Grey Scale

My Name Is...

"What the hell?!"

The counfused family shouted. Wei Wuxian covered his ears, aiya... why do they have to be so loud? Is this the afterlife or not?

"W-what do you mean hell? What are you? Dead?"

"Heh."

He slowly released his hands from his ears. Internally laughing, he turned straight to the family.

"I'm supposed to be."

Huh..? WAIT WHAT?

*****

The family stood there shocked, panicking, questions shot through the room. The inquiry turning into an inaudible mess.

"This the past then. So I am Wei Wuxian, from the future."

There was a moment of silence, everyone there questioning what life has brought to them.

He really took our sect's motto to heart! 'Attempt the impossible!'

The long silence was interupted by a booming Madame Yu.

"Is that so? Then why are you here? Where is your golden core?" Madame Yu said, twirling her purple ring on her finger. Cold killing intent clearly seen.

Wei Wuxian kept quiet, I can't tell her I gave my core away, I can't allow Jiang Cheng to blame himself. I won't allow my past self to blame himself for Shi- Yanli's death.

"I can not answer that." Keeping his head down.

"It was Wen Zhuliu wasn't it!"

Silence.

Madame Yu heft, frustratingly leaving the room, giving a scowl towards Wei Wuxian before walking out. He stared  at the rest of them with a sorrowful face, in silence, they stared back at him with confusion. Until the silence was once again broken by a low growl.

They looked at the elder Wei Wuxian, to see that the source of the sound was him.

"Ah. I didn't eat anything for those last few weeks didn't I?"

*****

Jiang Yanli scattered to make a batch of Lotus root and pork rib soup. They shoved Wei Wuxian onto a seat in the dining hall. After the soup was done, Jiang Yanli put the soup in front of the elder, watching intensely, to make sure he ate it all.

Heh. Qing-jie used to do this after I would starve myself in the Demon-Slaughtering Cave. Ah, Qing-jie. I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you and the rest of the Wen remnants. Even A-Yuan suffered from those bastard Jins. I miss you everyday, I should have been the one to sacrifice myself, I'm so sorry.

Remembering of those times when he was truly happy, surrounded with love and comfort from those he called family.

This pierced his heart, the agony too great.

Wei Ying's eyes glossed. Tears welled up, he held his head high, trying to contain the tears. The family in front of him silently watch an elder version  of Wei Wuxian, the supposed to be bright, always smiling, devil incarnate, cry.

What the hell happened to him?

Quickly wiping away his tears, he stared at the bowl. Then he raised his hands, lightly slapping his face. Wei Wuxian turned to the audience looking at him, cold, and blank with trama. Looking down at the bowl of soup, he took a bite. Nostalgia filled his senses, making him shed tears once more.

Spoonful after spoonful, the bowl of soup was emptied into Wei Wuxian's stomach, the family was ready for more questions.

Most question were left unanswered, but they do know that he was extremely miserable. Although they don't know what exactly the misery was that he had gone through.

"Okay, so you were supposed to die, but came here, and sometime before that, you lost your core?" The younger  Wei Ying said.

Wei Wuxian nodded, I can't let them know what type of sins Wei Ying will make in the near future, not yet. "You learned how to play the flute. If that is any good news."

Wei Ying got up, "Is that why you were holding that cool black flute so tightly?" He said in a delighted tone.

Alarmed, Wei Wuxian look at his past self. "A black flute? Chenqing was able to travel back in time as well?"

Jiang Fengmian walked foward to Wei Wuxian, "Yes. Is this flute Chenqing?" He held out a black flute, hanging from it was a red tassel, intricate carvings were scattered across the surface, it was a flute of magnificent quality.

Wei Wuxian reached over to take it. Holding the black flute in his hands, he traced over the small carvings with his slim fingers. Smiling fondly at how much the flute had been through.

All those times A-Yuan would ruin Chenqing from gnawing on it constantly.

"What is going on currently? I will be able to see how far I went back."

Wei Ying thought about it, then replied with a cheery voice, "Jiang Cheng and I are going to the Gusu for studies soon!"

Ah. It's that time, Lan Zhan, I will see him won't I? You kept on insisting on bringing me back Gusu, maybe I should've gone back. It's better to get punished than what happened at Nevernight.

"I will go with you."

Jiang Fengmian was reluctant, but soon agreed. Wei Ying might do something unsightly, having his future self there could avoid that.

"But first there's something we need to consider. Who are you to the Jiang family, and what is your name going be?"

Wei Wuxian contemplated.

"My name is..."

_______

Welcome to the universe of universes my child, Lali here!

So if you hadn't noticed, the future Wei Wuxian is narrated as his courtesy name, and the past Wei Wuxian is narrated through their birth name, Wei Ying. It was mainly to avoid confusion between the two, and since courtesy names are given to indicate someone has reached their coming of age/when they have matured. The elder, more mature Wei Wuxian was to have the courtesy name, and the younger, less experienced is to be called by his birth name. Past Wei Ying will now be called Wei Wuxian occasionally since the future Wei Wuxian will go by a different name, but they are still the same person! Please say if this make sense, whoever reads this.

And goodbye good children! See you in the next chapter!