[I 100% butchered Chinese Mythology. No offense was intended.]

The path was woven by the intertwining of the blood and spiritual energy. The newly formed bridge underneath carried his feet. The screams were muffled as the distance increased. He reached to a place with nothing to breach.

White! Like the floor was made of pure morwad. Like the sky was made of pure clouds. Walls were nowhere to be found, endless journey with no bounds.

"Are you lost?" A question no Shen would ask.

"You could say, I'm new around here." An answer no Shen would give.

"New souls aren't supposed to be here." The tender voice of shen asked.

"Then where must I go?"

"You came through that bridge; you must return to it." The tender voice pointed at the newly formed bridge out of the lowest realm.

"Not too fond of screams, if I may add." He laughed lightly at himself.

"What is your purpose to be here?" How come you pass through the gate when you couldn't before? Was the question the voice wanted to ask.

There was a little pause before he replied.

"I wish for a change..." there was more to his words than he let on.

"Since Yang Wang (Ruler of Subterranean Realm) let you pass through the Subterranean bridge, I can not doubt your heart."

He laughed at the praise, his voice as cheerful and his smile was bright. He didn't know why but the tender voice was soothing to his heart.

"I am Wei Ying - curtsey name Wei Wuxian." He bowed to white nothingness as it was just the voice.

"I know." Replied the tender voice.

Wei Wuxian was a bit taken aback but then again. He was inside the Heaven Realms. Beings around here are all spiritual, they must know a thing or two.

"I take it, I can't just barge into Jade Emperor's local?" Wei Wuxian asked with a wide grin, he knew what he was getting himself into.

"You can not." The voice replied.

Wei Wuxian shrugged his shoulders as if he expected this reply.

"Any chances of meeting, any of the immortals?"

He was aware that even gods wouldn't agree to meet him out of whim. But he couldn't wait for gods to listen to his pleas. He had things to do, souls to fix and bonds to mend but No matter where his eyes landed, there was boundless white. Gusu Lan Sect robes were pale in comparison.

"The one with the knowledge and answer to all of your questions is Dongbin."

"You mean Luo Dongbin? One of the eight immortals?" Wei Wuxian was happy that the voiced decided to reply.

"Indeed. Do you wish me to take you to him?" The tender voice asked.

"That would be much delightful." Wei Wuxian bowed to the white nothingness again.

"Follow me."

"Follow me you say but-"

His words were struck in his throat when the world around him span and suddenly was standing in front of 8 doors.

"Woah. These are the gates to 8 Realms!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed.

"More precisely, these are the 8 Gates of Heaven." The tender voice provided.

The one Heavens Gate which was sorcery to the world was nothing compared to the 8. Wei Wuxian had already seen the Gate of Subterranean Realm and to be frank he was not a fan of that.

"What is the price for me to enter the Realms?" He was more than aware that the world they lived in required the perfect balance, the Shen and Gui, Yin and Yang. Hun and Po.

He was standing on a white circular platform around which were the 8 Gates. There was no path to connect the two and below was endless infinity. So, it was natural, a path was needed and that path wouldn't just appear especially for him.

"The price is not a feeble one. Are you willing to risk it?" Then tender voice asked.

"I came this far, I don't see why I shouldn't?" Wei Wuxian laughed wholeheartedly.

"Very well then, just walked straight to the gate, if your heart is pure, you will cross the invisible bridge otherwise your soul will fall and be lost forever."

If there was one thing Wei Wuxian didn't have, it was faith in himself. He used to be arrogant and would flaunt his powers but he realized too late that pride hath a fall. His heart had already gone black.

"Do you not wish to continue?" The voice asked sensing the hesitation in younger.

"If it requires a good heart to cross, then mine had already been tainted. I would just lose my life and hurt Lan Zhan all over again." Wei Wuxian looked below the white pit. Indeed, his soul would be lost forever and could not be summoned. The fear of death never crossed his mind but the fear of hurting Lan Zhan and Shizui was something he wasn't able to shake.

Wei Wuxian wondered what other method he could use to fix the broken but he knew more than anyone else that what once was taken couldn't be returned.

"If your heart was black you would have lost yourself among the Gui." The tender voice reassured. It was true that the bridge out of Subterranean Realm was build by the pure blood and Spiritual energy of his Friends and Family but like Jiang Cheng said before, the amount of Gui in that realm was more than Earth Combined.

"If you can not trust yourself, are you willing to trust me?" The tender voice asked. Even if the voice didn't ask that, Wei Wuxian was already trusting the voice. It gave him a sense of protection which Lan Wangji was able to give before.

"I trust you!" Wei Wuxian declared with a genuine smile.

"Then close your eyes and follow my voice."

The voice said and begun to hum a tune. It was so beautiful like the lullaby of the stars that sing good night to the bright Sun. His body moved on its own as if carried by the wind. There was no fear anymore because he knew he would survive.

When he opened his eyes, he was already standing at one of the gates.

"Hongbaoshi" Wei Wuxian read what was written on the gate. The gate was blush colored with the meanders in crimson. It was a sight to look at.

"Luo Dongbin is inside." The tender voice said.

"Thank you!" Wei Wuxian bowed with a smile and stepped inside.

Hongbaoshi The 9th Realm

When he stepped inside, the white was replaced by the red. What seemed to be the path, was made of ruby and the sky was colored in Salmon. Somehow the red wasn't alarming. Wei Wuxian walked the single path, away from the gate.

Among all of the Realms, it was indeed the highest Realm. And Wei Wuxian really wondered how easily he was able to enter.

In his endless path nothing seemed to change much, except the shades of red would shimmer and flicker every now and then. Wei Wuxian marked them as time and begun to calculate distance he had crossed.

He knew he walked for 6 hours straight but there was nothing in sight. He begun to doubt few things but still couldn't bring himself to not trust the Voice.

After what felt like a day, Wei Wuxian finally found a figure. If his hunch was right, it was Luo Dongbin - the leader of all immortals.

When Wei Wuxian reached close enough, he could see that the male was busy writing something on the scripture. There were rows of scrolls around him and his movement was swift.

"I am Wei Wuxian and I dare to present myself before laoshi."

The figured stopped for a moment and then looked up to see the young soul smiling so brightly.

"Baoshao Sanren."

"Pardon?"

"You are blood of Baoshao Sanren." The figure said looked straight into the soul.

Wei Wuxian was confused. Though Baoshao Sanren did raise his mother but they were not related by blood.

"I beg your pardon Laoshi, but I am not directly involved with Baoshao Sanren. My mother was her disciple." Wei Wuxian clarified. Upon hearing that, the figure lost its interest and begun working on the scripture.

"May I trouble Laoshi with some questions?" Wei Wuxian asked but the figure didn't reply.

"I am looking for Luo Dongbin." Wei Wuxian said and the figure still didn't budge.

"I will not trouble Laoshi if you could spare me a little moment." Wei Wuxian was trying his best to be polite. One wrong move and his soul might be dispersed. He was after all in presence of Gods, Angels, Higher Shens and of course immortals.

The figure didn't shift even a little big. Wei Wuxian was losing patience. He looked at the scriptures the figure had.

"Tch, Zizhen can write better poetry."

The figure stopped writing and looked up. Wei Wuxian shrugged his shoulders.

"You mean to say, a mere mortal can write better than me?"

At least, it confirmed the fact that the figure was indeed Immortal, Luo Dongbin.

"Yeah, why not? He's still young and write excellently. Wait till he grows up; your goatee might end up getting shaved." Wei Wuxian said nonchalantly.

"Is that a challenge?" Luo Dongbin asked.

"Why? are you scared to lose?" Wei Wuxain raised an eyebrow.

"Very well then, bring this mortal Zizhen over here." Luo Dongbin ordered.

"I'm afraid Laoshi, I can not bring him here." Wei Wuxian started talking like the most miserable soul on the realm.

"Why not?" Luo Dongbin asked.

"For that I would require to go back and I cannot return until my questions are answered." Wei Wuxian faked a pout. He made himself appear as a victim who's soul was stuck in between.

Luo Dongbin looked at his soul, thought for a while and then handed something to Wei Wuxian from under his sleeves.

"Mullet?" Wei Wuxian looked at the object. It was the Yellow Mullet.

"Cook it and your answers will come. Now go away before I decide to punish you blood of Baoshao."

At least, Wei Wuxian got something. He bowed and begun his journey back to the gate.

. . .

"Cook it he said. How am I suppose to cook it in this place?" Wei Wuxian said and his eyes landed on flicker of rubies.

Wei Wuxian gave a cheeky smile and went towards the rubies. He calculated the sparks and their effect until finally he built a fire.

"Dongbin said cook, didn't specify how." Wei Wuxian laughed as he literally burnt the Yellow Mullet. The smoke begun to evoke and fill the area around.

Wei Wuxian coughed and waved his hands to move away the smoke but with time, it only grew thick until it was getting harder for Wei Wuxian to breathe.

Soon enough, he was completely surrounded by the smoke and he lost his consciousness.

... . .__-..-.----_ Congratulations Da-ge would be _-_-- . ..

... . __-.... _-__--- I want my parents_--_---_- . ... .

-__---- Damaged, It's damaged- -__--

.... . . -_-_---- __-You met him-- - - __.._.-..-..-.....

- _ __ if you bring me back my brother I will bring back .. . . -- - _ -- _- - - __

... . . - -- -_-__ _ _ __-..-. In my Dream.._ -- - _ _ - -..

.._--_ _ _..--- Baixue Temple.. -__ _--....

...Wei Wuxian is not dense He just doesn't have self-worth.. ---.. . –

..._ _-- _ _ _ Who are your parents?...------___-__.._.-- ._..

...-.. _--_---___. .. I-I love you that's why.. -_---_-_---____

__..__--.-.-.--_-.You accused my dad for killing your parents yet I can't blame your sect for killing mine?_.-.-_---_..-..-.-.-._-.

------ . . . --- A-Cheng.._--....__._-.--_-_--_----......

..-_.-.-....-_-___I let them capture me..-.-_-.-__--.._---

..-_.-.-..----___..._--_-.-Jiaohuan.._--.--.-._.----. _

.._..__-....-_Does that mean we have to kill it like zhuorong? .._.-__.---.-.-

.._.-.-_-__---...._Young Master Wen will be the leader of us all.-.-.-.--____-.-.

..-_.-._.---Aaaaaaaozaaaaaan --._--.--..-_---.__-

_...---.---.__...-_.Wanyin. H-How did that scar appear?-_.-.-.__-.-__

_-.-.-.-.-___-.-Do not take off your blind fold..-.-__.-.-.-.-.

..-_._.-.---___It was after Wei Wuxian...___.-.-.-___-..-.

_-_.....____--.-.-.-Wangji hasn't awaken yet and he won't until young master Wei comes back._-.-.-..-__. -.- ... .-.-.__.-.-.-__.-.-

__.-.-.-___.----..-Poor child doesn't even know maiden A Qing has embraced the earth....-..--... . .....

_...-___.- - __ _ ..-.If you find Jin Ling tell him to ring the bell...--__-.--- . . .. . -- .-- -

_-..._.- _- ...-They have the Moon Oracle.. __-.-..-.-_ _ ___--.-..-

..._-..-.-.- And give Wei Wuxian another reason to not step in the Lotus Pier?...__.-.-_

_-...-. . . .Nightless city..__.--_....

..- _.-.--.--.___ . . . _Lotus Pier will never fall again.__.-.-._. ___..-

..__.-.- -.-..-But let me edify you, the blood of innocent doesn't wash away...-.--..-.

. ._.-.-._-It's not Wangji, it's just his shell..._ _-...

..__.-..-. - Is Lan Shizui actually a wen? _..--.-.-.-. . . . . .__-

_..._.-...Wanyin let him rest...-_.-.-._..___..-.

.... . .. ...._.-.-.-.__._Giving back his core..._.-.-.-__...-

. ..._-_.-.-___.-.-. . Jie Jie will I see you again?....--_.-_.-..-.____- - _ _-

_...._- _ _ _..-.-..-Build a beautiful world.-.__ __--.-.- - -.

_..-..-._..._.-Wei Ying ..__.-..-..-.-.-..__--

...- _ _..- . .-.-.. Wei Ying .__- --.-.- _ _.-.-..-

Wei Ying!

"Lan Zhan!"

Wei Wuxian gasped for air when he sprung open his eyes. The things he saw...

He looked around and was already on the same white platform outside the gates.

"Why are you crying child?" The tender voice asked

And Wei Wuxian realized he was indeed crying. Not only that he was gasping for air and was trembling like a child.

The things he saw were terrifying. He clutched his knees and hid his face. He silently let the tears fall.

"They all...died"

"I saw them all die."

Actions have consequences!

He had read this time and time again; he had heard this time and time again and it took too many sacrifices for him to understand. The cheerful boy with nothing to worry about, with everything to look forward to and nothing to fear was lost long ago.

He often wondered why was he given the second chance in life? Why not someone like Meng Yao or Xue Yang?

There are so many people he killed in the name of protection, then why were those people dead? Why did they die so horribly? Why he couldn't protect anyone? Why was he so full of himself?

Attempt the impossible!

He did it! He attempted the impossible but what did he get except more blood on his hands.

How could he have self-worth when there was nothing to offer but destruction? How could he have loved when he was shunned by his loved ones? How could he live when the light of his life, pushed him aside and accepted death in his place?

Or maybe they were right.

It was all his fault! Why was he the only one who had to suffer so much? Why was he the only one who was different than the rest? Why was he the only one, who was misjudged?

Maybe Jiang Cheng was right, I was always just jumping straight to my death in the name of sacrifice. If I had listened to him? If I had talked to him, if I had kept my promise they wouldn't have died! Nobody would have suffered! Nothing would have gone wrong!

Or It would have been better if Jiang Shushu didn't pick me up. It would have been better if my parents didn't give birth to me. I would have been better if I had never been born.

"Your mother didn't regret bringing you to the world." The tender voice called.

Wei Wuxian was still clutching his knees and bitter tears were falling from his red eyes.

"The only thing she regrets is, not being able to stay by your side."

Wei Wuxian looked up to the sound of the voice and replied.

"If you know what I've done in my life, you wouldn't be saying that."

"I don't need to know the things you have done; I can see if for myself." The tender voice said.

"The soul of a person reflects their hearts."

"Then my soul must be pure black." Wei Wuxian laughed without humor. Maybe that's why Luo Dongbin was staring at his soul? Maybe that's why he didn't want to respond? Maybe that's why he was shooed away?

"Do you know where a lotus flower grows?" The tender voice asked.

"In the mud." Wei Wuxian replied.

"And What's beyond the mud?" The tender voice asked.

"A Lotus Flower."

"A White Lotus Flower is how your soul looks like."

If you have the ability to look past the evil only then you can see what kindness lie beyond. It is upto to you whether you choose to stay in the mud or chase the sun. No soul is born evil.

Wei Wuxian got up and wiped the tears in his eyes. He searched for the source of the voice but it was only just that.

"You are trying to save everyone but you need to save yourself first." The voice was comforting that Wei Wuxian wished to listen to it for the rest of his life.

"I am here, no need to hold yourself back." The voice provided and Wei Wuxian smiled with teary eyes.

And he didn't hold back. For the first time in forever, he exposed his wounds, he opened his scars and unraveled the scabs.

For the first time he forever he talked about his misery and let the world judge him. For the first time in forever he unloaded all the weight with tears running like a damn. He needed this. He had been keeping it for too long.

The tender voice kept him company till he was able to calm down.

The tender voice hummed the melody to which Wei Wuxian joined. He had never felt this kind of warmth before and he wish he could bring Lan Zhan to share the moment.

It felt like home!

. . .

Zhenzhu the 3rd realm.

After narrating his story, Wei Wuxian realized a lot of things. He got a better understanding of where he was and how the things went wrong.

With the clearer head, he was standing at the gate of Zhenzhu. The adornments were like beads and gems, spiraling in harmony.

The sight inside, was not how Wei Wuxian would have anticipated. It was like a dark room with white strings. Each string had white pearls.

Wei Wuxian saw, a pair of birds arrived with a new string and attached one end to the door while other to the infinity he was not able to see.

"These are Queqia bridges." The voice said.

"And here I thought there was only one Queqia bridge." Wei Wuxian laughed.

"Each bridge for each soul."

Those threads were life lines and those beads were souls.

"Not all souls make it to the Gate. Some strings break while some pearls lose and fall." The voice said.

"I assume I can not just enter." Wei Wuxian looked at the ground but there was none. It was just the gate with strings.

"You think, the souls you are looking for are in here?" Voice asked.

"I doubt I would find any of them in subterranean realm, so this is the place where they would be."

The souls which refused to pass on, the souls which are too weakened to pass on and the souls are afraid to pass on. He knew how that felt.

"You have already taken in the smoke of the Mullet, you should know the answers already." The voice said.

"Maybe I got too many answers that now I'm scared." Ignorance is a bliss for a reason.

To tell the truth, he didn't know.

He failed to see; how would he be able to protect the innocent against the whole world. He failed to see how would he be able to survive any longer.

The world was just too cruel.

He might have been able to change a thing or few but he knew sooner or later the evil would sprout again. Even though people spare him because of Hanguang-Jun, sooner or later they would begin to throw mud at him as well.

The Yiling Patriarch has corrupted Hanguang-Jun.

He had heard similar words.

Talking to Wei Wuxian is forbidden in the Cloud Recess.

He knew they still blamed him. No matter what he does now, the past will always be a stain on his name. Not everyone was forgiving, not everyone had a big heart. Not everyone had eyes to see.

He would live with the insults; he had been too used to it but not the one that were directed at Lan Zhan. He refused to let people hurt Lan Zhan the way they hurt him. He had always ignored the mockery of the world, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt him.

After staring long at the beads and souls Wei Wuxian knew what to do.

"Take me to Dalou ." Wei Wuxian requested the voice and soon they were standing outside of the Tong gate.

. . .

Tong the 6th Realm

The Gate was bisque colored, decorated with the head of beasts. The gate wasn't very welcoming but Wei Wuxian had to step inside.

The sight inside was contrary to the gate, beautiful copper color adorned the sky Wei Wuxian took his time looking around. It's not like one can just enter Heavens whenever they want to.

His delightful looking around was interrupted when he heard a weeping sound. Wei Wuxian looked around and saw a beautiful maiden crying over a pond.

"Shijie...?"

Without thinking much, Wei Wuxian leaped towards the alluring maiden only to realize that she was the goddess Yue Lao not his Shijie.

Wei Wuxian felt relived for some reason. Maybe he still didn't have the courage to meet his sister? Or maybe he didn't want to remember how she died? It was all too much.

"Why must you leave your soulmate behind?" Yue Lao said, the tears in her eyes would turn into pearls before falling into the pond.

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Wuxian asked, he didn't know if she was asking him or not but he replied non the less.

"Don't you know how much hurt he is?" Yue Lao said looking through the ponds.

Wei Wuxian knew that, he had already seen the future, the things which would happen in a month, the war and their deaths.

"I am trying to fix everything so I could go back to him." Wei Wuxian said with a heavy voice.

"He wailed for 13 years; his Enquiry was so melancholic." Yue Lao said.

If you can't trust yourself then trust the ones who do.

Wei Wuxian could hear the words that tender voice had said to him.

"I know that's why I want your help." Wei Wuxian bowed to goddess Yue Lao. She was the goddess who watched over soul mates. The ones who get to stay together or the ones who would meet after death. She would place her threads and cry for their twisted fates. Not just that, she would get deeply moved by any sort of bond.

"Draw out my tears." Yue Lao said pointing at the pond. Wei Wuxian was confused, he looked at the pond and saw pearls at the bottom but what he didn't know was how deep that bottom actually was. There was no way it should be called a mere pound.

"If you can draw out my tears then I will help you." Yue Lao said, tears were still in her eyes.

Wei Wuxian rolled up his sleeves and dipped his hand and exactly how he thought bottom was too deep, his hands wouldn't even reach. Pound was small that he couldn't just dive in and fish out the pearls.

Wei Wuxian looked at Yue Lao who was busy crying.

Shouldn't she help me? Aren't gods suppose to be benevolent?

Wei Wuxian took a deep sigh then suddenly an idea popped up in his head.

"Here, your tears." Wei Wuxian showed her the hand with pearls.

Yue Lao was confused how did he fished out the pearls? It was too deep. Then Wei Wuxian pointed at her eyes.

Ah!

He didn't let the pearls from her eyes fall into the pound. Yue Lao smiled as she wiped her tears,

"And as per promise, I will help you."

"I want to reach someone."

"Just look through the pound and imagine that person, you will reach them."

Wei Wuxian did as he was told, a sort of message he wanted to convey to Nie Huaisang, if by any means he should fail and war still hit them, he needed to have his options opened. He took the fragment of the future he saw with the mullet and transferred into Wen Ning. Which appeared as a dream to him.

Yue Lao placed her hand on his eyes and when she took it off, Wei Wuxian was already somewhere else. The sky was still copper, so he presumed he was still in the 6th Realm.

His eyes fell on the figure in front of him.

"No Wonder, the cultivators couldn't find you. You were hiding in the Heavens."

Wei Wuxian knew he might be digging his own grave but had this unruly immortal been on Earthly Realm, a lot of people wouldn't have to suffer.

"Wei Changze?"

"Wei Wuxian." Wei Wuxian introduced himself and didn't bother to bow.

The immortal Dalou was engaged with a spiritual being. Is that Xisigui?

"What brought, Wei Wuxian here?"

"You are the immortal who has regulation over souls, correct?"

"Depends on what kind of order you're asking for."

"There are souls I need to fix."

"Fix a soul?" Dalou looked at the soul itself.

"Being in heavens, render me useless in a way or two so I need assistance." It was more like he was declaring than requesting.

"What makes you think I would help you with the souls?"

"Yue Lao approves, and you can not deny that." Wei Wuxian deadpanned said and showed him the pearls. Those were without a doubt, the tears of Yue Lao.

Dalou looked at the pearls and scratched his head as if thinking something. After a very long silence of patience, Dalou sighed,

"Fine."

Wei Wuxian shook his head in mock, he really didn't like this immortal.

"If Xisigui allowed you to, you can take her to Zhenzhu gate, rest she will do on her own."

Wait Xisigui was a female? At least he learnt something new.

"What do you mean by allow?"

"Can't you see you're a soul right now, and souls are what Xisigui feed on." Dalou was clearly mused and Wei Wuxian wanted to punch off that smug look on his face. Wei Wuxian looked at the spirit, it was like a bird made of fire. Never the less, it was beautiful.

Wei Wuxian took one step at a time, trying his best to tame the bird but the moment his finger touched the spirit, it burnt. He quickly retraced his hand and realized a portion of his soul on his finger was burnt and gone.

Well this is going to be a pain!

Dalou appeared as uninterested as before.

Don't step straight into the danger! Think!

Wei Wuxian reminded himself.

"Giving up already?" Dalou said as he patted the Xisigui purposely in front of Wei Wuxian.

"No! I will be right back!"

Staying in the same place as that immortal would make him snap so he decided to return to the white platform, to the beautiful voice.

. . .

"What's the matter?" The tender voice was waiting for him there.

"Is there a way to kill an immortal?"

"..."

"I wish I had my chengqing at least I would be able to curse him."

"..."

"It's the Xisigui, I can not touch it without a body." Wei Wuxian sat down and crossed his legs and arm. He closed his eyes to think of something. His body was completely gone when he died. He needed to think of a better way. There should be a way.

"Why don't you get back your body?"

Wei Wuxian snapped his eyes open and faced the...well nothingness.

"You mean I-I can get back my body?" Wei Wuxian hoped. When Wei Wuxian returned the body of Mo Xuanyu, he knew he was not going to take it from him again. He was already planning on using a corpse as his shell but was reluctant to what Lan Zhan would say. But Hey it was better than not having a body at all.

"We are in presence of gods, what is that they can't do?" Tender voice said and Wei Wuxian beamed. It was so unreal. Then suddenly the realization came to him and he frowned.

"You don't want to get back your body?" The voice asked looking at that big baby pout.

"I do, but I know there would be something else demanded in return. Nobody does anything for free here." Wei Wuxian sulked and the voice chuckled.

"But the perfect balance must be maintained."

"More like perfect bargaining."

"For you to get back your body, you do need something."

"What?" Wei Wuxian asked, the pout not leaving his face.

"The fragment of your being."

"Huh?!!! I need to remind you, my body died, there's not even a single fiber of it left." Wei Wuxian cleared the facts. At this point he was losing hope, it was really too good to be true. He should think of some other way to tame Xisigui.

"It didn't completely disappear."

Wei Wuxian looked at nothingness in confusion.

"Your core is still alive."

Wei Wuxian widened his eyes. The voice was not suggesting what he thought it was.

"Absolutely not!!!" Wei Wuxian declared. He didn't sacrifice his core to have it back one day.

"You just need to take a fragment of it." The tender voice said.

"How?"

"Call your core. And I will draw out the qi from it."

"Would it do any damage to Jiang Cheng?"

"He would feel slight pain. But nothing fatal." The voice, might have lied a little.

The voice sensed the hesitation in Wei Wuxian and continued.

"Jiang Wanyin would do this much for you." The voice said and it only made Wei Wuxian sad.

He saw with the mullet.

I let them capture me!

The weight of those words was heavy. Now he knew how Jiang Cheng must have felt when he learnt about Core Transfer.

"You know, your brother has always been waiting for you."

He knew! He knew it so well that it hurt. He was the one who made the promise to stay by his side. He was the one who promised to be brothers in the next life. And he was the one who broke his hopes and left him alone.

Before he thought that Jiang Cheng simply hated him for killing his family but after phrasing everything to the voice, he begun to see things a bit differently. He begun to realized his flaws himself.

He realized that Jiang Cheng never hated him for cultivating Demonic path. He realized how many times; Jiang Cheng had to cover up for his actions. Digging graves and disturbing the peace of the dead wasn't exactly a noble task. Yet Jiang Cheng never once scolded him for that. For his own sake, he told him to wield Subian so people won't mock him but he never listened.

Jiang Cheng you know me, the more they push me the more I don't want to carry it. Besides I don't want to have a match with somebody I don't know.

The more he didn't carry the more people provoked him. He could have held it, even as ornament, he knew he was more capable of coming out of a battle field alive. Yet he didn't listen. He asked himself why?

Everything Jiang Cheng did was out of pure concern and love. How could he be so blind? How could he think Jiang Cheng hated him When he had every right to? After all he had brought nothing but trouble for Jiang Cheng ever since he stepped into the Lotus Pier. Not even once Jiang Cheng gave him a scoffing look when people mocked him for not being his father's favorite. Not even once, Jiang Cheng backed away when his mother was scolding Wei Wuxian.

He kept believing in him.

You said you could control it.

He kept holding on to the promise.

You said when I become the Sect Leader, you would be my subordinate.

He kept waiting for him.

Let's be brothers in our next life.

Wei Wuxian felt ashamed. He felt hurt but mostly he felt loved. He wanted to return back home and just fix things with Jiang Cheng. It was already his next life, and he was planning on keeping at least one promise.

"Alright, just don't take too much." Wei Wuxian agreed.

"Then close your eyes and meditate." The voice advised.

Wei Wuxian did as the voice commanded. He remembered his time with his Shijie and Didi, a tear silently escaped his eyes but he was smiling a happy smile.

"It's done."

"Already?" Little did Wei Wuxian know that his already caused his brother his first kiss. Poor Virgin didi.

"The time flow is different in Heaven and Earth, a moment here could be a life time there."

Wei Wuxian gasped and Voice chuckled at his dramatic reaction.

"Let's go to Guanyin." The voice said and once again they were in front of the 9th Realm.

. . .

Hongbaoshi the 9th realm.

Oddly enough, this time, the path was different. It was still colored in red with salmon sky but he didn't run into Luo Dongbin. It was as if, the paths were especially laid for him.

If Yue Lao was ethereal than Guanyin was on another level. What is their facial treatment? Wei Wuxian wondered.

"I was waiting for you, My child."

Okay?

"Wei Ying, courtesy name Wei Wuxian". Wei Wuxian bowed full of respect.

"I am aware, the holder of the Heavenly Gate informed me." Guanyin graced him with a gentle smile.

Holder of Heavenly Gate?

Wei Wuxian didn't ponder much on it as he already had a good idea of who it might be.

"Show me your Qi." Guanyin asked and Wei Wuxian handed her the little ball of light.

"I could create your body but it would be coreless." Well that was a bummer.

"Can't her highness, cultivated another core."

"I can but since it's the core we are depending on creating your body, it will require the same core and nothing else."

"I will humbly accept your gift." Wei Wuxian bowed again. Looks like he's going to be a cripple forever.

"If you can exchange the core with its owner then I can stich your core back."

It was a tempting offer but Wei Wuxian knew how painful the core transfer really was so he refused.

"Alright then, you can go back. When your body is built back, I will call for you." Guanyin said and Wei Wuxian bowed goodbye.

. . .

Back to the white platform.

"Any idea how much time would it take?" Wei Wuxian asked idly playing with his hair.

"Probably a day or two."

"What?"

"The time is different here."

"How would I know; how much time has passed over there?"

"You don't need to know. Wait for the things to be done on their pace."

Wei Wuxian nodded in understanding, at least the voice was there to company him. God knows how bored he would be all himself. He missed juniors.

"Would you sing me the same piece?" Wei Wuxian daringly asked. The voice chuckled at the child like Wei Wuxian.

"Let's go visit my friends" The voice suggested and Wei Wuxian got up without complaining the change in topic.

. . .

"Han Xiangzi and He Xiangu?" Wei Wuxian asked when he recognized the deities.

"These are my friends." The voice introduced.

"How come you only entered the 4th realm?" Wei Wuxian asked.

"I am a soul too, things are limited." The voice chuckled.

Wei Wuxian and the voice were in the 4th Realm Baise. The gate was white and there wasn't much difference inside. The voice introduced Wei Wuxian to the two deities.

Han Xiangzi and He Xiangu looked at the soul for a while.

"So, this is Wei Ying? His soul is beautiful, just like a lotus." He Xiangu said when she whiffed the aroma of lotus flower in her hand.

Wei Wuxian was a little embarrassed. He felt he was being introduced for a marriage interview.

"I was like you once, wanted to protect everyone but it cost me too much." Han Xiangzi said this time.

His words were vague but Wei Wuxian understood exactly what he meant.

"You see, all these immortals had a life more tragic than other, you should become a part of us." He Xiangu tried to interpret Han Xiangzi's words.

It actually made Wei Wuxian ponder. All the deities were once normal humans. They all had unfair life while protecting their loved ones but they never strayed from the righteous path. His mind begun to jumble again, he needed to breathe.

"I-I ...my life belongs with Lan Zhan." He missed him so much. He was the only person who kept him sane. He wanted to see him so bad.

"Here, I heard you can play a tune or two." Han Xiangzi offered him, his flute. Wei Wuxian recognized the flute, it was the golden bamboo of Han Xiangzi's soul mate. He turned it into the flute so they could be together forever. Imagining being apart from the one you love for so long was painful. Wei Wuxian rather sleep with the screams than stay in the Heavenly Realm without his soul mate.

"Play a little." The voice suggested.

Wei Wuxian took the flute and played a tune. It was filled with all of his emotions. His feelings and the heaviness of his heart. He let is all out through that song and they all heard it. There were tears in their eyes when the flute parted his lips.

"Beautiful!" Every one claimed and cheered.

"Here I wish to give you my Lotus flower." He Xiangu gave him the flower. It was not just any flower, it was the flower which could heal the fatal wounds.

Just when they were calmly enjoying each other's company, a huge jolt made the heaven tilt.

"What is happening?" Wei Wuxian asked.

Han Xiangzi and He Xiangu were holding on to each other for sustenance while Wei Wuxian was supported by invisible hand. He assumed it was of the voice.

"The pillar..." Han Xiangzi said.

" ...is broken." He Xiangu completed his sentence.

The pillar of Heaven was once broken before when Gonggong attacked it after his defeat with Zhurong. But why was it broken now?

"Let's go to Nuwa." Wei Wuxian suggested and the voice took him to his destiny.

. . .

Yin the 7th Realm

The Realm would have been beautiful if it wasn't tilted this badly. Wei Wuxian knew what was the cause of the destruction of pillar. He saw the deities in panic and rage.

"How could the pillar break again?"

Didn't Zhuorang kill Gonngong?"

"I think humans angered Xiang Dieties."

"What now? Should we call Lady Nuwa?"

Zizhen and Jingyi, you have given them quite the greeting.

Wei Wuxian internally laughed.

"It's just a pillar that's broken not like entire heaven is falling down."

Everyone gathered their attention towards the voice that dared to speak and Wei Wuxian only shrugged his shoulder.

The on lookers exchanged whispers as they saw his soul and how freely it was roaming in the 7th realm. One of the shen asked.

"I assume you know how to fix the pillar?" Why else would you make it appear like a no deal?

"I suppose I do know a trick or two myself." Wei Wuxian strolled towards the broken pillar.

"Oh? Lets hear it then." A sharp voice, came from behind. Everyone looked at the direction and they sure as hell trembled. It was none other than Lady Nuwa.

"Your highness." Wei Wuxian bowed like a gentleman.

"You have a way to fix the pillar?" Nuwa the mother goddesses asked.

"I do, your highness." Wei Wuxian said retaining his smirk.

"What is it may I ask?" Lady Nuwa asked.

"Your highness, it would be faster to show you but for that may I request a little time?" Wei Wuxian bowed again. Internally he was excited like a child, he wanted to pat the juniors for causing such a big trouble and was proud that they defeated Gonngmu.

"Very well, I give you three days, if you fail to fix the pillar your soul would be used as a replacement." Nuwa declared.

"But of course, Your Highness." Wei Wuxian bowed for the final time and exited the realm.

It was about time, Wei Wuxian would show who he really was.

. . .

"Do you have a plan to fix the pillar?" The voice asked concerned when Wei Wuxian told all about his deal with Nuwa.

"How much more time before My body gets repaired?" Wei Wuxian didn't answer the question but asked a question instead.

"It should be done by the sun sets." The voice provided and Wei Wuxian beamed.

"Guess I have to just wait a little." Wei Wuxian lied on the white platform and closed his eyes. The voice observed him for a while and decided to speak.

"What are you thinking?" The voice asked.

"Do you remember the tone I played with Han Xiangzi's flute?" Wei Wuxian had a smug look on his face.

"I do. Does it serve a special purpose?" The voice asked.

"Not if I had played it with an ordinary flute." Wei Wuxian was given the opportunity and he made sure to fully own it.

"Let's go to Lan Zhan."

. . .

Hong Jin the 8th Realm

The sky was gold while the floor was red. Lan Ling Jin sect would feel insipid in comparison that's how broad and beautiful it was.

Ever since he stepped inside the Heavens, he was never been this sure where to go. There was a drive pulling him towards a certain destination and a certain someone.

"Lan Zhan!"

Wei Wuxian jumped straight into his arms, allowing himself to completely melt in his soul. His soul was so warm and so bright, truly of a righteous man.

Lan Wangji embraced him completely, waiting for this moment. He had been apart for too long and the fear of never seeing him again was indescribable.

He silently shed the tears of pain and relief and clutched tightly to the soul.

"Lan Er gege, if you hold too tight, I am afraid my soul would dissipate." Wei Wuxian joked but didn't break the hug. He too had missed his husband.

"Would never let Wei Ying go."

They broke the hug and Wei Wuxian wiped the tears in Lan Zhan's eyes.

"You have always been waiting for me."

Wei Wuxian said with a tender smile and welcomed his lips. They shared a soft kiss and let their souls mingle. They were closer than they had ever been before.

"Wei Ying's soul is beautiful."

Lan Zhan said and Wei Wuxian blushed, caught off guard. The person could not see their own souls but it was transparent to other.

"Lan Zhan you came to my Enquiry." Wei Wuxian hid his face in his embrace. The piece he had play was Enquiry the one Lan Wangji played for 13 years but Wei Wuxian never replied.

"Mn. Would always come."

Wei Wuxian felt so elated and happy to be given the second chance in life. Lan Wangji truly was his sanity in the insane world. And that was why, he would not let him die.

The future Wei Wuxian saw through the mullet was reflection of the events of war, when Wei Wuxian was just too late and they all died. But it wasn't the war that killed Lan Wangji, it was the grief that took his life. The grief of loosing Wei Wuxian once again.

"Lan Zhan I'm sorry for hurting you again."

"As long as Wei Ying is alive, it's fine." The sadness in his voice didn't go unnoticed by Wei Wuxian, he knew Lan Zhan's greatest fear was losing him and yet he jumped straight into the danger without discussing it with anyone else.

Jiang Cheng was so right about him; he had a Hero Complex.

But never again, He learnt from his mistakes and he would do better. He wouldn't let his emotions blind him. The necessity of situation could be solved logically and he had learnt that.

"Lan Zhan, I love you." Sudden confession threw Lan Wangji off balance as his soul flickered and Wei Wuxian only chuckled. No matter how many times he said it, Lan Wangji never got used it. But it was more like Lan Wangji received each confession with sincerity, that was how pure his love was.

"Love Wei Ying as well."

The sound of mild laughter broke the sweet moment between them. Wei Wuxian turned around to see the cause and it was yet again another beautiful lady. But she wasn't an immortal or deity but a soul.

Seeing the confusion on Wei Wuxian's face, Lan Wangji introduced.

"Wei Ying, this is my mother."

Wei Wuxian's eyes bulged wide and he immediately bowed to the elderly soul.

"Ah! My child, rise. I am not a fan of courtesies."

Well neither was he, they would get along well. Wei Wuxian did as told.

The three of them sat together under the Gold sky.

"I can see you love my son just as much he loves you." Madam Lan smiled tenderly. Wei Wuxian awkwardly rubbed the nape of his neck. While Lan Wangji was happy, of course his face was like paralyzed but Wei Wuxian had learnt to read him like an open book.

"Be good to each other." Madam Lan said. And the two partners nodded in unison. They chitter and chatter ranging from most important things to utterly stupid but it was fun non the less.

"A-Ying has not met his parents?" Madam Lan asked. There was a pause in his voice as if thinking something.

"I..ah.. I actually don't know how they look like or where would I find them." Wei Wuxian laughed, almost at himself.

"What about your foster family?" Lan Zhan knew there were things Wei Wuxian wanted to say to his family, to his Shijie to be more precise. He needed to move on, so he could live without haunted nightmares.

"Maybe I should." Wei Wuxian said passing a small smile. He already swore he would fix everything and it should start with his own self.

The voice had informed them that his family would be here. For some reason, Wei Wuxian didn't ask for his birth parents. Maybe he accepted Jiangs as his family or maybe there was entirely different reason. Lan Wangji could guess there was more than just his excuse. But he didn't push him, respecting his peace.

"Lan Zhan, to tell you the truth. I am really scared." Wei Wuxian held Lan Wangji's hand as they walked through the single path.

"Nothing to be afraid." Lan Wangji reassured.

"What if they-"

What if they hate me? What if I disturb their peace with my visit? What if they don't want to see me?

"Jiang Gunya would love to meet, Wei Ying."

Well he couldn't really say for sure about the rest. But he knew that Jiang Yanli would be happy to see her little brother. The way she stood up against cultivators to protect his bother in phoenix mountain, the way she dashed into battle field just to meet her brother and the way, she sacrificed her life to protect him.

Lan Wangji had high respect for her.

But Wei Wuxian's steps only became heavy.

"I-I... L-Lan Zhan..." The guilt was eating him up alive. How could he face her when he was the one who killed her husband?

"Wei Ying!"

His soul begun to flicker to an alarming rate and Lan Wangji panicked as he held him in an embrace.

If you can't trust yourself, trust the ones who trust you.

Wei Wuxian struggled to keep himself calm down, he had to try. His life wasn't his anymore. He had to live, for Lan Zhan and his family. Even when his soul stopped flickering. Lan Wangji held him tight with no intention of letting go. After staying like that for an eternity Wei Wuxian finally spoke.

"Lan Zhan I am okay now you can-"

"A-Xian?!"

The voice was too familiar to ignore. Wei Wuxian's eyes shot open on seeing a very familiar soul.

"Shijie?"

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Sorry for the Errors and thank you for reading.