WangXian: Reunited ✔

Chapter 28: Delusions Of Grandeur

Whatever else happened, it wasn't his fault.

~JIANG CHENG'S POV~

It was late at night when Wei Ying finally arrived at Lotus Pier. Jiang Cheng had been waiting for him, and rushed out of his room when he had heard the news. Dragging his lover behind him, Jiang Cheng ran up to his brother.

He eyed Wei Ying. His brother had suffered multiple cuts, albeit shallow ones. Jiang Cheng wanted him to go to a healer, but the other had brushed it off, saying that it was no big deal.

"Why are you so fucking stubborn?" Jiang Cheng growled, grabbing Wei Ying's arm, preparing to drag him away.

"Don't be a prick Cheng Cheng," Wei Ying shot back, pulling his arm away. He was delighted to go back to their bantering ways.

"You're the prick!"

"Cheng Cheng, don't be such a baby," Wei Ying tsked. "Zewu Jun won't marry you if you keep acting like that."

Jiang Cheng blushed as a deep red bloomed across his cheeks. "Shut up!"

"Ha! Cheng Cheng you should've seen your face! It was priceless!" Wei Ying hooted, doubling over in laughter. "You looked like a crushing maiden!"

"SHUT UP!" Jiang Cheng bellowed, blush deepening.

Wei Ying wiped away tears of laughter as he let his gaze wander across Lotus Pier. A strong sense of nostalgia washed over him as a surge of yearning overcame him. The Lotus Pier before him was the same, an exact replica of the one from his memories. But at the same time, it was different. Different because there was no Shijie there to welcome him, no Madame Yu there to scold him. All of the people of the past were gone. All buried under dirt and rubble.

Jiang Cheng watched his brother, completely understanding the look of longing in his eyes. Lotus Pier might look the same, but it'll never be the same. There will never be that same liveliness and joy that used to fill the air. Never will there be the same servants chattering about, the same tender looks and concerned smiles. Jiang Cheng won't be able to see the disciples he grew up with, he'll never hear their council ever again. His mother won't be there to scold him, his father won't be there to disappoint him.

Jiang Cheng might've been able to rebuild Lotus Pier, might've been able to bring the Yunmeng Jiang Sect back to all its former glory- but it was an empty victory. What was the point of being Sect Leader when there was no one there beside you? What use was it to be feared and respected, when there was no one there to love you? Why train till your knuckles bleed, when there was no one there to treat you?

If he could trade Yunmeng Jiang for his parents and Shijie? Why he would do it in a second.

A sad smile flittered across Jiang Cheng's face. "Let's go," he murmured, making his way to the Swords Hall. Sects were filing in as leaders scurried about. The Siege of Burial Mounds had resulted in heavy casualties. Sect Leader Yao and Su She were killed, while a few other minor sects had been completely wiped out. It was only thanks to Wei Wuxian, that the rest had even managed to make it out alive.

Jiang Cheng nodded at the few Sect Leaders that had attached themselves to him and Lan Xichen.

"Oh Sect Leader Jiang, did you know that my disciples nearly died? Why after this, I must ask for Sect Leader Jiang's guidance. I heard that Yunmeng is famous for it's sword-skills. Would Sect Leader Jiang be so kind as to help?" chimed the Baling Ouyang Sect Leader. Jiang Cheng gritted his teeth, giving a hasty nod. Anything to get rid of the old geyser.

As he rounded the corner, he was met with two women and his head disciple. The disciple was fumbling nervously, and his face lit up in relief when he saw Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen. "Sect Leader Jiang! Zewu Jun!"