Never Let You Go, Again

8: Always a Jiang: alive, dead, and after

"Xianxian."

"Shijie! I knew you were still here! My Shijie would never leave Xianxian!" Wei Wuxian grinned and tossed his arms around Yanli's neck — only to fall right through her.

But of course, Lan Zhan would never let him fall.

"A-Ying! What happened?" Lan Zhan asked, holding Wei Ying's arm tight.

"A-Zhan... Sh-Shijie... She's here... Not alive, like I thought... but here..." Wei Wuxian muttered as he clawed Lan Zhan's arm and stood up. He could barely stand straight, shocked by falling through his Shijie's body — no, her soul.

"Shijie... you really are gone..."

"A-Xian, I never left." Wei Wuxian could hardly tolerate Yanli's angelic smile as she waved her palm over A-Xian's heart.

"A-Xian, what's going on? Why can't I see her? Do I... do I not deserve to see her..." Jiang Cheng was now mumbling, forlorn. Xichen finally walked over, put an arm around his shoulder, and spoke.

"Wanyin? Stop blaming yourself like this," he said in a stern voice. Then he turned to the other Yunmeng Pride. "Didi, even we can't see Lady Jiang."

Wei Wuxian put his worries aside for the moment and focussed on the present. Tapping his nose, he pondered over all he learnt and knew. Suddenly, a candle lit up in his head. "Everybody come close!"

The Great Five and the Junior Trio abided. Afterwards, Wei Wuxian nodded to Yanli and scribbled a spell in mid-air. 

Lan Wangji watched as blood-red characters floated through the air, a symbol of Wei Wuxian's supreme demonic cultivation in action. The letters landed on the ground before them and diffused outwards into a bright red circle. An array.

Everybody's eyes moved to the centre of the array, where light began to glow. Slowly, the purple figure of the charming Lady Jiang came into view. Every single person in the room was well within the circle, hence, they all saw the beautiful lady standing before them, smiling at her Xianxian. Xichen and Huaisang gasped. The first cried "Yanli-mei!" The latter, "Yanli-jie!"

He who was the actual brother cluttered to his knees. "A-jie..." he whispered, tears now unstoppably flowing down. Jin Ling watched it all, shocked to the core. He had no memory of his mother and father, so seeing such beauty and hearing that she was his mother... He was speechless. And so were the other two Juniors and Lan Zhan.

"A-Xian, can they hear me now?"

"Mn. Shijie, they can hear you, see you, talk to you." Wei Wuxian smiled feebly. Lan Zhan was aching, seeing all this.

"My wonderful Xianxian, you really are the greatest!" She ruffled his hair, but her hand slipped through him, sending chills down his spine. 

"Oh, sorry, hehe," she laughed nervously, despite the betraying tears on her cheeks. "A-Cheng! My didi!" She bent down before her kneeling brother. "A-Cheng, why are you like this?"

The Angry Lotus was actually sobbing. And mumbling. Yanli bent towards his mouth to listen.

"A-jie... You'll never forgive me, I was harsh. But forgive him, he didn't mean any of it... Forgive him. Forgive him." 

Xichen, having knelt behind him to keep him upright, had heard it all. "Wanyin..." He didn't know what to say.

"A-Cheng, are you out of your mind?"

Jiang Cheng looked up. Everyone looked up. That voice. That tone of fury and command. That voice that sent lightning through your bones. Madam Yu. But no, it was her only daughter.