Beyond The Mud [MDZs]

Chapter 7

Hanguang-jun, ran!
He ran away. He ran and didn't look back. He was too afraid to look back - to look at the person who wasn't his Wei Ying anymore.  If he looked a while longer, the truth would be hard on him. He ran so fast that he lost sight of this track, he bumped into a sturdy figure.

"ARE YOU BLIN-"

Jiang Cheng bit his own tongue seeing the ever so elegant Jade of Lan.
Hair disheveled, dirt on his face and his robes ripped from places.
He never knew the wooden board was capable of such display.

The only time , he had seen Lan Wangji in any extreme state was because of Wei Wuxian.

Ah!

"You met him?"

Lan Wangji looked straight into the eyes of Sandu. That intense stare was looking deep into his soul. Jiang Cheng had the same eyes as Wei Ying - dark with tint of lotus.
Just yesterday he wouldn't like those eyes but today, those eyes were the closest thing to Wei Ying and the golden core... 
It was there too. Jiang Cheng had more of Wei Wuxian with him than Lan Wangji. Suddenly he felt so small.

Tears rolled from his (LWJ) eyes.

Jiang Cheng lost his marbles.

What the actual fuck!?

"W-Wei Wuxian is too stubborn to die." half panicked, half shocked Jiang Cheng (fail) attempted to comfort Hanguang-Jun.

Lan Wangji crashed on his knees, he broke into loud sobs.

Jiang Cheng felt that! Like the broken string of zither, all it could do was highlight his misery. The memories of the past barged in through the darkest corner of his mind.

Lotus Pier.

A-Jie.

Wei Wuxian.

Each death took some part of him with them. Every person he ever loved, left him. Those years of loneliness filled the void through aggression. He pushed everyone away fearing that he might loose them if he got too close.

He was too afraid to love.

Jiang Cheng scrunched down facing the crying jade. He made sure no one would see them to save him (LWJ) some face. He was sure that Lan Wangji didn't care about his reputation since he had married a guy.

He didn't say a thing, he lift a hand to comfort the crying man but then retracted it, feeling out of place.

Lan Xichen spectated the whole event. He knew Lan Wangji had to face the truth.
After they woke up, Lan Xichen asked for Wangji and Wei Gongzi immediately. When he found out that the person who came out of the light wasn't his brother in law, his heart saddened for Wangji. He knew Wangji would break. terribly.

Lan Xichen went to his little brother. He hugged him (LWJ) tight, he buried his (LWJ) face into his embrace. With his eyes, he (LXC) thanked Sect Leader Jiang.

Jiang Cheng lowered his eyes in response and left them two alone. After crossing some distance he turned back to look at the two brothers.

Wei Wuxian.

When Jiang Cheng woke up ,he involuntarily checked on Wei Wuxian. He had grown up beside a brother who brought a lot of trouble. it was his habit to check on him knowing how reckless his brother was and years later, that habit didn't die. It was replaced by Jin Ling but it didn't die.

         . . .

[Flashback: when JC woke up]

"Wei Wuxian! You never stop bringing trouble! At least leave some face to Zewu-Jun!"
Jiang Cheng roared as he sighted the man in Black painting on a fan.
Wait what?

The black figure turned around and awkwardly smiled,
" Um.. hello there, sect leader Jiang"

"What are you trying to pull Wei Wuxian?" As soon as Jiang Cheng pulled the younger man by collar, he dropped him.

"W-who are you?" With eyes so wide and mind so full, he inquired.

"Ouch! ah!! I'm sorry I'm sorry."
The younger man looked so fragile, so innocent and so unfamiliar.

"...I'm Mo Xuyanu...You see.. I'm the owner of this body."

Jiang Cheng froze. His heart who he thought could not be fazed anymore, stung.

"Where is Wei Wuxian?!" Jiang Cheng demanded with authority.

"Yiling Patriarch sent me here."

He what??

"Where is Wei Wuxian?!" Jiang Cheng asked again ,this time in fury.

"He's probably back in ... there."
Mo Xuyanu gulped.

Jiang Cheng realized he wouldn't get straight answers from this...this shell of his brother? If Jiang Cheng had to choose, he would prefer the previous body for his brother. But it was better than dying.

But this person, he was once alive too! He had his own life too!

This person gave his body for his brother's soul, he has every right to it. But if this person decided not to go back from wherever he came from then Wei Wuxian...

Jiang Cheng's own thoughts hit him like Zidian, even scars from Zidian would heal.

Just to make sure one last time, Jiang Cheng raised his hand to touch the rosy pink cheeks of the man, who in defense closed his eyes.
It was reflex of a person who would get hurt very often. Was he beaten before?

The moment Jiang Cheng's hand touched the man, the realization hit him with like the rush of water hitting the shore.

It was not the core of his brother.

                                                                                        . . .

"Huaisang! Where is Wei Wuxian?!"

Jiang Cheng didn't waste a single moment to seek the truth. He wasn't talking as a sect leader to the other. But as a friend to another friend.

"I don't know."

Why did he even bother?

"...where is my brother?"

There was more than what Nie Huaisang let on.Surely for the old time sake even Nie Huaisang would be worried about Wei Wuxian. How did he even convince Wei Wuxian to open the freaking Heavens Gate? What did they really talk about?

Nie Huaisang bit his lips and looked down with eyes slightly wet.

Somebody tell me too, where is my brother?

Nie Huaisang wanted to scream, is my pain not worth mentioning? Am I really that useless of a leader that my wishes are ignored? Do I not deserve some warmth after decade of cold tears?

"Jiang-Xiong, if you bring me back my brother, I will bring you back your brother."

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Sorry for grammatical errors and thank you for reading.