Beloved Beyond the End

Part 11

Weiying was acutely aware that his punishment would be difficult, but the severity and cruelty of it were unexpected. He had learned to survive on the streets alone, so he consoled himself with the thought that he could endure this too. Outwardly cheerful, he was broken inside, always living on hope—hope for acceptance from Madam Yu, hope that Jiang Cheng would understand he wasn’t someone to be jealous of. Deep down, he knew Jiang Cheng loved him; it was just hard for him to express that brotherly affection.

The only person who truly understood him was Jiang Yanli. She treated him with kindness, cooking delicious soups and comforting him when he was sad. To Weiying, she was more than a sister; she was a motherly figure who never judged him for his origins or body. Now, he felt a deep sense of responsibility to save her.

Accepting his punishment in silence, Weiying realized there would be no more medical supplies for his wounds. He would have to heal on his own—his wounds would not become infected, but the pain would linger. While the physical wounds could eventually heal, the wounds of his soul felt irreparable without Yanli by his side.

As time passed in seclusion, Weiying lost track of the outside world. He no longer cared about those who had disowned him; his only concern was for Yanli. Yet, another name lingered in his thoughts—Lan Wangji. At first, he couldn’t understand why Wangji occupied his mind so much, but eventually, he recognized it as something deeper: he was in love with Lan Wangji. It might have been one-sided, but perhaps it wasn’t entirely.

Meanwhile, Wangji struggled with his own feelings for Weiying. Though he tried to bury himself in sect work to keep those thoughts at bay, they still crept into his mind. Time seemed to move differently for them; while Weiying’s days dragged on in loneliness and despair, Wangji’s passed quickly as he immersed himself in responsibilities.

Weiying faced severe challenges in seclusion. With limited food and water, he often found himself dizzy and weak from hunger and thirst. The nights were particularly tormenting—nightmares plagued him, leaving him drenched in sweat and tears as he curled up alone in the dark. He had no one to comfort him or quench his thirst, and the tasteless food barely sustained him.

In three months, he lost over 28 pounds; his body grew frail and fragile under the harsh conditions. Yet despite everything, thoughts of Lan Wangji filled his mind—his face became a beacon of warmth amid the loneliness.

As for Wangji, he remained busy with sect duties but often found himself drifting back to thoughts of Weiying during quiet moments. He wished desperately for a way to reach out and help him but felt trapped by clan traditions and expectations.

Both men were caught in a web of unspoken emotions and unresolved feelings—one longing for connection while the other grappled with helplessness. The distance between them felt insurmountable, yet their hearts remained intertwined through shared pain and hope for understanding.