Perseverance (Wangxian)

Chapter 23 - Confrontation

After a couple days, Wei Ying, Lan Zhan, and Xichen were back in Lotus Pier to speak with Jiang Cheng. They were greeted by the guards at the gate and were escorted inside by another disciple to the training grounds where Jiang Cheng was located. He was busy training the you juniors at the archery field. Wuxian was already a bit angry and grabbed a bow from the stand beside him. He took and arrow and shot the furthest kite from where he stood. It definitely got everyone's attention.

"Wei Wuxian! What do you think you're doing interrupting training like that?" Jiang Cheng scolded.

Wuxian tossed the bow to the ground and stormed over to Jiang Cheng and gripped onto the collar of his robes, "You ungrateful son of a bitch! I give you my core and you take my sword away from me as well! Give me one good reason by I shouldn't cut you apart right here, and right now!" He yelled at Jiang Cheng right in his face, "you were ungrateful when I gave up everything for you. And you of all people should know your own damn brother. Now, you have taken more from me. What more does your fucking sect want from me? Huh? I wish I could see Shijie and your father's faces to see just hour their precious Jiang Cheng is now. Arrogant and ungrateful for everything given to him. You have a sect! You have your core! Bow give me back my sword!"

Xichen managed to Wuxian off of Jiang Cheng and pushed him gently into Wangji's arms, "let me speak with him. Wangji why don't you take Wuxian off to the side and try to calm him down," Xichen suggested.

Wangji nodded and took Wuxian over to the farthest corner for the grounds, "if it were me, Wei Ying, he'd have a sword in his ass already."

Wei Ying took a couple calming breaths in and out to ease his mind, "I would say sorry, but I am just too angry to care at the moment. He doesn't deserve a sorry from me. I promised I'd remain by his side like my father did his. But I broke that once I my core to him. I feel that was good enough of a gratitude to him. He has only ever cared for himself and how he can be stronger, better then me or anyone else...he doesn't realize that he will always be below me, especially if he doesn't change his attitude," Wuxian said getting all of his pent up feelings out, "I cared for him like a brother and he just cast me aside. He isn't a brother anymore."

As they were speaking Wuxian spotted a red tassel with a white jade lotus hanging on Jiang Cheng's side, he even saw a narrow black stick pop out.

"Lan Zhan, please hold me tighter so I don't rip his throat out of his neck," Wei Ying said seething through his teeth.

He did as he said, "I will but what is it?" Lan Zhan asked.

"Look at his waist and tell me if I am seeing things...he takes away Suibian, and now he also has Chenqing? He's had her the entire time!" Wei Ying growled and tried to leave to Jiang Cheng again.

Lan Zhan held on tightly, "Wanyin, why do you have Chenqing?" Wangji asked loudly.

Xichen looked at Jiang Cheng and saw the flute settled within his belt, "Jiang Cheng?" Xichen asked.

"I've had it since they day he died. It was all I found at the bottom," Cheng said and threw Chenqing over to Wuxian.

Wuxian managed to catch her before she hit the ground, "give me one good reason I shouldn't call your parents from the grave as we speak!" Wei Ying yelled and was about to put Chenqing to his lips.

"I'll unlink the core from Suibian," Cheng offered, "after that, we can cut ties if you want. Leave my family out of this!"

Wuxian tossed his sword over to him, "do it now then!" Wuxian growled again, "if not, I am still happy to call upon them!"

Cheng had never seen Wei Wuxian with such anger. He had no knowledge of Suibian not answering to Wuxian anymore, he knows he should have handed Chenqing over to Wuxian the second he had a chance. He is at the moment, afraid to know what his sworn brother would unleash upon him if he didn't do this. They all moved to the main throne room and then Xichen guided Cheng on how to remove the link from Suibian. He then guided Wuxian to link Suibian back to him. That familiar vibration of Suibian was a rhythm to behold. Wuxian could feel Suibian thrum in his hands again. Suibian was sorry it closed him away, he had no choice but he has returned to Wuxian and will remain his companion for the rest of his life.

"Thank you," Wuxian said a bit more relaxed.

With his adrenaline rush of anger subsided, a sudden wave of tiredness passed through his system. He began to feel tired, exhausted even. Such anger and rage caused him to use so much energy that it drained him.

"Lan Zhan, I'm so weak," he said quietly as he started to hunch over from exhaustion.

Lan Zhan grabbed hold of him and held him steady to keep him from falling. He then lifted him up off the ground bridal style, and thanked Jiang Cheng for what he has done. He then left the Pier and hopped on Bichen, taking Wuxian back to cloud Recesses. Xichen stayed back to explain the situation to Jiang Cheng and tried to make sure he was okay. Xichen was a man who favored equality, no matter the injustice and unguided actions.

Wuxian and Cheng have both made mistakes and are paying for that price. The least Xichen could do was to try to ease tension and assure Cheng that maybe the two can reconcile one day. Cheng nodded but said they needed time apart to really think. At some point the boys will speak again but the misunderstandings between him and Wuxian are just too much to deal with all in one sitting. With that said and done, Xichen flew back to Cloud Recesses to make sure Wuxian and his brother were alright.