Fluffy WangXian Oneshots Book Two

Come Back To Gusu With Me Part 22

Jiang Cheng wakes slowly as awareness seeps into his body like a rapidly breaking dam flooding his senses. He can smell the sharp scent of ginger and turmeric right away, among other pungent odours assaulting his nose, and he quickly determines that he must be in an infirmary. His crusty eyes try to open, and then a warm, familiar voice says, “Here, A-Cheng, let me.”

Kind hands, these too, familiar in a way that his own mother's had never been, wipe his eyes with trustable care, and then he blinks up into the face of his older sister.

“A-Jie.” His throat hurts from disuse.

In fact, his whole body hurts, and his golden core–FUCK! It's not his, is it? Fucking Wei WuXian and his hero complex! That bastard had the gall to give him something he never ever asked for! The helpless anger hits him in waves of frustration because he never had a choice in the matter. Things were done to his body and it feels so invasive! A boundary that should never be crossed has been obliterated and he never even knew about it. That filthy lying gutterswipe! His father should have left him on the–

“A-Cheng.” This time, A-Jie sounds admonishing.

Jiang Cheng has to forcibly extract his attention from his thoughts and focus on her. When their same amethyst eyes meet, he sees a lot of regret and disappointment there. Then he wonders why, and that's what triggers the memory of why he must be here.

“A-Cheng, I need to apologise to you, too. I'm part of the reason why you are here. I can see from your eyes some of the thoughts that are running around in your head, and I need to tell you something important. Please try to focus, and please don't blame me further because I believe this is the only way forward. I am sorry I did not help to shape you into a better human being. I am sorry I did nothing to curb that trait in you which sees Wei WuXian as a scapegoat for all your troubles. We are going to stop using him like that.

“I have a plan, and this is what we're going to do. Zewu-Jun has assured me of Nie MingJue’s trustworthiness so I am going to enlist his help in assisting your recovery. While that happens, obviously Lotus Pier needs someone at the helm and so I will take over your job as acting Clan leader for now, until your return.

“Wen Daifu is observing your progress and she thinks a few more weeks of letting the core heal your injuries will work. She's been using her needles to put you in a healing coma. I have never heard of such a practice before, but the results are right here and indisputable.” Jiang YanLi bows. “That is all for now.”

Before Jiang Cheng can open his mouth again to protest, he feels three sharp pinpricks at the side of his neck and his eyes flutter closed against his will. The frightening numbness renders his body useless, icy fingertips caressing his skin in the creepiest way, made more so by his inability to actually see what was happening to him. The darkness surrounds him and then he gives in to it, letting everything go black.

*****************

Jiang YanLi thanks Zewu-Jun for his kindness in having members of the Lan Clan escort her back to Yunmeng. He's walking her back towards the Ivory Pillars with a dozen white robed Lan disciples behind them.

“The future is so uncertain, isn't it?” She suddenly blurts out. “When I first came here, I had no idea what was waiting for me. And now that I'm going back again, I have no idea what's waiting for me there.”

“But hopefully it will be a future made with your own two hands,” XiChen encourages her. “When we take responsibility for ourselves, the Universe sends help in many ways of silent support. Remember to trust in yourself. Whatever comes at you, if you stand up against it, it will falter.”

“But Zewu-Jun, I am not a strong enough cultivator. What if the thing coming at me is bigger or stronger than I am?”

“I asked Shufu the same question once, when he told me the same thing about accepting responsibility. He said that not everyone has a fiery personality or the strength to match that. But he also said it is the gentle wind that manages to disperse the clouds, while a strong wind is only able to mess them up; in the end, it is the gentle wind that succeeds because of its tenacity.” XiChen bows one last time when they reach the gates of the Cloud Recesses.