[Group Xicheng; Continuation chapter 23]

Fate was cruel to them that even after their deaths, he was left with empty hands. A-Qing  returned to the Earth; his dead heart was in pain. He had tried everything to nurture the souls, he wasn't a cultivator now, but a dead corpse. He couldn't even protect the child; who protected Xing Cheng from spawn of evil.

He couldn't protect anyone at all.

Even the crimes that Xue Yang had made him commit couldn't compare to the pain of holding the fragments of a very broken soul in his blood-stained hands.

The ovation of the cultivation world turned into blame. The cultivation world that once respected him now were afraid of him. The Blade of Justice became the blade of gore, bathed in the blood of innocent. The Heinous misconducts that Xue Yang forced upon him, left him no place in the world.

But his world was in his hands, woven by the threads inside the pouch and it was all he needed to get by, even if he had to roam aimlessly.

One thing he never forget was the promise they had made together.

He had decided to settle for Baixue temple where it all begun. When he saw the proper barricade of his family and a memorial stone, his heart begun to sting. He wanted to cry but his dead body wouldn't allow him.

It was worst than death, he couldn't even mourn.

He carefully hid, Xing Cheng soul with the temple stone. It had grown weak and he wouldn't be able to bear with the pain if suddenly it disappears again, leaving him miserable.

He couldn't even hope to meet him after death. Only the souls could enter heaven.

But nothing was more terrifying than the sight in front of him. He called but couldn't speak, he waved but couldn't be seen. Fear of touch was engulfing him. One single contact and he might disappear. Corpses can't dream was his only assurity but he was crying that was contradicting.

The two sect leaders were as shocked as him.

He was as beautiful as the Bright moon and as Gentle as the Breeze.

The young man of Fang Clan also caught the light and rushed back inside. He was dumb founded but then the soul of XingCheng turned around and moved towards the boy.

"Gongzi, If you don't mind, I would like to have the shell of Gonngmu."

His angelic voice carried. Assuring Song Lan that it wasn't a dream.

The young man of Fang Clan was non other than Fang Meng Chen. He fought along side with Lan disciple; Lan Jingyi, Baling disciple; Ouyang Zizhen and Sect Leader Jin; Jin Ling in defeating the Gonnggong back in the Meishan Yu sect. When Madam Liu asked them what they wanted as a reward, Fang Meng chen pointed at the shell.

'If Xiang River was infected then, the rivers derived out of it might be as well. I'm afraid it will cause chaos and I want to make sure there are none entities causing trouble'

That was how he ended up with the shell and at the Baixue Temple. After the demise of Tingshan He sect, the Fang clan had no choice but to become rogue cultivators. Some rebelled while others still retained the righteous path.

Feng Meng Chen took out the shell from his sleeves and handed it to the soul.

"Much appreciated, Gongzi." Xing Cheng bowed with a light smile.

His voice was as sweet as he remembered, Song Lan covered his mouth to prevent unruly sounds to escape from his mouth. He broke down to the ground, muffling his bloody sobs.

But the sound made Xing Chen turn towards him.

"May I ask who it is?" Xing Chen said while taking steps towards him. He walked one step a step towards his Long lost mate.

"Aaaozaaan.." He called.

"A corpse?" Xiao XingChen asked but there was no reply just the inaudible sound.

"Aaaoo zaaan." Song Lan tried to be as clear as possible.

Xiao Xing Chen sat down, in front of him, Moving his hand in his direction.

"You seem to be in pain." Xiao Xing Chen didn't understand his growl but pain his voice couldn't escape his ears.

"Aaa aaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"

"It's alright, I can help you ease the pain." Xiao Xing chen said when he placed his hand on the corpse's heart. He pulled away quickly when his fingers touched the frost mark.

"...A..A-Lan?"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Song Lan placed Fuxue and Shanghua before him and carefully placed XingCheng's finger on them.

"A-Lan!" Xiao Xing Chen sobbed with blood tricking down his face. That was it, there long-awaited reunion. contradicting to flower petals and musical anthem it was a glowing soul and sharp growls.

Song Lan carefully wiped the tears on his face, the warmth he longed for could not been felt. For the two had lost the ability to sense.

"A- Lan!" Xing cheng called again and again, not believing the possibility of ever meeting him again.

"A-Lan! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you! I'm so sorry that you had to suffer because me! I'm so sorry that I...I kille-"

Funny he wanted to say those exact words to Xingchen and much more.

Song Lan captured his fragile lips with his own. How could he tell him that it was alright? How could he convey the things in his heart? How could he take the pain of his heart?

Both shed the blood tears and stayed connected until the last fragments of his soul finally disappeared.

He still couldn't tell him that it wasn't his fault.

The were all stunned, neither of them dared say anything nor even blinked. They witnessed the most heart wrenching reunion and farewell at the same time. A single tear escaped Jiang Cheng's eye. Lan Xichen only tightened his hold on to him.

Why was it, that when Jiang Cheng had stopped counting his loses, the world was showing him the colors of fate in the most gruesome way?

Song Lan who was hugging the ground, rose and came closer to the two sect leaders. He bowed and wrote down on the floor.

"How?"

"How Daozhang appeared?" Lan Xichen confirmed and Song Lan nodded.

"My Golden Core." Jiang Cheng said. Song Lan was confused.

"My Xiongdi is the son of Daozhang's Shijie and his Golden Core is in me." To nurture a soul, it required a familiar or at least similar Qi. Song Lan might have been familiar but he didn't have a core. A dead corpse. Nor did Wei Wuxian had when he handed him (SL) the guqin pouch. But a soul can't be nurtured out of a whim. In fact, all four them were sure that Daozhang's soul wasn't nurtured, instead it returned to Heaven.

Song Lan turned towards Fang Meng chen and wrote.

"What about Gonngmu?"

"Ahh! The critter resembled Gonngong. The shell is said to be strong enough to be used as a Heavenly Pillar." Fang Meng chen replied honestly.

Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng looked at each other.

Of course, the Heaven Gate.

"How did you get this shell?" Lan Xichen asked.

"The Gonngmu appeared in the Meishan Yu-" Fang Meng chen was cut abruptly by Sandhu Shengshou.

"Meishan Yu! Is everything alright there? How did it happen?"

Feng Meng chen explained everything from the start, how the disciples found him and how they fought together. And how suspicious it was for Gonngmu to suddenly appeared when Xiang Diety were still there.

"Is Jin Ling alright? Did he hurt himself?" Jiujiu panicked hearing about the incident.

"Yes, he's alright and no, he didn't hurt himself." Feng Meng Chen replied.

"Are you sure, Lan Shizui wasn't there with them?" Shufu also panicked.

"Yes! I heard they were going back to see him." Feng Meng Chen replied.

Lan Xichen found it odd for them to be separated unless, Lan Shizui stayed behind for Lan Wangji. But concern was growing inside Sect Leader Lan and he didn't know what to do. Maybe Shandhu Shengshou saw that?

"Fang Gongzi, I have to trouble you with something."

"Of course, Sect Leader Jiang" Feng Meng Chen said. Nobody dared to go against the Great Sandhu Shengshou.

"Will you return and check on the juniors? After you do, tell Jin Ling to ring his bell."

Feng Meng Chen bowed and left for his new journey towards his new friends.

. . .

Once the man was out of sight, Lan Xichen brought them back to the topic at hand, "Daozhang Zichen, I believe that you're aware of Heavens Gate?"

Song Lan nodded and wrote, "XingCheng finally become a Shen, He's in the Heavens." His broken soul had the courage to pass on instead of being lost forever.

"Yes, we believe that Wei Gongzi was the one who fixed Daozhang's soul and he also asked Daozhang to bring the Gonngmu Shell." Lan Xichen stated.

Song Lan was carefully listening and after thinking for a while he wrote,

"You want to know about BaoShao Sanren?"

Lan XiCheng and Jiang Cheng exchanged a knowing look and both nodded.

"I will wait outside, after you finish your business, I can take you there." Song Lan bowed to the two sect leaders, then to the temple stone and moved outside.

Business?

Only then Lan Xichen realized that he was still holding on to the other sect leader and Jiang Cheng was half naked. They immediately put a distance between themselves and Lan Xichen grabbed the pair of robes he had thrown away before.

"Here, Wanyin." Lan Xichen handed him the robes.

"Thanks." Jiang Cheng took the robes and begun to dress up. Lan Xichen was still staring at the big Zidian Scar on his chest.

"If you stare too much, I will poke your eyes out!" Sandhu Shengshou said after feeling the pair of eyes on him.

"My apologies, how is the pain now?"

"It's gone." Jiang Cheng said in a monotone.

"That's pleasant to the ears." Lan Xichen smiled but it disappeared quickly.

"Wanyin..." Lan Xichen thought whether he should continue or not.

"Yes?"

"H-How did that scar appear?" Lan Xichen unconsciously touched the robes which hid his scar.

"Why does Sect Leader Lan want to interfere in other's business? Why does Sect Leader Lan suddenly care?" Jiang Cheng brushed off his hand and moved away.

"Jiang Wanyin, I always cared."

"Oh really? Why can't I remember it?" Jiang Cheng hissed.

"I want to know that too."

When Lotus Pier fell, it was thanks to Lan Xichen that Jiang Cheng was brought back safe from the mountain on Yiling and together with him, they both gathered the rogue cultivators against Qishan Wen Sect for Sunshot campaign. But Jiang Cheng didn't remember that, because he was too hysterical about finding Wei Wuxian.

"Sect Leader Lan, what are you trying to imply?"

"Wanyin, I've always admired you-" He was cut brutally by Jiang Cheng.

"Sect Leader Lan, you can keep your pleasantries to yourself. If you don't mind, we need to move out, Daozhang Zichen is waiting outside." Jiang cheng said and moved outside.

Lan Xichen was a little hurt but he decided it was best not to talk about it now.

They both stepped outside and begun their journey with Song Lan. The path was silent like them. They didn't exchange a single word until they stopped at the foot of a secluded mountain. Song Lan turned towards them and wrote,

"From here on, you need to go blind folded. If Master Baoshao wants to, she will lead you to her chalet. Do not take off your blind fold. The mountain is secluded so there won't be any entities to fear from. I will wait right here for your arrival."

The two sect leaders took off their wrist bands to use as blind folds. Jiang Cheng plucked two stems and handed one to Lan Xichen; who nodded in acknowledgement.

Jiang Cheng stared at the blind fold for too long. He remembered how happy he was when he found out his core could be restored but now, he was scared. Scared to be disappointed once again.

Lan Xichen eyed him worriedly but didn't say anything. He didn't want to over step his boundaries. After all, they weren't even friends.

The two put on their blind folds and slowly begun to climb the mountain. Their unsure footsteps and accidental bumping into the rocks were a given.

"Um.. Wanyin.." Lan Xichen carried a fragile voice.

"What is it?"

"Is it alright if you hold the tip of my stick?"

"Huh?" Yeah.

"I mean ..I ..this blind fold is making me feel suffocated." Anything that made Lan Xichen feel restricted gave him suffocation. It was like he lost control of his own self, like that day in the Guanyin Temple.

"..."

"I'm sorry. I will follow the sound of your foot step- ah"

Lan Xichen felt Jiang Cheng's hand on his own. He held his hand. Well it was efficient than holding the stick.

"Thank you Wanyin."

"Mn."

The two silently walked with Jiang Cheng leading the way. But they had been climbing for long when will Baoshao Sanren appear? Would she really appear? Was it another trick in the name of Baoshao Sanren? Jiang Cheng's anxiety begun to seep in and Lan Xichen noticed the sweat on his hand.

"Wanyin, how about we rest for a while? I'm a little tired." Lan Xichen said and tapped his way to the nearest tree. The two sat under the shade surrounded by the cold wind. They climbed high enough already.

"Why do blind folds make you feel suffocated?" To everyone's surprise it was Sandhu Shengshou who broke the silence.

"Ah!" And of course Lan Xichen was surprised to form a coherent sentence.

"Don't answer if you don't want to." Jiang Cheng huffed.

"No! I was just a little surprised."

"Would it be weird if I say, I can no longer put my trust in people." Lan Xichen said unsure how the other would take it.

"Not at all! I don't trust anyone either." Jiang Cheng simply put.

"I'm aware of that." Lan Xichen chuckled at him.

"I'm trying to improve though but it's proving rather difficult." Lan Xichen had become somewhat paranoid. Sometimes he even doubts the disciples in Gusu Sect, after all Su She was once a disciple there.

"But you already improved, you let me lead you." Jiang Cheng raised a point.

"That's because I already trust you, Wanyin." Lan Xichen confessed.

"I don't see a reason why you should." If the one thing the whole cultivation world could agree on, it was that they can't trust Sandhu Shengshou. He could turn satan any minute.

"Wanyin why won't you believe me?" Lan Xichen was frustrated that the person he truly trusted didn't trust his words.

"Why don't you make me believe you?" Jiang Cheng wanted a reason, a proof any evidence because he himself had stopped believing on the empty words and broken promises.

"Do you know every year, many disciples arrive at Cloud Recess to learn under Shufu. Many drop out just after a month and some are kicked out because of their unruly behavior and by the end of the year, there are barely few disciples left."

"Yunmeng Jiang sect is the most free-spirited sect of all and to adapt into the most rule abiding sect, in itself is a feat."

"You! Jiang Wanyin, were among those very few who survived till the end. Not even Wei Gongzi could do that! And I was very pleased by your hard work back then and till now."

Lan Xichen had the ability to render Jiang Cheng Speechless even without using the famous Silencing Spell. Good thing they were both wearing blind folds other wise they would be embarrassed confessing that.

"Mn" came a simple reply.

Lan Xichen realized that he has spoken too much so he became quiet.

"Do you want to eat Lotus seeds?" Jiang Cheng unable to find a good topic to ease the tension took out his food pouch and offered the peeled lotus seeds to the Lan.

"You can eat, I have plenty more." Jiang Cheng practically threw the pouch on him which luckily, he caught.

"Ah! Thank you Wanyin." Lan Xichen smiled and accepted the seeds. It was among those things which their pallet could mutually accept.

"These are seeds from stemmed pod or without it? Lan Xichen asked chewing the seeds happily.

"Huh?!" Jiang Cheng didn't understand what the other was trying to say.

"I mean don't the lotus seed from stemmed pod taste different?" Lan Xichen tried to clarify.

"Who would say such a nonsense?" Jiang Cheng had his fair share of nonsense.

"...Wei Gongzi?" Technically it was Lan Wangji but Lan Xichen knew that Wei Wuxian told him that.

"I should've guessed." Jiang Cheng wanted to roll his eyes.

"It's because we ate those seeds fresh out of the Lotus Pods that they feel a little moist. The taste is not that different. " Jiang Cheng solved the riddle for him.

"I see." Lan Xichen seemed satisfied enough. But he had another thought..

"Lotus wine is splendid as well."

"Hefeng Liquor? Let me tell you Zewu-Jun, do not trust a word that idiot says." Not that Jiang Cheng didn't like that Liquor. It was precisely because Wei Wuxian made that liquor that Jiang Cheng didn't want to drink. Who know he might have added Water Ghouls inside to bring the umami? Jiang Cheng shuddered imagining the possibility of it actually happening.

"Oh No Wanyin, I tasted it myself." Lan Xichen stated.

"You? Tasted Alcohol?" Jiang Cheng was confirmed

"Yes, twice in fact." Lan Xichen seemed so proud as if he had unlocked a new skill.

"Didn't you lose a leg or arm?"

"Pardon?"

"Isn't Alcohol fatal for Lans?" Not only Jiang Cheng but other cultivators believe that as well.

"I'm afraid not. Lans have low Alcohol tolerance." That was it? Jiang Cheng was anticipating a bigger climax.

"Wei Wuxian doesn't get drunk no matter how much he drinks. I believe he's made of just wine." Jiang Cheng was sure if he cut him open, there would be wine instead of blood.

"Wangji does let him drink Ten Zi Xiao from time to time." Lan Xichen mused.

The two sect leaders begun to talk about most mundane things and they ventured into the topic of their brothers, each stating more eye-opening fact than the other. It had been many years since Jiang Cheng could openly talk and even laugh about his wreck less brother and not fear being judged. It was precious to know how Lan Xichen dot on his brother too much.

Lan Xichen, Nie Mingjue and Jin GuangYao would often talk about their brothers and Lan Xichen only realized how much he missed that sensation. They were all happy once.

"Wanyin, Why don't you try to tell your brother?"

"Tell him what?"

"you know, how you lost your core."

"And why would I do that? What would it do?" It was a secret Jiang Cheng wanted to take to his grave. He might have told Lan Xichen but he would never tell it to Wei Wuxian.

"You can become brothers again; I know you miss him and he misses you too and maybe tell him about the scar." Lan Xichen felt their precious bond, each sacrificing himself for the sake of the other.

"Sect Leader Lan, I don't understand why are you pushing me too much today?" Jiang Cheng huffed. He didn't like when people push their noses in his business, because once he let them do that, they made a mess of his life.

"Maybe I'm just worried about you."

"Are you worried or are you curious?"

"Little bit of both. I'm curious as to who could use Zidian. It can't be wielded by others and I'm worried if it was wielded by someone else and that wound was inflicted on you."

"Zidian can Only be wielded by its familiar and nobody else." Jiang Cheng made it clear.

"Then how did the wound appear?" Now Lan Xichen was even more worried.

"Try to guess." One thing Jiang Cheng realized was that he could not escape Lan Xichen. He never rubbed him the wrong way so Jiang Cheng didn't mind too much but it did get annoying from time to time.

Lan Xichen thought for a moment and then gasped.

"Jiang Wanyn...You.."

"Yes. I hurt myself." Jiang Cheng's voice carried no emotions.

"Why?" Lan Xichen's voice on the other hand was breaking.

"You think and tell me why?" 

"Was it after Jiang Gonya?"

Jiang Cheng clutched his robes but the other couldn't see.

"It was after Wei Wuxian..." Jiang Cheng said.

.

.

.

[Flashback : Wei Wuxian Death]

He remembered how the cultivators around him showered him with pity. In the name of sympathy, they used his broken heart to their wills, how they used the infant in his arms to mold his words and made him lead the Siege. And he remembered how Wei Wuxian was standing in front of him, just few feet apart.

"Jiang Cheng...You came here to kill me.." The two of them had one thing in common back then, their shattered hearts and broken eyes.

"At least I'm glad that the last person I see is, you."

And he let them devoured his soul, his body, his whole existence right in front of his eyes.

"No.."

How many more people will he see die?

"No! No!"

How many more dead bodies will he burry?

"No No No No No No No No!"

How many times, his heart would break?

His feet dragged him towards Wei Wuxian, waving his hands hysterically in the air, trying to catch a piece of him. Anything at all. Anything just please,

"Don't leave me all alone... please..."

Jiang Cheng thought that a Whip of Zidian would hurt more, but he was proved wrong. He used all of his spiritual energy but all it did was open a wound in his chest that bleed, why was his heart still bleeding? He raised his Zidian again, hoping to inflict more damage then

"Do you know what happened then?" Jiang Cheng continued,

"A- Ling begun to cry."

He was barely 4 months old but he stopped him, he protected him. Jiang Cheng held him in his arms and cried along with him.

"I promise to protect you! I will always protect you!"

.

.

.

The two were silent and neither of them could see the tears that had escaped through their blind folds. They stayed like that until their voice couldn't be registered as a sob, then Lan Xichen spoke.

"Wanyin."

"Hm?"

"should we continue? I don't want the night to fall on us."

"Sure."

They got up and begun their journey again this time they talked as they held hands.

"How long do you think it will take us?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"I am unaware myself. Maybe it's the wrong mountain? Do you think Daozhag-"

"No! Daozhang Zichen wouldn't lie." Jiang Cheng stated.

"How can be you so sure, Wanyin. We barely know him."

"Didn't you see back at the temple?"

Didn't you see the love back then? The pure bond? The pure souls? They had their fair share of pain, they would never inflict it upon others.

"How do you know which people to trust and which not to?" Lan Xichen was really struggling with his new habit. He really wanted to be able to set his heart free.

"Zewu-Jun, you are giving me too much credit, I'm just as incapable as you if not more."

"Still you seem to know which people can be trusted, You even trusted Fang Gongzi." Lan Xichen raised a good point but after being used by so many people it was only natural for Jiang Cheng to set a boundary and adapt. Otherwise, Yunmeng Jiang Sect would have been completely destroyed. Jiang cheng could see the same kind of struggle which he had to face but he had no one to guide him. At least he could make things easier for the Lan.

"How do you know what the Wooden Board is saying?" That was the best example Jiang Cheng could think of.

"Wooden Board?"

"Lan Wangji"

"Jiang Wanyin, I'd be very offended if you call my little brother like that." Lan Xichen whined.

"My apologies." Jiang Cheng only let out mild laugh.

"Contrary to how people think, Wangji is quite expressive."

"I fail to see that." Not only Jiang Cheng, the whole cultivation world failed to see that.

"His eyes, its always written there."

"Well there you have your answer."

"Hmm?" Lan Xichen didn't understand what other meant.

"The eyes! Just look eye to eye and you'll know who to trust."

Jiang Cheng often wondered, if back then, he had the courage to look up from the ground and face Wei Wuxian directly, would he have been able to save him? All those years Jiang Cheng had been learning from his flaws so Jin Ling won't have to suffer like that.

"Mn. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you Wanyin." Lan Xichen smiled.

It wasn't too late, the two could still learn from each other raise themselves only high. Unconsciously, the two shared the same thoughts.

And then they inhaled a scent and fell on the ground unconscious!

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Sorry for Errors and thank you for reading.