#JiangCheng-centric, angst, (Part 1)
๐ชท Soul Residue AU
๐ชท This will be long. Buckle up.
๐ชท Donโt look too much into the how, I word vomited.
๐ชท I love you Lan Jingyi.
โผ๏ธ TW: Detailed description of injuries and violence
๐ชท Soul Residue AU
๐ชท This will be long. Buckle up.
๐ชท Donโt look too much into the how, I word vomited.
๐ชท I love you Lan Jingyi.
โผ๏ธ TW: Detailed description of injuries and violence
https://twitter.com/BlaBlaBla__Me/status/1545360781167845376
Sect Leader Jiang, the feared Sandu Shengshou, had met his endโthe news spread far and wide into every nook of jianghuโkilled by a band of demonic cultivators who gather to bring down their executioner.
Some spat that he deserved it, with the ways he hunted them down and inhumanely tortured them in his underground chamber.
Some cried loud tears in mourning for a man who had brought closure to their family with his deeds.
Some cried loud tears in mourning for a man who had brought closure to their family with his deeds.
Lanling Jin was the first to receive the news, even earlier than Yunmeng Jiang.
Sect Leader Jin, Jin Rulan, was attending to his sect duty with the Jin elders when a powerful lightning struck in the middle of a clear sky.
Zidian materialized on his finger amd refused to settle.
Sect Leader Jin, Jin Rulan, was attending to his sect duty with the Jin elders when a powerful lightning struck in the middle of a clear sky.
Zidian materialized on his finger amd refused to settle.
Jin Ling was puzzled by its presence, but it didn't take long for the implication to dawn on him.
He bursted out of the Glamour Hall and rode Suihua all the way to Lotus Pier. His heart beat frantically, like his chest was too small for its size, as scenarios ran through him.
He bursted out of the Glamour Hall and rode Suihua all the way to Lotus Pier. His heart beat frantically, like his chest was too small for its size, as scenarios ran through him.
This couldn't be. It was a mistake.
His jiujiu didn't- He couldn't-
Jin Ling refused to finish his thought. When he landed in Lotus Pier, the place was serene, with no trace of panic anywhere in sight. He was relieved.
His jiujiu didn't- He couldn't-
Jin Ling refused to finish his thought. When he landed in Lotus Pier, the place was serene, with no trace of panic anywhere in sight. He was relieved.
But that relief was short-lived when he asked the head disciples for his jiujiu, and they replied that he was on a short vacation trip to the teahouse near Yiling border.
He left a week ago.
He left a week ago.
Jin Ling remembered the letter he got from Jiang Cheng now. He was so distressed that he forgot.
His jiujiu was not here.
No. Not safe. Anywhere outside Lotus Pier was not safe.
Tears sprung to Jin Ling's eyes as he told the head disciples to send a search party.
His jiujiu was not here.
No. Not safe. Anywhere outside Lotus Pier was not safe.
Tears sprung to Jin Ling's eyes as he told the head disciples to send a search party.
He showed them Zidian, still screeching and wailing with crackling purple lightnings.
๐๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ. ๐๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ'๐ด ๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฆ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ.
Within seconds, there was no more peace in Lotus Pier.
๐๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ. ๐๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ'๐ด ๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฆ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ.
Within seconds, there was no more peace in Lotus Pier.
Screams filled the air as disciples ran around to assemble a search party and prepare an infirmary.
With how Zidian was now in Sect Leader Jin's posession... No. Stop.
The head disciple yelled an order to call back seasoned healers under Yunmeng Jiang from across jianghu.
With how Zidian was now in Sect Leader Jin's posession... No. Stop.
The head disciple yelled an order to call back seasoned healers under Yunmeng Jiang from across jianghu.
If there was even a tiny possibility that they could get Sect Leader Jiang back alive-
They were needed.
The wait was a torment, heavy with anticipation and fear.
Three days later, the search party came back, with Jin Ling leading it.
They were needed.
The wait was a torment, heavy with anticipation and fear.
Three days later, the search party came back, with Jin Ling leading it.
Sect Leader Jiang was brought back still as a lifeless puppet.
He no longer breathed.
His body was beaten and broken. Bones jutting out of his flesh at strange angles.
Bruises decorated every inch of his skin where his robe was torn.
He no longer breathed.
His body was beaten and broken. Bones jutting out of his flesh at strange angles.
Bruises decorated every inch of his skin where his robe was torn.
The tip of his fingers were bloody, fingernails gone, while his lips were held shut with rough threads.
There was a large gash in his stomach, so much blood caked on the skin that no one could see the wound.
Among the purple robe was a speck of white.
There was a large gash in his stomach, so much blood caked on the skin that no one could see the wound.
Among the purple robe was a speck of white.
Lan Jingyi was carried by two Jiang disciples. He was unconscious and pale, but looked much less beaten down than Jiang Cheng.
Both were hurried to the infirmary.ย
The healers had hope for their leader, that he would cling to life despite the conditions he was found in.
Both were hurried to the infirmary.ย
The healers had hope for their leader, that he would cling to life despite the conditions he was found in.
The hope was crushed again and again as they tried to find any signs of life, only to discover more horrendous evidence of what their sect leader had gone through.
Jiang Cheng's left eyes were gone, along with his tongue when they loosen the threads that tied his lips shut.
Jiang Cheng's left eyes were gone, along with his tongue when they loosen the threads that tied his lips shut.
His hands were crushed, his ribs caved in. The healers turned paler as they peeled the clothes off his body.
There was no more hope.
They tried their best to close his wounds and beautify him, so that he would laid in his casket with dignity.
There was no more hope.
They tried their best to close his wounds and beautify him, so that he would laid in his casket with dignity.
Jin Ling fell to his knees when he was allowed to see Jiang Cheng's body, a spider on both side of him as they supported him.
"How-Why? Jiujiu?" He didn't know what to say.
"How-Why? Jiujiu?" He didn't know what to say.
Jin Ling and the Jiang disciples had found Jiang Cheng and Lan Jingyi in an abandoned town at the edge of Yunmeng territory. They were left in a damp cell under what used to be a manor of a landlord of the ghostly town.
Jiang Cheng was in a pool of his own blood, in a cell that was painted crimson, while Lan Jingyi was at the other side of the cell, barely breathing.
There were traces of demonic cultivation everywhere in the manor, from the talisman behind the gate to the unfinished arrays.
There were traces of demonic cultivation everywhere in the manor, from the talisman behind the gate to the unfinished arrays.
Jin Ling knew that Jiang Cheng was a hired by the demonic cultivators. He eliminated the people who were too far gone mercilessly when he heard the news of one. The deaths were always as painless and quick as he could afford.
He never brought anyone back for torture, only for rehabilitation and assimilation into Yunmeng. All the family if those who were brought back had been informed, so this couldnโt be personal grudge.
Perhaps it was entitlement. The hatred on the behalf of their crooked way.
Perhaps it was entitlement. The hatred on the behalf of their crooked way.
But why? Why were they this cruel?
Why was his jiujiu, the sole pillar of his life, gone?
"Wake up, jiujiu. You can't leave me too," he sobbed. A part of him still denied the new reality.
Jin Ling cried until he couldn't cry anymore. His eyes were red and puffy.
Why was his jiujiu, the sole pillar of his life, gone?
"Wake up, jiujiu. You can't leave me too," he sobbed. A part of him still denied the new reality.
Jin Ling cried until he couldn't cry anymore. His eyes were red and puffy.
The head disciple, Jiang Yuexing, half-dragged Jin Ling to his quarter in the family wing when the boy showed no sign of resting or eating.
He ordered Jin Ling to sleep, even when his own eyes were red and he wouldnโt be able to sleep either.
He ordered Jin Ling to sleep, even when his own eyes were red and he wouldnโt be able to sleep either.
Lotus Pier prepared for a funeral. Missives wrapped in fine lotus silk found its way to all sects big and small.
There was a wail in the private quarter of a heir to Baling Ouyang, the closest sect to Yunmeng.
There was a wail in the private quarter of a heir to Baling Ouyang, the closest sect to Yunmeng.
There was a choked sob in an empty hall of Qinghe Nie, where all elders were dismissed after a missive with purple ribbon had arrived.
There was an anguished scream on the high mountains of Gusu, accompanied by a silent, worried pair of arms that responded to it.
There was an anguished scream on the high mountains of Gusu, accompanied by a silent, worried pair of arms that responded to it.
A bit further away in the same room was a fallen face of one who had outlived too many of his students.
A youth sat still as a rock, unable to comprehend anything but the last portion of the missive that informed him of his friend's condition and another friend's loss.
A youth sat still as a rock, unable to comprehend anything but the last portion of the missive that informed him of his friend's condition and another friend's loss.
They sent a letter confirming Gusu Lanโa presence at the funeral and call off the search for Lan Jingyi, who was reported missing by the returning disciples who went on a night hunt with him a few days ago.
Lan Jingyi woke up a day after he was rescued, and the first word out of his hoarsed throat was a scream for Sect Leader Jiang.
The healers had to put him back to sleep when he thrashed and refused to listen.
The healers had to put him back to sleep when he thrashed and refused to listen.
It wasn't hard. His body was still weak from days of starvation and dehydration even though his bruises were already all healed by his golden core overnight.
Lan Jingyi woke a few sichen later, much more subdued.
Lan Jingyi woke a few sichen later, much more subdued.
Jin Ling was there, unable to fully rest in fear that he would lose his friend too.
He had so many questions. How did Lan Jingyi got captured? What happened to jiujiu? Who was it that captured them?
He had so many questions. How did Lan Jingyi got captured? What happened to jiujiu? Who was it that captured them?
But Lan Jingyi looked more distraught with every breath he took as he processed the situation, so Jin Ling settled with, "It must have been scary. I'm glad you're not injured too badly. Now rest and try to recover."
Lan Jingyi immediately cried at his words. He shook his head, tears ran down his face. "No... It's n-not good! Sect Leader-! No Jin Ling!"
Jin Ling didn't know what he said wrong. He tried to calm his friend down, but Lan Jingyi only grew more hysteric.
Jin Ling didn't know what he said wrong. He tried to calm his friend down, but Lan Jingyi only grew more hysteric.
The healer kicked him out and had to sedated Lan Jingyi again.
The funeral came too soon.
Disciples greeted the entourage from the sects with forced hospitality, too emotionally drained to uphold their standard, but unwilling to discard the expectation that their sect leader had of them.
Disciples greeted the entourage from the sects with forced hospitality, too emotionally drained to uphold their standard, but unwilling to discard the expectation that their sect leader had of them.
Jiang Cheng's body was restored as much as the healer was able and dressed in his most elaborated clothes, but witnesses could still see the trace of a gruesome death. All of them were used to seeing bodies. They knew what the wounds looked like before restoration.
Wei Wuxian lost his strength when he saw Jiang Cheng, only Lan Wangji's arms prevented him from collapsing completely. He wasn't ready for death to claim his shidi this early, never ready to attend Jiang Cheng funeral before his own was held, but this. This was too much.
His brother was so broken. He had seen enough corpses in the Burial Mound to know what each stitch means.
His brother shouldn't be there, lying so still. It was like him.
His brother shouldn't be there, lying so still. It was like him.
Sect leaders came to pay their respect and later retreated to their prepared quarter, but Wei Wuxian stayed with Jin Ling, which meant that Lan Wangji also stayed.
On the second day of the visitation, Jin Ling noticed a glow from inside the casket.
On the second day of the visitation, Jin Ling noticed a glow from inside the casket.
"Wei Wuxian. What is that?" He nudged the man, whose eyes were also drawn to the casket.
They crept closer. A collective gasp sounded when they saw Jiang Cheng's entire body glow. Light illuminated his veins.
"What is that?" Wei Wuxian echoed Jin Ling's question.
They crept closer. A collective gasp sounded when they saw Jiang Cheng's entire body glow. Light illuminated his veins.
"What is that?" Wei Wuxian echoed Jin Ling's question.
Lan Wangj's eyes were slightly wider as he answered, "Soul residue."
Jin Ling looked at the man, "And what, exactly, is that?" He may have snapped. He didn't have much tolerance for the Second Jade of Lan, who had dismissed his jiujiu every chance he got.
Jin Ling looked at the man, "And what, exactly, is that?" He may have snapped. He didn't have much tolerance for the Second Jade of Lan, who had dismissed his jiujiu every chance he got.
Only the reminder that this was a funeral prevented him from saying anything harsher.
"Shufu knows better."
Jin Ling asked Jiang Yuexing to get Grandmaster Lan, who had come as an acting sect leader in place of Zewu-jun who was still in seclusion.
"Shufu knows better."
Jin Ling asked Jiang Yuexing to get Grandmaster Lan, who had come as an acting sect leader in place of Zewu-jun who was still in seclusion.
Somehow, the rest of the guests caught wind and followed them.
According to Lan Qiren, A soul residue was extremely rare. There wasn't much record about it throughout the history, but from what little they had, it was the memory of a soul.
According to Lan Qiren, A soul residue was extremely rare. There wasn't much record about it throughout the history, but from what little they had, it was the memory of a soul.
When a powerful cultivator died while having strong attachments, there was a chance that the memory part of their soul refused to leave the body, still believing that it was alive.
It was the very base for of a person, formed through their experience in life and their memory of emotions. Their true essence.
There was a record that the soul residue tried to reach out to interact with its living family members and those whom it knew, +
There was a record that the soul residue tried to reach out to interact with its living family members and those whom it knew, +
but the clarity of communication rested on how attached the soul was to the living individuals. Close family felt as if they could feel each word directly, while acquaintence felf only the general indication of emotions, like love and regret.
The sect leaders talked among themselves in a hushed voice. Always, always speculating, gossiping, criticizing.
This is not a show, Jin Ling seethed, but he pushed down the urge to scream. This was a funeral. They were guests. He had to maintain Jiang Chengโs honor.
This is not a show, Jin Ling seethed, but he pushed down the urge to scream. This was a funeral. They were guests. He had to maintain Jiang Chengโs honor.
Warmth touched Jin Ling's arm. He almost jumped, if not for the familiarity he felt.
The glow on Jiang Cheng's skin made it's way from the casket, floating idly outward like particles of light. They touched Jin Ling. It felt like his jiujiu.
The glow on Jiang Cheng's skin made it's way from the casket, floating idly outward like particles of light. They touched Jin Ling. It felt like his jiujiu.
Jin Ling looked to Grandmaster Lan, whom in all his years had only learned of the soul residue from records and myths.
"Interacting with loved ones," he affirmed, looking respectfully intrigue.
The records were true.
"Interacting with loved ones," he affirmed, looking respectfully intrigue.
The records were true.
๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ.
Jin Ling sucked a breath at the sudden call. But it was strange. He knew he was called, but he didn't hear. Was that-?
Lan Qiren recalled the readings. "A soul talked to another soul. Jiang Wanyin's soul is talking to yours, Jin Rulan."
Jin Ling sucked a breath at the sudden call. But it was strange. He knew he was called, but he didn't hear. Was that-?
Lan Qiren recalled the readings. "A soul talked to another soul. Jiang Wanyin's soul is talking to yours, Jin Rulan."
Tears returned to his eyes. It was a wonder how he could still cry after all the crying he had done these past days. "Jiujiu."
๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ. ๐๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ธ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ. ๐-๐ซ๐ช๐ฆโ๐ด. ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐ค๐ช๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐บ. ๐๐ณ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ซ๐ฐ๐บ.
๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ. ๐๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ธ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ. ๐-๐ซ๐ช๐ฆโ๐ด. ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐ค๐ช๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐บ. ๐๐ณ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ซ๐ฐ๐บ.
Jin Ling wailed, overwhelmed by the love that he felt from Jiang Cheng, spoken directly to his soul.
A sob came from Wei Wuxian, and well as a shaky sigh from a bit of a distance away. For the first time, Nie Huaisang dared to come closer to his friend's body.
A sob came from Wei Wuxian, and well as a shaky sigh from a bit of a distance away. For the first time, Nie Huaisang dared to come closer to his friend's body.
He felt Jiang Cheng's soul call to Jin Ling, each word loud and clear. That meant he was privy to Jiang Chengโs call, right?
The particles of light spread out to envelop the entire area.
"Is a soul supposed to do that? Won't it be scattered?" Wei Wuxian asked Lan Qiren.
The particles of light spread out to envelop the entire area.
"Is a soul supposed to do that? Won't it be scattered?" Wei Wuxian asked Lan Qiren.
The question made Jin Ling panicked. "What? Scattered?"
Lan Qiren looked unsure. "The records said that a soul residue will eventually leave the body, but they did not say of it will join the rest of his soul that had left beforehand."
Lan Qiren looked unsure. "The records said that a soul residue will eventually leave the body, but they did not say of it will join the rest of his soul that had left beforehand."
๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ. ๐๐ช๐ณ๐ด๐ต. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต. ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ. ๐-๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ. ๐๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐๐๐๐.
Several flashes of memory ran through Jin Ling, but it was not his. No, he was seeing himself from someone else's eyes. From Jiang Cheng's eyes.
Several flashes of memory ran through Jin Ling, but it was not his. No, he was seeing himself from someone else's eyes. From Jiang Cheng's eyes.
They were moments that he would never have see. Himself in a cloth bundle, sleeping soundly against a warm chest even as the edge of Jiang Cheng's vision blurred into blackness from exhaustion.
Jiang Cheng jumped awake from sleep as a loud baby wail came from the crib and refused to stop. Profused apologies fell from his lips as he tended to the baby in gold. The Sun rose without him getting a wink of sleep.
Jiang Cheng holding Jin Ling. Jin Ling's first word. Jin Ling's first step. Jin Ling on his hip. Jin Ling on his shoulders. Jin Ling beaming. Jin Ling pouting. Jin Ling swimming. Jin Ling flying on Suihua. Jin Ling with his friends. Jin Ling on the peony throne.
All of those fond memories rushed through the soul call.
๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ.
There were only a few people who saw the memory, while the rest of the guest only perceived the vague the extend of Jiang Cheng's care for his nephew as an intense sensation of warmth.
๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ.
There were only a few people who saw the memory, while the rest of the guest only perceived the vague the extend of Jiang Cheng's care for his nephew as an intense sensation of warmth.
But in this place, everyone knew that Jin Ling was so loved by Sandu Shengshou.
Particles touched Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji reflectively reached out to-What could he do? Brush them away?
He didn't get along well with Jiang Wanyin.
Particles touched Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji reflectively reached out to-What could he do? Brush them away?
He didn't get along well with Jiang Wanyin.
He hurted Wei Wuxian far too many times for Lan Wangji to not be wary. He knew that deep down, Jiang Wanyin held some degree of care of Wei Wuxian. The desperation all those three months that they had searched for Wei Wuxian wasn't false, but Jiang Wanyin had changed.
Lan Wangji did not know if that care Jiang Wanyin tentatively held survived the fallout. He couldn't help but be careful when Jiang Wanyin was around Wei Wuxian.
This he actively came in between them. The fewer they interacted, the less hurt Wei Wuxian would be.
This he actively came in between them. The fewer they interacted, the less hurt Wei Wuxian would be.
He knew it to be true.
Ignoring Lan Wangji's protective stance, Wei Wuxian reached out.
Jiang Cheng's soul call echoed in their own souls. Jin Ling and Lan Wangji was almost knocked over by its intensity and its duality.
Ignoring Lan Wangji's protective stance, Wei Wuxian reached out.
Jiang Cheng's soul call echoed in their own souls. Jin Ling and Lan Wangji was almost knocked over by its intensity and its duality.
๐๐ฆ๐ช ๐๐ถ๐น๐ช๐ข๐ฏ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ช๐ญ๐บ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ. ๐-๐ฅ๐ช๐ฆโ๐ด ๐ง๐ช๐ณ๐ด๐ต. ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ. ๐๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต๐ฉ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด. ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ต. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต. ๐๐ข๐ช๐ญ๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ.
Memory flooded between them, the ones whom Jiang Cheng held dear.
Memory flooded between them, the ones whom Jiang Cheng held dear.
Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian played in the lake. Jiang Cheng trying to keep Wei Wuxian from Madan Yu's wrath. Jiang Cheng being upset at Wei Wuxian after seeing the disappointment in Jiang Fengmianโs eyes. Jiang Cheng keeping Wei Wuxian in line at Cloud Recesses.
Rushing back to Lotus Pier and collapse at the entrance, yelling for help to go to Xuanwu Cave. Jumping in between Zidian and Wei Wuxian.
The Wens approaching Wei Wuxian. Distracting them. Protect.
"No."
Captured. Whip striking into his flesh. Screams. His core destroyed.
The Wens approaching Wei Wuxian. Distracting them. Protect.
"No."
Captured. Whip striking into his flesh. Screams. His core destroyed.
"No!" Wei Wuxian didn't notice as he repeated the same word louder and louder as it turned to shouts.ย "Nono, Jiang Cheng, why?!"
๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ. ๐๐ข๐ง๐ฆ๐ด๐ข๐ง๐ฆ๐ด๐ข๐ง๐ฆ๐ด๐ข๐ง๐ฆ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐ช๐ฆ๐ง. ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ค๐ฆ.
๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ. ๐๐ข๐ง๐ฆ๐ด๐ข๐ง๐ฆ๐ด๐ข๐ง๐ฆ๐ด๐ข๐ง๐ฆ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐ช๐ฆ๐ง. ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ค๐ฆ.
Wei Wuxian felt sick. How could Jiang Cheng felt such a strong wave of relief when his core was crushed? He could he be...AT PEACE...with the fact that he was dying alone, in enemy's grasp?
Jin Ling paled at his jiujiu's pain and sacrifice that hummed through the soul call.
Jin Ling paled at his jiujiu's pain and sacrifice that hummed through the soul call.
He glanced at Wei Wuxian and saw pure distraught on his face.
Realization hit. Wei Wuxian didn't know.
More memories flashed by.
Wiping Suibian as he searched for Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian turning his back. Jiang Cheng spitting venom the way the knew it hurt.
Realization hit. Wei Wuxian didn't know.
More memories flashed by.
Wiping Suibian as he searched for Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian turning his back. Jiang Cheng spitting venom the way the knew it hurt.
Watching Wei Wuxian torn apart by his own creation. Crying alone in a dark room in the family quarter.
๐๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ช๐ด๐ฆ. ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฆ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ช๐ค๐ฆ. ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ. ๐๐ฏ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ฌ!
๐๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ช๐ด๐ฆ. ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฆ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ช๐ค๐ฆ. ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ. ๐๐ฏ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ฌ!
๐๐ฐ ๐๐ถ๐ข๐ฏ๐บ๐ถโ๐ฏ๐ฐ, ๐๐ฆ๐ช ๐๐ถ๐น๐ช๐ข๐ฏโ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ข๐บ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ข ๐ง๐ญ๐ถ๐ต๐ฆ. ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฏ. ๐๐ฆ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ช๐ค๐ฆ. ๐๐ญ๐ธ๐ข๐บ๐ด ๐ฃ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ฌ.
๐๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ต. ๐๐ด๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ช๐ข๐ณ! ๐๐ฆ๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฏ ๐ช๐ต.
๐๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ต. ๐๐ด๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ช๐ข๐ณ! ๐๐ฆ๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฏ ๐ช๐ต.
๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ. ๐๐ข๐ช๐ญ๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ข๐ด๐ตโ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ต ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ณ๐ต.
๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฃ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ.
๐๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐ฆ...
๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ข๐จ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด.
๐๐ญ๐ธ๐ข๐บ๐ด ๐ด๐ฆ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ. ๐๐ค๐ค๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ต๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ.
๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฃ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ.
๐๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐ฆ...
๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ข๐จ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด.
๐๐ญ๐ธ๐ข๐บ๐ด ๐ด๐ฆ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ. ๐๐ค๐ค๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ต๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ.
"A-Cheng, no," Wei Wuxian sobbed. "Not unwanted. That's not-I'm sorry. I love you, I love you!"
๐๐ช๐ข๐ณ.
Wei Wuxian shook his head frantically. No, Jiang Cheng needed to know. He wasn't unwanted, wasn't unlovable. "Please believe me. You're my brother. I love you, A-Cheng!"
๐๐ช๐ข๐ณ.
Wei Wuxian shook his head frantically. No, Jiang Cheng needed to know. He wasn't unwanted, wasn't unlovable. "Please believe me. You're my brother. I love you, A-Cheng!"
๐๐ช๐ข๐ณ.
Wei Wuxian felt as if he was stuck in the face. There was no way Jiang Cheng believe that he wasnโt loved.
๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ฆ๐ช ๐๐ถ๐น๐ช๐ข๐ฏ'๐ด ๐ง๐ข๐ถ๐ญ๐ต. ๐๐ฏ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ท๐ข๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ต. ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ.
๐๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฑ๐ฑ๐บ.
Wei Wuxian felt as if he was stuck in the face. There was no way Jiang Cheng believe that he wasnโt loved.
๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ฆ๐ช ๐๐ถ๐น๐ช๐ข๐ฏ'๐ด ๐ง๐ข๐ถ๐ญ๐ต. ๐๐ฏ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ท๐ข๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ต. ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ.
๐๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฑ๐ฑ๐บ.
Wei Wuxian could sense the soul retreating. He reached after it. He wouldn't allow Jiang Cheng to leave like that. Not until he could make him understand.
But a different stream of memory cut him off.
๐๐ข๐ฏ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ซ๐ช.
But a different stream of memory cut him off.
๐๐ข๐ฏ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ซ๐ช.
The name's owner stiffened. He watched the particles in distrust. There was no good will between them, so what could Jiang Cheng's soul say but curses?
๐๐ฆ๐ช ๐๐ถ๐น๐ช๐ข๐ฏ'๐ด ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ด๐ฃ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ. ๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ช๐ญ๐บ.
Golden eyes widened.
๐๐ฆ๐ช ๐๐ถ๐น๐ช๐ข๐ฏ'๐ด ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ด๐ฃ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ. ๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ช๐ญ๐บ.
Golden eyes widened.
๐๐ฏ๐ท๐บ. ๐๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฏ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฆ๐ต๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐ฆ๐ช ๐๐ถ๐น๐ช๐ข๐ฏ'๐ด ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ต. ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฑ ๐ด๐ข๐ง๐ฆ.
A flash, '๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฏ'๐ต ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฆ๐ณ๐ท๐ฆ-'
๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ต. ๐๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฆ๐ณ๐ท๐ช๐ฏ๐จ. ๐๐ฆ๐ช ๐๐ถ๐น๐ช๐ข๐ฏ'๐ด ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต๐ฐ๐ณ. ๐๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต๐ฉ๐บ.
A flash, '๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฏ'๐ต ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฆ๐ณ๐ท๐ฆ-'
๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ต. ๐๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฆ๐ณ๐ท๐ช๐ฏ๐จ. ๐๐ฆ๐ช ๐๐ถ๐น๐ช๐ข๐ฏ'๐ด ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต๐ฐ๐ณ. ๐๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต๐ฉ๐บ.
๐๐ฆ๐ช ๐๐ถ๐น๐ช๐ข๐ฏ'๐ด ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด. ๐๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ. ๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ช๐ญ๐บ.
There hadn't been much interactions between Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng. Most of the memories were from when they searched for Wei Wuxian, and when they tried their best to hurt each other for +
There hadn't been much interactions between Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng. Most of the memories were from when they searched for Wei Wuxian, and when they tried their best to hurt each other for +
not being there for Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji undermining his authority. Lan Wangji obstructing his night hunt. Lan Wangji being right about him not worthy of Wei Wuxian's golden core.
๐๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฐ๐จ๐บ. ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ.
๐๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฐ๐จ๐บ. ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ.
He was Jiang Cheng's family? Was that how the sect leader had though of him all this time, while he trying his best to not let Wei Wuxian cross path with his shidi?
๐๐ช๐ฆ ๐๐ถ๐ข๐ช๐ด๐ข๐ฏ๐จ.
The man jerked, his face for once not hidden by his fan.
๐๐ช๐ฆ ๐๐ถ๐ข๐ช๐ด๐ข๐ฏ๐จ.
The man jerked, his face for once not hidden by his fan.
Why did Jiang Cheng still reach out to him? Nie Huaisang hurt him and his nephew. He killed Jin Ling's other uncle!
๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ข๐ฏ๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ. ๐๐ณ๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ. ๐๐ณ๐ต๐ช๐ด๐ต. ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ.
There was a memory of Nie Huaisang tried to catch fish t Cloud Recesses.
๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ข๐ฏ๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ. ๐๐ณ๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ. ๐๐ณ๐ต๐ช๐ด๐ต. ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ.
There was a memory of Nie Huaisang tried to catch fish t Cloud Recesses.
Nie Huaisang read the yellow book. Nie Huaisang teached him to paint a fan. Nie Huaisang conplaining while being tutored.
๐๐ถ๐ฏ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ต.
They grew distant. Jiang Cheng was too busy with his sect to reconnect with him after war.
๐๐ถ๐ฏ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ต.
They grew distant. Jiang Cheng was too busy with his sect to reconnect with him after war.
Jin Ling was hurt, in danger. Nie Mingjue's corpse at the Guanyin temple. Nie Huaisang's empty eyes after his revenge.
๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ต. ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐ฐ๐ณ๐ณ๐บ.
๐๐ฐ๐ณ๐จ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ. ๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฑ ๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ.
That...What that Jiang Cheng wanting him to look out for Jin Ling?
๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ต. ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐ฐ๐ณ๐ณ๐บ.
๐๐ฐ๐ณ๐จ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ. ๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฑ ๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ.
That...What that Jiang Cheng wanting him to look out for Jin Ling?
He would forgive Nie Huaisang if he did so?
Nie Huaisang would have done it even when he wasn't forgiven. He just wished it didnโt take him this long to notice that Jiang Cheng still cared.
Nie Huaisang would have done it even when he wasn't forgiven. He just wished it didnโt take him this long to notice that Jiang Cheng still cared.
๐๐ข๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ป๐ฉ๐ถ๐ช.
The teenager stood some distance away. Now that Sect Leader Jiang's soul was here, he wasn't sure if his presence would be appreciated.
A soul was straightforward and truthful. Whatever restraints he had in life, he was free of them in soul.
The teenager stood some distance away. Now that Sect Leader Jiang's soul was here, he wasn't sure if his presence would be appreciated.
A soul was straightforward and truthful. Whatever restraints he had in life, he was free of them in soul.
The tolerance he had for the Wen blood in Lan Sizhui surely depleted too.
๐๐ฆ๐ช ๐๐ถ๐น๐ช๐ข๐ฏ'๐ด ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฏ. ๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ช๐ญ๐บ. ๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ'๐ด ๐ง๐ณ๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฅ. ๐๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ค๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต.
Innocent, Lan Sizhuiโs breath halted, Sect Leader Jiang considered him innocent.
๐๐ฆ๐ช ๐๐ถ๐น๐ช๐ข๐ฏ'๐ด ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฏ. ๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ช๐ญ๐บ. ๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ'๐ด ๐ง๐ณ๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฅ. ๐๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ค๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต.
Innocent, Lan Sizhuiโs breath halted, Sect Leader Jiang considered him innocent.
There were brief images of Lan Sizhui as a child, when Jiang Cheng visited Gusu Lan for sect business. Lan Sizhui hidden behind a cold Lan Wangji. A teenage Lan Sizhui who discussed the rumors about Sandu Shengshou with his friends. Lan Sizhui who put a smile on Jin Lingโs face.
๐๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฏ. ๐๐ช๐ณ๐ด๐ต ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ช๐ค๐ฆ. ๐๐ฏ๐ท๐บ. ๐๐ถ๐ช๐ญ๐ต. ๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ช๐ญ๐บ. ๐๐บ ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ธ. ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฑ ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฎ ๐ด๐ข๐ง๐ฆ.
๐'๐ฎ ๐ด๐ฐ๐ณ๐ณ๐บ.
Lan Sizhui did not understand. What was Sect Leader Jiang apologizing for?
๐'๐ฎ ๐ด๐ฐ๐ณ๐ณ๐บ.
Lan Sizhui did not understand. What was Sect Leader Jiang apologizing for?
It should be him who apologize for being disrespectful to him with no reasons other than his unfounded believes in the rumors. It was him who should apologize to him for the loss he had to face by the hands of his old clans, even if he knew it wasnโt his fault.
The day he knew that one more person considered him a family was the day he lost that person. Lan Sizhui wished things could have gone differently. He could have had another uncle, an addition to his small family.
He could have had felt the same warmth Jin Ling got.
He could have had felt the same warmth Jin Ling got.
๐๐ถ๐บ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ ๐ก๐ช๐ป๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ.
The boy perked up, unexpected at the address. What could Sect Leader Jiang had to tell him? It wasn't like he was his family or friends.
๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ'๐ด ๐ง๐ณ๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฅ. ๐๐ณ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต, ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ. ๐๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต.
The boy perked up, unexpected at the address. What could Sect Leader Jiang had to tell him? It wasn't like he was his family or friends.
๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ'๐ด ๐ง๐ณ๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฅ. ๐๐ณ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต, ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ. ๐๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต.
There was another stream of memory, though it started at a more recent time.
Ouyang Zizhen looked out for Jin Ling at the night hunts that Jiang Cheng had trailed from afar.
Ouyang Zizhen looked out for Jin Ling at the night hunts that Jiang Cheng had trailed from afar.
Ouyang Zizhen getting angry on Jiang Cheng's behalf when his was badmouthed by people who knew nothing. Ouyang Zizhen explaining what he had learned from a week of observing how Jiang Cheng ran his sect.
๐๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด๐ช๐ต๐ช๐ท๐ฆ. ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ข๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ต๐ช๐ค. ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฑ ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฎ ๐ด๐ข๐ง๐ฆ.
๐๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด๐ช๐ต๐ช๐ท๐ฆ. ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ข๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ต๐ช๐ค. ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฑ ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฎ ๐ด๐ข๐ง๐ฆ.
๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต. ๐๐ถ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฎ.
Looking back, Sect Leader Jiang was like a teacher to him. He asked him questions about being a leader, prefer his opinion on his techniques.
Looking back, Sect Leader Jiang was like a teacher to him. He asked him questions about being a leader, prefer his opinion on his techniques.
Ouyang Zizhen had flown to Lotus Pier to ask for help with understanding treasury accounting instead of asking his father or his teacher in Baling.
He always felt less pressured with Sect Leader Jiang.
He always felt less pressured with Sect Leader Jiang.
He would get compliments on what he did right along with critiques on what he did wrong. He would get a head pat when he finished a book or mastered a move. A word of encouragement from Sect Leader Jiang kept him going what he was tired.
๐ ๐ฐ๐ถ'๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฅ๐ฐ ๐จ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต.
๐ ๐ฐ๐ถ'๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฅ๐ฐ ๐จ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต.
Sect Leader Jiang's last word was so like him. Ouyang Zizhen wiped his tears, but more kept falling down his cheeks.
His soul touched the Jiang disciples and servants who huddled close to each other, seeking comfort in familiarity.
His soul touched the Jiang disciples and servants who huddled close to each other, seeking comfort in familiarity.
๐๐ช๐ข๐ฏ๐จ ๐ ๐ถ๐ฆ๐น๐ช๐ฏ๐จ. ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ด๐ค๐ช๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ. ๐๐ฐ๐บ๐ข๐ญ. ๐๐บ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.
๐๐ช๐ข๐ฏ๐จ ๐๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ข๐ฏ. ๐๐ข๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ. ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ๐ต๐ข๐ญ๐ช๐ด๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐บ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.
๐๐ช๐ข๐ฏ๐จ ๐๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ข๐ฏ. ๐๐ข๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ. ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ๐ต๐ข๐ญ๐ช๐ด๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐บ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.
๐๐ช๐ข๐ฏ๐จ ๐๐ช๐ง๐ข๐ฏ. ๐๐ฉ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐บ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ด ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ฆ๐ค๐ต. ๐๐ข๐ด๐ต ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ. ๐๐บ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.
๐ ๐ช ๐๐ฐ๐ซ๐ช๐ถ. ๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ'๐ด ๐ด๐ฆ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฏ๐บ. ๐๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต. ๐ ๐จ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฑ. ๐๐บ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.
๐ ๐ช ๐๐ฐ๐ซ๐ช๐ถ. ๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ'๐ด ๐ด๐ฆ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฏ๐บ. ๐๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต. ๐ ๐จ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฑ. ๐๐บ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.
๐๐ข๐ฏ๐จ ๐๐ณ๐ด๐ฉ๐ช. ๐๐ช๐ต๐ค๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ด๐ฆ๐ณ๐ท๐ข๐ฏ๐ต. ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ๐ด. ๐๐ต๐ต๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ท๐ฆ. ๐๐บ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.
There were many more whom Jiang Cheng's soul had touched and addressed by name. He remembered. Of course he remembered.
There were many more whom Jiang Cheng's soul had touched and addressed by name. He remembered. Of course he remembered.
They were his people.
The guests also got the same treatment, although with a varying degree of fondness. Sect Leader Yao hushed out a protest, no doubt offended by something Jiang Chengโs soul had conveyed, but he quickly quietened into a flustered scoff.
The guests also got the same treatment, although with a varying degree of fondness. Sect Leader Yao hushed out a protest, no doubt offended by something Jiang Chengโs soul had conveyed, but he quickly quietened into a flustered scoff.
His soul reached further, across the bridge that separated Lotus Pier and the city of Yunmeng.
๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ช๐ข๐ฏ. ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ. ๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ'๐ด ๐ง๐ข๐ท๐ฐ๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐ฆ. ๐๐บ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.
๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ช๐ข๐ฏ. ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ. ๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ'๐ด ๐ง๐ข๐ท๐ฐ๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐ฆ. ๐๐บ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.
๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ ๐ ๐ช๐ฉ๐ข๐ฐ. ๐๐ฆ๐ข ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด๐ฆ ๐จ๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ข. ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐บ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.
๐๐ช ๐๐ช๐ข๐ฏ. ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ด ๐ด๐ช๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ณ. ๐๐ธ๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฅ๐ด. ๐๐บ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.
๐๐ช ๐๐ช๐ข๐ฏ. ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ด ๐ด๐ช๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ณ. ๐๐ธ๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฅ๐ด. ๐๐บ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.
๐๐ถ ๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ณ๐ถ. ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ข๐ท๐ข๐ฏ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต. ๐๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐จ๐ด. ๐๐บ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.
They are all his precious people of Yunmeng who decided to stick with him through thick and thin and who trusted in him to rebuild Yunmeng to place they called home.
They are all his precious people of Yunmeng who decided to stick with him through thick and thin and who trusted in him to rebuild Yunmeng to place they called home.
There were noises from the other side of the hall. Emerged from the door was Lan Jingyi, with healers who followed him to make sure he didn't overexert himself.
He looked better, but the way the healers still had to follow him around meant that he wasnโt fully recovered.
He looked better, but the way the healers still had to follow him around meant that he wasnโt fully recovered.
Lan Sizhui, Jin Ling, and Ouyang Zizhen was about to greet him when he rushed to the casket and collapsed gracelessly beside Jin Ling.
"Jingyi, you're still not well!" Jin Ling exclaimed when he saw the pale shade of Lan Jingyi's skin.
"Jingyi, you're still not well!" Jin Ling exclaimed when he saw the pale shade of Lan Jingyi's skin.
He looked much better, but still wasn't well enough for the healers to let him out.
"I have to come. I-I have to apologize. To Sect Leader Jiang. He-"
Lan Sizhui decided to move closer and sat down on Lan Jingyi's other side.
"I have to come. I-I have to apologize. To Sect Leader Jiang. He-"
Lan Sizhui decided to move closer and sat down on Lan Jingyi's other side.
His friend really didn't look good. "What are you apologizing for?"
"Everything!" Lan Jingyi looked a little crazed what he replied. "For the disrespect from before, for making him...f-for him dying! It was my fault!"
"What?" Jin Ling frowned.
"Everything!" Lan Jingyi looked a little crazed what he replied. "For the disrespect from before, for making him...f-for him dying! It was my fault!"
"What?" Jin Ling frowned.
Jiang Cheng's soul reached out for Lan Jingyi, and that was when they saw. The horrifying truth of what had happened.
The memory was more vivid that the rest since it was still so recent. Jiang Cheng remembered them clearly.
Jiang Cheng was captured, his spiritual power sealed.
The memory was more vivid that the rest since it was still so recent. Jiang Cheng remembered them clearly.
Jiang Cheng was captured, his spiritual power sealed.
Jiang Cheng beaten down on the floor, biting off a scream as a blade found its way in his thigh.
Jiang Cheng bound to a chair, as a man behind a white wooden mask pulled out his nails one by one.
They sneered at him, the mighty Sandu Shengshou, fallen to the hand of common men.
Jiang Cheng bound to a chair, as a man behind a white wooden mask pulled out his nails one by one.
They sneered at him, the mighty Sandu Shengshou, fallen to the hand of common men.
They didnโt ask him anythingโdidnโt seem to be interested in Yunmeng Jiang or any knowledge that he hadโsimply laughed and grinned in satisfaction when they drew blood and heard a snap of bones.
Nothing was of value to them but his suffering.
Nothing was of value to them but his suffering.
Then, a few days later, they threw Lan Jingyi into his cell.
The Lan Jingyi from Jiang Cheng's eyes were frightened and pale as he listened to the demonic cultivators describing what gruesome things they would do to him.
The Lan Jingyi from Jiang Cheng's eyes were frightened and pale as he listened to the demonic cultivators describing what gruesome things they would do to him.
They taunted how they were experimenting on turning a cultivator who underwent spirit calming ceremony into a vengeful spirit. How they would make him suffer so badly that Lan Jingyiโs soul would not rest. How they would control him and made him kill.
Jiang Cheng laid on the dirty floor as the demonic cultivators advanced on Lan Jingyi. His body hurt all over. He couldn't feel his legs, and his hands screamed in agony at being broken by a hammer earlier.
But Lan Jingyi was looking at him with fearful tears in his eyes, pleading him to do something, the absolute terror of facing his fate evident.
He was reminded that Lan Jingyi was still a kid. Untainted, with no scars.
He was reminded that Lan Jingyi was still a kid. Untainted, with no scars.
So unlike Jiang Cheng, who was tainted in every way and who bore an ugly proof on his chest.
But Jiang Cheng couldn't do it. He couldn't move, so he did the next best thing. He ran his mouth.
He spat insults at them, full of bravado of his usual self.
But Jiang Cheng couldn't do it. He couldn't move, so he did the next best thing. He ran his mouth.
He spat insults at them, full of bravado of his usual self.
He promised to kill them all, sending them to the same place as all other demonic cultivators before them had gone to.
It was almost too easy. They stalked over to Jiang Cheng and kicked his broken ribs and stepped on his hands. He screamed, but they didn't stop.
It was almost too easy. They stalked over to Jiang Cheng and kicked his broken ribs and stepped on his hands. He screamed, but they didn't stop.
He stopped speaking when they stomped on his stomach, knocking the air out of him.
When they were satisfied with how broken Jiang Cheng looked, they gave him one last kick and left without sparing a single glance to the Lan that they had abducted.
When they were satisfied with how broken Jiang Cheng looked, they gave him one last kick and left without sparing a single glance to the Lan that they had abducted.
Jiang Cheng laid where they left him, trying to get his pain under control as he slowly breathed air into the lungs underneath broken ribs. He lolled his head to look at Lan Jingyi, and found that the kid was crawling toward him slowly, +
like he was afraid the people outside would hear him move.
Jiang Cheng breathed, "Lan Jingyi. When they come, do not talk. Do not draw attention. Stay in the corner. Understood?"
Lan Jingyi looked like he wanted to say something, but he only nodded.
Jiang Cheng breathed, "Lan Jingyi. When they come, do not talk. Do not draw attention. Stay in the corner. Understood?"
Lan Jingyi looked like he wanted to say something, but he only nodded.
They fell into a routine. Their torturers came, they beat Jiang Cheng, they went for Lan Jingyi, Jiang Cheng ran his mouth the way he did best, so they beat him again, Lan Jingyi forgotten.
They were going to cut Lan Jingyi, so Jiang Cheng cursed them.
They were going to cut Lan Jingyi, so Jiang Cheng cursed them.
They plunged a sword into his legs and scraped his bone.
They were going to brand Lan Jingyi, so Jiang Cheng yelled insults. They seared the flesh of his back.
They were going to pull out Lan Jingyi's nails, so Jiang Cheng laughed at them scornfully.
They were going to brand Lan Jingyi, so Jiang Cheng yelled insults. They seared the flesh of his back.
They were going to pull out Lan Jingyi's nails, so Jiang Cheng laughed at them scornfully.
They broke his shoulder blades and gorged out one of his eyes. Still, one of them looked back at Lan Jingyi who pressed himself as far into the corner as he could while the rest of the man's demonic comrades pulled Jiang Cheng's wrist back with a sick crack.
No, don't look at him. Leave him alone.
Instead if screaming in pain, Jiang Cheng found himself laughing despite his hoarse voice. "Is this all you can do?"
He grinned, teeth bloody, when the man looked back at him with anger in his eyes.
Good. Look at me.
Instead if screaming in pain, Jiang Cheng found himself laughing despite his hoarse voice. "Is this all you can do?"
He grinned, teeth bloody, when the man looked back at him with anger in his eyes.
Good. Look at me.
"Sandu Shengshou can do better with his torture chamber," he smirked, exuding the confidence he did not feel.
He laughed when they snapped his ankle in an impossible angle. He laughed when they bashed his skull against the floor.
He laughed when they snapped his ankle in an impossible angle. He laughed when they bashed his skull against the floor.
He continued to laugh when a boot crushed down down on his neck.
They said he talked too much, so they severed his tongue and sewed his mouth shut, but a senseless huff still escaped.
Jiang Cheng knew he was wasting away.
They said he talked too much, so they severed his tongue and sewed his mouth shut, but a senseless huff still escaped.
Jiang Cheng knew he was wasting away.
With his golden core sealed and his body weakened, he couldn't escape. He hoped Gusu Lan noticed that their disciple was gone before he could no longer protect the boy.
The next time they came, he couldn't shout.
The next time they came, he couldn't shout.
They spend some time breaking his knee caps, but soon they turned to Lan Jingyi, who was weakened from the lack of food and water, but still unharmed. Only some bruises bloomed on his skin in the time that Jiang Cheng couldn't distract them fast enough.
A target for their monstrous insanity.
"Today is just the basic for you, Little Lan. We'll beat you up a bit as a starter. But don't worry, you'll be like this sect leader here soon enough." The demonic cultivator grinned as his comrades laughed.
"Today is just the basic for you, Little Lan. We'll beat you up a bit as a starter. But don't worry, you'll be like this sect leader here soon enough." The demonic cultivator grinned as his comrades laughed.
Lan Jingyi positioned his arms to protect his important organs on reflect.
The sound of boots and fists connected with skin made Jiang Cheng sick. He sound of a muffled cry even more so.
The sound of boots and fists connected with skin made Jiang Cheng sick. He sound of a muffled cry even more so.
He forced his broken body to move, quietly dragging himself closer to the group of people who crowded around a small ball of white robe. His wounds protested at every tiny move. He could feel dirt getting into the open cuts in his legs.
Jiang Cheng looked for a good angle to intercept and threw himself in between the flurry of legs and hands. He quickly hooked his arms around Lan Jingyi, ignoring the way the movement shot hot pain up his shoulders and down his spine.
The demonic cultivators were saying something, sneering something, but Jiang Cheng didn't pay them any mind as the kicks kept coming. Jiang Cheng curled Lan Jingyi into the smallest ball he could be and covered him with his own body.
He pulled Lan Jingyi to settle in between his legs and pressed his face into his chest. His body hunched in around the boy protectively as a kick landed on his side and a hand yanked his hair back painfully.
Lan Jingyi cried into the warm chest. He was so scared. These people would kill him. They would do to him what they did to Sect Leader Jiang, but he wasn't strong. He didn't think he could survive the pain.
As if knowing his thought, the arms around him tightened.
As if knowing his thought, the arms around him tightened.
Sect Leader Jiang held onto Lan Jingyi until the their kidnappers got tired. They stomped on his broken ankle one last time before they left, swearing that they would make him the first test subject for a vengeful cultivator ghost tomorrow.
Lan Jingyi cried. He was so afraid of living every moment anticipating the day they would plunge a blade into him. When they would finally submerge him into a world of pain with no way to get out.
He wanted to go home to Lan Sizhui and Hanguang-jun.
He wanted to go home to Lan Sizhui and Hanguang-jun.
He missed eating Cloud Recesses bland meal. He missed playing with the rabbits. He hoped they were coming to find him, get him out.
As he cried out his fear, Jiang Cheng silently combed through his hair with his fingers in a motion on comfort.
As he cried out his fear, Jiang Cheng silently combed through his hair with his fingers in a motion on comfort.
The thin strand of hair grazing on the raw flesh under his nails wasn't a pleasant feeling, but he pushed it aside in favor of comforting a child who shouldn't be caught in a situation so dreadful.
He was Jin Lingโs friend. A kid who reminded Jiang Cheng so much of Wei Wuxian.
He was Jin Lingโs friend. A kid who reminded Jiang Cheng so much of Wei Wuxian.
A soul still pure of stains of life and cruelty, white like a new sheet of fabric.
At least Jiang Cheng would protect him. He knew he could take so much more than Lan Jingyi.
At least Jiang Cheng would protect him. He knew he could take so much more than Lan Jingyi.
Despite the living hell that he was currently in, being forced to watch the demonic cultivators hurt Sect Leader Jiang without the courage to step in, Lan Jingyi held onto a small sense of relief that at least he wasn't alone.
Sect Leader Jiang was here.
Sect Leader Jiang was here.
He made all of this far more tolerable than it would have been.
Lan Jingyi felt selfish for thinking that.
The next day didn't go any differently. Their kidnappers came into the cell, they tried to pry Jiang Cheng from Lan Jingyi, +
Lan Jingyi felt selfish for thinking that.
The next day didn't go any differently. Their kidnappers came into the cell, they tried to pry Jiang Cheng from Lan Jingyi, +
blades slicing on flesh and hands forcefully pulling, but Jiang Cheng held tight. Each cut on his arms only made him hold on tighter, pressing the boy closer.
At some point, Jiang Cheng's body was fully curled around Lan Jingyi, the boy's arms and legs tugged securely to chests.
At some point, Jiang Cheng's body was fully curled around Lan Jingyi, the boy's arms and legs tugged securely to chests.
The whole length of his arms up to the elbows were pressed flat to the ground as he tried to not leave any space for cruel hands to come in between them.
Lan Jingyi did his best to blocked out the sickening sounds of bones snapping and flesh torn apart.
Lan Jingyi did his best to blocked out the sickening sounds of bones snapping and flesh torn apart.
They were like a nightmare that never left, echoing in his ears as if his brain was an empty chamber.
They left, as unsuccessful as they were yesterday. And when the door swung close, Lan Jingyi noticed the oddity.
Sect Leader Jiang wasn't moving.
They left, as unsuccessful as they were yesterday. And when the door swung close, Lan Jingyi noticed the oddity.
Sect Leader Jiang wasn't moving.
"Sect Leader Jiang?" He called, trying to move his arms from where it was pressed in between them. Did he faint?
Lan Jingyi called him again, but still no response. He was squirming now, trying to get out of the embrace to get a better look at Sect Leader Jiang's conditions.
Lan Jingyi called him again, but still no response. He was squirming now, trying to get out of the embrace to get a better look at Sect Leader Jiang's conditions.
He turned his head, his ear just below Jiang Cheng's nose, and froze.
He felt nothing. No air. No chest movement.
Jiang Cheng wasn't breathing.
"Sect Leader Jiang!"
No. Nononono. He didn't want to be alone. He didn't want to be hurt! Tomorrow they were going to get him. No!
He felt nothing. No air. No chest movement.
Jiang Cheng wasn't breathing.
"Sect Leader Jiang!"
No. Nononono. He didn't want to be alone. He didn't want to be hurt! Tomorrow they were going to get him. No!
Fear seized his heart as Lan Jingyi tried to wake Jiang Cheng up. But none of his plea brought him back.
"I'm scared..." He cried.
The dreaded morning came. Lan Jingyi avoided looking at his to-be executioner by tucking his cheek into Jiang Cheng.
"I'm scared..." He cried.
The dreaded morning came. Lan Jingyi avoided looking at his to-be executioner by tucking his cheek into Jiang Cheng.
His hold had not loosen during the night.
"Well, well, no glares this time, Sandu Shengshou?" A man taunted.
It didn't take long for them to notice the strange stillness. They pressed a hand to Jiang Cheng's neck and laughed.
"Well, well, no glares this time, Sandu Shengshou?" A man taunted.
It didn't take long for them to notice the strange stillness. They pressed a hand to Jiang Cheng's neck and laughed.
"Dead! Hahaha, Sandu Shengshou, the great hunter of demonic cultivators, dead! What a great joy to us!"
"Put him into the array! We'll make him a vengeful ghost. His souls will forever be bound to the land of living and never find peace!"
"Put him into the array! We'll make him a vengeful ghost. His souls will forever be bound to the land of living and never find peace!"
Lan Jingyi's eyes widen. No! Don't take Sect Leader Jiang. He didn't want it to hurt!
But just like yesterday, they couldn't get Jiang Cheng's body to release his hold on the Lan boy. His grip was firm.
"Lift him and turn him onto his back."
But just like yesterday, they couldn't get Jiang Cheng's body to release his hold on the Lan boy. His grip was firm.
"Lift him and turn him onto his back."
There was a bit of a struggle because Jiang Cheng lied to close to the ground, but they eventually turn them over. Lan Jingyi's back now facing toward them.
Freezing fear ran up Lan Jingyi's spine. His instinct was screaming at him, not safe!
Freezing fear ran up Lan Jingyi's spine. His instinct was screaming at him, not safe!
After hours of pulling and struggling, they managed to separate Jiang Cheng from Lan Jingyi. They threw Lan Jingyi aside and crowded in on the body Claude's in torn purple.
They were more focused on reveling in the death of the Great Sandu Shengshou than a random disciple.
They were more focused on reveling in the death of the Great Sandu Shengshou than a random disciple.
Lan Jingyi quietly moved as far away from them as he could, trying not to draw attention to himself.
Do not talk. Do not draw attention. Stay in the corner.
It was what Sect Leader Jiang said.
Before they could do anything more, though, a rumble shook the entire cell.
Do not talk. Do not draw attention. Stay in the corner.
It was what Sect Leader Jiang said.
Before they could do anything more, though, a rumble shook the entire cell.
The demonic cultivators spared him a glance and deemed that he wasn't in the shape to attempt an escape.
And he really wasn't. Lan Jingyi could barely hold onto consciousness. They hadn't fed him anything since they had put him in the cell.
And he really wasn't. Lan Jingyi could barely hold onto consciousness. They hadn't fed him anything since they had put him in the cell.
His body lacked the spiritual energy from his golden core that usually supplied it. Even his eye sight was blurry. He could only see a heap of purple and red on the floor.
Lan Jingyi hoped it was a rescue. He didn't know if he could survive as long as Sect Leader Jiang did.
Lan Jingyi hoped it was a rescue. He didn't know if he could survive as long as Sect Leader Jiang did.
A warm touch on his hand pulled Lan Jingyi back from the nightmare that he still saw every time he closed his eyes.
Jiang Cheng's soul residue danced idly along his skin.
๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ง๐ข๐ถ๐ญ๐ต.
How could it not be his fault?
Jiang Cheng's soul residue danced idly along his skin.
๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ง๐ข๐ถ๐ญ๐ต.
How could it not be his fault?
Lan Jingyi was a coward. He had trained his body along with cultivation, he could take a couple beatings, but instead he hid behind a man who was already so close to his limit.
He felt sick as thinking of how relieved he was that the crack of the bones were not from himself.
He felt sick as thinking of how relieved he was that the crack of the bones were not from himself.
๐๐ข๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ๐บ๐ช.
The boy flinched at his name.
๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ'๐ด ๐ง๐ณ๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฅ. ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฆ-๐ด๐ฑ๐ช๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฅ.
๐๐ช๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต. ๐๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.
He was indeed protected, wasn't he?
The boy flinched at his name.
๐๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ'๐ด ๐ง๐ณ๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฅ. ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฆ-๐ด๐ฑ๐ช๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฅ.
๐๐ช๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต. ๐๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.
He was indeed protected, wasn't he?
He lived with the sacrifice of another life. A pair of rapidly cooling arms kept his own skin warm.
๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ง๐ข๐ถ๐ญ๐ต. ๐๐ฐ ๐จ๐ถ๐ช๐ญ๐ต.
Jin Ling stood up and ran to the nearest bush he could find. He heaved, his Jiujiu's feeling in his last moment perpetuated his mind.
๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ง๐ข๐ถ๐ญ๐ต. ๐๐ฐ ๐จ๐ถ๐ช๐ญ๐ต.
Jin Ling stood up and ran to the nearest bush he could find. He heaved, his Jiujiu's feeling in his last moment perpetuated his mind.
There was pain. There was also fear, but not for himself. His jiujiu feared for Lan Jingyi's life. He feared for Jin Ling's heartbreak. He feared for his sect that would lose its leader.
In his last moment, Jiang Cheng's souls had been relentless at having to leave behind his beloved people to face the loss.
Wei Wuxian screamed into his husband chest. It was too cruel. His shidi had suffered with every breath until he finally passed.
Wei Wuxian screamed into his husband chest. It was too cruel. His shidi had suffered with every breath until he finally passed.
He was glad the demonic cultivators didn't get a chance to meddle with Jiang Cheng's soul before the search party crushed them with vengeance.
At least Jiang Cheng could have his peace in death.
At least Jiang Cheng could have his peace in death.
Sect Leader Jiang, Jiang Wanyin, was a lot of things, depending on who the question was asked to. But at this funeral, surrounded by the particles of his memory, no on dare said that he was a man with a cold, spiteful heart any longer.
It was a shame that they had realized the truth of his soul too late.
In the end, Jiang Chengโs soul residue floated up to the sky, but they never converged together. No one knew if his soul was scattered, broken like his body, or if he managed to find his way into the +
In the end, Jiang Chengโs soul residue floated up to the sky, but they never converged together. No one knew if his soul was scattered, broken like his body, or if he managed to find his way into the +
reincarnation cycle.
They hoped he did.
They prayed and prayed. Even the sect leaders who had given nothing but disrespect and belittlement to Jiang Cheng in life had knelt down with his family.
They hoped he did.
They prayed and prayed. Even the sect leaders who had given nothing but disrespect and belittlement to Jiang Cheng in life had knelt down with his family.
They had not known what Jiang Cheng had told his close family and friends, but they knew from the expressions on their face that it was something so precious that losing it rendered their heart broken.
They how Jiang Wanyin found his way to finality.
โ END โ
They how Jiang Wanyin found his way to finality.
โ END โ
I was planning to separate this into parts (hence the โPart 1โ), but I canโt find a good place to make a split, so I post them all in a single thread.
Also, I really do love Lan Jingyi, even if my writing may prove otherwise ๐ฅฒ
Also, I really do love Lan Jingyi, even if my writing may prove otherwise ๐ฅฒ
โข โข โข
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