Chapter Text
Jiang Wanyin carefully sipped the tea from the jade porcelain cup served by the Lans. As everything else, the tea was bland and Jiang Wanyin had always prefered his tea on the sweeter side. He carefully looked at the man sitting in front of him. Sect Leader Lan looked normal, specially for someone who just came out of seclusion. Jiang Wanyin was appropriately surprised to see the letter of invitation that had come in from the Lan Sect Leader a month after he left seclusion. Curious and apprehensive, Jiang Wanyin had to accept the personal invitation.
"Zewu Jun, you must have called me for a reason. Would you care to divulge? Is there anything I can help you with?" Jiang Wanyin asked tentatively. He watched as Lan Xichen smiled at him, that serene smile he spared all Sect Leaders.
"You are right. I do have something I wish to discuss." Lan Xichen said. Jiang Wanyin nodded and waited. He watched as the Lan gathered himself.
"Sect Leader Jiang, in the past years, the Jiang and the Lan has maintained a working relationship and diplomatic relations. Trade between our sects has been well. But our relationship has been... dare I say, distant." Lan Xichen said, smiling cautiously at Jiang Wanyin.
Jiang Wanyin raised an eye brow.
"We are as close as two sects should be." Jiang Wanyin said. "I don't understand what you mean, Zewu Jun."
"I want to propose a bond of friendship between us." Lan Xichen said in a rush. Jiang Wanyin blinked in surprise.
"A bond of friendship?" He asked sounding skeptical. Zewu Jun nodded.
"Why?"
"As I said, we have been distant..."
"I mean, why now? After all these years?" Jiang Wanyin asked, voice steady. Zewu Jun sighed and looked down.
"Perhaps I should have reached out sooner." Zewu Jun said. "I do sincerely apologize for not reaching out sooner, Sect Leader Jiang."
Jiang Wanyin shrugged.
"You were busy. You lost one of your soulmates and then the other one turned out the way he did. I don't blame you to be occupied. Sect Leader Lan, we have always maintained a cordial relationship between the Sects and between us as Sect Leader. There was never a need to change that before. I don't see why anything should change now. With all due respect."
Lan Xichen smiled a small small pained smile.
"Yes. And after everything, I find myself seeking some semblance of familiarity for myself. Sect Leader Jiang, you have always been a constant presence, with your straightforwardness and firmness. You have rebuilt your home into one of the great sects from nothing with very little support. I may not have said anything before, but I never over looked your achievements. I just wish to connect with someone after being left alone. Sect Leader Nie.... I don't think I will be able to forgive him too quickly. But we don't have any bad blood between us, personally. So I thought of reaching out to you."
"I am greatful that you considered me, Sect Leader Lan. But, respectfully, I don't think we have much in common to connect over." Jiang Wanyin said, trying to keep his voice as neutral as possible.
"Perhaps we can send each other letters? It doesn't have to be only official letters. Maybe we can talk about our days or weeks that we spend. Anything really." Lan Xichen said, smiling earnestly.
Jiang Wanyin sighed.
"Sect Leader Lan, I find myself not ready to venture out into the world or to connect with anyone who pertains to my past. As you know, I have been preparing to go into seclusion myself. I couldn't refuse a personal invitation from you, hence I am here. I will start seclusion after the next month ends. Please forgive me, Zewu Jun. Recent events have taken a toll on me,even though it has been a year. I wish to rest."
Jiang Wanyin watched as Lan Xichen's smile fell for a few seconds before it strained back up.
"I understand. I am sorry if I have caused any delay with your preparation for going into seclusion."
"You haven't, Sect Leader Lan. I appreciate you reaching out. Well then."
They both rose together and bowed before Jiang Wanyin took his leave.
He walked out of the Hanshi and into the cool air of Cloud Recesses.
Jiang Cheng took a deep breath in. He let the air waft around him for a while, as he stood with his eyes closed. A wave of nostalgia hit him as he opened his eyes. Cloud Recesses had enough surviving members to rebuild it exactly as it was before being burnt down. Lotus Pier only had Jiang Cheng. He was polite with the Sect Leader but a part of him felt bitter. He wasn't reached out to when he needed it the most. The Yiling Louzu defecting didn't have any positive impact on Yunmeng Jiang. Him "killing" the tyrant had more effect but still, it wasn't enough. All those years of constantly fighting and staying on guard, lest the leachers come preying on Yunmeng again has left Jiang Wanyin a bitter man deep inside.
The absence of his soulmates notwithstanding.
Jiang Cheng always had one soulmate- an impression of a thin red ribbon wrapped around his right wrist. (There was a similar one but in the shape of a purple lotus on Wei Wuxian's left wrist)The impression had stayed through him losing and gaining a golden core and his soulmate dying. Jiang Cheng tried not to recall the other impression that had blossomed on his wrist, after the core transfer- and outline of a guqin on his left wrist. It didn't take a genius to understand who it was. But he had steadfastly ignored it as much as he could. However, unlike his absentee... him... Lan Wangji was everywhere. He was there when he looked for him, he was there when he was in the middle of a battle field, he was there after it was all done, right around his peripheral. Lan Wangji was cordial with him up until He died. After that, it was all bitter words and pure enmity between the two of them. Jiang Cheng hadn't known what kind of soul mate Lan Wangji was supposed to be, but it was clear to him now. Wei Wuxian's golden core. Jiang Cheng had wondered if Lan Wangji had a purple lotus on his right wrist, had wondered what he thought of it. The rejection of a soulmate hurts like a bitch. It doesn't effect the one rejecting the bond. It affects the one receiving it. Jiang Cheng knew that Lan Wangji had rejected the bond during the three years of his own seclusion. Jiang Cheng had had to deal with constant pain in the right wrist for those three years. His guqin impression had grown dull over the years. Jiang Cheng had grit his teeth and bore with it. His red ribbon had stayed bright until the day on the docks, when Wei Wuxian finally left with his love soulmate, ending everything between the two of them. That rejection had put Jiang Cheng in bed for a whole month with a raging fever and an unruly golden core. He wondered how the impressions of a purple lotus looked on their wrists. A part of Jiang Cheng knew how it looks. After all, he has never been able to completely reject them- any of them. In Mo Xuanyu's body, Jiang Cheng wasn't even sure if there was an impression of a purple lotus. His heart betrayed him all the time. Every time he wished to reject the bonds, his heart refused, still beating with hope of some kind. His brain reasoned with him- there was never anything between him and Lan Wangji for the bond to still stay from his side. Wei Wuxian was dead so there was no reason to not reject that bond either. So why? What was his heart hoping for? Was he that lonely? Did he crave companionship from them that much. Jiang Cheng was always second to Wei Wuxian in everything. He was always chosen second, always looked at as an after thought. Over time, Jiang Cheng had accepted his fate and moved on. He had a sect to rebuild. However, Lan Wangji's hatred had seared through him for three years. Wei Wuxian's rejection almost caused him to qi deviate. But his heart still didn't reject the bonds. Jiang Cheng held on to that absent companionship deep inside his heart, protected with layers and layers of forced indifference, anger and bitterness. And he would keep it that way. He knew Lan Wangji knew that Jiang Cheng never rejected the bond- the soulmate that was alive. He wondered what that made him. Hopeless? Naive? Foolish? Selfish? Whatever it may be, it was his bond to reject or not and his heart had already chosen.
He was brought out of his musings by a crunching sound behind him. Jiang Cheng turned, looking at the new arrival.
Wei Wuxian stared at him, wide eyed. Jiang Cheng notted that Mo Xuanyu's face had changed to look more like Wei Wuxian's original face, his body slowly changing and adapting to the soul inhabiting it. They stared at each other in silence, as the wind silently blew around them. Jiang Cheng found himself numb and so so tired. He couldn't find it in himself to say anything. The dull pain of a rejected bond flared a little on his wrist and he instinctively covered it with his palm. He watched as Wei Wuxian's eyes snapped to his wrist.
Suddenly, Jiang Cheng wanted to leave. He wanted to turn his back on this man once and for all. He had already returned Suibian and Chengqing. He had nothing else to give. Jiang Cheng turned and began to walk away.
"Wait! Jiang Cheng!"
Surprised at the sudden call, Jiang Cheng stopped. He immediately cursed at himself before he began to walk faster.
"Please! Jiang Cheng. Wait a while!"
A hand dropped in his shoulder as Wei Wuxian ran to over take him and stand in front of him. Jiang Cheng looked at him, waiting. He was well and truly tired. Wei Wuxian's words echoed in his head. Wen Ning's last words to him echoed in his head.
Over and over and over again.
Jiang Cheng waited.
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Wei Wuxian looked at Jiang Cheng. Something in him had worked against him to stop this man from leaving. Something in him told him that he would never see Jiang Cheng again. The whole cultivation world knew that Sect Leader Jiang was preparing for Seclusion. Yunmeng Jiang will have a new Sect Leader, Jiang Yun after the end of the next month. Wei Wuxian didn't want to accept that. He hasn't been able to accept that. He didn't want to see anyone else be Sect Leader Jiang when Jiang Cheng was still alive and healthy and young. His first soulmate. When Wei Wuxian had started to get his body back, two impressions had blossomed on his wrists- a purple lotus and a blue guqin, bright as the day they first appeared. The red ribbon around Lan Zhan's wrist was bright and a sharp contrast against his white robes. Lan Zhan wore his red ribbon proudly. Lan Zhan.... kept the purple lotus covered. They both knew why the purple lotus didn't fade over time. Lan Zhan had confessed that he had rejected his bond with Jiang Cheng after Wei Wuxian had died but the purple never faded. Lan Zhan had been angry at first, said it was a bond he didn't want. The purple never faded and Lan Zhan kept it wrapped up in white.
"Jiang Cheng. How- how have you been?" Wei Wuxian asked, internally cursing himself. His body and mouth had moved without his permission. Jiang Cheng just blinked at him. Wei Wuxian looked at him, properly looked. Jiang Cheng looked so tired. There were bags under his eyes, hidden poorly with powder. His skin was gaunt and pale, his body looked thinner than usual. Jiang Cheng has always been lean and muscular, bit not thin. His countenance reminded Wei Wuxian of when Jiang Cheng had lost his core. Wei Wuxian realized that Jiang Cheng was just looking at him.
"Why?"
Wei Wuxian blinked.
"Huh?"
"Why do you ask?" Jiang Cheng asked, a touch of impatience in his voice.
"I wanted to know. I-uh- want to talk to you?" Wei Wuxian blurted out. Jiang Cheng frowned at him.
"About what? What else is left to talk about?"
Wei Wuxian gulped, his mind scrambling for something- anything!
Impulsively, he lifted his wrist and pulled at his sleeves. He showed the bright purple lotus to Jiang Cheng.
"This!" Wei Wuxian said. "You- you..."
"Wei. Wu. Xian. Haven't you done enough?" Jiang Cheng asked, anger seeping into his voice. Wei Wuxian thought that anger was better than Jiang Cheng silently staring at him.
"Why did you have to throw that at my face? First your lackey and now you! How dare you do that? What do you want me to do? What did you want to show? How pathetic I am to hold on to that measly bond when yours has turned pale on my wrist? What to show everyone how foolish I am to hold on to my past?!?! Did you want to rub it in my face?!? How much more would you have me suffer!?!" Jiang Cheng roared. His voice had been gaining in volume. Wei Wuxian watched as Zidian sparked.
"Jiang Cheng, calm down! Please. I just want to talk!" Wei Wuxian pleaded.
"There is nothing left to talk about!! Not between us! It was over the day you left me! It was over! Over! Wei Wuxian you want to leave the past in the past? You want me to do the same? Fine! I will grant this wish of yours. I will grant it! After this, never ask me anything. I will grant your wish!"
Zidian flared but instead of lashing out, it wrapped around Jiang Cheng's wrists, crackling with power. Jiang Cheng looked at him with crazed eyes.
"Watch me! Look at me! Look at me as I give you what you want!" Jiang Cheng roared.
Wei Wuxian's eyes widened in horror as Zidiab glowed brightet and brighter, lightning scattering everywhere.
"Wei Ying!"
Lan Zhan's frantic voice reached the ringing of his ears as his husband came swooping in.
"Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan stop him! Stop him!" Wei Wuxian yelled at his husband. His eyes didn't leave Jiang Cheng. Zidian flared even brighter as Bichen struct against it. Zidian glowed, it's power expanding around Jiang Cheng as his crazed laugh reached his ears.
"Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian. Look at me as I give you want you have always wanted!"
"Wangji! Master Wei. What is happening?"
"I don't know!" Wei Wuxian wailed. "Jiang Cheng please, stop this. Stop this please!!"
"Jiang Wanyin!" Lan Zhan sent Bichen flying but to no avail.
Bichen ricocheted off of the ball of thunder that surrounded Jiang Cheng. Zidian was a brilliant purple, wrapped around her master's wrist. Wei Wuxian watched as Jiang Cheng used every bit if his energy stored in his golden core, watched as he fed it all to Zidian.
"He is burning his marks off, Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian yelled. He didn't feel the pain of rejection. He whipped his head towards his husband.
"Can you feel it Lan Zhan? Can you feel the rejection?" He demanded. Lan Zhan shook his head.
"Wangji, Let's play." Lan Xichen urged. "Jiang Wanyin would zap his hand off if we don't calm him down and he might qi deviate."
Lan Zhan nodded and he brought out his guqin. He started to play Clarity and Leibing soon joined. The notes rose high in the air with their spiritual power as the directed it towards the ball if thunder.
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When Lan Wangji saw the impression of a purple lotus bloom on his wrist, he was surprised. His fate was bound to Yunmeng from that day on. He had never given Jiang Wanyin much thought through their days in Cloud Recesses. But then circumstances brought them together. Lan Wangi saw fire and vengeance in Jiang Wanyin's eyes as they searched for Wei Ying and seiged the Supervisory offices. He saw the fire of his soul reflected in those grey eyes and something stirred in him. He spared a fleeting thought of "my purple lotus". The impression stayed bright. Lan Wangji knew why none of them could ever voice their soulbonds. It was war and none of them knew for sure if they would come out of it unscathed. But then everything turned into personal hell for him. Wei Ying died with Sandu embedded in the cliff side. Jiang Wanyin walked away. After then it was a whirlwind of emotions for him. He lost consciousness after the 20th strike of the discipline whip. When he came to, the red ribbon around his wrist was bright as ever, bringing Lan Zhan an illusion of solace that Wei Ying never truly rejected him. Then his eyes had caught the bright purple lotus and his soul had vehemently rejected it.
Over the years, Lan Wangji steadfastly refused to acknowledge how the purple lotus remained bright on his skin.
He had rejected the bond anew when he found out that he was bound to Jiang Wanyin through Wei Ying's golden core. An unwanted soulmate, Lan Wangji had viciously thought when he left the pier with Wei Ying.
A month later news came that Yunmeng Jiang will have a new Sect Leader after a year, following which Jiang Wanyin will enter seclusion for an indefinite period of time. That particular news had stirred an age old feeling inside of him. The same feeling that had made him think of Jiang Wanyin as his purple lotus. But Lan Wangji had been horrified. He loved Wei Ying, thought of him as his true soulmate, one willingly accepted. But Jiang Wanyin had stuck to his thoughts like a leach. Wei Ying, of course knew. He had seen the purple lotus on Lan Wangji's wrist, smiled a small sad smile and showed Lan Wangji his own purple lotus. Lan Wangji had known then that Jiang Wanyin was Wei Ying's first soulmate- the Twin Prides of Yunmeng Jiang. Since then, they both lived with the thought that a part of their soul would always be missing. Lan Wangji was fine with that, as long as he he had Wei Ying.
However, no one can deny Jiang Wanyin's presence. No one can deny the existence of a man, the youngest of all existing Sect Leaders, who single handedly brought Yunmeng out from the ashes. Yunmeng rose like a Phoenix for all of Jianghu to see. Jiang Wanyin guarded Yunmeng with his life, refusing to succumb to any pressure, steadfastly and systematically puling his sect up inch by inch. By 7 years, Jiang Wanyin had established Yunmeng Jiang as one of the great sects once again. Minor sects who had flocked to Yunmeng now swore loyalty to Jiang Wanyin till their dying breath. Yunmeng was strong, run by an iron fist and ferociously protected. Even Jin Guangshan was unable to weasel his way past Jiang Wanyin's defenses.Jiang Wanyin's reputation as Hunter of Demonic Cultivation had played a massive role in Yunmeng Jiang's defense. No demonic cultivator dared to practice within yunmeng borders if they valued their own lives. Vicious rumours had followed in Jiang Wanyin's wake and the man looked like he didn't care at all. Even his brother had been surprised by that. Jiang Wanyin had showed a side of himself that no one knew existed. Rumours spread that the death of his sister finally broke him. Lan Wangji had heard that he had somehow acquired rights to raise Jin Ling from the then Madame Jin even though both Jin Guangshan and Jin Guangyao were against it. Jiang Wanyin's ferocity wasn't unknown to anyone.
To hear that the fearsome Sandu Shengshou would go into seclusion soon has kept the Jianghu abuzz with rumours.
A part of Lan Zhan had twinged at the thought. Jiang Wanyin's constant presence had left a mark on him, whether he agreed to acknowledge it it or not.
Wei Ying had whispered to him in the dead of the night, that he couldn't accept anyone else as Sect Leader Jiang as long as Jiang Wanyin was alive. Lan Zhan had silently agreed with his husband.
Lan Wangji didn't know how or what led to this situation, but he had to stop Jiang Wanyin from killing himself. For Wei Ying atleast.
His intent was met with a spark from Zidian. Lan Wangji realised that Zidian was fighting against her master. She didn't want to kill the person she was supposed to protect. Lan Wangji directed his playing towards Zidian's intent and desperation and tugged as hard as he could. His spiritual energy clashed with Jiang Wanyin's but Zidian latched on to him. Lan Wangji poured more power into his playing. Leibing's melody sought out Jiang Wanyin's golden core, supressing it as soothingly as possibly.
Finally, after what felt like hours, Zidian started to fizzle out. A part of Lan Wangji marvelled at Jiang Wanyin's bond with Zidian. Zidian went against her master wishes in order to protect him. Her defenses dropped slowly and suddenly Wen Ning was there. Something shinned in his clutches as he darted towards Jiang Wanyin.
Jiang Wanyin dropped like a puppet whose strings were cut, right into Wen Ning's arms.
Wei Ying was immediately upon his brother, carefully taking his wrists in his hands. The place where the impressions should be were badly burnt off, enought to leave deep scarring. Lan Zhan was glad to see that the muscle didn't give way to bone.
"He isn't out of the woods yet." His brother said. "His golden core has been supressed to stop the qi deviation. He needs to heal his wrists otherwise he won't be able to use them again."
Wen Ning carefully picked up the fallen man. Wei Ying arranged Jiang Wanyin's wrists on his body before Wen Ning set off for the infirmary.
"I will inform Uncle." With that Lan Xichen went to fetch their uncle.
Lan Zhan looked at Wei Ying, who was staring at the purple lotus impression on his wrist.
"I never felt the pain of rejection, Lan Zhan." Wei Ying said, voice impossibly soft and pained.
Lan Zhan hadn't felt it as well.
What was Jiang Wanyin trying to accomplish? If he had well and truly wanted to reject the bond, Lan Zhan's wrist would be flaring with pain right now.
"Wei Ying."
"Let's go check on him, Lan Zhan. I have so many questions that Jiang Cheng needs to answer."
Lan Zhan nodded. He had his questions as well.
Most importantly- why?