"It seems that whoever we're facing, they're no easy opponent"

Wei Ying and Lan Zhan rushed back to the Man-Eating Ridge, dead set on finding the next piece of their dear friend. When they arrived, they were met with a struggling Nie Huaisang. The head-shaker had been trying to repair the hole in the wall, created by Bichen's blade. He was giving out orders left and right, "You over there, fix this thing right here. Wait what even is that? I don't know... I don't know... I really don't know!" he muttered, like the good-for-nothing that he was. 

"Sect leader Nie," Lan Zhan announced their presence. 

"Ahh, Han-Guang Jun," Huaisang laughed nervously. He had not forgotten their previous encounter where he had been forcefully coerced into revealing all of the Qinghe Nie Sect's precious secrets. "W-W-What brings you here today?" he stuttered. 

"We need to take a look at your corpses," Wei Ying said, nodding at the wall that was in the process of being repaired. "And we're going to need to break down your wall again." 

"Oh of course," Nie Huaisang nodded quickly. Then he frowned, "WAIT WHAT?!" he squeaked, a look a panic on his face when he had processed what those words meant. 

Too late. Bichen already tore down the section of the wall that Huaisang had just fixed. Nie Huaisang looked at the wall in disbelief. He had spent the entire morning working, and the fruits of his efforts was just wasted. He balked, "Han-Guang Jun I-" 

"Apologies Sect Leader Nie, we're going to need to dig out all the corpses as well," Wei Ying chimed in, "So if you would be so kind as to lend us a hand..."

Nie Huaisang wanted to protest, but one glance at the look on Lan Zhan's face, and everything he wanted to say, died in his throat. He coughed, "O-Of course, Han-Guang Jun, it's no problem," he stammered, gesturing to his disciples, "Bring out all the corpses." 

As the Nie Sect's disciples were busy digging out bodies from the wall, Wei Ying exchanged a worried look with Lan Zhan. The curse was growing faster now. It had spread to his torso already. It looked like the only part of the body that wasn't touched, was Wei Ying's left hand. 

"Look at the hands," Lan Zhan said, before using Bichen to slice away all the clothes off the corpses. 

Nie Huaisang almost fainted on the spot. He was shaking his head, face getting paler and paler by the second. "H-Han-Guang Jun... are you sure this is necessary?" he asked drifting off when Lan Zhan held up his hand, asking for silence. The head shaker's head was spinning, 'Why did  Han-Guang Jun need to unveil the corpses? What was going on? Oh he didn't know... he didn't know... he really didn't know!'

"THERE!" Wei Ying suddenly exclaimed pointing to one of the male corpses. "Look! His hand is a different color than the rest of his body. It was sewn on!" 

Lan Zhan inspected the hand, it was indeed added on to make the body less conspicuous. He quickly sliced the hand off and took out a Qiankun pouch to put the body inside. Pulling out Wangji, he strummed a few chords before the body calmed down. 

Wei Ying looked down at the curse mark. It was starting to recede. "Ah Sect leader Nie, we apologize for the inconvenience. We'll be taking this body with us." 

Nie Huaisang didn't respond. He had already passed out in the arms of a senior disciple. Wei Ying sighed, signaling the disciple, "Please tell your sect leader about this when he wakes up." 

The disciple just nodded, face a ghostly white as he stared at Han-Guang Jun in shock. 

Wei Ying smiled, pleased with himself, "Lets go, Lan Zh-" he stopped short when he heard a dog barking in the distance. 'Oh no!'  Wei Ying screamed a blood curdling shriek and dashed out the Man-Eating Ridge. He ran as fast as he could, adrenaline pumping through his veins. 'Oh my god, why is it that stupid Fairy again? Remind me why Jin Ling decided to own a dog? And what did that brat do this time?' 

Wei Ying was so immersed in his thoughts that he didn't realize where he even going. It wasn't until a sharp voice clipped, "Well, well, well, look what we have here," that he realized... Fairy had led him straight to Jiang Cheng! 

Before he could process what just happened, forceful fingers latched onto his forearm and dragged him forward. Jiang Cheng hauled him into an inn, and tossed a few silvers to the owner, "No one is allowed to disturb us," he said authoritatively. The owner trembled and led them to a small room, far away from prying eyes. 

Jiang Cheng dragged Wei Ying inside and threw him on the floor, while he himself sat down beside the table and poured himself a cup of tea. Fury boiled in his rage filled eyes. He took a deep breath, calming himself before opening his mouth. "Well, do you have anything to say to me?" Jiang Cheng mocked, disgust evident in his voice. 

Wei Ying gazed at him sadly. Even though he knew that Jiang Cheng didn't mean it, his heart was still hurt by disgusted look in Jiang Cheng's eyes. Jiang Cheng was his little brother, the little brother that he had grown up with. The little brother that he loved, he protected, and that he knew better than anyone. Jiang Cheng had always been stiff and responsible, only peeking out of his shell when he saw his Shijie. He had been proud and arrogant, always vying for recognition. Only Shijie had been able to tame his competitiveness, his sheer will to win. Life to Jiang Cheng was a competition, one he couldn't afford to loose. 

Growing up, Wei Ying had always eclipsed him. Whether it be archery, combat, or duelling- Wei Ying had always topped Jiang Cheng. It was like Jiang Cheng was Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. But Wei Ying was the moon, the guiding light in the dark. No matter how brightly a star shined, how could it possibly compare to the brilliant glow of the moon?

Wei Ying knew that deep inside, Jiang Cheng was dissatisfied and envious. But because Wei Ying was his brother, he kept the jealousy locked deep inside him. Now that he was finally given the opportunity to surpass Wei Ying, how could he not latch onto it? How could he not attack him with fury and pent up frustration? Wei Ying knew that. But he also knew, that deep inside, it wasn't spite that drove Jiang Cheng's attacks, but pain. His hatred stemmed from bitterness, hurt, and grief. He would never admit it, but Wei Ying knew- deep down, Jiang Cheng was bitter because Wei Ying didn't choose him; he was hurt that Wei Ying chose to save a bunch of nobodies rather than stay with his family; he was pained that he would no longer have his big brother there beside him- the big brother that promised him: one day, when Jiang Cheng became sect leader, he would have his brother by his side, supporting him every step of the way. 

Jiang Cheng didn't hate Wei Wuxian. He knew that it wasn't Wei Ying's fault his parents died. He knew his Shijie's death wasn't forced by Wei Ying. But because with Jiang Cheng's personality, he would never allow himself to admit that- he instead, directed all his hate at the one person who would never fight back. He hated Wei Ying with vengeance because when he saw Wei Ying, he saw the brother who broke his promise; who abandoned him and his sister; who chose to resign himself to a live of poverty and desolation. All for the Wen dogs. The dogs that killed his mother and father, that took away his home, that all deserved to rot in the deepest pits of hell. 

The Wen dogs that his brother left him to save. 

Wei Ying knew what Jiang Cheng wanted to hear. He sighed, gazing up at the ceiling. How had they gotten to this point? How had they gone from close brothers, to now fated enemies?  Wei Ying's eyes watered. He knew that what Jiang Cheng wanted was an apology. He knew that Jiang Cheng wanted Wei Ying to admit that he was wrong, that everything was his fault. Jiang Cheng wanted his brother to admit that he never should've abandoned him the first place, and that he was sorry for not putting his family before everything else. He wanted for Wei Ying to tell him that he regretted his decisions, and that if he could do it all over again, he would've just let the Wen dogs die.  

But Wei Ying couldn't. He couldn't offer the sorry that Jiang Cheng so desperately craved. Because he knew, deep inside, it was never his fault.

 For the longest time, Wei Ying blamed himself. He blamed himself for the death of his sister. He blamed himself for the death of his parents, and later Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan. He blamed himself for the massacre of the Qiongqi Path. He blamed himself for the Burial Mounds siege, for the Wen's death. For so long, Wei Ying was blinded by his own guilt. It was only until he came to terms with his grief, that he realized, he never did it. He never played the tune that drove Wen Ning crazy; he never wielded the sword that took his Shijies life; and even if he never upset the Wen's, Lotus Pier would've still been wiped out. He realized that it didn't matter what everyone else believed, because as long as he knew that he was innocent, that would be enough. 

"I'm sorry." Wei Ying said at last, "But I don't regret it." 

Jiang Cheng scoffed, trying to mask the hurt flashing through his eyes, "Of course you don't regret it. You've never cared about anyone but those Wen dogs."

Zidian crackled at his side. He shot Wei Ying a look of revulsion and flicked his wrist. Zidian immediately wrapped itself around Wei Ying, preventing him from moving. 

"JIN LING," Jiang Cheng hollered before opening the door and stepping outside, "I'm borrowing your dog," he said before releasing Fairy inside the room. He shot Jin Ling a look, "Make sure to watch over him. If he escapes, I'll break your legs," Jiang Cheng ordered, ignoring Wei Ying shivering in the corner. 

"Ok, uncle I know," Jin Ling rolled his eyes. 

Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes into slits, "Good," he muttered before departing. 

As soon as Jiang Cheng left, Jin Ling immediately rushed over and untied Zidian, "You saved me before, so now we're even," he explained before whistling for Fairy to leave. "Let's go," he urged, helping a still trembling Wei Ying stand up. 

"Why are you doing this?" Wei Ying asked before he left. 

"What do you mean why am I doing this? I just don't want to be in anyone's debt. Now that I've saved you, I don't owe you anything anyone." 

Wei Ying smiled at his explanation, "You're a good kid, you know?" 

Jin Ling blushed. No one had ever given him genuine compliments before, "Shut up and leave," he grunted, eyes lit up with pride.  

Wei Ying laughed before darting out the window. Having successfully escaped from Jiang Cheng's clutches, he rushed to find Lan Zhan. 

As he ran he thought, 'Lan Zhan is going to kill me...'