Chapter 5 - The Epilogue.

"Wangji?"

Lan Wangji looked up as if jolted awake from a deep sleep. Lan Xichen stood in the doorway, his robes newly washed and ironed, but his expression a stark contrast. The sect leader looked worn out and stressed. That was not an expression Lan Wangji was accustomed to seeing on his brother's face.

"Brother, I'm ready."

Lan Xichen nodded in understanding and then left. Picking up his sword, his brother got up, and cast a glance towards his silent guqin. Then followed him out.

Taking out his old mourning robes had been the hardest task for Jiang Cheng. The last time he'd worn them was when he'd lost the person closest to his heart – his older sister. He'd never thought he would have to wear it again in this manner. But he'd had them washed and ironed, so that the ceremony would be carried out properly.

"Uncle, are you really going to scatter the ashes in the backyard of the Mo Manor as Uncle Wei had asked?" Jin Ling asked fidgeting with his mourning attire as if the clothes were making him itchy.

"What do you think?" his uncle snapped. "The funeral is yet to be completed and you're already worried about scattering the ashes?"

"But why Mo Manor? I mean he used to belong to Jiang Sect and now he is – was Hanguang Jun's cultivation partner. But instead of Gusu or Yunmeng, he wants Mo Manor?"

"Because the body belongs to Mo Xuanyu. So your Uncle's last wishes were to be cremated and then scattered in the Mo Manor backyard. Now if you're done with your questions, we have a funeral to attend."

"It's true what they say isn't it? Life does come a full circle." Sizhui spoke quietly so only Jingyi could hear him. Jingyi just shook his head.

They stood outside the gates of the Mo Manor with some fellow Lan Sect disciples. Zewu Jun had allowed only a few people to accompany him and Lan Wangji to the funeral.

"Don't you think we're too young to say things like that? Your life isn't over."

"I was talking about Senior Wei. I mean this is where we first met each other and now we're here to bid him farewell."

"Hmm… Though, I like to think that we're bidding farewell to Mo Xuanyu, not Senior Wei. That thought comforts me."

"That does not change the fact that he – he is gone." Silent tears rolled down his eyes, as Sizhui struggled to restrain his emotions. Jingyi placed a comforting hand on his cousin's shoulder.

"Oh come on! Isn't it comforting to think that it's just Senior Mo, not Senior Wei whose funeral we are attending?" Jingyi reasoned.

"Jingyi!" Sizhui hissed which was completely unlike him to do. The other disciples looked at them. "Don't be disrespectful!"

"Sizhui," Jingyi whined. "I wasn't trying to be disrespectful. I just meant that he is not a person we know, that makes it easier to deal with the situation."

Sizhui just looked away, his cheeks slightly puffed up and eyes red.

Since neither Mo Xuanyu nor Wei Wuxian had any heir to perform the last rites, the ceremony was short. Once the cremation was over, Jiang Cheng took the urn with Mo Xuanyu's ashes and scattered them in the backyard as requested by Wei Wuxian. All rituals done, the four sect leaders along with Lan Wangji, Wen Ning and the few disciples of various clans who had accompanied their leaders, gathered in the courtyard.

"Clan Leader Jiang, thank you for giving me a chance to bid farewell to Brother Wei." Nie Huaisang offered a bow of gratitude to emphasize his statement.

"Clan Leader Nie, I think I owe some gratitude to Zewu Jun too. He wished to help me with the funeral. Otherwise, the whole ordeal was difficult to deal with." Jiang Cheng looked desolate.

"Clan Leader Jiang, if you don't mind me asking, could you please elaborate. I did get the news but nobody told me how exactly did it happen…?"

Before answering Jiang Cheng couldn't help looking at Lan Wangji whose eyes were downcast although his overall expression was impassive. Sometimes it was really hard to understand how a man like Wei Wuxian who could barely remain still and had complete disregard for rules, could've fallen in love with one of the Twin Jades of Lan. That man had a permanent stony expression and a sense of discipline so hardwired in his brain that he spared no one.

Then again it was also true that these two had always stood by each other in times of need. Maybe that was how they had developed feelings for each other. Yet ultimately again it was Lan Wangji who was left to suffer… Jiang Cheng had to force those thoughts out of his mind.

"That day Wei Wuxian dragged me and Hanguang Jun to Yiling. We were both against the idea but he wouldn't listen. He wanted to show us the new piece of music that he and Zewu Jun had practised. I asked him why it was not possible to show it to us within Lotus Pier…

"Jiang Cheng, am I not the 'Yiling Patriarch'? Besides, Burial Mounds are located near Yiling. There would be a greater concentration of resentful energy. Maybe if I play this music there, I will be able to properly test it out. Wouldn't it be great if it happens to be the solution to my problems?"

"Are you sure? What if it affects you and your condition becomes worse?" Jiang Cheng asked, his hand absentmindedly fidgeting with the bracelet of Zidian.

"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji began, "music like this will use up your spiritual energy. Don't exhaust yourself."

"Aiyyo! You really don't like any risks do you?" Wei Wuxian shook his head emphatically. "If you're unwilling to come, I'll just go alone. I mean I am very evil and I'm very much used to being alone. I can-"

"Oh shut up! Don't emotionally blackmail us with this melodrama…" Jiang Cheng stole a furtive glance at Lan Wangji then continued, "Fine! I'll come. At least that way I can keep an eye on you."

"Great!" Wei Wuxian clapped his hands together. "And you Lan Zhan? Aren't you going to accompany me?"

Lan Wangji looked exasperated (that was Jiang Cheng's completely wild guess.) but he muttered a soft 'fine'.

"But apparently all that about playing music was just an excuse. He had made plans with Wen Ning to meet up in Yiling. At first it was awkward but then Wei Wuxian forced us into the conversation and well it didn't get better."

"How so? You had an argument?" Jiang Cheng could tell that he had really piqued Nie Huaisang's interest.

"No, there was no reason for that, Clan Leader Nie. In fact if it had been a mere argument then probably we would've gone separate ways and Wei Wuxian would've been alive. But no, that was not what happened. Did I mention he was looking sick by the time we arrived in Yiling? Well he had been off colour throughout the journey so I asked him several times if we should turn back. He was adamant and refused to return."

Now even the other disciples looked curious as if Jiang Cheng was telling them some thrilling story out of a novel. It really annoyed the Clan Leader. However he refocused his gaze on Nie Huaisang's pale face and continued,

"Once we reached the town of Yiling, he immediately dragged us to the local inn where we had a meal. He barely touched any food, just ordered two jars of wine and sat there sipping it lazily. The whole situation was baffling but he absolutely denied us any explanation. Then once that was over he coerced us to head towards Burial Mounds. Mind you his condition wasn't getting any better and he looked horrible as if the mere act of walking was zapping his strength…

"Jiang Cheng, I'm alright. Now will you just follow me?"

"You are definitely not alright. This whole idea was cursed from the beginning! We can still turn back."

"Stop pretending to worry! We have walked so far, we'll keep going."

"That's when we met Wen Ning. As I said earlier we had a very brief conversation. Even Wen Ning looked hesitant when he saw Wei Wuxian's condition. But of course he had decided to completely ignore everyone. At one point he was walking with Hanguang Jun's support…

"Wei Ying…" Lan Wangji forced him to stop.

"Lan Zhan, I know what all of you are worried about. But does it matter anymore? Haven't we made peace with the fact that I'm dying soon?" He looked a little intoxicated now. Not fully drunk but not steady either.

"That does not mean bringing on your death yourself."

"I'm not doing that. I just can't lock myself in a room and do nothing while everybody worries about my health. I have to at least try to do something about it. If I fail, well I am going to die anyway."

"He began playing the music on Chenqing when we reached the entrance to Burial Mounds. That was when things went seriously downhill."

Jiang Cheng had to take a deep breath to calm himself. It wasn't like him to feel so unsettled and yet the pain that the memory brought was unbearable.

"Clan Leader Jiang, should I continue?" Seeing his tormented expression, Wen Ning asked hesitantly. It was like a spell being broken. Everyone turned to look at him and the poor guy shuffled his feet nervously. For a long moment there was silence as Jiang Cheng considered it, then he gave a small nod.

"Master Wei looked really drained by the time he started playing on his flute. The music seemed to work at the beginning so resentful spirits were kept at bay. But I could feel them, see them waiting. They always are like that, waiting for Master Wei's command –" the disciples looked quite thrilled now, but Wen Ning didn't seem to notice that as he continued "– but this time they seemed unusually angry. It was as if - as if Master Wei was the reason for their resentment. Only the music stopped them. It was like a protection and only as long as he played were they going to stay away…"

"He used up his spiritual energy didn't he, Master Wen?" Lan Xichen spoke for the first time since coming to the Mo Manor. He looked tired and resigned. Jiang Cheng couldn't blame him. After all it was he who had helped Wei Wuxian learn that piece of music.

"Yes," Wen Ning said, looking down. "It was so sudden, we didn't have much time to - to do anything. One moment he was playing and then the next moment he spat out blood. And the moment his music stopped, the spirits rushed in. Second Master Lan tried playing the same music on his guqin then. Again for a few seconds the spirits backed away. It didn't last long though."

Jiang Cheng looked at Lan Wangji and felt a little taken aback when he saw the silent tears rolling down his cheeks. It wasn't the first time that he'd watched him cry of course, but nevertheless it did not fail to shock him every single time.

"So the spirits did get to him then?" Nie Huaisang whispered.

"No. That's not how he died though. If they had there wouldn't have been a body to cremate. I think he wanted to preserve Master Mo's body." Wen Ning turned to look at the Manor behind him with a look of anguish. "He drank up the remaining jar of wine that he'd been carrying with him. Then he fell to his knees and with his last strength began playing the flute again. We rushed forward but couldn't get near him. This time the song was different. It wasn't trying to keep the resentful spirits at bay but it was perhaps calming them. I think he was pleading with them to spare the body."

"And then?" Jingyi asked, his eyes wide.

"And then he just fell into my arms. I tried to keep him awake but he was grinning like an idiot. Then he talked about his last wish. I wanted to slap him and tell him to stop and that he wasn't leaving so soon," Jiang Cheng could barely keep his voice steady, his eyes were blurry yet no tears escaped. "But he started coughing and kept repeating the same thing again and again - Burn this body. Don't bury– it was maddening. That was when his mouth began foaming…

Lan Wangji swooped in, his hands clutching Wei Wuxian's. The dying man spared a glance at him even as he teared up. Lan Wangji attempted to let go of his hand so he could use his spiritual energy but Wei Wuxian had latched on to him.

"We need to get him back to Lotus Pier. We can find some help then." Jiang Cheng was saying as he prepared to hook his arms under his brother's and Lan Wangji snapped out of his daze. He could hear the desperation in the helpless Clan Leader's voice. Some rational part of him told him that their actions were in vain but if there was even an infinitesimal chance of saving his Wei Ying, he wasn't going to give it up. So he helped Jiang Cheng.

They began possibly the longest journey Lan Wangji had undertaken, a journey he'd never wanted to take.

"The healer said later that he must have added the poison in his wine when we weren't paying attention," Jiang Cheng sighed. "I wish we had. Then we could've stopped that idiot."

"This is all horrible even to hear from you. I can't imagine how tough it must have been for you to actually be there while this was happening." Nie Huaisang comforted. "Please accept my deepest condolences!"

When Lan Wangji returned to his chamber that evening after finishing the day's activities, the first thing that hit him was the sudden emptiness. It shouldn't have been much of a problem. All his life he had been alone. And Wei Wuxian had stayed with him for less than a year. Yet the silence stung him. For a moment he staggered on his feet, unable to decide his next action. Then his eyes fell on the guqin sitting silently on his desk, as if waiting for him to approach it…

Will it work this time?

He had to try right? There was no reason to not do it. The only result if he failed would be that he would be in immense emotional pain again. Well that was going to happen either way…

So he sat down behind his desk. The guqin lay in front of him - solemn and woefully silent. Without further delay his fingers gently tested the strings of his faithful instrument. Then he began with the first simple sentence of Inquiry. A few minutes passed by and no reply came. He tried again and this time -

"FINALLY! I've been waiting all day…"

"Wei Ying?"

"Yes…?"

"Stay with me?"

"Always…"

The End