It was a toast to forever. 

A bright ray of sunlight illuminated Wei Ying's languid figure. He was draped all over his lover, one leg tangling with his. 

Wei Ying moaned, his body still sore from last night's activities. "Lan Zhan..." he murmured, groggily rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. 

"Mn?" came his lover's reply. 

Wei Ying felt a grin take over his face. His lover. Lan Zhan was finally his. A blissful smile stretched from ear to ear as he pointed at the sword beside them, "You still haven't told me about Suibian." 

Lan Zhan nodded, as if he had expected this. "Brother gave it to me." 

"Hm?" Wei Ying asked, the confusion clear in his voice. 

"He said that Sect leader Jin gave it to him after your identity was revealed. Jin Guangyao hoped that brother would be able to persuade me with your sword. It was given as a reminder that you veered off the right path and practiced demonic cultivation," Lan Zhan said, a flicker of resentment in his normally cold eyes. 

Wei Ying hummed. That was the most Lan Zhan had said in years. 

"Brother also told me to bring you to the Hanshi." 

Wei Ying nodded, having long anticipated this. Lan Xichen would never approve of his beloved younger brother being in cahoots with a demon. It was only natural that he wanted to question Wei Ying for himself. Lan Xichen was Jiang Cheng's lover, so it was likely that he was still wary of Wei Ying. Even so, he wanted to make a good impression. He knew how much Lan Zhan loved his brother. 

"Ok," he murmured before struggling upright. He winced, his muscles screaming in protest. 

Lan Zhan grunted at the pained expression on his face. "Get on," he said, kneeling in front of Wei Ying. 

Wei Ying shook his head blushing furiously, "I can walk." 

Lan Zhan shot him an amused look. "Are you sure?"

Wei Ying grumbled. "Alright fine. You can carry me," he folded. His new body was still feeble and weak. Add that to the mind blowing sex he had last night, and Wei Ying could barely stand. Besides, why should he walk when there was a ride waiting for him?

Wei Ying laughed, "Lan-er gege, take me to see the in laws!" 

Lan Zhan grinned, a real genuine smile that lit up brighter than the sun. "Mn." 

--------

By the time they made it to the Hanshi, whatever joy Wei Ying had felt seeing Lan Zhan's smile, had dampened. 

"Well if it isn't the Yiling Patriarch," Jiang Cheng spit, "Back from the dead, I see." 

Wei Ying swallowed, a knot forming in his throat. It had been months since he last saw his brother, and if anything, the other's hatred had only grown. 

"Sect leader Jiang," Lan Zhan replied icily. 

"Wangji," Lan Xichen greeted, a warning in his tone. It was clear that he would go to the ends of the Earth for Jiang Cheng, even if it meant fighting his own brother. 

Lan Zhan clenched his jaw and stayed silent, betrayal etched on his face. 

Wei Ying put a comforting hand on Lan Zhan's shoulder, gently soothing his lover's rage. "Jiang Cheng." 

Jiang Cheng scoffed, eyes widening when he saw Suibian. The sword hung from Lan Zhan's sash, gently swaying back and forth. He sneered, "You haven't changed one bit, have you? Still as arrogant as always." 

Wei Ying hung his head, unwilling to face the accusations. 

His brother narrowed his eyes. "Oh my, are you ashamed? I didn't think that Wei Wuxian even knew was shame was." 

"Jiang Wanyin," Lan Zhan growled, a threat clear in his voice. 

"Wangji." 

Lan Zhan was silent, but his eyes flashed dangerously. Wei Ying shook his head at him. "Lan Zhan," he pleaded, imploring for the other to stop. He didn't want for the brothers to fight. His own relationship with his brother was already strained enough. He didn't want to force the same thing on Lan Zhan. 

"Since when did the almighty Yiling Patriarch rely on others to fight his battles for him?" Jiang Cheng taunted, bitterness clouding his tone.

"Jiang Cheng..." 

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, "And is that Suibian? Holy shit, you still have your sword? I thought you didn't need it anymore." 

"Jiang Cheng..." 

"Ah yes, the great Yiling Patriarch- the mighty Wei Wuxian. How could us lowly mortals possibly compare?" he mocked. 

"Jiang Ch-" Wei Ying's eyes widened when Zidian suddenly darted out, wrapping itself around Suibian. Jiang Cheng tugged his whip backwards and Suibian landed in his open hands. 

"My my, isn't this the sword that sealed itself?" he curled his lip, tugging at the handle to demonstrate. To his surprise and utter disbelief, the blade slid out. 

Jiang Cheng spluttered, "W-What?" His face paled as he stared at the sword in his hands. Suibian. His mind raced.'But how could he have pulled out Suibian? Didn't the sword seal itself? There's no way he could've pulled out Wei Wuxian's sword. Unless... the blade confused them to be the same person? But how could that be possible? Cultivators were identified through their golden cores. There's no way he and Wei Wuxian shared a core. Even if he wanted to, Wei Ying couldn't have possibly slipped him his golden core- especially not without Jiang Cheng noticing. How could he not remember if someone touched his core? Whe-' Jiang Cheng paused. 'No. There was one time...' he gasped, pain etching itself onto his features. Understanding flashed across his face, as his knees trembled. Lan Xichen immediately rushed to his side, one arm supporting his beloved, the other held up in warning. But Jiang Cheng was too far gone to pay him any attention. His mind raced, scenario after scenario flashing through his mind. 'Baoshan Sanren...' tears streaked down his face, as the truth dawned on him. 'There was never a Baoshan Sanren was there? That was just Wei Wuxian, wasn't it?'

Wei Ying paled the second Jiang Cheng pressed his hand to his chest, right where his golden core should've been. His brother's face was filled with suffering, and tears trailed down his face. Jiang Cheng never cried- he never cried because it was humiliating to cry in the presence of others. But here he was, the great Sandu Shengshou, slowly breaking apart. 

He knew. Jiang Cheng knew. 

Wei Ying gulped, and hung his head in shame. "Jiang Cheng..." he muttered, voice full of guilt. 

Jiang Cheng was quiet, the calm before the storm. 

"Jiang Cheng?" he asked again, worried by his brothers reaction. He had expected Jiang Cheng to yell at him, to rage and scream. He thought Zidian would've glowed with unholy light. He knew his brother would scoff and spit in his face. But none of that happened. The silence bothered him. It left him on the edge, not knowing what to do next. 

No answer. 

"Jiang Cheng!" 

And just like that, the calm broke. The storm was here. 

Jiang Cheng rushed forward, shoving Wei Ying backwards. Had it not been for Lan Zhan, he surely would've fell. Lan Zhan shot Jiang Cheng a death glare, but was kept at bay by Zewu Jun's flashing eyes. Wei Ying was positive that Zewu Jun would no doubt rush to his beloved's defense, and Lan Zhan would never hurt his older brother. 

"WEI WUXIAN," Jiang Cheng screamed, the tears flooding from his eyes in earnest now. "WHY?!" he yelled, his voice cracking in the middle. "WHY DO YOU ALWAYS NEED TO PLAY THE HERO?! DID YOU EVER ASK ME IF I WANTED THIS?" he roared, gesturing frantically at himself. "YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOT. WHO TOLD YOU TO GIVE ME THIS?! YOU FUCKING DUNCE. THAT DEFEATS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF M-" he suddenly cut off, realizing he said to much. 

Wei Ying's eyes widened. "Purpose of what?" 

Jiang Cheng didn't answer him, and kept his eyes downcast. 

Wei Ying blanched, his mouth dropping open in shock. "Purpose of what? What purpose could you ha-" he stopped. 'No.' he thought, tears dripping down his face. "No..." he murmured, mind racing. "The day after we escaped... I went to buy Shijie some medicine. There were Wen soldiers there, they were closing in on me. And then a shout sounded, and all of a sudden, they all left." Wei Ying muttered, realization striking him. "Fuck." he cursed, raising his bloodshot eyes. 

He pushed Jiang Cheng. Pushed him so hard, he staggered backwards- right into Lan Xichen's waiting arms. "FUCK YOU," he screamed, rage surging through him. "YOU FUCKING IDIOT. HOW DARE YOU. HOW FUCKING DARE YOU. I THOUGHT YOU RAN BACK FOR... for..." he trailed off, unable to continue.

"For what?" Jiang Cheng mocked, furiously wiping his tears away. "You thought I ran back for my parents bodies?" he taunted, a haunted look in his eyes. "Do I really look that stupid to you?" 

Wei Ying nearly collapsed. He had always thought Jiang Cheng ran back to Lotus Pier for Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan. He believed that it was a spur of the moment decision, and cursed his little brother for being so dense.'Fuck.' Wei Ying thought, his vision blurring from the tears. 'Jiang Cheng never left because he wanted to. He was captured. Captured because he was the one that distracted those soldiers. Captured because he decided to save us. To save me.' 

Wei Ying attacked. He grabbed Jiang Cheng and pulled him in a fierce hug. "You fucking fool." Jiang Cheng reeled back, but Wei Ying locked his arms and held him tight. 

"You're the fucking fool," Jiang Cheng spit. 

"We're both fucking fools." 

Jiang Cheng scoffed. "Nope. Only you have hero syndrome." 

Wei Ying laughed brokenly. They were both so stupid. 

Two brothers, both having walked their different paths. One that walked in the light, one that trudged through the dark. One that was left behind, one that slipped away. One that beared unspeakable pressures, one that darted away from responsibility. One bitter, one condoned. One the last lotus of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, and one the terrifying Yiling Patriarch. 

But both brothers. Both loved and both sacrificed. Both experienced the utter despair, the knowledge that they were the last of their kind. Both held an unwavering loyalty to each other, that weathered 21 years of wear and tear. Both could forgive, but never forget. 

They could never forget the road the led them here- could never forget the bloodshed and grief that stained their path. They would never let the sacrifices each offered, slip from their minds- would never forget the torment, each inflicted. 

But they could put it aside.

No matter what Wei Ying did, Jiang Cheng would always love him, supporting him in his own quiet way. And no matter how inexcusable Jiang Cheng's behavior was, Wei Ying would always protect him, caring for the little brother he so dearly cherished. 

The sun shone down on the two, illuminating them in an otherworldly light. Perhaps even the gods could tell the significance of this moment. This moment, when two brothers decided to put aside their past grievances, and raise a toast to the future. 

Forgiveness wasn't a weakness, it was a strength. It was strength to keep going, even after all the mistakes and delusions. It was the resolve to fix something that had once been so broken, so utterly beyond repair. It was the compassion to understand and believe. It was the love, that underwent years of separation and discord. It was the brotherly bond that still shone bright, blazing past all obstacles. 

It was the Twin Prides of Yunmeng.