Grey Scale

The Pain, The Truth, The Longing

Wei Zhouhui

I only remember my past was pain. The pain of the dogs having at it with my bear legs, the pain of the whips from Zidian, the pain of watching my golden core extracted from my body, the pain of having my family killed by my own hands, the pain of being eaten away into nothing, the pain of hiding myself behind a mask all for those who couldn't care less.

The pain of living.

I was tired of living, but the world didn't allow me to die. Instead of dying, I was brought back so that my past self could grow up without the pain I had to suffer.

I hate it, it was unfair. Why do I have to go back to the hell hole of my past? I wanted to die so bad, but then I saw those two beautiful golden orbs. Although they weren't of the old youth of when he was sixteen, they shined of the warmth I yearned for since I dug myself into the deep hole I call my life.

I wanted climb out from that hole, and try to become friends with him like I did when I was sixteen. Treat him to lunch, talk about ourselves, then have a fun sword fight. Humorous that I want to pick my sword up, even after giving up that ability all those years ago.

But the pain stopped me from going further than that small embrace, he still hated my crooked ways.

Heh I suppose I should've felt it before, but the resentful energy had already manifested into my mind. Those voices must be the truth behind my fake smile I put up since I was young. The truth of my monstrosities, the truth of how life works for me.

The truth of my existence.

*****

Wei Zhouhui opened his eyes up to a bright light and piercing pain in his chest.

What deja vu.

Looking around, the surroundings were unfamiliar, yet a bit nostalgic at the same time. The atmoshpere felt of a feeling he had felt before, but he couldn't put a finger on it.

Zhouhui grabbed onto the bed, and pushed himself off.

The throbbing pain felt like thousands of burning hot needles, stabbing straight through his body. Clutching onto his chest, Wei Zhouhui stumbled out the room to access his current situation.

As he walked down a small hallway, Zhouhui heard small murmurs coming from the end.

Okay, unfamiliar house, throbbing pain, and people inside the house.

He snuck around the corner to peek at what was going on. One hand on the wall, one hand on his chest, he took a small glimpse at the other side of the hallway.

Not much could be heard, but the words 'resentful energy, manifest, and core,' was said.

There was a large table, sitting by it was a family, and a man in white.

Those dark, sisterly eyes, and the arrogant expression that also showed affection for the timid boy next to her. Around was a elderly woman, a few middle aged men and woman. As well as a young couple, the people surrounding the man in white all had facial structures that resembled each other in some way, and a warm atmosphere surrounded them.

Feeling this warm atmosphere, Wei Zhouhui dropped to his knees, causing a loud sound to reveal his position. But that didn't matter, tears were brought up into his eyes.

The elderly woman shot up to help Wei Zhouhui up, and the man in white, who was now revealed to be Lan Nianzu, just had a worried expression as he helped the elder.

"Wei Y-! Wei Zhouhui, you shouldn't have gotten up, you're injured."

Tears dripped from Zhouhui's face, and the elderly woman took out a small cloth to wipe away the tears.

"Why are you crying? Do you feel any pain anywhere?"

Hearing her voice only made the tears run down even more.

He looked up at the people around him, studying their faces to make sure this was his true reality.

Wen Qing, Wen Ning, Grandma Wen, Uncle Fourth, Aunty Seven, the Wen Remnants, and even A-Yuan's parents...

Wei Zhouhui wiped away his tears, ah, I really don't deserve this, I'm the Yiling Patriarch, I shouldn't cry because of this.

The tears didn't seem to stop, but the awful pain did. After all, the family that was brutally murdered right in front of him as he could do nothing but watch, was alive, breathing, and hugging him. Zhouhui could feel the warmth from Grandma Wen's hands, frantically wiping away his tears for him, erasing the pain that was once there. Even Lan Nianzu was there, trying everything he can to help, but can't do anything but stare with his usual stoic face.

Seeing Lan Nianzu stand there dumbfounded as to what to do, made Wei Zhouhui want to laugh, but he felt a mass, ball up inside him.

The thousands of needles came back, but they seem to have came a thousand degrees hotter. The attack pierced his chest, but the pain arrived all over. Taking Wei Zhouhui aback, and making him cough up more blood than before when he lost consiousness.

Wen Qing rushed to grab her herbs and medicines to make a quick concoction before stuffing the bitter liquid into Zhouhui's mouth.

"There, that should stabilize the bloody coughs for a while. Do you have any idea as to why you have so much resentful energy in you? Even your friends here has never seen you store so much resentful energy."

Wei Zhouhui looked up at Wen Qing in confusion, the medicine was given to him by the best doctor out there, but a boiling mass still stood in his chest. Almost as if it were about to explode any moment. Why do I have so much resentful energy? I don't think I've absorbed anymore than I ever have...

"I don't know."

Right as soon as he said this, the boiling mass, started steaming. Rising straight through his mouth, causing him to cough up blood again.

Wei Zhouhui looked at his blood covered hands, thinking for a second before a fit of coughs came. Blood splattered over his hands, why am I coughing up so much blood?

Zhouhui's mind slipped, and he fainted once again in firm arms, but this time, there was a warm atmosphere around.

A atmosphere that he had longed for so long.

_______

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

We're ending the chapter with Wei Zhouhui, losing his consiousness once again, and it won't be the last time! Please note that he did love his family in Lotus Pier very much, but the Wen Remnants were extra special to him. They were with him until the end, he wasn't betrayed, and they gave him the full package of a loving family, despite the possible consequences. In my opinion, I felt the Wens gave Wei Wuxian the better family experience than the Jiangs, so I wanted to show the difference in affection. But that doesn't mean the Jiang's aren't significant to him! To the reader who may or may not read this, please put what you think is happening to Wei Zhouhui in the comments! I'd love to see your thoughts, and please note the three hints in this chapter if you do try to guess!

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