Inside of a dark cave, sitting on grassy ground and back leaning on a boulder is overly weaken and exhausted Wei Wuxian, not moving, staring at nothing, the usual shine on his eyes have been long gone, suffering is embedded on his tired body, written all-over his face, and the only thing he could muster is, "Get lost."

It’s ironic, Lan Wangji used to say this to Wei Wuxian often, that he cannot count it at all, and to think he'll be the one that receiving this words coming from the person he cared the most, yet Lan Wangji knew how late he is.

"Wei Ying..."

"Get lost..."

"Wei Ying, it's me."

"Get lost."

"Come to Gusu with me."

"Get lost."

"I'll protect you from everyone, from everything."

"Get lost."

"Wei Ying please..."

"Get lost."

"I love you!"

"Get lost."

Really, how ironic.

MDZS Fanfic
Red Strings of Connections
ARC 3 Chapter 60
Wei Wuxian's Answer

Waking up from his deep slumber, his eyes immediately falls to the first person next to him, sleeping soundly yet peacefully, like everything they went through for the passed months were just a nightmare.

"He" brushes the other's hair on the face, then gently and softly caress the other's cheek, lovingly the sight of him sleeping next to him peacefully. Lan Wangji wishes that this would lasted forever--no he will surely make it forever.

The "Young Master" that is sleeping next to him shifted in his sleep, frowning then leaned closer to Lan Wangji, embracing him, and when finally feels his body heat, the young master smiled innocently and peacefully.

Lan Wangji, as someone who been accustomed at waking up five in the morning despite their "Night Activity", he has intention to wake up the latter, knowing full well that he is not a morning person, beside he really miss his lover that he wanted to uses all the free time to admire his beauty, and mesmerized his warm.

*****

Cries have filled the meeting hall of Jiang Clan, as Cangse Sanren, Wei Changze, and some Heads of Zhuque Sect have arrived earlier morning and their feelings flooded the hall upon the sight of the supposedly death children; and it wasn't just them, the Lan couple have also came to see their son and everyone.

Everyone express their relief and joys by having them back, safe and sound.

"Where are the others?"

"Tiao Liujuan, Xingxiu Caipi and Houki were volunteered to stay at the Sect, for security and... you know... Waiting for some news about Rein-er and Yu-er."

“O Dokun is in one of camp and leading his disciples for throughout investigation, Hua Xie is here report all of their findings so far.”

“Myo Juan and the rest of Myo Clan were all in medical camp and treating the wounded.”

“I see... I heard what happened, does anyone heard anything about Sis Rein?" Of course no one does, and if there is, it is only her "Death". "Then what about Bro Yu?"

"Last thing we heard, he was kidnapped by Mo Family."

"Together with this report is Jin Guangshan's escapee at Maze."

"Jin Guangshan?! Who helped him?"

"Probably people from Sun Shot Campaign."

Cong Zhuliu, "Yang'er..."

"Nope, he is not in the headquarters of those Jin Clan members that joined Sun Shot Alliance.”

“How did you know?” Jiang Cheng asked.

“I was brought there and been accusing of cursing Jin Zixun."

"Jin Zi—" Jiang Zixuan sighs in exhaustion and disappointment, to think that his cousin is one of enemies that wanted his clan to be demise—no, Jin Zixun might actually think he is better of as Sect Leader than Jin Zixuan.

"What accusing? Curse? What they did to you Yang'er?"

"Yes, Ying-gege,” Flitches, and seems suddenly get shock, Li Yang suddenly realized, he was too focused on reporting the situation of his entrapment that the moment he realized that the one that asked him is his brother that he misses more than anyone yet ignored him since return, emotion floods his chest already, “Jin Zixun have this spots in his chest..." Li Yang hiccupped which caught everyone attentions, they all halted and stare at him in confusion, his body couldn't able to contained it anymore and tears begun streaming without control..

Wei Wuxian, "Eh?! Wait why are you crying now Yang'er?!"

Upon the mentioned of his tears that he been trying to hold back all this time, he tries to wipe them with his sleeves.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it is just that..." Wei Wuxian crouched down and hold Li Yang's trembling shoulder, "I thought... I've thought... Ying-gege is mad at me!"

"Wait what made you think that?!"

"Ying-gege weren't talking to me since he came back!"

"Way to go Wei Wuxian, making your brother cry." Jiang Cheng spoke up, crossing his arms over his chest, however, his tone were more on teasing manner.

"I've been thinking ever since yesterday if I've done anything to upset Ying-gege! I'm so sorry if I done anything wrong please tell me what it is and I'll try to correct it!"

It’s not just him who feels this way, there are other two who held the same question in their heads, and they are O Zhangyao and Cong Zhuliu.

"No... no...no... you've never done anything! None of you ever done anything to upset me!”  Wei Wuxian is aware of are those he unconsciously ignored, he able to talk with Myo Qing and Myo Ning when Myo Qing examined him before resting, but he failed to find the other three siblings as they are no where to be found. Myo Ning though informed him that the three are busy taking care of things around the Yunmeng. “I... just... I was about say something yesterday but..."

"I'm the one who must apologize to you three," Lan Wangji intersects from behind his lover, looking at the three siblings, "l've took Wei Ying's attention right away."

"It's not your fault too Lan Zhan. It is all mine... I'm really sorry Yang'er if I had made you felt like that, but I swear I'm not upset to you, nor to any of you. I am really happy that you all have survive and we're together again."

Hearing those words of affirmation that he is not mad at them and just simply got overwhelmed by his love for Lan Wangji, the other two, O Zhangyao and Cong Zhuliu are currently felt like crying too. Finally, relief has settled in them.

With everything they went through in the hands of their enemies, the three wishes are only to return to their home, to the side of their family, by their saviour’s side.

"We understand it is your fault Wei Wuxian, still at least give them the reason why you've ignored them back then, I'm also confused you know."

"Even I tell Chengcheng the reason he won't ever understand."

"Bastard! Just spill it!"

Wei Wuxian narrows his eyes towards the questioner, want to ask if ever Jiang Cheng were serious about making him spilling the beans, like his reason is really, really embarrassing, that even the ever shameless Wei Wuxian is having difficult time if he should really just say or just dodge it.

"I just couldn't help it, I saw Lan Zhan after everything."

"Only that?!" Only Jiang Cheng reacted negatively over this confession, while the other cultivators were already figure this out and understand it.

"We cannot say we couldn't relate." Cangse Sanren spoken while looking at her husband. The adults understand it the most, especially those who were married through love.

"I know what you are talking about, I'm the same with A-Li." Jin Zixuan covers his mouth with his fists, trying to hide the blush of embarrassment on his cheeks.

Madam Lan frowns and crosses her arms, "I can't seem to relate." She claims.

"I do though." Qingheng-Jun mumbles on his wife's ears, with smile, which only makes Madam Lan sighs.

After some silent agreement on those who love their lovers, and to those who may be single but good at reading between the lines, and comforting his three siblings, Wei Wuxian stand up making the meeting resume.

Hua Xie coughs to inform them that he wants to talk, they shift their attention to him, ready to listen.

"About Young Master Yu, four months ago this disciple went to the Mo's headquarters, and what this disciple found there are only ruins of supposedly the "headquarters", the whole "palace" as what they called it, has collapsed completely. We collected a mountain of corpse; among them were some recognizable people, such as Jin Guangshan,"

Jin Zixun jerks his head upon hearing the former Sect Leader's name, frowns, yet no one question his opinion or emotion toward the issue. It wasn't like no one cares, yet this isn't about time to stay still.

O Zhangyao jabs his Sect Leader brother and whisper, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Current Sect Leader Jin nodded slightly, "What about you?"

The brother only sighs, and it is enough.

"The family of Mo, from mother to father and their son. The servants and some Jin disciples who were noted to be missing." Hearing all these, Jin Zixuan could feel an incoming headache, that he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Any clues about Yu'er?" Jin Zixuan asked in concern.

"There's a high probability that the caused of Mo's Palace collapsed is Young Master Yu's spiritual weapon."

"And? Where's Yu'er?"

Hua Xie lower his head, "No where... we only found his clothes."

Other than Wei Wuxian, the others either frown or bitten their lips, as anxiousness building up inside them, as the thought of losing two talented cultivators because of this war.

Yet Wei Wuxian is the only one who nodded and sigh in relief, which the others confused on; "As long as there's no corpse that proving that they are dead, there's still a chance that they are still alive, even the others—our enemies kept blurting Sis Rein's and Bro Yu's deaths, we must continue to believed in them." Wei Wuxian grins, "Didn't you all always keep saying they are strong? We have to believed on them then."

Lan Wangji nodded, the Zhuque Sect Head Disciples smiles, and the others are, "Yes, yes, yes you are right."

While Madam Jiang huffs, "Just to make things clear!" Everyone turns to her, "I never said that you guys are strong!"

Madam Lan shook her head, Cangse Sanren sighs but both has smiles on their faces, "Ziyuan really doesn't know how to be honest."

"She never changed."

"Not at all." Jiang Fengmian verbal his agreement to the two woman.

While the others have snickers.

Right, they only need to believe.

And it goes the same with Wen Ruohan.

The meeting continues and this time their topic has shifted towards the traitors that in their possession.

Wang Lingjiao, Wen Chao's woman.

Lady Qin Su, adopted daughter of Sect Leader Qin.

And Su Mishan, former Lan member.

"Maze is a good punishment for Wang Lingjiao and Su She, but..."

"Lady Qin Su is still the daughter of Sect Leader Qin; and we don't actually want to turn the Qin Clan into enemies."

"With Wen Chao still in large, also Tiao Kanglin and whatever they used to defeat A-Rein, whoever we put in the Maze would be just rescued by them just like Jin Guangshan."

"No one thinks of Jin Zixun as a threat huh."

"Neither Wen Chao and Tiao Kanglin, but it just that these two is hiding behind that "pet" they claim to have. Jin Zixun only has his pride. Soon, we'll catch him, no sweat."

"No need to." Li Yang claims, "I've already placed him in the prison."

Wei Wuxian burst out laughing, and soon the others follows.

"You are really great no da."

While Cong Zhuliu narrows his eyes towards his brother Wei Wuxian.

They take a break, Cong Zhuliu has uses this chance to have an alone time with Wei Wuxian, which may puzzled their siblings and Lan Wangji but no one actually disagree.

"What it is Liu-xiong?"

"Ying-shixiong..." From the term his siblings have used, Wei Wuxian immediately knew that this is a serious talk, so he waits, give him moments to gather his thoughts. "I... I discover something about my inheritance in Zhou Clan." Wei Wuxian nodded, affirming his attention to him, "They have this special ability that could only be done by a someone who is direct descendant of the clan. The Zhou Clan contains many members that weren't directly blood related to the first blood, which soon, made the Zhou Clan only have one heir at a time. This single heir is the only one who as this special ability."

"And... it is you."

"Yes. When you found me, the clan thought that I don't possessed this special ability, that's why it become easy for them to attempting to kill me."

"You... have it now?"

"Yes. Ying-shixiong... please help me... I'm scared..."

"Scared? Scared on what? In that special ability?"

"Ying-shixiong, this ability could destroy all the cultivators by just a touch! And I cannot control it!"

"What is this special ability first, Liu-shidi?"

"A Core Melting Ability. I... through touch... I... I could melt a cultivator's core! All the members of Zhou Clan have... I’ve melted their cores!" He broke down, cries as he holds himself, he wants to cry in his brother's arms but he afraid that he would melt Wei Wuxian's spiritual core. "I'm so scared that I'll melt yours' and the others'!"

"Have you try to control it?"

"I can't!"

"Does Zhou Clan has any documents about the clan's special ability?"

"It could be control through cultivation."

"Then cultivate it, raise it as your own, prosper it until you could control it, we have tons of experimental rats here."

"What do you—Ying-shixiong!" Cong Zhuliu were utterly shock, he didn't even noticed that Wei Wuxian is actually already holding him in his hands. "Your spi—"

"I don't feel anything at all. Look I'm not even turning into kid."

"Kid...?"

"Yes. Me, turning into a kid only means that something is attacking my spiritual core."

"Is Zumu knows why I'm turning into a child? This isn't really the first time that this happened."

"I know, actually "We" did know."

"Oh...then could Zumu enlighten me?"

Baoshan Sanren glance at the couple, Hua Cheng shrugged his shoulder while sighing.

"It was me." Hua Cheng admitted, "It's my idea turning you into child."

"Why? What's the reason Hua Chengzu?"

"It is to protect your Golden Core. Everytime your Golden core would be in danger or already in danger of getting broken, to heal itself it'll revert your body back to youngest state."

"Then the times when I turned into a child was because my Golden Core was in brink of danger?"

"Yes. Do you even aware how reckless you are? On how many times did you made choice of giving up your core for others? It's not just happened in your first life but also to your following lives. It's either you given out your Golden Core to either Jiang Cheng or Lan Wangji, or get melted away. If not, it was dug out for someone's entertainment."

Wei Wuxian is speechless.

"Look, ain't I still the same? This just mean that you can control it and you are already in the process of bending it to your will. That's why you don't have to worry, we're here for you, always."

Cong Zhuliu nods his head many times still crying but this time through relief.

*****

Hua Cheng’s finger with red string knot taps in silent, while waiting for the young master’s answer to his question, while his one eye close.

“This life and your past are not the same, nor even connected. That’s the same with your connections to everyone. Still, it must be really hard to swallow the fact that they are caused of your misery. Yet would your past affect your present?”

Wei Wuxian stares at his fist, wrinkling the blanket, his expression relaxes, and his heart has calm, the pounding on his head has also gone. Right, why should he let his past affect his present and future? In this lifetime, Cong Zhuliu, O Zhangyao and Li Yang are his siblings who joined him in everything, protected him, battle alongside him, helped him, saved him and love him. They grew up together, influenced by the same people, taught by same masters, laughed together, cried at each other’s arms, cares, worried together and much more he loves them as his family.

It doesn’t matter if they are not related by blood.

Much more it doesn’t matter their conflicts in the past life.

They are not Wen Zhuliu, Jin Guangyao and Xue Yang.

They are his siblings,

Cong Zhuliu, Head Disciple of House of Gui.

O Zhangyao, Head Disciple of House of Zhang.

And Li Yang, Head Disciple of House of Jing.

What important is their present, their current life, and in this lifetime, they are his loving family.

Wei Wuxian doesn’t even need to voice out his answer to Hua Cheng’s question, as the three higher beings could clearly see his answer with that smile which is full of fondness.