Still You

Chains and Shadows

In the depths of the dungeon, a man dangled in chains. His wrists were bound above his head, his neck encircled by cold iron, and his feet shackled to the floor. He could scarcely move. His back bore the marks of countless whippings, each stroke a testament to the inhumanity he had endured. Bruises and cuts from various weapons marred his skin, evidence of the creative cruelties of his tormentors.

He had been there for a week, subjected to relentless torture. Every day, Jin Guangyao and Shu She took perverse pleasure in his suffering. "Get up, you scum!" commanded a Lan disciple who was guarding him.

"It's time to face your punishment!" Another disciple whipped him across the back with a disciplinary whip.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

Wei Ying bit back his screams, refusing to give them the satisfaction of his pain.

"Rift rat!"

"Son of a servant!"

"Murderer!"

"Get up!"

Despite the heavy chains, Wei Ying rose from the floor and followed the Lan disciples out of his cell. The clang of his chains echoed through the silent halls as they led him to the meeting room where everyone awaited him. The room was filled with people, yet an oppressive silence hung in the air as Wei Ying entered, the noise of his chains the only sound.

Jin Guangyao sat on the throne reserved for the chief cultivator, with Sect Leader Lan beside him. Lan Qiren and the rest of the Gusu Lan disciples flanked them. Jiang Cheng stared at him with a mixture of hatred and disgust, his hand tightly gripping Zidian. Nie Huaisang, seated with the Nie sect, kept his expression carefully blank.

"Wei Wuxian! You have committed a serious crime against all four great sects, you despicable brat! You are just like that wicked, untamed mother of yours!" Lan Qiren's face was a furious red as he yelled.

The juniors watched with mixed feelings. Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, and Ouyang Zizhen were torn between defending their Senior Wei and their families. Wei Ying's eyes met theirs, understanding their conflict. It was a pity that the younger generation was more sensible and open-minded than their elders.

"How could you do that to Hanguang-jun, you vile, insane man?" shouted one of the Lan disciples.

"You deserve nothing but death!" Sect Leader Yao's voice rang out.

"Demon!"

"Son of a servant!"

"Shame to him and his parents!"

"Disgraceful brat!"

"Shameless!"

"Murderer!"

"Kill him!"

"This is what happens when you take up the heretic path!" Sect Leader Ouyang declared.

"What do you expect from Cangse's son?"

"Just like his mother!"

"The son of a whore!"

"Demonic cultivator!"

"Wei Wuxian, how dare you try to hurt my beloved nephews!"

"Wei Wuxian, you vile man! You have polluted not only my sect but the Lan sect. You killed my parents, my sister, and my brother-in-law, leaving Jin Ling an orphan. You truly deserve nothing but death. Be grateful that Jin Guangyao convinced us this was a better punishment than death!"

"Wanyin, calm down. Allow me to deal with this vile man. Wei Wuxian, I will never forgive what you have done to Wangji for thirteen years! I guarantee that he no longer has feelings for you. You are the reason for my brother's suffering, his only mistake!" Lan Zhan's voice was cold and unyielding.

Lan Zhan approached Wei Ying, and the crowd anticipated that the Second Jade would punish the Yiling Laozu horribly.

SLASH!

Wei Ying's eyes widened as his hair was forcibly cut off in front of everyone. This was a fate worse than death, a profound humiliation.

"Lan Zhan, how could you? You've cut my hair... why?" Wei Ying's voice broke.

"Leave and never come back. I never want to see your face again. You're not worth my time. I regret loving and waiting for you all these years. You disgust me! I can't believe I had feelings for someone as vile, treacherous, and shameless as you! We have no connection to each other. If I ever see your face again, I will kill you without mercy. Be gone from my sight, you lowly demonic cultivator!" Lan Zhan's voice was dark and angry.

Lan Zhan turned his back on Wei Ying, joining his brother and uncle. The juniors shed tears, feeling helpless as they watched their senior Wei. Wei Ying gave them a final, sad smile.

"Wei Wuxian, son of Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren, hereby announce that the four major sects – Gusu Lan, Yunmeng Jiang, Qinghe Nie, and Lanling Jin – request that you be banished from all their cities. You will be alone, with no support. This is your punishment: to be alone and miserable. Now get up, leave, and never come back, you demonic cultivator!" Jin Guangyao ordered harshly.

The Jin disciples forcefully made Wei Ying stand and unlocked his chains, the heavy thud echoing in the room. Everyone, except the juniors, turned their backs on him. Wei Ying gave the juniors a final, understanding look.

"I'll leave and never come back if that's what you all wish. But remember, even if you want me back, I will never forget this, and I will never come back!" Wei Ying's voice was cold, emotionless.

He walked out of the hall, out of that place, heading to the one place he knew someone had been waiting for him. He promised never to return. Wen Ning appeared halfway up a mountain and helped him. Together, they left everything behind, embracing the new part of their lives as they walked toward the Celestial Mountain.

Back in the hall, the juniors ran away, crying. They had lost the person who treated them like his own children, the one who accepted them for who they were, who protected them without asking for anything in return. Their Mother Wei Ying was now completely gone from their lives.
B

ack in the hall the juniors all left and run away crying and feeling helpless as they just lost the person who treats them like his own son, the person who accepted him from who they are. The person who's been protecting them without asking for anything in return. Their Mother Wei Ying is now completely gone out of their lives.

Rewritten and Revised Version
July 19, 2024