Untamed oneshot/short stories

Meeting again

Summary: Jiang Cheng bumps into Wei WuXian while following Jin Ling on one of his nighthunts.

Jiang Cheng stops walking. He could see the familiar black robes of Wei WuXian through the bushes. He curses to himself, but he doesn't know why. He had always known that Jin Ling went out night-hunting with Wei WuXian often. Sometimes he would go with two certain Lan disciples. The two he never stopped talking about.

 Although it was mostly complaints whenever he spoke of them, Jiang Cheng knew he was finally happy to find friends his age, especially considering the fact that the junior disciples at Jinlin Tai barely spoke to him due to his temper and attitude. 

These past few night-hunts, he had been secretly following Jin Ling, worried about his safety ever since he took over the position of sect leader. First, he had bumped into Wen Ning and now he'd have to bump into Wei WuXian. He could just turn back now. Jiang Cheng thinks. But instead, he begins walking again, at a slower pace.

"Stop messing around!" He hears Jin Ling complaining.

"Jingyi, watch your back!" Sizhui calls out sharply. There was a sharp whistle of a flute then the sound of a sword meeting flesh.

"Don't worry, children. I got them under control." Wei WuXian's voice says.

"Who's your 'children'?" Jingyi retorts back. "Only Sizhui is your son."

"Right right," The sound of laughter. Jiang Cheng creeps closer. Son?

"I'm going with Wen Ning to see if there are any more demonic beasts around. Watch each other's back while I'm away." Jiang Cheng watches until he sees Wen Ning and Wei WuXian head in two different directions. He almost lets out a sigh of relief when he sees that Wei WuXian wasn't heading towards him.

Jiang Cheng turns on his feet to start walking in the opposite direction, but he soon hears footsteps behind him. With Zidian sparking in his hands, he turns around to find himself face to face with Wen Ning.

"What do you want?" he demands. He may not hate Wei WuXian anymore, but he still had lingering resentment for Wen Ning.

"You're really not going to speak with Master Wei?"

"Who says I have to? Go away!" He snaps, turning away once more.

"You don't have to. But let me at least ask for him if you are doing well."

"I'm doing fine," Jiang Cheng retorts, then his voice lowers. "What about him? Is he enjoying his life at Cloud Recesses? I really couldn't believe it, he hated that place and the rules." Jiang Cheng mutters.

"Second Master Lan and A-Yuan is with him. How can he hate it?"

Right. Jiang Cheng thinks. From what he heard from Jin Ling, they were cultivation partners now and were living together.

"Wen Ning? Are you talking to someone?" Jiang Cheng hears Wei WuXian approaching. He wants to run but his feet are planted. He turns back around. Wen Ning takes a few steps back when Wei WuXian approaches, his face surprised,

"J-Jiang Cheng? What are you doing here?" He asks, his tone awkward and quiet. Wen Ning slips away into the bushes without another word, leaving the two of them alone.

"Just...night-hunting too," Jiang Cheng replies tartly.

"And following Jin Ling? Sizhui told me you bumped into Wen Ning the other day."

"I did," Jiang Cheng says dryly, still refusing to meet Wei WuXian's gaze. "We didn't speak."

"At least you guys didn't fight," Wei WuXian mutters. If it had been in the past, Jiang Cheng surely would have attacked Wen Ning with Zidian, accusing him of trying to harm Jin Ling. It was surprising that Jiang Cheng understood Wen Ning was only looking after Sizhui.

"There was no need. Wen Ning was only looking after...Young Master Lan, was he not? Sizhui is his name?" Jiang Cheng couldn't hold back his curiosity, especially after hearing the other Lan disciple refer to Sizhui as Wei WuXian's son.

"You mean A-Yuan? Yes...well.., I suppose you don't know," Wei WuXian scratches his nose, a habit that he had had since he was a kid and he did it whenever he was deep in thought.

"Know what?" Jiang Cheng retorts. He thinks for a while. A-Yuan? Why does the name sound familiar?

"Is...that kid the same toddler from back then?" He faintly remembers a young toddler clinging to his leg. It was when he had visited the Burial Mounds shortly after Wei WuXian moved the Wens Remnant there.

Wei WuXian gives a faint smile.

"Yes. That is him. Lan Zhan saved him all those years ago. I-isn't it a miracle?" His eyes grow distant. Jiang Cheng looks away. Back then he had also been one of the people to push Wei WuXian to give up the Wen Remnants, to turn them over. A faint pang of guilt washes over him. Would he really have stood by and watched the other sects kill an innocent child?

"How?"

"Lan Zhan found him hiding. A-Yuan was sick with a fever when he brought him back to Cloud Recesses so he doesn't remember anything from when he was a Wen. But he was able to recollect his memories."

"Mm."

"Well either way, it's a long story. I should be getting back," Wei WuXian is looking back where the junior disciples were, casting uncertain glances at Jiang Cheng as if he isn't sure what to say next.

"Right. Walk Jin Ling back when you guys are done, alright?" He turns to walk away before Wei WuXian could respond, but he catches a glimpse of his surprised face as he does so.

Why do I have to be so awkward... Jiang Cheng thinks bitterly to himself. Jin Ling was willing to see Wei WuXian more than he did. Jin Ling could say more to Wei WuXian than he could. And Jin Ling had only been hanging out with him for less than a year! Jiang Cheng sighs and thinks over the words he could not say to Wei WuXian back in the temple. He could not say them even now.

"Wei WuXian," Jiang Cheng turns back around. Wei WuXian had only walked a couple of steps away as if he had been waiting for him to speak.

"Jiang Cheng?"

"If you have the time, you can come with Jin Ling's friends when they go to Lotus Pier. You should come to see Jin Ling at least." That was the best he could say so far. Jiang Cheng thinks. Wei WuXian turns around and gives him a smile, the smile he missed seeing so much.

"That would be nice."