Inevitable

Yunmeng.

The disciples immediately cleared the way when they saw their sect leader's murderous face. Their sect leader is always angry, and the reason is always Wei Wuxian. But, this is the first time they saw Jiang Cheng this mad. Could the reason be... it's Wei Wuxian again? They all thought and immediately resumed the training.

Jiang Cheng didn't look anywhere and stormed straight into his room. "Wei Wuxian, you - !" he said as the Zidian ring turned to a whip and hit the table. The table was cut into two.

The disciples outside jumped in fright. Seems like... their guess was right. They thought, referring to Wei Wuxian as their sect leader's cause of anger. Well, as always.

Jiang Cheng's chest heaved up and down because of anger. His eyes narrowed into slights – looking like a pair of glowing purple orbs. "Bullshit!" he yelled as he punched the wall. It cracked and shook, looked like it's fall but the Lotus Pier is fortunately sturdy and so it didn't. "How can we be together?! Damn cut sleeves!" he cursed and kicked the floor. After a while of venting out his anger by cursing and kicking and punching, he finally calmed down. He analyzed what's the cause of his anger... and unrest. Yes. He's feeling unsettled inside. As to why... his handsome and sharp face gone dark.

First of all, because of Wei Wuxian. That guy has always annoyed him ever since they met. Second, because of Wei Wuxian. That guy just never failed to make him mad, pissed, annoyed, irritated... third, it's Wei Wuxian. He just had to be annoying, irritating, piss off, and be a big source of anger. Had he accumulated all the anger in the world and now throwing it on their faces? Fourth, Wei Wuxian. He just had to... be... kind. His face gone soft and serious. All the anger on him disappeared. 

Wei Wuxian... why do you have to... say those words? He thought as he lowered his head and lean on the wall.

"You two could be together." Wei Wuxian told him and Lan Xichen.

Could it be... Wei Wuxian knew from the start? He thought as his back slid down the wall and he fell on the floor. Yet, he didn't mind. Or was it... am I too obvious from the start? He thought when he remembered that even Lan Wangji agreed. One, to spoil his wife. Two, he loves his wife. And three... he might have known his wife's intention and so, he agreed. 

"I didn't know he could be generous..." he muttered as he smiled when he thought Lan Wangji might knew he is in love with Lan Xichen. "Wei Wuxian... you are so lucky this second life of yours. You deserve it." He said and smiled as he covered his eyes with his arm as he let his tears fall. 

True, he had been in love with Wei Wuxian. He realize he had fell for him when he lost him – when Wei Wuxian died. For thirteen years he searched for his soul. Not only because of anger, but also he wanted for him to come back. To not leave him in life. And then he really came back. 

But, Lan Wangji took him away from him. He couldn't stop Lan Wangji, coz deep inside him, he knew – Lan Wangji must've felt something towards Wei Wuxian, too. Back when they were still studying at Cloud Recesses – those times Wei Wuxian teases him, disrupting the stillness of his life. 

That time when Wei Wuxian came back and practiced demonic cultivation, Lan Wangji wanted to take him away – to Gusu. This, Jiang Cheng regretted. They misunderstood Lan Wangji and so he stopped Lan Wangji who only wanted to protect Wei Wuxian. That, and Wei Wuxian died from the backlash of his demonic cultivation. 

They both lost Wei Wuxian. Thirteen years later then passed. Lan Wangji, finally saw Wei Wuxian again, forcefully took him from him through reasoning. He also wanted Wei Wuxian to be by his side, yet he didn't do anything. Why? Because, deep inside him, he knew he doesn't deserve Wei Wuxian. And he deeply felt it when he knew Wei Wuxian sacrificed his life – his core, his cultivation just to give to him. That time, he felt like he's the most undeserving person in the world. Yet, Wei Wuxian didn't make him feel like that. Instead, he just left and said nothing, not adding to the misery he felt.

"Wei Wuxian... thank you." He whispered in the darkness. The sun has gone down. "But... I'm sorry. I – ... will let your plan be in vain. I... don't deserve him, like I didn't deserve you." He said as a sob came out of his mouth.

Jin Ling who was about to knock was frozen outside the door. His uncle... he is crying again. He thought as his shoulder fell. He lowered his hand that's about to knock. He silently left. How many times is this? He thought as he walk around the Lotus Pier. Ever since that time... his uncle started to cry. Not the day after the event at Guanyin Temple. But, it's when... during the conference of all the cultivators to discuss about Jin Guangyao's crimes. That day... his uncle – he experienced the biggest shame. And it's because of –

Conference at the Cloud Recesses.

They held the conference there since they felt suffocated of the Koi Tower – in where they always held the conference. The QingheNie is useless because of Nie Huaisang still grieving about knowing the cause of his elder brother's death. They could hold the conference at the Lotus Pier, yet they felt it's awkward because of Jiang Cheng's temper witnessing it last time he forced them all to unsheathe Suibian. And so, they held it in the Cloud Recesses.

Everything has gone 'smoothly' – just normal yet still awkward, when an off-hand comment was brought up.

"By now, there's only two great sects left – GusuLan and YunmengJiang. The LanlingJin... young master Jin is still a child."

The other sect leaders are absent. Nie Huaisang didn't attend while Jin Ling – the next LanlingJin sect's leader, just listened outside.

"The LanlingJin Sect's leadership will fall on sect leader Jiang's hands as young master Jin's guardian."

"Yes, yes..." they all agreed, some just trying to curry favor from Jiang Cheng.

"I don't care." Jiang Cheng just said as he gulped down the alcohol.

Silence fell upon them. "This leaves two sect leaders of the great sects..." one sect leader said after a while. It was really just stating the truth, the obvious. Yet...

"What do you imply?"

"... making them sworn brothers?" and it was followed by numerous comment.

"Sect leader Lan and sect leader Jiang to be sworn brothers – "

"Yes. That might be a good idea."

"Yes, ah. Sect leader Jiang may be grumpy, but he's honest unlike Jin Guangyao – "

The two involved were just silent, especially Lan Xichen. Upon hearing those words, the two snapped. A long crack was made on the long table when Lan Xichen hit it and the Zidian whip hit it. They all jumped in fright and immediately went away the table. Only two – one white and one purple, on both ends of the table, were left.

"Who said that?" Lan Xichen asked, his usually gentle face is dangerously calm.

Nobody answered due to shock. Jiang Cheng's face is dark. "Uncle – " Jin Ling called Jiang Cheng when he can't hold back anymore and went inside. Yet, only to stop when he heard the next words. And it's from the person he least expect to hear it from.

"If you're all worried to have another A-Yao – " Lan Xichen said and bit his tongue when he said the name. " – then don't dare to suggest making sect leader Jiang and I to be sworn brothers." He said.

A deafening silence fell upon them. "What does sect leader Lan meant of that?" Jiang Cheng asked as he rose from his seat. His dark face earlier gone darker as the Zidian whip sparked. The others immediately moved away from the Zidian's hit area. He coldly looked at Lan Xichen.

Lan Xichen looked at Jiang Cheng. His face seemed to calmed down now. "That sect leader Jiang and I can't be sworn brothers." He answered.

Jiang Cheng's eyes are pools of storm yet he held back his anger. He still respects his alma mater, or else the place will be thrashed. "Oh? Sect leader Lan is afraid I might betray you?" he asked and smirked.

Lan Xichen's expression didn't change. However, his words struck Jiang Cheng's heart like poisons. "Sect leader Jiang will not be A-Yao." He said.

(A/N: AAAAAAAAAAAA!!! Fck, LXC! Why, you! 😡😡😡 and why do I keep hurting myself like this...? 😭😭😭 to be continued)