Seeking Solace

Chapter 6

      Wei Wuxian whimpered, agony shooting throughout every nerve in his body, his bones rattled and bruised by his fall. He was crawling slowly on his stomach; fingers dragging into the dark earth of Burial Mounds to pull himself forward little by little, his eyes nailed on the bright light far away from him, the path out of Burial Mounds. A way out of this dark hell hole of death and black jagged mountain peak. 

     It was a fool's hope with his body's condition. The hard impact of his fall had been lessened, having landed on a few ledges to stop any severe broken injuries from occurring. He was unable to stop the momentum to keep from falling further down to the bottom. 

     Wei Wuxian was sure he had broken the bones in his legs and arms, he felt bruised and battered and had no more energy, no more strength to stand. So he could only crawl. He still had that bleeding stab wound on the left side of his chest.

 ‘Come on, dammit, just a little further, Wei Wuxian. Keep moving, just keep moving’, Wei Wuxian thought to himself desperately, the light up ahead was still so distant. He choked up, angry tears stung his eyes. Please, just a little further. Giggles sounded around him .

He turned to look behind him, terror filling his expression. A mass of resentful energy surrounded him, slithering around his body - wrapping tightly around him.

   Wei Wuxian wriggled and tried to shake it off and twist it away but it continued to cling to him. "Ahh!"  he choked, his body suddenly being invaded and pierced by the resentful energy. He screamed. 

 

   Lan Wangji gazed at the scenes of Wei Wuxian's memory. His heart suffered so much…. And he hadn't been there for him… not even at the end when his beloved thought he was all alone and loathed by everyone when he died, killing himself when he chose to destroy the Stygian Tiger Seal and the corpses he'd been controlling bite and tear into him.

    Lan Wangji had been in seclusion, healing from his punishment. He had to hear the death of his heart from the mouth of his brother and overheard how he died from the mouths of others. The cultivators that had besieged his Wei Ying had gloated and told the gory tale to all who'd listen and agree that Wei Wuxian, the evil Yiling Patriarch had gotten what he deserved. 

    Lan Wangji felt his heart crumble away even more, nothing but tiny unseen shards scattered to the wind like the remains of the man who captured his heart forever lost. Gone… gone….gone. 

  Jiang Cheng clutched at his chest. The pain was near unbearable. He felt he had been carved inside out. He felt his intestines had been slowly scooped out with a spoon and placed upon a platter. How… How! How could he not know of his brother’s suffering?! Why did Wei Wuxian not tell him? He could have confided in him… why didn't he? Did Wei Wuxian think he somehow could not? 

  Brother… I don't understand why... Please… please tell me why... Jiang Cheng begged in his trembling heart, but his brother's voice was silent. He could not answer him, maybe not ever again… unless Jiang Cheng could attempt the impossible as his sect motto said… and somehow bring his brother back to life. He had his brother's whole body, which was being preserved by an ancient spell for however long he wished. 

   However, he needed to see his brother's memories through to the end. He owed him that much and possibly more…

     What's more… he missed him and wanted him back… he regretted leading the siege against him in the first place and it was far too late to take it all back… What would Jiejie think of him now if she were still here? How disappointed would she be in him?