What if dying in the Burial Mounds wasn't the end? What if fate pulls on the strings of reality and gives Wei Wuxian infinite chances at life? If this was truly the case, how would Wei Wuxian spend those lives?
Welcome back! Another back-to-back update. I'm on a roll. There's nothing more to say I guess. Also, thanks to the 20 people who read my book. I am 0.00000025% percent done with my plan to dominate the world. Enjoy the update.
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A raging inferno consumed everything in its path, engulfing the surroundings in a flutter of flames that seemed to devour all it touched. At least, that's what Wei Wuxian was experiencing. In truth, there had been no fire. The warmth of the sun beat down on his back, causing the illusion of flames.
The scorching heat seared through the air, making every breath an agony for Wei Wuxian. With each step he took, his lungs weighed down heavily, as if threatening to collapse in on themselves. His weary limbs screamed for haitus, aching and sore from the relentless journey. A numbness coursed through his body, his senses dulled by exhaustion, his every fiber fixated on the desperate yearning for oblivion.
But it was not just physical exhaustion that burdened Wei Wuxian; it was the weight of unbearable guilt that bore down on him, pressing him to confront the truth and not cower away, hidding in his own wall of defences he made for the sake of his own sanity. He couldn't bear the thought of living with the burden—the burden of his shijie's untimely demise, the burden of his own apparent demise, and the burden of losing his very identity.
Suffocation and pain had become his constant companions, an inescapable reality. Yet, in this moment, it felt like nothing compared to the complications he had endured in the Burial Mounds. With his golden core and newfound motivation, the pain he experienced now paled in comparison to the depths of his past struggles.
Ascending the treacherous mountain path, fatigue seeped into his bones, threatening to shake him to his very core. His vision distorted, warping everything into incomprehensible figures that fed his nightmares, adding to the torment of his journey.
To Wei Wuxian's dismay, his prolonged lack of proper rest had an unforeseen impact on his senses. The once melodious tunes of distant birds now twisted into eerie wails, devoid of any emotion, carrying an unmistakable aura of violence and longing. These haunting cries seemed to call out his name, tempting him to succumb to their lure.
"Wei Wuxian," a cryptic voice taunted, its tone dripping with mockery. "You're feeble. Join us. Long for revenge against those who wronged you? Crave the elusive peace you seek? Embrace demonic cultivation once more, and we will be your allies." Accompanied by maniacal laughter, the other voices joined in, intensifying the torment that echoed within his mind.
Wei Wuxian was well aware that all of this was happening within the depths of his own thoughts, but he couldn't help but desperately block his ears, as if by silencing the external voices, he could silence the haunting thoughts that plagued him. "Shut up," he muttered with desperation, tightening his fists around his ears, seeking solace in the futile act.
After what felt like an eternity of heart-wrenching struggle, a subtle shift in the spiritual energy within the atmosphere caught Wei Wuxian's attention. As he pushed himself to the limits of his endurance, the sky above transformed, painted with vivid hues of oranges and pinks, signaling the approaching dawn. Wei Wuxian could sense that Gusu was near, the spiritual energy growing stronger with each passing moment.
A weary smile tugged at the edge of his lips, a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to consume him.
Finally, the elegant stone entrance of the Cloud Recesses came into view, standing as a beacon of respite for Wei Wuxian. Summoning the remnants of his spiritual energy from his core, he formed a streaking orb of light at his fingertips. Tracing a familiar talisman onto the forcefield that guarded the sect, a rush of nostalgia flooded his senses, reminding him of the solace he had once found within these walls. His core pulsed reassuringly in his stomach, a reminder of the strength that still resided within him. With one last surge of spiritual energy, the forcefield yielded, granting Wei Wuxian passage, and the burdened boy having finally reached his destination.
Entering the Cloud Recesses was not a conquest to Wei Wuxian, though he had breached its defenses. He knew the elders would soon discover the breach, prompting them to search for the intruder. But such concerns held little weight for him now. If he truly was dead, if his existence meant nothing in the grand scheme of things, then his actions and their consequences were inconsequential. In this moment, all that mattered was the sliver of hope he had found, the chance to seek solace and perhaps uncover the truth that had eluded him for so long
By the time he actually reached the main area of the Cloud Recesses, his heart stopped in his chest.
Lan Wangji was there, kneeling in the ground, back ripped open from a dozen whip marks.
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Ooh, things are finally getting interesting. What will Wei Wuxian do after witnessing the whipping of Lan Wangji? (To clear up some confusion, Wei Wuxian still considered our beloved Hanguang-Jun to be an enemy and doesn't refer to him as Lan Zhan).
Comments and tips are appreciated as always. Goodbye for now.
