The meaning of protecting you with my life

Nie Huisang's victory

It had already been two weeks now from the day that Wei Wuxian finally understood that his family did care about him and wanted to mend their ties. They had known it would not be easy from the very beginning, they had prepared for it mentally. But nothing could be done when the boy in question did not accept the care and apparently only ever felt awkward about it.

Jiang Cheng could tell that his brother was not feeling alright and that he was still forcing himself. This time however, he was doing so while trying to act normal and to give them a sense of a happy family. He had even started to talk to Yu Ziyuan more; but the thing was that Jiang Cheng could tell how much it costed him. It was the small signs that were the most telling: how he would flinch occasionally when being called and would only face them after a second with a perfectly fake smile on his lips, from how his laughter was not free and unrestrained anymore but painful sounding to the Yunmeng Jiang sect leader's ears, how he would always retreat back to his room looking utterly exhausted but would still say that he was fine and thank them for their protection.

And this was another thing which was apparently putting an edge between them all. Not only did Wei Wuxian pretend to play a perfect family with them while his heart was not into it, he also thanked them for all the care and protection. This was the final straw for Jiang Cheng to know that something was very much wrong. His brother would have never felt comfortable being protected like this.

They however did not have another possibility to go around things. Someone was always with Wei Wuxian and his door was guarded at night. Since there were still people after him – just yesterday, there had been another intruder which had been stopped before making it over the walls of Lotus Pier – they could not very well leave him by himself. Even more so that he told them over and over again that he had given up demonic cultivation.

Despite his words, which Jiang Cheng did believe but which saddened him greatly, the Yunmeng Jiang sect leader was glad that his brother would at least carry his flute around. It had actually taken a little bit of persuasion but it was undeniably worth it. Wei Wuxian had been so jumpy those first hours and days, he had looked truly pitiful. And Jiang Cheng could fully understand him; after the Wen indoctrination, he had been walking around without his sword and he had not liked it. Moreover, he had not been completely defenceless at that time, only, Wei Wuxian was without a golden core.

Even all the disciples in Lotus Pier were taking care of his brother and making life easier for him. They would carry things around instead of him, they would not let him overdo it while he was training them and they would certainly not let him touch any swords – not even a training one – for fear that it would make him remember his loss.

As it stood, they had to protect Wei Wuxian not only from outsider threats but also from himself. It was as if his brother did not understand that he was now just a normal man and had to behave like one. That meant more carefully than until now. He was still as reckless as ever; as soon as he was freed from bed rest, he was already running around without any care as per usual. Only now, it was different, every small scrape or bruise needed several days to heal and his body was still weak and fragile. They had to protect him even if it meant to forbid him things which he had liked doing before. They were trying.

But it was not enough. Or, more like, it was perhaps too much. Wei Wuxian only ever smiled and thanked everyone for being worried for him. However, Jiang Cheng observed with heavy heart how his brother would start acting differently at each turn. For example, he stopped training the disciples – something he had always greatly enjoyed – and would only ever teach archery. He would not go swim to lakes anymore and would only stay on the sides, watching everyone have a good time and telling them that he did not want to ruin their fun. He had been talking jokingly but Jiang Cheng could guess what was behind those words, he did not want to be a burden to anyone.

It was painful to watch how Wei Wuxian was visibly dying with each passing day and whatever anyone said to him would only make it all the worse. It would only push him to try harder and to hurt himself more. Jiang Cheng did not know what he could do about it. He was at his wits' end.

If there was not a threat on Wei Wuxian's life, he would not have insisted on keeping such a close eye on him and his brother would possibly feel more free and happier. But that was not an option, not until Jin Guangshan and Jin Guangyao would stop lusting after the Yiling Patriarch's powers and would not send kidnappers and assassins after him.

Jiang Cheng sighed and shook his head. It was not doing him any good to muse about this. It was only adding to his already prominent headache which he had gotten from all the paperwork he was once again dealing with. Although there were less requests for help than before, the number of letters stayed the same. The other sects were now doing their best to annoy him with their not so subtle attempts at diplomacy. It seemed like everyone wanted to be allies with the sect with had the most powerful demonic cultivator in their midst.

He picked up another letter and without ever as much as looking from whom it was, he violently unfolded it, almost tearing the expensive and heavy paper. Why had he to read all of the sweet and fake pleasantries and reply in kind? He was perhaps not so suited to be a sect leader after all. He had no patience with those pretences and small talk when he knew what exactly the other sects wanted. Still, as a polite and cultivated sect leader, he had to preserve the face of the Yunmeng Jiang sect and reply to each letter he received. He hated this part of the work the most.

He stopped and calmed down after reading the first few words. He had skipped the addressing as usual and had only started reading in the middle, avoiding also what should have been empty pleasantries. Now, his heart was racing for another reason than anger. He recognized the handwriting. It was actually the letter he had been waiting for this entire time.

He read it three times just to be sure and then he jumped up and all but run from his study. He had to tell his family the good news immediately.