Chapter Text
Jiang Cheng, courtesy name Jiang Wanyin, was many things. And while he may not be categorized as a genius, he was no fool. He was not disillusioned by what he was and how he was perceived. In fact, he believed that he understood himself quite well. Harsh, brash, quick to anger, all things that were common knowledge to many. Which is why this current situation was no surprise.
“This is why you’ve been alone your whole life jiu-jiu! You never listen and you don’t try to listen. Cursed to be poisonous and angry forever! I don’t need you to tell me how to do my duties! I am not a child, I am a sect leader and should be treated as one,” yelled Jin Ling, face red with anger. “I don’t need you! Leave me alone!”
Seconds later, he stomped away, leaving his uncle behind. Jiang Cheng could only hold his breath as he watched his nephew leave.
Once again, he had slipped into anger too quickly and took it out on others. Jin Ling had been stressed because the Jin Sect was hosting the upcoming Discussion Conference and all the elders had been hounding the young sect leader. Jiang Cheng only wanted to help, but instead he became another nagging voice. Overbearing. Picking at faults and only faults. Like his mother who only saw his incompetency and not the efforts behind it.
It had ended with both of them exploding at each other.
While it was far from their first major fight, it had been a while since the two had gotten so heated and vicious. Snapping out of his daze, the Jiang Sect Leader let out a sigh, shoulders drooping, looking as if he aged decades in a mere breath.
He was just so tired of doing the wrong thing all the time.
As a child, he had grown used to being the one always wrong. And although it hurt then, it could be waved off due to his age and lack of experience. But now, as a seasoned adult, Jiang Cheng still found himself always on the wrong side of an argument, always losing. With his sect, with his non-existent love life, with Jin Ling. He would always fall a few steps short. He hated the feeling and he hated making his nephew feel this way.
Jin Ling was right. He was cursed to be poisonous. In all his years of living all he had done was poison and ruin things precious to him. How apt that he was given the title Sandu Shengshou, the three poisons that were the root of all suffering.
He had let his temper get the best of him once again, damaging one of his only good relationships in life.
For the millionth time since the end of the war, he wondered why he had been the one to survive. Truly, it seemed that he was only doing more damage than good. Out of all the many cultivators to be lost in the war, why was he the one to still be left breathing. He contributed nothing that couldn’t be replicated or done even better than others. He couldn’t even attribute his cultivation to himself, seeing as how the golden core that spun in his body was not even his.
Reminded of his own incompetency and all the useless sacrifices others had given him, Zidian cracked intensely as a wave of dizziness overtook him. Taking deep breaths, he tried to center himself before he needed to head back.
Once he was feeling steady enough, he mulled over Jin Ling’s words. His nephew was right; he was a sect leader now. An adult in the world of adults. Now that he had taken over the Jin Sect, Jin Ling had begun finding his own place in the world. One where his uncle was not as necessary. Perhaps it really was time for Jiang Cheng to loosen his ties and burn those final bridges. He could leave. It was one sacrifice he could make, leaving the marital world so that it would be a happier, less poisonous place. It would be his gift to the rest of the world. He hoped it would be as freeing for him as it would be for everyone else.
Walking slowly back towards the main docks of Lotus Pier, he mulled over the thought of retirement. It was the only logical progression. When things had settled down after the war, more days than not he entertained the idea of retiring.
After all, it was all the fighting and politics that led to the destruction of his family and home. He had to develop the knack for it when he was rebuilding his sect, but he was never naturally gifted at politics. He could not charm his way into deals like Lan Xichen or act pitiful for favors like Nie Huisang. But the idea of leaving was always quickly dismissed as he had to watch over his young nephew.
However, as Jin Ling had so vehemently stated, he was no longer a child that needed coddling. He was a sect leader in his own right. One that had more than enough resources and seniors to help him succeed. One that Jiang Cheng was oh so proud of, no matter how little he showed it. The young sect leader was right. It seemed time for his uncle to stop meddling in his affairs.
He made his way past his disciples and attendants going about their day, stepping around their sect leader. He mentally noted how everything was running smoothly.
Taking in the sight of the lively Lotus Pier, he hoped that he did his heritage justice. He loved Lotus Pier with all of his heart, but every time he woke up, behind all of his pride and joy were reminders of how he failed. In protecting his family, in ruining his legacy. He was constantly reminded of his weaknesses and the choices he was forced to make, whether he truly wanted to or not.
Never one to process those feelings, he re-focused on the daily life going on around him. While he was rebuilding the sect, many of those from nearby war torn towns had sought refuge in Lotus Pier and Jiang Cheng had done his best to welcome them all, despite limited resources. His father always reminded him that the core of Lotus Pier was the people, and Jiang Cheng did his best to honor those beliefs. These people had helped in restoring the Jiang Sect into what it was now, bustling with activity and wealth, reclaiming its place as one of the great sects.
As he stood watching, he felt a sense of pride in how smoothly everything ran, with or without him. Of course, the sect would always need a sect leader, but he himself was replaceable. As a sect should be run, he thought. Sect leaders came and went, whether through will or unfortunate circumstance, but a healthy sect is one that can survive and prosper beyond their leader.
By the time he had reached his private office, he was already halfway into planning his exit from his duties. Sitting down, Jiang Cheng called for some tea and reflected. The first thing he needed if he were to retire was to find someone to replace him.
If he started training an heir soon, he could teach them everything they needed to know. He would help ease the transition and make sure that they were prepared to take over. He would also have time to tie up any of his loose ends. Not that there were many. Aside from Jin Ling and making sure Lotus Pier was left running smoothly, he didn’t have any other ties. His relationship with his once brother was nonexistent. He had no other friends in other sects nor did he have a lover. It would be a relatively clean cut. What he planned to do after, he was unsure of yet. Those plans could come later.
For now, he began sorting through his paperwork for the rest of the day. Once he was finished, then he could start compiling notes for his heir. Mind running a mile a minute, he almost missed the knock at his door.
An attendant came in carrying a tea tray with a few snacks on it into the room. He quietly reported that Sect Leader Jin had left shortly before. The attendant also informed him that Jin Ling had said that no one was to contact him. If he needed something, he would reach out through official means only. Finished delivering the message, the attendant quickly left.
Probably afraid of him lashing out, thought Jiang Cheng. With another sigh, he picked up the tea and slowly allowed the warmth to comfort him. By the time the cup was empty, Jiang Cheng had made up his mind. He needed to secure Jin Ling’s position and ensure he had all the support he needed. He would also select an heir by the end of the month. In the meantime, he would begin compiling notes to make the transition as smooth as possible. He had been thrust into his position with no guidance and had suffered immense pressure from it. He would not let the next sect leader of Lotus Pier go through the same.
The days passed by and there was still no sign of Jin Ling. Usually when he was stressed like this, he would seek comfort in Lotus Pier, visiting every week or so to escape his duties. Even when he was not stressed, Jin Ling would often drop in, much to the delight of those he shared a childhood with. When he could not physically visit, his nephew would write near daily letters, often ranting about the Jin elders. But this time, he really wasn't talking to his uncle.
While Jiang Cheng did miss his nephew, he understood that the teenager had other more important things to do with hosting the conference and dealing with all the demands.
He buckled down on finishing his own work. While it wasn’t the busy season yet, there were still missives to answer and issues to attend to. The faster he finished, the faster he could evaluate potential heirs. The earlier the transition happened, the easier everything would be. The world would finally be free of his weight.
As he finished up a letter to be sent to a nearby village who had asked for advice, he heard some scuffling noises outside the door. He recognized the distinct voice of his estranged brother and the cries of protest from his head disciple, a young man named Jiang Yue. He quickly stood and slammed open his door, catching everyone by surprise. The disciple quietly greeted the sect leader before informing him of how the two cultivators had stormed through their way into Lotus Pier.
“What are you doing here?” he asked Wei Wuxian, eyes glaring daggers down into the smaller man. Many years ago Jiang Cheng would have had to tilt upwards to glare but he hastily brushed that thought away before it could form into some twisted form of nostalgia.
“Aiyo Jiang Cheng, why so harsh? Jin Ling was right, your anger has gotten worse over the years,” Wei Wuxian said, taunting him with a smile. Behind him, a stoic Hanguang-jun stood guard, expression cold as if he was daring the sect leader to do something brash.
With a sigh, Jiang Cheng straightened up. “It’s Sect Leader Jiang,” he said, through gritted teeth.
Wei Wuxian’s smile faltered slightly before expanding even larger.
“Of course, of course, Sect Leader Jiang.”
With a spin, he led the two away from his private office and into the main hall where they entertained official guests. When they had settled down, Jiang Cheng waved his head disciple away.
He turned to the two guests and asked, “What business do you have here?”
Wei Wuxian looked uneasy and turned to Hanguang-jun who finally decided to say something. “We are here concerning the conference.”
Knowing the man would not elaborate further, Jiang Cheng directed his question to Wei Wuxian. “Is there something wrong with the planning? Does Jin Ling have everything under control?”
Wei Wuxian quickly shook his head. “Not about that.” He paused, looking to find the right words. “Jin Ling is obviously under a lot of pressure.” He hesitated again before continuing. “We were on a night hunt the other night with all the juniors and he confessed to me that you were really stressing him out, so I wanted to talk to you about it.”
Jiang Cheng sat frozen in his seat.
Jin Ling had turned to Wei Wuxian with his troubles. While his heart was torn, underneath the initial hurt, he was glad that his nephew had someone to confide and trust. Even if that person was not him. Now that Wei Wuxian had settled back down, it would never be him, no matter how much he wanted it to be.
He zoned out as Wei Wuxian continued to ramble about how Jiang Cheng should really lay off the kid and to hold back his anger, at the very least until the conference was over. His temper was just like Madame Yu’s and Jin Ling really didn’t need fights happening, when he was such a new host. If his own uncle instigated fights then it would reflect poorly on him as well.
Barely registering the words that Wei Wuxian was spewing, Jiang Cheng began to run through his timeline. Now that he knew Jin Ling could turn to Wei Wuxian-which also meant his husband and ultimately the Lan Sect-for support, that was one thing crossed off on his list. It sped up his plans. With the Discussion Conference still months away, if he selected his heir soon, he could take more of a backseat during the conference. That would appease everyone while introducing the idea of a new leader for Lotus Pier. Two birds with one stone really.
Holding a hand to pause Wei Wuxian’s continuous talking, he released a deep breath. He looked over at the two men before agreeing.
“Alright, I understand.” He paused for a second before continuing, “Thank you for watching over Jin Ling. Please continue to support him. If that is all, then please leave now.”
A flash of confusion and hurt crossed Wei Wuxian’s face. Sensing it, Lan Wangji glared at Jiang Cheng, hand subtly moving closer to his sword.
Ignoring both reactions, Jiang Cheng stood and left without a second glance, clenching both fists so tightly his nails broke skin. The attendant by the door saw the sect leader leaving and quickly went to shoo the guests out.
Heading back to his office, Jiang Cheng mentally made a note to tell his heir that they were allowed to host anyone they pleased, regardless of the guests’ past history with the sect. After all, the issuing of a new leader meant a new spring. A blank slate with fresh beginnings, untainted by the bloody hands of its current leader.
Yes, Jiang Cheng thought. He needed to declare an heir soon.
Jiang Yue became an orphan older than the other children who fled the war, though he was still years younger than the sect leader. Because of this, he had grown up acting as an elder brother to most of the other disciples and even to young master Jin. As the years went on, he excelled in his training and became the head disciple, to the surprise of absolutely no one. He adopted the Jiang name soon after, to honor his new home, while retaining the second character, Yue, given to him by his parents.
He had a warm but strict temperament, developed from years of watching over rowdy children. Whereas the sect leader had sharp edges and thorns, the head disciple was calm and steady. Reliable and steadfast like the unwavering tides. Both cared deeply for the sect and its people.
Which is why Jiang Cheng decided he would be best to replace him.
One evening, a week after the unexpected visit from Wei Wuxian, the sect leader privately requested Jiang Yue join him for dinner. Although confused and a little worried that he had committed a grave error, Jiang Yue had accepted the invitation. It was no secret that Sect Leader Jiang often ate alone in his office, so the head disciple jumped at the chance to share a meal with him.
Nothing could have prepared him for the conversation that he walked into.
When he arrived, Sect Leader Jiang was already seated and waiting for him. He had uttered a quiet greeting before sitting down. As they began eating, the sect leader asked him about various topics. The recent night hunts he led. Which disciples he thought had improved the most. His views on different issues surrounding other sects.
While Sect Leader Jiang often asked for a second opinion on different topics, it was never over dinner and in private like this. As the questions continued, Jiang Yue’s gut turned more and more. It was such an odd situation he found himself in.
When Sect Leader Jiang paused his questioning to take a sip of tea, Jiang Yue mustered up the courage to ask what was wrong. “Sect leader Jiang, with all due respect, I don’t understand why a private dinner was necessary to talk about these topics. Is everything alright?”
Slowly lowering his cup, Jiang Cheng stared at his food, not looking the younger man in the eye. After a resigned breath, he lifted his head.
“You are correct. I invited you to dinner for another reason.” Straightening up, Jiang Cheng looked Jiang Yue in the eye, gaze unyielding.
“Jiang Yue, as a child, you watched me rebuild my sect with my bare hands. You were there when we reopened the gates of Lotus Pier. As you grew with the sect, you have proven yourself invaluable. Your compassion towards your fellow disciples, no matter the age or experience, shows in every instruction you give. In every class you teach. In every person you help.” Jiang Cheng paused to take a breath.
“Which is why, I would like to ask another favor from you.”
Jiang Yue listened to his sect leader, heart threatening to beat out of his chest. Hearing his sect leader praise someone was rare but not unheard of. All the disciples had quickly learned that words were not their sect leader’s strong suit. But hearing it with such grace and weight had taken Jiang Yue by surprise. He continued to listen intently, already mentally agreeing to do whatever his sect leader needed him to do.
“And that is to take over as the sect leader of Lotus Pier after me.”
Jiang Yue’s eyes widened hearing that. His heart now thumping right in his ear.
This was not what he was expecting. In his mind, the heart and soul of Lotus Pier was the strong man that led it. Without Sect Leader Jiang leading, Lotus Pier would still run, but mechanically. It would not have the same heart behind it. He tried to voice these thoughts out loud but was stopped by a raised hand.
“I understand this is a lot to ask of you,” Jiang Cheng started. “But it is something that I have been deeply considering. You embody the Jiang Sect motto, with how you have overcome all your obstacles while never wavering in your beliefs. If you accept, I wish for Lotus Pier to thrive under your hands.” Jiang Cheng lowered his hand and waited for the young man’s response.
At this point, all Jiang Yue could do was gape at his sect leader. He tried to compose himself and was only able to stutter over himself.
“Bu-But what about you? Are you stepping down as sect leader?”
Jiang Cheng looked at him with a confused expression. “Of course I’m stepping down. How else would you become the sect leader?”
“But why?!” asked Jiang Yue, nearly throwing himself on the table in front of him. He was so confused at this turn of events. He entered the dinner thinking he was going to be in trouble, not being asked to be the sect heir.
Jiang Cheng sighed, eyes trained on his tea cup. “It is a decision that I have been contemplating recently. As you know, Jin Ling is all grown up now and can stand on his own two feet. He would have a much smoother path if his meddling uncle were not breathing down his neck at every moment, especially when sect affairs are involved. It would only be more ammunition for the Jin elders. Besides, it seems that Lotus Pier has truly become something to rival its past. It no longer needs me as I need it. Remaining as sect leader would only keep it in the past, not push it towards the future.”
As Jiang Yue listened to these words, he wanted to scream in protest. Lotus Pier would never not need their sect leader. The very person who got down on hands and knees to build her up back from the ground. He was about to make his thoughts known when he took in the appearance of Sect Leader Jiang. Jiang Yue saw the slump in his shoulders, the wrinkles in his clothing. Had he always looked this tired? This aged?
It seems that the speech had also loosened something within the Sect Leader. Jiang Yue saw the resignation in his eyes and the listlessness in his posture. He could only whisper. “Are you certain, Sect Leader Jiang? Are you absolutely certain?”
Jiang Cheng closed his eyes. “Yes,” he answered resolutely.
With that, Jiang Yue stood. Meeting the older man’s eyes, he bent into a deep bow.
“Then this disciple will accept the position as sect heir of Lotus Pier with the intention of one day becoming its leader. However, let it be known that Lotus Pier will never tire of its current leader, but if you are determined to step down, this disciple will do his best in your stead.” Staying lowered for a few more moments, keeping his emotions in check, he straightened out before sitting back down once more.
“Thank you, Jiang Yue,” Jiang Cheng said quietly. Nodding, Jiang Yue could not look at his sect leader, afraid to cry even more.
Sensing the tension, Jiang Cheng said, “It won’t be immediate, Jiang Yue. I will still be here for now. But it will be soon. For now, we can begin training the day after tomorrow after the proper arrangements are made. The plan is to bring you along to the upcoming Discussion Conference and make the announcement there. Before that, you will begin sitting in meetings and getting used to your role.”
Jiang Yue did some calculations in his head. If such an important and sudden announcement was to be made at the Discussion Conference, Sect Leader Jiang was planning to step down not too long after. The earliest he could step down was a few months from now. Jiang Yue prayed to the heavens that it would not come that soon.
Taking his silence as agreement, Jiang Cheng continued on, going into more detail as to what Jiang Yue should expect.
As the night continued, long after Jiang Yue had left, Jiang Cheng felt as if a weight had been slowly lifted from him. Rather than freeing, he no longer felt grounded or steady. Instead, he found himself floating at sea, surrounded by nothing but the vast emptiness around him.