When We Meet Again (The Untamed Sequel)

Chapter 11 - Revelation

"It's so dark right now, I can't see any light around me."

"That's because the light is coming from you. You can't see it but everyone else can."― Lang Leav, Love & Misadventure

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Lan Wangji

Wei Ying was thrown into Burial Mounds. Then he cultivated Chenqing to control dark energy. He created Stygian Amulet with Yin metal. And lost his golden core. That affected him. He changed, was on the edge of losing control over his power. And then he did. Later we learned that he didn't. It was plotted against him.

That is what I knew about Wei Ying's past. There were missing parts that no one knew except him. The world, including me, knew him as a Demonic Cultivator. But I saw that his will was good. I knew he had reasons to choose a demonic path, and he will tell them eventually when he is ready. But why would he hide the fact that his cultivation methods could heal people? Regardless of how many times I think over I couldn't understand. (AN: I totally made it up)

It was almost dark by the time we get back. Since Wei Ying needed to talk, I take him to the fall at the back of Cloud Recess, where we will not be disturbed. He follows me in deep thought, possibly not aware of where we're headed. When we arrive there I simply stand next to him till he's done thinking.

Finally being aware of the surroundings he lets out a sigh. He takes a few steps in front, towards the edge of the cliff. Seeing him standing this way on a cliff still awakes a fear that is buried deep within me.

"There are a lot of things that I haven't told you, Lan Zhan."

I walk to him. "You can tell me anything you want."

He gives a tired smile. "I know. I guess... I wasn't ready," he continues after a moment. "And I didn't want to hurt- Never mind," he says shaking his head.

"Tell me, Wei Ying"

His eyes were closed. He takes a deep breath. "When I was thrown into Burial Mounds, I didn't have my core. I didn't have any spiritual power to stop the resentment energy from attacking me. Thousands of voices screamed right into my head. I was too week to fight them. I was slowly losing my sanity lost in those voices." He opens his eyes revealing the storm beneath them.

"And then I started hearing familiar voices, and there was one voice that calmed me down. That voice spoke to my instincts, telling me ways to survive. Chenqing was one of those ways." His gaze falls to some faraway place as if he was seeing it all happening again.

"I learned that if I cultivate dark energy I could use it to control it. If I can control it, I can survive without fighting it. All I needed was a tool, and that's one of the reasons why I cultivated Chenqing. As for the other reason, I needed a way to heal myself. So I learned the way of controlling and sending dark energy away using the same instrument. That's how Chenqing was made. To control and heal.

"Have you ever wondered why the Wens whom I took to the Burial Mounds was never affected by resentment? That was because I played for them every night to heal them. And have you noticed that the resentment in Burial mounds reduced during the time I was there? That was because I suppressed it. All using this" he says twirling Chenqing in his fingers.

"Since Chenqing was cultivated using dark energy, it acts differently from other spiritual tools. It attracts dark energy. So a person affected doesn't feel anything when healed, because fighting against dark spirits is not necessary. They're naturally attracted to Chenqing, unlike usual instruments which oppose each other

"Chenqing is not just an instrument used to summon dark spirits, or just control corpses. This has saved my life, Lan Zhan. And I'm not just a demonic cultivator. If I didn't cultivate dark energy that day I will be another corpse rotting in burial mounds."

A silence follows.

How more blind could I have been? All of this was for you to survive. Wei Ying... how did I even think of believing what the world said about you? I let you down, didn't I Wei Ying? I'm sorry. For not being able to see the most obvious...

He looks at me for a long time, studying my face.

"Don't blame yourself, Lan Zhan." He says. "I did everything I can to hide this back then because I couldn't reveal that I don't have a golden core. There was no way you could have known."

It was wonderful, the way he reads me like an open book when I try my best to hide my emotions.

"Lan Zhan, later I realized that what I heard weren't familiar voices, but memories. I've been imagining them out of trauma. And that comforting voice... It was yours."

Wei Ying...

"I didn't realize it till the last time I went to burial mounds." He cups my face. "When it was too hard to bear I've subconsciously tried to work like you. I made Chenqing just like your Wangji. You're the sole reason for my survival Lan Zhan. If it wasn't for your voice no one would have ever seen me again."

"Why me?" I ask.

He smiles. "I loved you back then too Lan Zhan. I was too stubborn to realize it. You soothed me in a way I didn't understand. Fighting alongside you made me weirdly confident. No matter how many friends I had, I was drawn to you, always concerned about your safety. I never stopped to think about why. I wish I did. And Lan Zhan, for sixteen years you longed for my return. What more can I ask from you?"

I can't explain what I'm feeling. There were too many thoughts and emotions in my mind. I'm happy and sad. Relieved and mad. Excited but worried. I'm sure it must be the same for him. After all, what he spoke out today were his darkest memories.

Tonight the only thing that could comfort us is the presence of each other. The fact that we're there for each other. So I pull him close to me and rest my head on his shoulder. He melts into me, clutching my robes in his hands.

"I'm here," I say.

"I'm here too"

The rest of the world may never understand how much those words mean for us.

Because for us, this is what we need the most. Each other. For our souls to be together.

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Here's a bonus early update for yáll. 

I have added some parts about Wei Wuxian's power that were made up by me. Cuz, there were some uncertain parts in the drama. I hope that they were fair enough for the characters.  

Enjoy... Till next time...