Time Reversal

7. Moving Forward, Part 1

It took seven attempts to escape the Xuanwu of Slaughter's cave. Su Minshan? I hope you die a painful death.

Seven attempts that finally culminated in Jiang Wanyin finding the water's exit from the cave and successfully leading almost everyone out through it. He had tried to distract the Xuanwu, and in doing so had been grabbed by the beast. Wei Ying, the idiot, instead of escaping with his shidi, insisted on staying behind and saving him from being eaten. He was grateful, of course, not only for his life, but also because being eaten would mean he wouldn't be alive to save Wei Wuxian from his next death. They had managed to kill the beast, but once again the underground lake's water got into the burn wound and Wei Ying fell ill with fever again. Or maybe it was the same fever.

He looked down at Wei Ying's elbow to see a bite mark shining faintly in the firelight. A man should have scars? How do you like that one? If only your jindan wouldn't heal it like it won't heal the burn. You would have a bite mark to remember saving me for the rest of your very long life. A life he hoped to spend together.

They could at the very least become good friends, maybe, and go night hunting together. Roam the jianghu as cultivation partners, even if they were nothing more than friends. He frowned inside his head. And then Wei Ying will return to Lianhua Wu to rest for a bit and visit his wife and children. It was a sobering thought; one that made him want to scream in frustration. Do you flirt with everyone even moderately good looking? He'd seen Wei Ying flirting with female cultivators, male shopkeepers, female fruit sellers, and, of course, himself. The man had no sense of propriety.

And no sense of self-preservation.

You are important.... Do you know that? Do you know how much your shijie loves you? Do you know that Jiang Wanyin loves you almost as much as he resents you? Yes, he is overly obsessed with the son of his father's servant being considered better than him in any manner. Even over something silly as being fifth instead of fourth in the list of handsome young cultivators. It's ridiculous. You can't help how you look. Or that women find you handsome.

Or that I find you utterly alluring.

The ability to develop one's jindan does not depend upon one's father's occupation. It depends on one's self and the opportunity to meditate and cultivate it. Being the son of a sect leader does not imbue us with special advantages other than the opportunities that, say, a shopkeeper's son would not have. Just as the fact that Wei Ying is a genius is not dependent upon his mother's status of disciple to an immortal. It is simply a talent he was born with.

Like his incessant flirting.

But... my journal speaks of a remorseful Jiang Wanyin when we're all imprisoned in the Buyetian Cheng dungeons. I wrote of a man who missed his shige. Who wished his gege hadn't died. It reads like Jiang Wanyin's feelings were genuine.

I suppose it's possible to resent someone for being 'better' while they're alive and then the jealousy fading with time, bringing out the fond memories more than the bitter moments. But wouldn't that mean the caring had to exist at the same time as the dislike?

I don't know.

All I know is you're dying right in front of me. I can't heal your fever; I don't have the spiritual energy to do more than keep myself alive at the moment.

They escaped the cave a week ago. That should be enough time to get to Lianhua Wu or Jinlin Tai and start the return journey. Another day or two and we should be freed from this place.

I promise... I will send the journal back before I allow you to die, Wei Ying.

~*~