The meaning of protecting you with my life

Hot-headed fool

Jiang Cheng was increasingly getting more and more tired. The war was not progressing well for the allied forces and he had to, more than ever, lead the Yunmeng Jiang sect with iron will. He could only grief his family when he was alone in his tent, deep in the night when no one would hear him or see his tears stricken face.

Wei Wuxian had become even more distant, he now only ever lurked in Jiang Cheng's shadow, his features and eyes eerily haggard, it was as if he was slowly disappearing. They started talking to each other some time back, but it was not as it used to be. Wei Wuxian had closed his heart and only offered assistance in fighting and silent support during meetings.

Despite his boisterous and confident words on the first day he had joined the allied forces, every time he was asked if he was ready to confront Wen Ruohan he only shook his head. If Jiang Cheng did not know any better, he would have even said that his brother looked ashamed of this fact. But that was not right, when had Wei Wuxian ever felt shame?

Jiang Cheng knew he would come up with a solution, he always did. Yes, his brother had always been able to follow the Yunmeng Jiang sect's motto better than him. He however hoped that the other would hurry, they had no time to lose now that Wen Ruohan was pushing them back on every front. They desperately needed a trump card.

It was a sunny day, one that they had no battle scheduled on and they were resting. Well, more like Jiang Cheng was resting, sitting on grass next to his tent with a bottle of wine in his hands, and Wei Wuxian standing as still as a statue just a few steps away from him. Jiang Cheng had long given up on having his brother join him, they had truly become a sect leader and a subordinate. He mourned the loss of his brother but if this was how Wei Wuxian wanted things to be, then he would not argue with him over this, not anymore anyway. He was tired of dealing with the other and he had decided to just let things take their own course.

He watched as Nie Huisang run towards him, face hidden behind his fan. He slowly got up, already expecting to receive news that his day of rest was cancelled and that he should go fight somewhere on Nie Mingjue's orders.

"Brother Wei! Brother Jiang!" was Nie Huisang calling for them from already far away as he spotted them. His voice was urgency itself, Jiang Cheng had not heard him this distraught ever since the faithful day he had told him that Jiang Yanli had been taken away; and probably dead by now since there had been no news about her since then. She was clearly not being used as a hostage; they would have already received some demands from the Qishan Wen sect.

"What is it, Brother Nie?" he asked tiredly. He did not have to pretend to be happy about being send off to fight again.

"I have big news! Come; let us discuss them in your tent!"

This was something new. Apparently it was not about a new battle after all. What could the Qinghe Nie sect heir want with them? And why was he sounding so overjoyed and worried at the same time? Jiang Cheng did not ask any more questions and quickly entered the tent, sitting down at the table opposite to Nie Huisang. Wei Wuxian came in as well and for the first time in a long while he joined Jiang Cheng at the table, taking the seat next to him.

They both looked at Nie Huisang with raised eyebrows and a clear question in their eyes. Luckily, the Qinghe Nie sect heir did not lose time with pleasantries and he immediately told them: "I have just received news from one of my informants in Nightless City. Your parents and your sister are alive! They had been held prisoners all this time. I did not get any more information about how they had been treated but I wanted to tell you right away."

The silence after Nie Huisang's words was absolute. Neither Jiang Cheng, nor Wei Wuxian it would seem, were in any condition to answer yet, they were still processing the news. Jiang Cheng was torn between blindly believing that his family was still somewhere out there, safe and sound and waiting for him to come rescue them at last and being afraid that it could just be some cruel joke or misinformation that he should not believe lest he wanted his heart to break into a million pieces upon learning the truth.

Wei Wuxian must have been in a similar train of thoughts because when he finally managed to speak, he asked, his voice hopeful yet trembling with fear: "Is that true? Are Shijie, Uncle Jiang and Madame Yu really still there?" He was now clutching Nie Huisang's hand as if he was daring him to tell any lies or as if it was the only thing keeping him from jumping to his feet and storming off, most probably in the direction of Nightless City.

Nie Huisang nodded, his expression serene: "Yes, my informant is trustworthy. I fully believe that they are alive. The only thing I do not understand is why we have learned this only now, it had been more than a month from when Jiang Yanli had been taken and even longer since the fall of Lotus Pier... It almost seems like an elaborate plan or a trap to me..."

Jiang Cheng did not care at all if this was a trap or anything, the only important thing to him right now was that his family he had thought dead was alive and waiting for him to save them. He shot up to his feet and turned towards the exit, glad for the fact that Zidian was on his finger and that his sword had always been in his reach. He was fully intending to just jump on it and fly to Nightless City at the highest speed.

In a buried part of his mind, he could hear a small rational voice telling him that this was not a good idea. He had no plan and he would be alone against all of the Qishan Wen sect soldiers, trying to sneak in Wen Ruohan's stronghold right under his nose. He would surely be captured in the matter of seconds if he tried this. But he could not care less about being reasonable, not when his family had been held captive for months now and he did not even know about it. He did not want them to be in that awful place for even one more minute.

He was stopped, quite predictably too, by a hand on his forearm. He yanked it away and continued pushing through towards the door. He heard some shouting but he could not care less for the words, he had to go, right now.

He only stopped again when his way was barred by Wei Wuxian's whole body. His brother was trying to push him back, shouting something quite urgently into his face. He did his best to free himself but Wei Wuxian did not ease his hold. They started fighting.

After a while, Jiang Cheng found himself on his back with his brother sitting atop of him and holding him down. They were both panting heavily and Jiang Cheng could see that he had apparently gotten in some good punches because his brother's right eye was already swelling and his lip was torn open. He struggled some more but then he saw something which made him finally start listening to Wei Wuxian's words. His brother was crying. Although there was only a single tear running down his cheek, it was somehow more distressing than if he had been wailing loudly.

"Jiang Cheng, please, be reasonable... I cannot lose you too. I have promised to protect you and your family. I will do everything to help them, to get them out of Wen Ruohan's clutches, but not like this. If we go to Nightless City unprepared, we will just get ourselves captured and we will not help anyone. Please, A-Cheng... Let us think of a plan, I promise it will not take long. We will save them."

All the fight suddenly disappeared from Jiang Cheng and tears started streaming down his cheeks as well. He knew Wei Wuxian was right. This was not how they should approach the rescue. They had to be prepared or they would not be able to help anyone. Getting captured would only worsen the situation and give Wen Ruohan even more hostages.

Finally, it all downed on him. He had been such a fool, thinking only about himself. It took him seeing his brother cry for the first time ever to realize that Wei Wuxian was in the same situation as him and also must have been hurting in the same way. He was also a member of his family and he had lost it, for a second time in his life no less. He now only had one brother, and he did not want to lose him either.

Jiang Cheng lifted one hand and it hurt to see Wei Wuxian slightly flinch as if he had thought that he would hit him – then again, Jiang Cheng could not blame him, he had already raised his hand against him multiple times at this point. He covered his own face and whispered with a hoarse voice, fully agreeing with his brother now: "Alright, I get it. Let us think of a good plan. They were left alive until now; I am sure Wen Ruohan would not kill them tomorrow."

It was not certain at all, he could not predict what the Qishan Wen sect leader would do. But he was not going into this unprepared and full of emotions, see where it had gotten him last time he had done something this foolish, running by himself into the forest, resulting in Wei Wuxian going after him and getting captured in his place.