Backlash Part 1

Chapter 8: The Kitchen

Wen Qing was quietly sitting on the edge of Wen Qionglin's bed. She knew she should be waking him up and prompting him to get breakfast so he would not be late for class. Yet, Wen Qing couldn't bring herself to wake him just yet. She still vividly remembered finding him at Qiongqi Path. She remembered how cold it was. The pouring rain was washing the blood from her didi's frigid body. She remembered how it felt to hold his lifeless form in her arms. The sickening sound when she pulled the spirit lure flag from his chest. She suppressed a shiver as she took a deep steadying breath. That night had haunted her dreams.

That night Wei Wuxian transformed him into a ferocious corpse so that Wen Qionglin could punish the people who did that to him. That night Wei Wuxian had gone far beyond what she had asked of him. He didn't stop at trying to save her didi. He didn't stop at claiming his corpse when they found him dead. Wei Wuxian had freed every member of her family still alive in that labor camp. He took them away from the so called righteous sects that had abused them and brought them away to the Burial Mounds. At the time they were all frightened. They had been beaten and abused endlessly. They had watched everyday as people they loved were beaten to death by their captors. Wen Qing herself was in such a state over Wen Qionglin that she hardly processed where they were.

It wasn't until a few days later that she understood what the Burial Mounds was to Wei Wuxian. He was reluctant to talk about it. He only ever said a few sentences about the three months he spent there during the war. Over time she pieced together how much damage that place had done to him. He had returned to a place that had terrorized him. Even if it was different now. Even if he was stronger, and no longer alone. He was still surrounded by the scenery that had been the backdrop to some of the most horrific moments of his life. Wei Wuxian was uncommonly resilient. He had been badly traumatized by his experiences. He was jumpy. Easily frightened by loud noises and unexpected touch. He had horrific nightmares that made him dread trying to sleep. He still kept going. He still continued to attempt to trust. He put his whole heart into helping those he cared for. He did what no one believed could be done when he restored Wen Qionglin's consciousness. He brought Wen Qionglin back to her.

She could never put into words how grateful she was. It meant everything to have Wen Qionglin back, but she could never forget what had been done to him. Every rigid movement of his body illustrated the change. He'd sit awkwardly at every meal. It highlighted that he was different now. He no longer ate or slept. He didn't even need to breathe. Since waking up in Cloud Recesses yesterday, she found herself occasionally staring at Wen Qionglin. Like how she was staring at him now. Watching him sleep is what really made her believe that she had come back to the past. There was time. There was time to try and protect them.

'A-Ning and A-Ying. We'll find a way to protect you both this time.' With a sigh she gently nudged Wen Qionglin awake. He was much easier to wake up than Wei Wuxian. Even when Wei Wuxian didn't have nightmares it was a challenge. Sometimes you would think you had woken him up, only to find he had been answering you in his sleep. The next second he'd be sleeping deeply once more as though nothing had happened. Trying to keep him on a regular sleep schedule had been an impossible task. If she had had the resources she could have made medicine to help him fall asleep. Unfortunately Burial Mounds had few medicinal plants, and even if they had tried to plant some many of them wouldn't have been able to survive in the poor soil. Their money was limited. They were barely able to feed themselves, let alone by medicine to help him sleep.

"Jie?" Wen Qionglin's voice snapped Wen Qing out of her thoughts. His innocent eyes looked at her, glistening with questions. She smiled reassuringly at him. She knew he was worried about her. Ever since he found her unconscious yesterday he had been looking at her anxiously. He didn't pester her for questions, but the concern never left his eyes.