the talisman, and watched it fold into a butterfly.
She hoped Chifeng-Zun would communicate properly.