Backlash Part 1

Chapter 94: Reliving the Journey

Travelling to Qishan had been stressful. Lan Wangji had hoped Wei Wuxian would be relieved to be out of Lotus Pier. Lotus Pier itself was a stressor for Wei Wuxian. Too many memories of terrible things happening there made just existing more stressful.

Being away from Lotus Pier did seem to help at first. Unfortunately certain individuals were among their travelling companions. The disciples of the YunmengJiang sect were fine. They were sometimes a bit over eager to try and drag their Shixiong into conversations and activities, but Lan Wangji was able to deter them most of the time. Jiang Wanyin was another story.

The YunmengJiang sect heir was... something. If he was not sulking and ignoring Wei Wuxian then he was making nasty remarks and jabs. Hours of travel were filled with angry glares and sharp words that came in small semi-random bursts. Whether Jiang Wanyin was silent or speaking he was a constant source of stress for Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji could see the pain dimming Wei Wuxian's eyes as clear as the guilt causing Wei Wuxian's shoulders to hunch.

Worse was that there was nowhere to escape from it. Wei Wuxian had finally started removing himself from situations that were causing him distress. Now suddenly there was no way to remove himself. Wei Wuxian also found some of his favourite ways of calming down suddenly out of reach. There was no quiet space to get away when being around people started to become too much. Wei Wuxian couldn't just pick a clearing and practice his sword forms to let off steam. He couldn't pick up a story book or pick up a book about talismans to study.

Reading while riding a horse was not among Wei Wuxian's skills. Lan Wangji had not expected it to be, but apparently it was something Wei Wuxian had tried in the past with unpleasant results. All of these things had made the trip stressful, but the biggest issue came up on the first night they stopped at an inn.

"Sect Leader Jiang was not amicable to us sharing a room before marriage." Lan Wangji said slowly. Wen Qionglin tilted his head.

"Did you not share a room in Lotus Pier?" Wen Qionglin inquired.

"Only Jiang Yanli was aware that we had continued to share a room at Lotus Pier." Lan Wangji admitted. "Wei Ying did not wish to explain the reason." Lan Wangji did not wish to force Wei Wuxian to explain anything to the Jiangs that Wei Wuxian was not comfortable with. For one thing it was up to Wei Wuxian who he was comfortable being vulnerable with. For another, Lan Wangji was not convinced that knowing the reason would change the Jiangs' behaviour.

Jiang Yanli knew very little in terms of the details of what Wei Wuxian's difficulties were and why. Without knowing, she was still willing to offer support. Jiang Yanli did not ask why Wei Wuxian was not comfortable being crowded by the disciples. She only knew that Wei Wuxian was uncomfortable and did her best to distract them and allow him the space he needed.

"Did Xian-ge get any sleep during the trip?" Wen Qionglin asked with deepening concern.

"Mn. Wei Ying slept." Lan Wangji stated. Wen Qionglin tilted his head in confusion.

"Sect Leader Jiang wanted Wei Ying to share a room with Jiang Wanyin." Lan Wangji's eyes flashed with a small flare of anger at the memory.

"Have... Have they patched things up?" Wen Qionglin inquired. Lan Wangji shook his head.

"Jiang Wanyin does not accept responsibility for his actions." Lan Wangji said as his expression became cold with the Second Jade's restrained rage. "Expects Wei Ying to behave as before. Wei Ying stood his ground." Lan Wangji's expression cleared at the end. An obvious glimmer of pride in his eyes as he smiled fondly at the sleeping figure laying across his lap.