Chapter Text
An eerie red glow radiated from the walls of the demon slaughtering cave, there was shouting and screaming from the entrance, but Wei Wuxian paid little attention to it. The talismans he set as a barrier was slowly burning up, he's running out of time.
Another stroke of his blood, the array was finished.
Sigils on the walls of the cave began to radiate.
“WEI WUXIAN!” He heard Jiang Cheng scream his name with venom, other voices followed suit. A familiar crack of a whip echoed, Zidian's lightning sparking and striking the barrier from the other side.
‘Just a little more…’
Another strike of Zidian hit the barrier.
“They're coming,” A spirit faintly whispered.
The array began to glow and Wei Wuxian walked in the center of the array.
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Outside the demon slaughtering cave, the wind howled, corpses continued to devour cultivators with enthusiasm as the spirits screamed and hovered above.
Lan Wangji didn't pay any attention to the bloodbath happening in front of him.
‘Wei Ying.’ was his only thought.
Seeing Jiang Wanyin lashing the entrance of the Demon Slaughtering Cave from a far distance. Lan WangJi ran pass, unsheathing his sword, he swiftly cut down every corpse on his path.
“Wei Ying!”
Lan Wangji screamed for his beloved as he silently prayed to the heavens that his Wei Ying was still breathing.
He needed to take Wei Ying away from all this carnage, he needed reassurance that his Wei Ying was fine.
And yet, nothing was fine…
Lan WangJi was breathing heavily, he was getting closer to the entrance, exhausted from slashing down corpses and so, he did not notice the fierce corpse lunging towards him from behind.
“WangJi!”
Someone behind him screamed in pain.
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Another crack of a whip rang out.
The barrier shattered into millions pieces and evaporated into thin air.
Jiang Cheng immediately ran inside, his vision blinded by red.
Growling like a feral animal, Jiang Cheng screamed, “WEI WUXIAN!”
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“Xiongzhang!”
He quickly slashed down the corpse and Lan Xichen falls limp into Lan WangJi's arms, his brother's blood was slowly seeping into his robes, dread and fear filling his lungs.
The fierce corpse stabbed Lan Xichen in the abdomen, puncturing his stomach, the wound was too large and fatal. Lan WangJi knew his brother cannot make It.
The resentment in the air from the ground made spiritual energy thin and less effective so even If he gives his brother spiritual energy, It wouldn't sustain his brother's life long enough and he'll just run out of spiritual energy.
Even so, he still gives his brother spiritual energy, Lan Xichen coughs out blood and yet he still smiles softly, bringing his hand to cup Lan WangJi's cheek, Lan WangJi heaves and chokes out a sob.
Lan Xichen whispered, “.... Go..”
He shook his head as tears ran down his face, he gently laid down his brother on the ground as he sends more of his spiritual energy to his brother.
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Wei Wuxian turned around to see Jiang Cheng gaping in shock yet his eyes were furrowed, glaring at him with resentment.
Wei Wuxian even saw a hint of sadness in his adoptive brother's eyes but he quickly dismissed it, he must be imagining it, why would Jiang Cheng feel sad for him after what he did?
Nonetheless, it didn't matter anymore.
After all, he was a man that had nothing left to lose, he had already lost everything that was important to him. If he were to associate himself with the Yunmeng Jiang now, Jiang Cheng will be the one to take responsibility for his crimes and he doesn't want to cause more trouble for his—no, the Jiang Sect Leader. He doubted Jiang Cheng would even want him back.
Wei Wuxian turned around to look at the talismans on the walls, even if he wanted to think that he'll still be accepted. The only thing that's waiting for him out there was death, and he can't escape the predicament that he already put himself in. He'll be gone soon either way.
Looking back at Jiang Sect Leader, he can still see the sadness in sect leader's eyes again, more visible than before. He hated it. He'll make sure that Jiang Cheng won't have that sad look in his eyes again. He'll bring everyone back, even if he needs to also bring back the tyrant, Wen Ruohan back to life.
Everyone can still win the war even without his unorthodox cultivation… right?
Wei Wuxian was unsure, but it wasn't his business anymore. After this, his entire existence will be erased and forgotten by all.
Wei Wuxian smiled, “Don't worry Jiang Cheng, from today and onwards, you don't have to burden yourself with my antics or my heroism anymore and I'll even bring back shijie! Maybe even Uncle Jiang and Madam Yu as well! I'll even disappear just like you wanted me to…”
Wei Wuxian continued to smile as the red glow from the array flickered underneath him.
“You…”
Jiang Cheng's words seemed to be stuck in his throat, Wei Wuxian observed. One of the talisman stuck to the wall burns up.
Then another…
And another…
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Lan Xichen caressed his brother's cheek gently, his eyelids were growing heavy, blood was still seeping into his robes, the pain from his abdomen growing cold and yet, he continued to smile through it all.
“Huan-ge….”
Lan WangJi choked out another sob, tears fully streaming down his face, his eyes were rimmed with red and his golden eyes were becoming hazy.
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Another one of the talisman burnt up, leaving ashes on the floor.
Wei Wuxian smiled brightly, as If Jiang Cheng didn't just lead a siege on him to kill him, as if they were still fifteen at Lotus Pier pushing each other and laughing at each other's antics.
Jiang Cheng felt like he had been slapped. Wei Wuxian never smiled that brightly anymore after Lotus Pier's fall, after everything and yet, Wei Wuxian is here right here smiling brightly even though he's cornered, about to be killed by the one he called his brother.
“Wei Wuxian…?”
The last talisman burns up.
Simultaneously, both Wei Wuxian and Lan Xichen, still smiling, said;
““I'm sorry...””
Then a bright red light engulfed everyone in the vicinity.
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Wei Ying could barely lift his eyelids anymore. The sun shone at his eyes, his vision is turning blurry but he could still recognize a faint silhouette of a person in front of him, he could feel fingers gently brush away the hair that had covered his face. His brows slightly furrows from the sudden contact.
Wei Ying fully closes his eyes, exhaustion and hunger won over his instincts to run. He's been running away from street dogs for days, he could barely even fend for himself, and even if he was able to get food for himself, he couldn't eat it without taking pity on other street children that were in worse conditions than himself.
Wei Ying let his head fall limp, his eyes glassy with tears threatening to fall, and then his vision was consumed by darkness.
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From a distance, he could hear the soothing sound of rain.
Wei Ying's eyes flutters open, he could hear the rain pouring down and yet, didn't feel like his clothes were wet, he could feel his body resting on stone. He feels light headed and his vision is still blurry, he feels sore all over his body as his back arches from the cold floor.
He shivers as chills ran down his spine. He turns his head on the side, while his vision is still somewhat blurry, he could see a silhouette of a person standing near the mouth of the cave, in one hand they held a pouch and their head seemed to sway as they hummed a soft tune.
Wei Ying slowly moves himself to sit down, his body feels weak and aching all over, he noticed that a large gray outer robe was covering him. The humming suddenly pauses, Wei Ying looks around and notices a small campfire in the middle of the cave. The person near the entrance still had their back turned around. Wei Ying quietly sits on the stone slab as he made himself small as possible, hoping that person wouldn't see him as something burdensome.
Finally after what feels like forever of silence, Wei Ying hears the other person turn around by the swish of their robes and approach him. Wei Ying stares at the person.
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“Stop staring,”
Wei Ying kept staring, his eyes wide and gleamed with curiosity. Wei Wuxian releases a tired sigh, reaching inside the qiankun pouch which he stole from a group of passing Jiang disciples.
Wei Wuxian was surprised how easily he was able steal the qiankun pouch from the one of the Jiang disciple.
He thought that he might have to train the disciples more harshly before—‘Oh, the Jiang Sect Leader must be looking for little me right now.ʼ Wei Wuxian turns his gaze at the child in front of him.
Madam Yu's loathing voice seems to echo in his head again, he sighs. ‘It's not like I'll be living with the Jiangs anytime soon.’ He thought as he took a meat bun and held it in front of Wei Ying.
Wei Ying looked at the meat bun, then looked at him again. Wei Wuxian carefully places the meat bun down in front of Wei Ying, then he brings his hand up on Wei Ying's forehead, checking if the child's mild fever finally went down. Wei Wuxian releases a breath of relief as he begins to assess his situation.
He apparently was in the past. Wei Wuxian slightly grimaces at the thought that he messed up the array to erase himself from existence entirely and give Jiang Cheng's parents and sister back, Wei Wuxian groans in annoyance. Not only that, but to almost kill his past self who was completely innocent and hadn't done the crimes he has committed...
He was chased by dogs yesterday when he first encountered an unconscious Wei Ying.
The memory then begins to play in his head
After falling on his back with a loud thud, Wei Wuxian was surprised to see his surroundings, he was apparently in an alleyway. The sun viciously glared at him which made him squint his eyes, he continued to observe his surroundings.
The alleyway looked like there was a fire that was recently extinguished or perhaps an explosion had occurred with how there was burn marks on the walls and one of the walls blown into debris. But either way, there was still lingering remnants of resentful energy around and small flames flickering from green to orange. Looking at a distance, he saw a small child dressed in ragged robes, their hair covering most of their face, burns, bruises and bite marks were visible on child's body as they quiver.
Standing up, he walked closer. He noticed that the child's robes seemed to barely cover them with how the chill easily ran through their spine.
Wei Wuxian tried to fix his robes that were now clinging on his shoulders, fixing his waist skirt and his sash, he then noticed that Chenqing was still with him. It made him release a sigh of relief knowing that he still had Chenqing as a weapon of defense, his robes seemed to be bigger and didn't fit him like it used to. Had he become smaller?
Wei Wuxian let one side of his outer robe's collar fall as he stared over his shoulder, the horrid scars that he received from Madam Yu were still there. He then placed a hand on his chest where the sun brand was, he traced his finger over the symbol, not bothering to check the scars on his abdomen.
Wei Wuxian noticed that his hair was more burdensome than usual, his hair seemed longer and it shone as it brushed against the floor. His old red ribbon was loose and tangled with locks of his hair which Wei Wuxian would definitely have to untangle later.
‘How annoying.ʼ he thought.
He knelt down next to the child then he moved a few strands of hair that was covering the child's face, he forced himself to breathe upon seeing the child's identity, sucking in a breath.
The child was no other than his past self, Wei Ying.
Suddenly, malicious spirits that remembered him started forcefully appearing in Wei Wuxian's sight, his vision flickered red as misty yet humanoid-looking figures kept disappearing and reappearing, they danced around like how the resentful energy would move between his fingertips.
Circling around him and Wei Ying, like a predator watching it's prey. It was just like how the resentful energy had consumed him whole when Jiang Yanli was killed but, this time they were sentient, they could speak and they watched the two of them. They were out of his control.
The spirits whispered words of encouragement in his ears.
“Wouldn't it be better to get rid of the problem beforehand?”
“Didn't you want to save them?”
“Save them the trouble of having to dirty their hands...”
“You know what the child would grow up to be...”
“Only one can exist…”
“The other must cease to exist...”
“Laozu, Laozu…”
“Just one command. That's all we need...”
The spirits continued to encourage him, whispering empty promises, twisted ideas and horrifying images of his past self's fate.
Wei Wuxian clenched his fist. His eyes were glowing crimson red, his vision was filled with ghostly figures and blood. Shutting his eyes, he shuts them out.
After some time of restraining himself and finally coming back to his senses. Wei Wuxian turned his gaze at the pitiful state of his past self, he clenched his teeth before he slapped himself, finally making a decision to deal with his past self.
Looking at his past self's burn marks, it may have been caused by the explosion here...
Wei Wuxian narrowed his eyes, he could sense lingering remnants of resentful energy but not enough to cause any significant damage to his past self or else it would affect his mental state or sanity, maybe a few days of his past self's senses being disturbed, causing mild hallucinations and a fever.
Placing a finger on his past self's forehead, Wei Wuxian tried to suck out the resentful energy from the child's body as much as possible, he then sighed when he realized that he can't do much for the fever and he could only treat his past self's mild fever by buying medication and making sure he rested till he got better.
Looking back at the burn marks, luckily they weren't severe, Wei Ying must have ran farther away before the explosion happened. Thinking more deeply, ‘Did the explosion happen because I appeared..?'
Wei Wuxian grimaces at the thought that he had almost killed a child because of his failures. Things still didn't make sense as to why the array had a backlash affecting the age of his body, but he guessed this was the consequences of using an array, he wasn't sure that would work, to rush the process of erasing his existence.
Wei Wuxian sighed once again as he massaged his temple.
A few seconds later, Wei Wuxian could hear a familiar barking from a distance which immediately made his body rigid.
Wei Wuxian sighs at the memory, the first thing he had done that time was to carry the feverish child on his back while he screamed and ran away deep into a forest. After many hours of carrying his past self, he was able to find a cave and decided on dragging his past self into the cave. The cave served them as cover from the rain.
Thinking back at his original timeline, things still doesn't make sense, but when was using resentful energy make any sense?
Resentful energy is wildly unpredictable, dangerous and can easily change a person's morals and principles, even the most righteous person can change.
Because of his arrogance he thought he had already understood how to properly utilize resentment but it seems like the resentful energy really likes playing with his mind and emotions.
He puts the thought aside as he contemplates on what had gone wrong with the array. He must have messed up on a major part for the array to mess up the normality of his mortal body which reduced his age to a child and yet, it left some parts of his body still the same.
With the exact time period right now, his body was seven.
He sighs once again as he massages his temple, he was lucky that it was just his body that was affected but he still couldn't understand why his hair and scars were left alone, staying the same. Even his clothes were still the same ones he wore at the siege, he already fixed his hair and it is now tied up in a half updo and Chenqing was strapped on his waist.
Wei Wuxian silently curses the heavens and himself, mostly himself, for messing up his only opportunity to end his life entirely.
Glaring at the cave floor, Wei Wuxian once again, grimaces.
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Wei Ying made himself smaller while eating the meat bun peacefully, he noticed that the other person was in a sour mood.
He still kept staring though, he was fascinated with his doppelganger. The only thing that was telling them apart was how the other boy had much longer hair which was tied up in a half updo, he wore oversized robes that was just clinging on by his shoulders which was threatening to reveal more scars than just the sun brand on the other boy's chest and a few scars that were poking out from the other's shoulders.
He continues to observe the other boy but then his eyes widen in amazement, it was because the other boy's eyes began to spark and turn crimson. Entranced, Wei Ying drops the meat bun and crawls closer which startles the other boy. Wei Ying leans in closer but then the other boy's red eyes faded to silver.
Wei Ying sulks.
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“No fair! Why do you get cool red glowing eyes and I don't!? We literally have the same face! Why can't I do it too!?” Wei Ying complained. He continues to whine and sulk while Wei Wuxian just continues to remember both of his pleasant yet torturous memories and VERY unpleasant torturous memories that he did not want to re-experience in this second life.
Abruptly, the whining pauses and Wei Wuxian turns his gaze to see Wei Ying looking at him with a stoic expression.
Raising an eyebrow, Wei Wuxian asks, “What?”
Wei Ying then shyly speaks, “We've known each other for a short time yet you took care of me, and you still haven't told me your name or why you look exactly like me… are you perhaps…” Wei Ying leans in even closer.
“My long lost twin?” Wei Ying said as he cheekily smiled.
Wei Wuxian blinks a few times, thinking about it before he nods, his past self gasps in response. Wei Wuxian didn't think much about his appearance and his past self's appearance but what if Unc– no, Jiang Sect Leader were to find them? Surely, he wouldn't just believe that his friend had twins when he was only informed about Wei Ying's existence and not his.
And if Jiang Fengmian actually does find them, he would either believe that he had been misinformed about Wei Changze having a single child or he would execute him if Jiang Fengmian suspects him to be a demon for stealing Wei Ying's face and deceiving an innocent child to believe him as his brother.
Wei Wuxian bitterly smiles at the thought.
Honestly, death wasn't too bad of an option, he wanted his existence to be erased after all...
However the Jiang Sect Leader being the neutral person that he is, he'll interrogate Wei Wuxian first, asking questions and listening to whatever story he has to say before making further conclusions.
Although, Wei Wuxian wouldn't be too surprised if Jiang Fengmian thinks of him as a demon, he was soaked to the brim with resentful energy and just the idea of playing cleansing at him will surely kill him. There's also Madam Yu, she would surely rage at the idea of him and Wei Ying living at Lotus Pier, unintentionally stealing Jiang Fengmian's attention from his own biological children.
Wei Wuxian subconsciously sighs, still thinking while Wei Ying continues to babble about the two of being long lost twins.
If he and Wei Ying were to be living in Lotus Pier…
Wei Wuxian frowns at the thought of a jealous Jiang Cheng who'll always think how he wasn't good enough to be the future Sect Leader...
Back then, he had thought he wouldn't hold some sort of resentment towards Jiang Fengmian and Madam Yu. He never thought too much about Jiang Sect Leader and Madam Yu's relationship, but now that he is, he'll have to make the two of them realize their ignorance of the pain they had caused to their own children. Before the townspeople could make more assumptions and spread false rumours about Wei Ying being Jiang Fengmian's illegitimate child.
He tiredly sighs once again, then a finger pokes him on the nose which snaps him back to reality.
Wei Wuxian and Wei Ying stares at each other before Wei Ying breaks the silence.
“You still haven't told me your name.” Wei Ying asked.
Wei Wuxian looks down on the ground, naming himself is really meaningless but calling himself by his? Their? courtesy name would be weird, Wei Ying might even be given a different courtesy name, and as far as he knows the Jiangs were terrible at giving names.
Taking a deep breath, Wei Wuxian then names himself with the first word that comes to into mind.
“Xi... My name is Wèi Xī (魏希 Ghost Hope).”
“Wei Xi…” Wei Ying repeats, he places his index finger on his chin and looks down thoughtfully.
Wei Ying then looks at him, eyes wide, glassy, filled with innocence, he smiles brightly which causes Wei Wuxian to squint his eyes.
“Starting today, you are now my gege, A-Xi!” Wei Ying excitedly exclaimed with a silly grin on his face, pure joy in his voice when he declared them as twins.
Wei Wuxian–No, Wei Xi gapes on how trusting his past self? Or younger brother? was and how easily he was convinced that they were twins.
Wei Xi sighs once again, he shakes his head in amusement as his brother coughs, his cheeks and nose still slightly flushed.
Wei Xi brings his hand up to check Wei Ying's temperature again and then he forces Wei Ying to lay down and rest, he pouts but eventually laid down, babbling as his eyes slowly blinks and his babbling became soft whispers while Wei Xi caresses the other's hair, Wei Ying smiles and hums in happiness before his eyes flutters shut.
Once Wei Xi sees Wei Ying sleeping soundly, he quickly stands up on his feet. Going barefoot with Chenqing tucked and hidden beneath his inner robes since he left his gray outer robe with Wei Ying. He begins walking towards Yiling, getting used to his new name and role as the older twin. Wei Xi begins to look at his options on gaining money for food and other daily necessities.
Theft was one of them.
Wei Xi sighs, he doesn't reject the idea.
He's far too young and frail to look for a job to to employed, and hunting seems far less of an option with his current body. Honestly, committing more sins doesn't really bother him since he was labeled as villain and was called as the infamous notorious Yiling Patriarch in his last life so, the act of petty theft doesn't seem too bad of an option.
After a few mins of walking, he could see the border of the town, he easily sneaks past a few Wen cultivators, stealing a pouch from one of them.
Wei Xi drops the heavy pouch inside his qiankun bag.
He looks around at the stalls for potential victims, seeing three more Wen cultivators...
Wei Xi hides his smirk before turning around to walk inside one of the dark alleys, he turns his head to look at the horizon to see the sun setting. Using the resentful energy and his black inner robes as cover in the darkness while waiting for his prey, but then he hears a very familiar bark which makes him whip his head around to see a very small and unexpected guest.
A small black puppy stared at him with their black beady eyes, they sat obediently like a trained pet, it stared at him cutely with their head cocked to the side as if waiting for… something!
Wei Xi bites his lower lip, there's something strange about the little fiend because he felt a faint unorthodox qi emanating from the little fiend...
Wei Xi doesn't know what's wrong with that fiend and he definitely doesn't want to know. He already ran away from dogs yesterday and now this puppy just had to appear here, right behind him! Did Yiling have this many dogs?! Is this the timeline trying to reject his existence by scaring him to death with these monstrous creatures?!
Wei Xi shakes his head, it's not the time to think of such things...
He reluctantly turns his head to see the Wen cultivators walking further away, he sighs before biting his lower lip again. If only he could just run up there and run between those men to snatch a pouch or two then run off without all the attention on him and being the main suspicion of theft…
Within a few milliseconds, Wei Xi thinks of a TERRIBLE idea.
Wei Xi snaps his head back at the black puppy…
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From a balcony in one of the inns, a man wore simple and plain robes, he blended in with the rest of the townfolk.
He sips his tea as he looks down from above, he can see a few of his clansmen walking around with their head held up high, red and white robes swaying in the wind with the sun emblem embroidered on the sleeves.
He remembers not liking a few of those Wen disciples, the three that were walking together were the few he despised, he places his cup on the table as he leans in to prop his arm and rest his cheek on his palm. He was currently on his day off, excused from all his duties and he wanted to relax a bit but now he just hoped something unexpected yet entertaining would happen to those disciples below.
He was about to sip his tea again but then an ear-piercing scream startled him and almost dropped his cup.
He looks down again, he can see a child dressed in black robes running away from a black puppy. The child had tears in their eyes, their robes seemed too big for the child, their hair was long and silky as it trailed behind them, they run between the Wen disciples and continues to scream.
The black puppy on their heels seems to bark happily as they continues to chase the poor kid.
The disciples groans in annoyance because one of them almost fell over when the child ran towards another alley. The child's screams fades with the barking following suit.
Sighing, he shakes his head in amusement, he looks down at the disciples again, the one that almost fell over complains and shouts to where the child had ran off.
The man then notices the pouch that the disciple carried had disappeared. He turns his gaze back to where the child had run away, the child was nowhere to be found and neither was the black pup.
He smirks in amusement as he continues to sip his tea, observing the people below that were completely oblivious to what just happened.
He silently compliments the crafty child as he turns a blind eye to the child's crime of theft.
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Wei Xi feels proud, he skips across the road with each step as he hums a forgotten tune.
He thought today was nothing but bad luck but fortunately, he was able to outrun the foul fiend, and he even had a lucky catch since he was able to steal three full pouches from the Wen cultivators!
With a glee in his eyes, he continues to skip across till he was out of the alleys, he then spot a few stalls and shops that had what he and Wei Ying might need for everyday means.
Wei Xi brings his hand up in front of his sight, his sleeve slides down to reveal his scarred skin. He and Wei Ying may need to purchase some new clothes, it'll take a few hours of negotiating and convincing the seller to buy a few plain black ones...
He sighs, looking over his shoulder, he watches his hair brush the ground.
He huffs in displeasure as he thought, ‘So annoying... I might need to cut my hair a bit or tie it up again.’ he grimaced, but then his stomach growls.
Well, first he needs to buy food and medicine then return to the cave where his brother is before he wakes up.
Wei Xi continues on his way, oblivious of the little friend he had unintentionally made, following his every step like a baby duckling following their mother.