Chapter Text
Wei Ying caught word of what happened. Of course, he caught word of the tragedy that took place because Lan Wangji decided to help him in his journey.
It had been about a year and a half since their departure, in that time he had traveled along as a wanderer cultivator. He wondered briefly if he could maybe train his golden core, try to get it to where he was in his old life, yet he legitimately decided against it, his demonic cultivation was more than enough to aid him in his journey, plus, he doubted he'd be able to cultivate the core in him… It wasn't because it was weak but because of the resentful energy eating away at it.
Yet… He hadn't thought the Su Sect would take revenge. He didn't think they'd be bold and stupid enough to target the Second Twin Jade of Gusu. Yet they did, and between all they did, they took something away from Lan Zhan. Something Wei Ying could give back. Something Wei Ying would give back.
And as he sat in a room with Zewu-jun, giving him daggers for stares, he knew he had made the right choice.
If even Lan Xichen couldn't hold in his distaste for him, this was something he had to do. Something he had to pay for. Even if he never intended it to happen, even if he never wanted for this to happen.
Even if he really didn't want to do this-
He had to...
...For Lan Zhan.
So he sat still as the healers approached and oh so carefully held him down. Just as the sect leader approached with moisturized hands. The last thing he remembered seeing was Xichen's fingers near his eyes. Then…
Pain.
"Wei Wuxian!" He heard someone call him and he turned his face to where he figured the person was, the black bandage over his eyes making it hard.
"Yes?" He called back, carefully standing up to support himself by a tree. At least he thought it was a tree, the rough texture resembled bark more than anything else he could think of. Soon, the footsteps became four instead of two, one was further than the first set.
"Master Wei," this was another voice, Jin Ling, he corrected himself.
"Ah, my favorite nephew came to see one of his many uncles! What brings you her-" he hadn't even gotten a chance to properly stand up when a pair of arms pulled him down again, a sobbing mess similar to the one back at the port it Yiling. "A-Ling-"
"Why?! Why are you like this?!" The young leader yelled as tears strolled down his face. His eyes and cheeks red from the sudden wave of emotions. "You are not a living organ bank!" He sobbed loudly.
"Jin Ling-" he heard Jiang Cheng call from a good distance. He sighed, running his hand over his back a few times. "You're gonna throw him off balance," his -now- older brother scolded as he stepped closer.
"Maybe then he'd learn to value himself more!" His voice sounded snotty, not in a bad way, more like he was battling with a runny nose to speak. Gently, he threaded his fingers through his hair, "You were supposed to help me become a good sect leader! You and uncle Cheng! You were supposed to help me! Teach me!" As the teen continued sobbing he couldn't help himself, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.
"Aiya, Rulan, I can still help you, I promise this won't stop me." He kept on running his hand through his hair, noticing it had a few knots. He'd comb it out later.
"No! How can you help me when you can't even-"
"That's enough Jin Ling!" The familiar static of Zidian rang through the air. Causing the boy to grab his uncle tighter, hiding his face in his chest.
"Don't be so harsh with him, Jiang Cheng." Wei Wuxian said with an amused voice as he gently pushed the kid away. "I'm fine, Jin Ling. Now… I do need help getting back."
"I'll do it! Just you see-I mean-"
"Jin Ling!" Jiang Cheng scolded, voice even angrier than before.
"It's okay didi," he giggled slightly, "I don't mind. I'm the one who gave my eyes away. Not him."
The look that crossed his face, Jiang Cheng was happy he wasn't able to see it. It was all grief-struck, he himself had a piece of Wei Ying inside him, his old body had been a donor of none other than a precious golden core, a golden core that kept him alive, a golden core that helped him survive, and a golden core that caused great grief and anger when its origin was discovered.
He had been yet another victim of this self-sacrificing idiot…
He wanted to scream.
But he couldn't.
Back when Wei Ying had managed to get back to Lotus Pier, a corpse helped him guide himself all the way there. He was baffled, he thought someone had somehow managed to hurt his eyes, so when he got his best healer to look at him he was shocked to find…
He no longer had eyes.
Firstly he yelled at him, about how reckless and stupid he had been to sacrifice something so important just for the sake of someone else, he was about to say that he shouldn't be so selfless with people that didn't deserve it, yet, as if on cue, his golden core sent a rippling calming motion through his body. He remembers he sighed deeply and prohibited everyone in his sect to let Wei Ying leave. He was under his protection now. As he should've always been.
Back then he was stupid and afraid, he was afraid of what other sects would do against him if they found out he and Wei Ying faked his departure from the sect, then he led the Siege and hated him for the better half of two decades.
Now… He wanted to fix shit.
And if that meant not letting his blind brother leave anytime soon. Then so be it.
"You need a guide animal." Jiang Cheng said; he had tried getting his brother's donkey to cooperate, but the thing was so damn stubborn that he was surprised it even traveled next to Wei Ying at all. Lil' Apple just wouldn't be a great guide for his crippled ward-
No…
Jiang Fengmian took Wei Ying in as a Ward. Someone to protect his real kids, someone he and Madam Yu, especially Madam Yu, brainwashed into being this selfless. Selfless enough that he thought his own body was a spare parts bank. That anyone he loved could take anything they lost from him, and while he was so sure he wouldn't, no, and while he was so sure he shouldn't be speaking of this… It was a horrible thing to do.
Raise someone to love themselves so little that he wouldn't mind being tortured to give someone else something vital. Be it his golden core or his eyes…
What else would he give up? An arm?
He was sure it was impossible. But everyone who knew Wei Ying knew how he was, he was the embodiment of his sect's motto, 'Attempt the Impossible'.
And now it was Jiang Cheng's turn to attempt the impossible.
He would keep his brother safe because he hadn't been able to do so back then. Because he hadn't been able to protect him back then…
So he would do so now.
"I can use Lil' Apple," he offered.
"No," both him and Jin Ling said, making them stare at one another before simply rolling their eyes.
"That donkey of yours is trouble after trouble Uncle Wei!" Jin Ling said with an exasperated sigh, "maybe a dog would be better. Like Fairy! Spiritual dogs are smarter than donkeys!"
"No! No dogs! I can't even run from them now!" He stuttered, not even being able to tell if there was a dog near. He could see Jin Ling's point but… He also didn't even want to consider it.
"Jin Ling," Jiang Cheng frowned and rubbed the bridge of his nose as he thought, "while yes… A dog would be completely easier, some are already trained to help blind or crippled people," he mumbled to himself, "we can't have him scared out of his mind every second because a dog is right next to him."
"But Fairy would never bite anyone!- Anyone who doesn't hurt me or you or my family that is…" He quickly fixed his statement.
"That's not the issue here," Jiang Cheng sighed and rubbed his face again. He would fix this later. For the moment he was content and happy watching Jin Ling take his brother's arm and guide him down with the most determined face he's ever seen on him.
Blood… Blood kept pouring down his cheeks as he felt those fingers dig deep inside a place that had so many nerves it was unsettling. He refused to make any more noise. It was already bad enough he couldn't keep his grunts in…
It wasn't the pain that had him broken, pain was his friend at a certain point in his life, pain was his only company during the last few months of his first body's life. It wasn't that… It was the knowledge that Lan Zhan would hate him again. It was one thing when he chose to stand by him when he had evidence he was innocent. But now? He had already lost so much, he had been whipped thirty-three times, he had spent three years in isolation in a cold and faraway place… He had been cast away from the cultivation world for so long… It wasn't even the fact that his name should've been clear by now, but many sects still hated him.
So their hate obviously crept to Huanguan Jun. He did not deserve to be crippled again just because his sorry ass couldn't help insulting yet another sect.
By the time Zewu Jun was done... Wei Ying shakily faced the floor, he knew this was the only thing he would see in his life ever again, darkness… Everlasting darkness. Different from the one he usually felt inside, his eyes felt empty, dark, and lonely. So similar to the emptiness his golden core left.
"Get him to an inn and pay for a week's worth of stay, he shall be tended to, fed and cared for, and then he's on his own." Zewu Jun's voice. It was so cold…
Colder than the blood trickling down his cheeks.
As he was lifted up, he had one last request. He needed this…
"Z-Zewu Jun," he called, trying his best to steady himself on his feet, "I have a favor to ask. It can be granted now and shall take no effort." When he received no answer, he continued.
"Please… take me out by the back, I don't want to risk the junior disciples seeing me like this," he was worried… Knowing they had kinda developed a bond to him.
Jingyi would pick a fight with anyone, he had already shown himself capable of it, and Sizhui was so kind and gentle he couldn’t, couldn't- Jingyi would get punished and Sizhui would fall sick.
No, that was too cruel. He couldn't let them hurt because of his mistakes. Not again.
"Please don't let them know what happened to Lan Z- what happened to Hanguang Jun, now what I did to cause it," was he crying? It was hard to tell since blood kept soaking his cheeks and he would never be able to cry normal tears again.
As he should have always been.
He spilled so much blood-
It was only fitting he cried it now.
"Please don't let them carry the burden of my sins again…"
"... You have my word." With that, he was taken away.
Wei Ying woke up screaming, someone was shaking him awake, he couldn't see, he had no idea who this was but... the scent... such soft scent of lotus flowers. "A-A-Cheng..." he sobbed, he knew the moment he was guided into the other man's chest he would ruin the clothes so he tried to pull away, yet Jiang Cheng held him close, muttering a few words of comfort that sounded more like sappy insults... that comforted him beyond imagination. Eventually, he felt groggy... he wasn't sure why he clutched Jiang Cheng tighter... he just did.
"A-Cheng-"
"shh... it's my turn now, go back to sleep."