Perseverance (Wangxian)

Chapter 32 - Story of the Golden Core

"Just take your time, Wei Ying," Lan Zhan reassured him, "after Lotus Pier."

"Jiang Cheng and I eventually went back to the Pier to see if anyone was alive. Nobody was. All of them were dead. It was when we saw Wang Lingjiao standing over Madam Yu and Jiang Fengmian's bodies that we left. I chased after Cheng because he was of course upset, why wouldn't he be. I was upset as well. I lost my parents so I knew how it felt, but when he turn to me he nearly choked me to death. He asked me why I had to save you and risk his family. He let me go and he just turned away from me.

"I blamed myself. I kept thinking back on things. Things I could have done differently or not done at all. I even went back to that day on the streets thinking about why Jiang Fengmian took me in. There were more days where I felt unwelcome in Lotus Pier then I felt it to be a home. Since Madam Yu and Jiang Fengmian died, that guilt was just weighing me down. I ended having to be the one to tell Shijie. We found an inn to hide in, Jiang Cheng was so depressed he didn't even listen when I spoke. He just stared into space.

"Shijie got sick with a fever for being out in the rain for so long. I told Cheng to stay and look after her while I went to go get fresh medicine and food, but when I got back, Jiang Cheng was gone. I knew he went back to Lotus Pier. I felt either he stepped out for a moment and got caught or he went back for revenge."

Wei Ying stopped for a minute to take a couple breaths and recompose himself. Lan Zhan moved over by him to help comfort him if he needed it. So basically he and Xichen switched seats so he was sitting closer to Wei Ying.

"I told Shijie to stay at the inn where she'd be safe, and I went to go find Jiang Cheng. I managed to get him out of Lotus Pier with Wen Ning's help. He to Shijie, Cheng, and me to a secret supervisory post that only he and his sister Wen Qing stayed at. Wen Qing followed orders from Wen Ruohan to try and protect her brother. Part of his soul was consumed by the fair statue at Dafan. He kept threatening his life in front of her to get what he wanted, which was the Yin Iron. So at some point she found a place to hide her family that was a branch of the Wen Sect.

"Those people not cultivators other than Wen Qing and Wen Ning. Otherwise they were all healers, farmers, elders, women, and children...one of those children would be now known as Lan Sizhui..."

"Wait," Xichen chimed in, "I new he was a Wen but he was a child at the time. Are you telling me, all of those Wens you tried to save were his family? They were all innocent people? Not cultivators, soldiers, anything like that?"

Wei Ying shook his head, "I'm not sure how they got under Jin Guangshan's control but once they were, they were named evil and anyone who bared the name Wen, would die...I'm sure you didn't know innocent people like healers, farmers, elders, and children were those People. Wen Qing was burned alive for them and they still died."

Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen closed there eyes and trying to calm themselves before getting angry at themselves. They had a right to be but right now, they needed to focus more on Wei Wuxian.

"Anyway, we can go back to that later," Wei Ying said, "Wen Qing had excellent medical skills, so she helped my sister with her fever, and she found out that Jiang Cheng's core was gone. I spent several days and nights to see if I could find something in the medical books. I found her scroll that was only a written theory. It was on performing a core transfer. I lied by convincing Jiang Cheng I was taking him to a mountain where I believe Baoshan was located...as my mother was a disciple of hers. He took the bait.

"I tied a blind fold over his eyes and left him. Wen Qing had him inhale a fragrance to cause him to pass out. She told me the risks of going through the transfer..." Wei Ying stopped and looked at Lan Zhan.

"I heard Wen Ning talk about it when he told your brother," Lan Zhan said, "so it's alright, take your time."

Wei Ying sighed, "I couldn't use anesthetics, as it could cause the core to dissipate. So I remained away the whole time."

"How long?" Xichen asked when Wei Ying stopped talking again.

"Two nights and a day...fifty percent chance," Wei Ying explained, "I told her I wouldn't regret it even if it was wasted. I would have been satisfied with at least trying. Jiang Cheng cares too much about gains and losses, and strives to become stronger and a better cultivator. Wen Qing asked me if I was okay with letting all of that go...

"I told her, I'd Jiang Fengmian hadn't found me on the streets, I wouldn't have a core. I considered it a blessing to have it. I felt like I owed them, so I gave it up for Jiang Cheng. He couldn't lead the sect without a core. I didn't want the duty and Shijie would be married into the Jin Sect, so it was the only option. The only thing I really miss was using my sword."

"Which is why you got so depressed and angry when it locked on you," Xichen continued.

Wuxian nodded. He needed a moment to compose himself because the next part he would be talking about is his time in the mounds. That was his worst nightmare. He was in hell, and he was there for three months. He was then back there when he tried to protect the Wens.

"You have a new core now, and I want you to take care of this one," Lan Qiren told him, "that boy, the way he has treated you, even if he didn't know, and now that he does know, he is was ungrateful. This core, was given to you. It's saying you have a new chance to be a cultivator again. I know that even if you didn't go to Lotus Pier, that core would have still formed. You just wouldn't have known how to deal with it or cultivate it properly. You are a good cultivator, Wei Wuxian. When people said you were ranked fourth, you very well deserve it. You and Wangji are very well matched."

"Oh, I look forward to sparring with Lan Zhan again when I am strong enough. He has been sitting idle for too long," Wei Ying chimed looking at him.

"I am also looking forward to it," Lan Zhan agreed, "you have to get the rest of the resentful energy out of you first, and then unseal your spiritual passage ways."

"I know," Wei Ying said with a pout.

"Don't pout," Lan Zhan said poking his lip.

Wei Ying nudged his head away, "I'm not," he said.

"Lying is forbidden Wei Wuxian," Lan Qiren chimed in.

Wei Ying sighed while hanging his head back, "Lans!" He said sitting up properly again, "can't live with them, can't live without them."