Chapter Text
What is right, what is wrong? What is black, what is white?
Lan Wangji didn’t know.
But what he did know, what he will always remember from this cursed day forth, is that he failed.
He failed her as a significant other she could rely on; he failed his forefather’s teachings of honor and righteousness; he failed his mother who would be so disappointed in him if she could see him now.
He urged Bichen to fly faster, the wind whipping at his hair and blood-soaked robes (not his blood but her blood. Her blood was on his hands-). The constant lingering presence of resentful energy became more prominent in the air, curling in his lungs like smoke but he ignored it, forcing himself to move faster.
Purple entered his peripheral as Jiang Wanyin caught up, the Yunmeng Jiang’s sect leader just as grim but determined as him.
The two of them, working together and steadfastly moving towards a similar goal once more.
They landed at the familiar beginnings of a path both had stood on during their respective once upon a times.
Jiang Wanyin already had Zidian lashing out to break the barrier before their feet fully touched the ground.
They rushed up the pathway, feet thudding the ground in rhythm with their roaring hearts. The gash on Wangji’s arm was starting to burn again, small droplets of red flicking onto the tainted soil but he ignored it, forcing himself to keep moving forward.
Both of them barely noticed the red lanterns now strung up along the paths, their red glows clearly meant to serve as a warmer welcoming.
But arriving at the settlement, Wangji noticed Wanyin falter, breath stuttering as he noticed the small but thriving lotus pond blooming despite the cursed place it’s in.
Wangji didn’t stutter as he strode towards the Demon Slaughtering Cave, steely resolve lacing his shoulders despite the blood running down one arm.
Stepping inside, he instantly noticed the clutter littering every surface- the messiness making the place look cozy and welcoming and just like her-
(“Demon Slaughtering Cave?”)
(“That’s right. I came up with it! What do you think?”)
(“I know. Let me guess, in your heart, you’re already thinking ‘无聊 '.")
A rock came hurtling towards him.
He caught it in mid-air.
Another came, this time towards Jiang Wanyin who caught it just as deftly, scowl impossibly deepening.
“GO AWAY!”
The scowl disappeared like snow under the summer sun.
Both men stared, eyes wide and heart frozen in shock at the toddler bravely standing in front of the rock slab Wei Ying had used as a bed.
The toddler glared at them, face grimy and hair wild, a pile of rocks readily nearby as ammunition.
There was a lump behind the boy. Said lump shifted until a small head poked out, round eyes peering at Wangji with familiarity.
“Rich-gege?”
“A-Yuan. A-Yi.” Wangji breathed and oh, he breathed as a portion of the guilt ebbed away because these two boys- these two innocent children had been spared from the cruel fate their relatives faced.
A-Yi didn’t look at him. Instead, the toddler steadfastly glared at Wanyin before hurling another rock at him.
“Oi- quit it!” Wanyin snapped.
“Bad man! You hurt mama! Go away! Shoo!” A-Yi screamed, hurling rock after rock at the sect leader.
Wanyin froze, uncaring that one of the rocks managed to land a successful hit on him.
“Mama?” he choked out.
Wangji felt as though a boulder slammed into his chest.
They called Wei Ying ‘mama’.
Wei Ying was-
She was their-
They were her-
It was as though a veil had been ripped off as they studied the two boys closely.
A-Yi’s glare, feisty with untamed spirit; orbs a slightly duller gold compared to his but the shape a perfect copy of his own when he was young; hair wild and wavy like Wei Ying’s and the slope of his nose an exact replica of his own.
A-Yuan, his eyes wide and silver like moonbeams; just like her eyes, shining with kindness and reassurance but bright with curiosity; lips delicate, also like hers; hair fluffier than his twin’s but nose of the same slope and shape-
A-Yuan steadily stared at them both unnervingly long with intent for someone his age.
He sniffled, reaching under the bundle of blankets to pull out something.
Wanyin released a sound almost akin to a wounded animal when he saw the clarity bell tinkle in the toddler’s hand.
Wei Ying's clarity bell.
“Mama........” A-Yuan whimpered, clutching the bell like a lifeline.
A-Yi still held a rock with one hand but another reached into his lapels to pull out a ribbon- red with delicate lotuses embroidered on it.
A hiccup choked out of A-Yi’s throat, tears spilling down his chubby cheeks as the child’s misery overwhelmed his bravery.
Any remaining doubt to their parentage vanished the moment they took out the clarity bell and ribbon.
Oh gods, how could he have been so blind?
(“These two are.......”)
(“Mine.”)
(“I’m kidding, Lan Zhan! Ish, so serious.”)
(She hadn’t been kidding, he should’ve taken it seriously, he should’ve looked closer, paid more attention, he shouldn’t have let her go-)
(He let her go.)
(And now she's gone, gone, gone.)