Journey to the Beautiful Ending

C29 - Blame

It came to a shock to everyone in the cultivation world the Lan Sect heir's passing. Wen Yang, who went back to his village to distribute some herbs he collected, immediately returned to the cave where Wen Ning was hiding after hearing the sad news. He saw his master there, sitting in the corner. Not making any movement. Wen Yang know that corpse can no longer feel anything but he knew that Wen Ning was special. His mind was conscious and knew the pain of losing someone. He walked towards him and sadly looked at him.

"Master Ning, I know how hard it was to lose someone but you will get by. Death was part of our life. Someday we will all turned to ashes. Though your case was special but who knows, you'll turn to ashes too one day and you'll see them again."

"A-Yang." Wen Ning looked at him. "I was there. I wasn't able to save him. What kind of uncle I am? He is the only one I have."

"What are you saying? I'm still here."  Wen Yang knew how devastated he was. Blaming himself for the death of his nephew. "Master Ning, Yuan-ge wouldn't want to see you blaming yourself. You have to toughen up."

"A-Yang, you should go back to your village and stay there. With you there, you will be safe."

"No, Master Ning." Wen Yang declined. They're back to this talk again. He knew he was trying to protect him but he won't leave "I'll stay here. I told you, you cannot push me. I'll stay so you could help me achieve my dreams. We will raise the flag of Wen Sect again." He decisively said.

"A-Yang." Wen Ning could only utter his name. Wen Yang was still a child in his eyes but his words are full of conviction.

On the other side, the Cloud Recesses was more quiet as it was before. All the readings in the morning was temporarily stop including the training of the Junior disciples. There were white fabric hang around the Chunshi. Jingyi was there, hoping Sizhui would appear and smile at him again. Scolding him for slacking and telling him to get moving. But not even shadows of him appeared. He ended up crying again and again until his head ache from too much crying.

Jin Ling went back to Lanling with his uncle five days after Sizhui was sent off. Jiang Cheng couldn't leave his nephew yet. If Jin Ling isn't crying, he drown himself to alcohol and cause commotion inside his room. Breaking everything he could break or sometimes, Jiang Cheng found him in the corner hugging the portrait of Sizhui's and him. The portrait Jin Ling asked Sizhui to draw. It was the two of them holding each other's hand, smiling. Sizhui named it Two Hearts. Two hearts of two people inlove. Now, everything they have are just memories. The memories he would want to go back and feel it again. If he could just...

"Jin Chan, where are those disciples going?" Jiang Cheng asked as he saw Jin Chan just dismissed two disciples.

"Sect Leader Jiang." Jin Chan saluted. "We were trying to find a herbs that could help Jin Ling from sleeping. It was hard to find a good herbs especially they're being sold out so those two disciple will attempt to track down a man named Liu Yang, a herb collector. Aside from Jin Ling, they are the only disciples who knew him."

"Jin Ling knew a herb collector?"

"Apparently, yes. He met him during their night hunting before and he's also the person who helped him with the issue of acute poisoning in Chang village."

"I see." Jiang Cheng sighed. "Thank you, Jin Chan."

"I just hope Jin Ling would soon accept what happened and decide to move forward."

Jiang Cheng was aware that Jin Chan has plans of leaving Lanling and explore outside his comfort zone. "Please have more patience with him. It would be take time for him to get by." He said.

Jin Chan smiled assuringly, "I understand. Don't worry, Sect Leader Jiang. I'll stay until he gets better."

"Thank you."

Days later, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian decided to start their journey again. They left Cloud Recesses carrying the pain of losing someone very important to them. Their hearts are full of remorse. But they could do nothing. They can no longer change what happened. Jingyi went on seclusion for four months. When he came out, he was very different from before. Sadness still covered his eyes and he seemed to have become cold. He was no longer as lively as before.

Jingyi led the Junior disciples for a night hunting. In that night hunting, they met Wen Ning and Wen Yang who were colecting herbs.

"Yi-gege, nice to see you again." Wen Yang greeted him the moment he saw him.

"Yi-gege, why is that man calling him our head that way?" One of the Lan disciples asked. These are the new sets of disciples who just got out from training.

"I don't know. They must be close."

Jingyi narrowed his eyes to the disciples muttering. They immediately shut their mouths.

"Yi-gege, I just delivered tons of herbal tea in Lanling. Do you need some herbs too so you can sleep well?"

"No, thanks. Why would you deliver herbal tea in Lanling?"

"Don't you know? The head disciple of Lanling tracked me down and asked me for herbs to help the sect leader from sleeping. He fell ill due to lack of sleep and overwork. But I don't think that was really the reason. He's trying to kill himself."

"His lover died. Of course, he would attempt to kill himself too. Idiot. Sizhui died because of him. How could he–" Jingyi cut himself off and sighed deeply. Wen Ning was there so he apologetically look at him. "I'll pay him a visit. Thank you for telling."

"Yi-gege–"

"A-Yang, please stop calling me that way. Its inappropriate." Jingyi told him coldly. "One more thing, why don't you go back to your village and continue to study medicine. You could become a great doctor like your adoptive father."

Wen Yang, "If I became a doctor, you wouldn't stop me from calling you Yi-gege?"

"You–" Jingyi breathed again and calmed his senses. "Whatever." He said and turned his back, signalling the Junior disciples to leave.

Wen Yang smiled brightly. "I'll become the best doctor, Yi-gege!" He yelled. Jingyi pursed his lips and continued to walked away.

"A-Yang, stop messing with young master Lan." Wen Ning scolded him but Wen Yang still smiled happily.