Untamed oneshot/short stories

How can I hate you anymore?

Summary: Jin Ling overhears the conversation where Wen Ning reveals the truth about the golden core to Jiang Cheng. How does he react? Will his feelings abou Wei WuXian change?

Disclaimer: Some lines in this chapter were taken directly from the novel. I did not write them by myself. Spoilers ahead!! Also TW for physical abuse

Jin Ling had heard yelling and had crept towards the ancestral hall to see what was going on. Sizhui was behind him since he had secretly tried to follow Wen Ning.

"Stop, hide here," Jin Ling whispers. He had a clear view of his jiujiu, Hanguang-jun, and Wen Ning, though he made sure that they couldn't see him as they crouch down behind a wooden column. His eyes widen when he sees Wei WuXian slumped in Hanguang-jun's arms.

"Shut up!" Jiang Cheng was screaming. Jin Ling frowns. Just what was going on? Why was Jiang Cheng screaming at Wen Ning in such a manner?

Wen Ning yelled back. "...You answered, you were Wei Ying, son of CangSe SanRen*! You talked about the destruction of your sect and that your golden core was dissolved by Wen ZhuLiu. The woman asked you questions about your parents over and over again, and when you answered the last question, you suddenly caught the scent of something fragrant before you lost consciousness..." Jin Ling is in shock as he listens further. He can hear Sizhui's breath quickening next to him.

"How do you know that?!" Jiang Cheng shouted. "Why do you know?!"

"Wen Ning, "Haven't I told you already? I was right there, but not only that, Young Master Wei was there as well. Apart from us, there was also my sister, Wen Qing. In other words, on the entire mountain, we three were the only ones waiting for you." Jiang Cheng was silent for a while, then Wen Ning continued.

"Sect Leader Jiang, did you really think it was truly the secluded residence of BaoShan Sanren? Young Master Wei never knew where she lived. His mother never told him about such a place to that young of a child! The mountain was nothing more than a barren mountain in YiLing!"

Jiang Cheng's voice was hoarse but still full of rage, "Nonsense! That's fucking enough! Then why was my core mended?!"

"Your core was never mended in the first place!" Wen Ning shouted. "It'd long since been completely melted by Wen ZhuLiu! The reason you thought it was mended was that my sister Wen Qing, the best medic of the QishanWen Sect, cut out Young Master Wei's golden core and replaced yours with it!" At this, Jin Ling almost staggers backward, but Sizhui catches him.

"T-that Wei WuXian...he..he," Jin Ling was shaking, emotions of anger, confusion, sadness overwhelming him. He had heard enough. He only stayed a while longer to see Wen Ning ordering Jiujiu to pick up Suibian. He does so and begun running around Lotus Pier.

Jin Ling turned and runs with Sizhui hurrying after him.

"Young Master Jin," Sizhui began but doesn't continue.

"Stop. Just don't," Jin Ling's voice was cold, but with no heat behind it. He wasn't angry, he was just confused.

"Senior Wei...he..he really did something so selfless?" Sizhui said quietly. Jin Ling doesn't reply. His head is spinning with thoughts.

If he had no core, that must have been the reason why he turned to Demonic Cultivation...and everything that happened afterwards. His father's death...his mother's death. It wasn't his fault? NO but.. Jin Ling wanted to hate him. He had wanted to hate both Wei WuXian and Wen Ning for killing his father. For being responsible for his mother's death. 

He had felt shocked and betrayed the night Wei WuXian's identity had been revealed at Carp Tower. He had taken out all his anger and hatred on him through that one stab, but he hadn't aimed to kill. He hadn't held back, but at the same time, he hadn't aimed to kill, despite spending most of his years swearing revenge on him. Cursing him. Telling himself he'd avenge his parents by killing both of them and scattering their ashes and bones. But when he thought of how Wei WuXian had saved his life multiple times, risking himself to protect them at Yi City, his hatred had diminished. It was replaced by a feeling he wasn't used to: forgiveness. He had, without realizing it in his heart, forgiven Wei WuXian. That was why he had immediately directed double the hatred towards Wen Ning instead.

"Don't follow me," he told Sizhui sharply and he turned and began running after his uncle. He could hear him throwing a tantrum, asking everyone he bumped into to try and unsheathe Suibian who complied with dazed confusion. It was at that moment that he realized Lan Wangji, Wei WuXian, and Wen Ning must have left. Of course they did...with the attitude that my uncle has. Jin Ling thought, annoyed. 

However, when he confronted his uncle, Jiang Cheng only responded by slamming him into the ground so right afterward, he gets Fairy from one of his guards and he goes after Wei WuXian with her tracking his scent. 

After Guanyin Temple

"Where did Wei WuXian go?" Jin Ling asks Jingyi after he has returned from taking Fairy outside. Seeing Wei WuXian flinch at the sight of his dog, he had thoughtfully left her outside the temple rather than have her wreak havoc again.

"Some disciples brought Lil'Apple and he took Hanguang-jun and left," Jingyi tells him. 

"He left?" Jin Ling sputters in disbelief. He turns and starts running towards the entrance of the temple when Jiang Cheng's voice stops him.

"Don't chase them," he orders.

"What? You're just going to let them leave?" Jin Ling demands. Was Jiujiu really not going to say anything else to Wei WuXian? After what he had done for him??

"What else? Are we going to say sorry and thank you and invite them to stay for dinner?" Jiang Cheng scowls. 

"You're no fun! It's all because of that attitude of yours!" Jin Ling blurts out.

"Is that any way to talk to your senior?" Jiang Cheng snaps, his eyes flaring and his hands raising. Jin Ling flinches back, but the blow doesn't come. Jiang Cheng was staring at the entrance of the temple with a deep look in his eyes. 

"Didn't you have something to say to Wei WuXian?" Jin Ling asks. Was he going to say 'thank you'?  For giving him his core. And 'sorry'?  for all the misunderstandings between them.

"I did not," Jiang Cheng says firmly. But Jin Ling wasn't buying it.

"Nonsense! You definitely had something to say to him!" He presses. Jiang Cheng doesn't speak but after a few moments, Jin Ling hears the low mutter from his mouth. 

"Take care."  Jin Ling blinks. 

"Let's go." Jin Ling follows his uncle, staring at the back of his robes. Perhaps one day, Jiujiu will be able to face him again and maybe I can help with that

A/N: okay so uhh this was mainly supposed to be Jin Ling's thoughts of Wei WuXian but I hoped the ending part added depth to them as well