Bridging the gap | Wangxian | ON HOLD

Chapter 3

Third Person POV

"Shijie?"

The elegant and gracious figure turned around. Her beautiful features looked tenser and more worried than when he had last seen them but it was definitely his Shijie. She looked stunning as her black travelling cloak fell to reveal her extravagant wedding attire. 

Her hair was pulled back into intricate braids and pinned with ornate accessories of red and gold, perfectly framing her gentle and benevolent face. The dress was of the finest quality silk and layered with flowing lengths of gold details - courtesy of the Lanling Jin Clan of course.  

"A-Xian! You're here!" She cried joy illuminating her features.

Wei Ying wanted more than anything to run up to her and wrap her in a warm embrace like he used to, to show her how much he had missed his siblings company, to go back with her to the cultivational world but things were different.

Was he even their brother anymore, now that he had left them? He had no claim over his sister. She was to be a married woman with a new family to care for, things couldn't be like before. He couldn't go cry to her when he was scolded or ignore his problems by indulging in her care...

The atmosphere tensed in the united acknowledgement of the distance and change. Even if they all wanted to regain the past, it was impossible, so they just continued in their obvious pretence, delighting in the opportunity and ignoring reality.

They talked for hours about everything and nothing, squabbling with Jiang Cheng, reminiscing over childhood but before long the sun dipped from the sky and it was time to leave. Wen Ning and Wei Ying left in one direction whilst the Jiang siblings went in the other. 

It was quiet, the atmosphere full of silent reflection and remorse as they returned. Wei Ying had felt the divide between him and the people he used to call family and in a way it helped with the pain, knowing that they were okay without him and that life was good to them. He had worried that his reputation may have affected them too but the damage was minimal. He hadn't noticed how much he had adapted to his new life, but even the pork and lotus soup he had craved so much wasn't the same. In comparison to the simple but spicy cuisine he had gotten used to, it felt bland and foreign. 

Times were moving on and he would gradually be forgotten. Yanli would have a son (who he'd been privileged enough to be allowed to name), Jiang Cheng would get married, other sects would defect, monsters would appear... and the venerable Yiling Patriarch would be a name of insignificance. Perhaps, the Wen's would even be able to escape their life of isolation and poverty. 

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Soon after, daily life slipped into the monotony of the past. The community thrived and the Burial Mounds gave way to their small home. The ramshackle homes were full of charm and illuminated with beautiful red lanterns, perfectly contrasting the ebony wood, the paths more defined and cultured. Where before they had struggled to grow basic vegetables, the fields began to flourish and they even possessed a small collection of goats and chickens. It was not grand by any stretch of the imagination but people were happy.

Wei Ying had made progress with many talismans and tools which could help locals and non-cultivators defend themselves and had developed a strong understanding and cultivation with the Yin Iron. He longed for news from the outside world but would never cause issues by searching for it. 

Wei Ying was out with A-Yuan that day when it arrived. It was a letter. Short, blunt and branded with the seal of the Gusu Lan Sect, unexpected but welcomed. The power those words held was unmatched and the ceaseless joy it brought to Wei Ying was unrivalled. It read:

Dear Wei Ying,

I am writing to inform you of your sister's good news. A healthy Jin Clan heir has been born with no complications. She wishes more than anything that in this time of celebration she could see you and introduce to you  Young Master Jin Ling, courtesy name Jin Rulan. In a month, they will celebrate his one month birth anniversary at Lanling and your presence is requested.

From,

Lan Zhan

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Author's Note:

Sorry for the slow update. In my story the plot line where Lan Zhan comes to meet Wei Wuxian has already occurred so I haven't included it. Hope everyone has enjoyed reading! There should be some more exciting chapters coming up - this is sort of a filler one! Please vote and comment and opinions, ideas...