Everlasting Myth

Chapter 25

~*Still Wei Wuxian's POV*~

When we went to the burial mounds to drop the shards off there, we just decided to fly over and destroy them all together and let the dust and shards crumble to the ground below. With Jingyi, Sizhui, Jin Ling, Xichen-Ge, Lan Zhan, and me, it was enough energy between us all to destroy them all, even that blasted sword. The only shard that was left was the one in Wen Ruohan's hands. Now we had the ambushes, the indoctrination, and the rest of the goddamn war to deal with.

Something that confused me a little bit was how Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan are now alive back in Sizhui's original timeline. Does me leaving change things for the Jiang Sect that much? Does it impact the Lan Sect instead? I began to get worried that, that was the case. It was the middle of the night and we were all staying at an inn in Yiling after destroying the Yin Shards. I made the decision to quietly leave the inn, alone and disappear. I feared that I would implicate the Lan Sect, burden them with a huge impact of bodies that piled so high that it would be easy to see the bodies from Caiyi Town nearby Cloud Recesses.

I did not know how to hide though. I realized that I was someone that many people would actually recognize just by my face alone. I know this is the dumbest thing I could ever possibly do, but I thought maybe I should go straight to Qishan. Would it be a bad idea to be right under Wen Ruohan's nose?

There was a shake just bordering Qishan, so I stayed there. I found new clothes, which were not my usual black and red or my Gusu Lan robes. They were a muted brown color, to maybe even some grays. I had my red ribbon tied on my left wrist so it did not give me away, and I had a brown ribbon to replace it in my hair. I also found a gray stone like mask that will be able to help hide my face. I could play off as if I had a hideous scar on my face or something.

It was already painful to be away from Lan Zhan, but I didn't want to let his family suffer because of me. My paranoia and anxiety is driving a wedge between my life with Lan Zhan and the world that could potentially lead to ultimate loss. I know it was wrong to just leave but can anyone blame me for being scared? Can anyone fault me for wondering if my life is what ruins so many other lives? I grew up believing that I was just that, and I guess habits are hard to break.

The shack I stayed in had a decent plot of land, so I used that land to start a small garden. I grew vegetables that were quick to grow first before I grew any more vegetables that took longer to grow. I also planted medical herbs and sold those to nearby healers and infirmaries. If they needed a certain herb, chances are, I had it. I lived this way for a good few months. I saw Lan disciples pass by every now and then and they were asking around about me, showing a drawing me of around asking if they saw me. Many of course, said no as I always hid my face. I was even asked and shook my head no. I pretended I was unable to talk, and it worked.

What broke my heart was me hearing a Lan disciple say that Lan Zhan hasn't eaten properly since I disappeared. He has been searching for me nonstop and has had little to no sleep. He even went as far as passing out in exhaustion a few times as he kept searching without rest. I know this is wrong and everyone will just lash out and yell at me if they ever found me. I do not think they would listen to my reasons for running away. I did not want Lan Zhan to continue suffering but I did not know if I should go back as I felt that I was just a curse to everyone around me.

One particular afternoon, it was very warm outside and even just tending to my daily routine activities were a challenge. As I was weeding my garden, I saw from the corner of my eyes someone collapse just outside my front gate. I quickly put my mask on and went over to the person to check on them. I was so shocked to find out that it was Lan Zhan himself. Feeling his forehead, he must have passed out from heatstroke and lack of water and maybe even food.

I managed to carry him inside to my house and lay him on my bed. I removed his outer robes and left him in his tunic and pants. I then went out to my well and got some water to help cool him down. I took a cloth and started to pay his forehead. I did what I could to avoid touching his forehead ribbon. I had food and water prepared for him for when he wakes, I just put a talisman on it to keep the food fresh. It took a good few minutes before Lan Zhan came too.

He looked at me and seemed a bit shocked that a stranger was touching him. I waved my hands pretending that I could not speak, and hoping that he understood I meant him no harm. He started to calm down as I took a couple steps away from him. I then actually bump into my sword stand which had my recognizable sword and flute in it, and knocked it over. Lan Zhan sat up fast and looked at the two weapons in shock before looking back at me.

"Wei Ying?" He asked. I shook my head and took a few more steps back, "I know it's you because I recognize that sword. Why are you hiding from me? Why did you leave like that? Why?!"

I jumped as he raised his voice at me. I looked down at the floor and remained silent as I felt more closed up if I get yelled at. Lan Zhan must have figured it out and tried to approach me again, "Wei Ying, please, it's just us. Whatever it is that scared you into leaving, please tell me. We will work this out."

I started to cry and shook my head, "you do not understand," I began, "if I stay by your side, you could potentially lose everything. I am a curse, Lan Zhan! Thinking about everything, Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan are alive in Sizhui's original timeline, which means me not living in the Jiang Sect changed their fate. It could also mean it changes yours and I could be the fall of the Lan Sect instead. That is why I left. I cannot be the reason everyone gets hurt or killed. I just can't!"

"Wei Ying, they may be alive again, but if they are alive, something might have also altered us or the boys if that were true. You do not know that the Lan Sect will fall. It isn't on you for that and no one will blame you for being scared. That life, should be ignored for now and you and I should just live with what we have now. If you fear that the Lan Sect will fall, we will talk about it with everyone. You are not alone anymore Wei Ying," Lan Zhan told me.

"I cannot go back now because I know all that will happen is I will get yelled at and reprimanded. I close up if I am yelled at. No one will want to listen to why I left," I told him.

"Yes they will, I have been going crazy looking for you, Xiongzhang, A'Yuan, Fuqin, Shufu, everyone wants to understand what happened. I cannot lose you Wei Ying. I love you more than anything and I will always love you. You should know that as your new family, we will never abandon you like the Jiang's did. You have to know that."

I removed the mask from my face and nearly crumbled to the floor. Lan Zhan came over to me quickly and caught me before I hit the floor. He held me as I tried to calm myself down, "I am so sorry. I just got scared," I said, "I am so scared."

"I know," Lan Zhan said holding me tighter, "and I will do what I can to help you ease your fears. I am here. We can take a couple days before heading home. I want to give you a moment to collect yourself. I could use some alone time with you too."

I nodded and pointed to the table, "there is fresh food and water prepared for you. I have heard rumors that you haven't been eating properly. Also checking you over, you had a bit of heatstroke and were a bit dehydrated and lacked some nutrition. The food and water will help," I told him.

"Thank you," he said. I sat with him as he ate and we decided to talk more after he was done eating.