Behind The Closed Doors

Wei Wuxian stumbles from the path, his mind foggy as he was bleeding heavily from his back. Normally, this heavy of a punishment was frowned upon, but it was no secret that Wei Wuxian's golden core was stronger than beyond his years, so there was no doubt in their mind he would survive this severe punishment. Wei Wuxian will heal, even though the scars would be there without a doubt, but he might be crippled for at least an entire month as he lets his back heal, but right now that wasn't his biggest worry. It was the fact that he had to control his emotions through the entire beating as his core was working extra hard to keep him from fainting or worse, dying underneath the paddle. His core was working a lot harder than it needed to be. Wei Wuxian almost lost control and let a surge of spiritual energy blast in the middle of the Lan Ancestors hall which would have been a disaster and there isn't any doubt in his mind if he lost more control, likely every single one of them who stood in the hall to watch on the beating would have been hurt, hell even those with weaker cores could have died if he let go. So stumbling down the path, Wei Wuxian made it to his favorite spot in Cloud Recesses where he always chooses to meditate, Wei Wuxian met with the large body of water that was upstream of the river that housed a full of water.

Stripping from his clothes, Wei Wuxian winced and let out a few moans of pain as he forced the fabric from his badly beaten back, but it was a struggle as the blood started to dry causing the clothes to stick to him, so he had to force it off by ripping the torn skin off of his back and he couldn't help but let out a cry of whimpering pain. Finally ridding himself of his clothes completely Wei Wuxian steps into the water and swims to the middle of the river and let himself sink under the surface to where he was deep enough where he let the scream he was holding in out shaking the entire body of river and possible a good portion of Cloud Recesses. Red and black spiritual and resentful energy swarms around Wei Wuxian and skyrockets out of the water causing a huge splash on the surface of the water.

'It's all out,' he thought sorrowfully as he let the darkness take him again. He was able to control it to be let out somewhere safer, but he might as well just die here. Just let himself drown as he sinks further and deeper into the water. 'I am finally done.'

Lan Wangji who not only followed him but watched and felt it all unfold, jumps into the water once he realized Wei Wuxian wasn't going to resurface by himself. Swimming down to where he saw Wei Wuxian sunk, he swims deeper and deeper until he spots Wei Wuxian and swims to catch him and drags him back up and to the bank of the river. Lan Wangji takes off his outer robe and places it on the ground and lays Wei Wuxian on his wrapping the boy up before he looks to find if Wei Wuxian was breathing, he was not. Lan Wangji tried to find a pulse, it was so faint it was easy to miss. Panicking, Lan Wangji set out to perform CPR on Wei Wuxian trying to get the water out of his lungs and for him to take a breath. Lan Wangji, "Wake up!" he demands from Wei Wuxian but he didn't respond.

Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli along with all the other disciples followed to where the light show of spiritual energy led them to, to find Wei Wuxian motionless and white as the dead, and Lan Wangji performing CPR on him. Jiang Yanli screams out of terror, and Nie Huaisang pulls her into a hug hiding her from the view, but Jiang Cheng runs to his brother side pushing Lan Wangji out of the way to take his place tipping Wei WUxian's head back, plugging his nose and giving Wei Wuxian three breaths and waited to see if he would breathe on his own, but Wei Wuxian was still not breathing, Gritting his teeth Jiang Cheng started to beat down on his chest with his fist, Jiang Cheng, "Don't you fucking dare leave us like this!" he hissed, "I told you if you can't live for yourself then live for me, live for our sister! WAKE UP, YOU BASTARD!!!!!"

Wei Wuxian heard him, he heard his brother and knew he had to go back, he had to take a breath so he opened his mouth and let the water go from his lungs and coughed up the rest before he took a breath. He opens his eyes and stares at Jiang Cheng who lets out a shaky laugh, Jiang Cheng helps him sit up and pulls him into a hug, "You are not allowed to go without us, we still need you here!" Jiang Cheng whispers to him.

Nodding, Wei Wuxian lets himself be embraced by his brother and soon Jiang Yanli joins her brother in the hug once she sees Jiang Cheng was successful in bringing Wei Wuxian back to them.

Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren were notified of what happened and ran to where they said everything went down. Lan Xichen was in shock, seeing his brother and young Master Jiang bring Young Master Wei back to life. Even Lan Qiren was lost on to what to do even. He almost lost a guest student, and it would have been his fault if Wei Wuxian died that night. Though they were able to breathe, not easily, but breath came when they saw Jiang Cheng was successful and the Jiang siblings hugging their adoptive brother. After the shock, Grandmaster Lan ordered a few disciples to run to the infirmary and get the doctor and a stretcher to take Wei Wuxian to get treatment. Lan Xichen started to send the remaining disciples all to their quarters for the rest of the night, promising food to be delivered to them soon. Though the Jiangs refused to leave Wei Wuxian's side. Even the disciples seemed to be on guard against all Lan's, having their hands on the hilt of their swords glaring down the Lan's, making sure they don't make any sudden movements to harm their Head disciple.

They didn't even allow the Lan's to carry Wei Wuxian away to the infirmary, They took over and carried Wei Wuxian away. Jiang Yanli was trying to be led away by other disciples to her rooms but she refused and followed her brothers and watched them change Wei Wuxian into a new pair of pants but they skipped putting a tunic on him and laid him onto his chest to clean the wounds and dress them. Jiang Cheng orders his disciples to guard the door and not to allow any of them in before joining his sister's side by their brother's bedside, just in time to see Wei Wuxian was coming to.

He opens his tired dead-like silver eyes to stare at two pairs of violet eyes. He forces a weak smile that neither of his siblings were able to return. Jiang Cheng was angry, no it was worse he was pissed off, furious, he was livid. There weren't enough words to describe, or big enough to describe how he felt at this moment. Jiang Cheng, "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!!!"

Jiang Yanli, "A-Cheng!" their sister stops him, giving him a disapproving look before she turns her attention back to Wei Wuxian, "A-Xian, you don't drink, you never took a sip in your life and yet, now you decided to break a secret rule in Cloud Recesses? I don't believe you even took a sip today did you?"

Wei Wuxian didn't say anything, he didn't even meet his shijie's eyes. Jiang Cheng grits his teeth and looks away as well, Jiang Cheng, "It was I and Second brother Nie who snuck the alcohol into Cloud Recesses, he knew if Wei Wuxian was with us, he would stop us from enjoying a jar or two, so we waited for him to go into meditating and we did it behind his back making sure not be caught by Lan Wangji but..." Jiang Cheng broke down crying, "It's all my fault! I should have listened and followed the rules, then we wouldn't have to almost lose you Wei Wuxian! You were having another burst of Spiritual energy again. That's what we all saw from the water, were you letting go of pent-up energy? Why? WHY?!? Why did you have to take the fall for something you didn't even do?"

Wei Wuxian, "Because they wanted something to pin on me, they saw me and only saw nothing good and they waited. When Lan Wangji caught me with that jar of alcohol, even if I didn't take a drink, they condemned me for what they already thought of me. There was no reason for you or Second Young Master Nie to go down with me. I can take a beating, and my reputation can take being dragged in the mud, but yours can't, Jiang Cheng. You are going to be Sect. Leader, but I'll never be anything but a Servant's son. I can take the beatings while you need to come out okay in the end."

Jiang Cheng shakes his head, lost for words and not knowing what to do, no that was a lie, he knew what to do, so he turns to his disciples and orders, "Go pack the bags and get a carriage, we're heading home tonight."

Wen Qing, who was looking after Wei Wuxian's injuries, shakes her head saying, "It might be too dangerous to move him for the night Young Master Jiang. He needs rest."

Wei Wuxian, "Also, Madam Yu will have your heads if we leave now."

Jiang Cheng, "Mom will be okay, she isn't my biggest worry at the moment! I am not letting my family stay here any longer under the Lans after what they did to you, you fucking idiot. We are leaving."

Jiang Yanli, "As rash as it might sound, I agree with A-Cheng, A-Xian. I don't trust them after their bias beating towards you for who you were born from. You might be Chengze Sanren's son but you are our brother! You are recognized as an adoptive son of Sect. Leader Jiang and Madam Yu and yet, they didn't even look for the truth behind today's events and deemed you as a criminal for breaking a rule or two from the entire time you've been here. I believe we should leave too."

Wen Qing sighs before saying, "Well what I came here for is done and I and my brother aren't needed here anymore. We will leave with you so I may attend to Young Master Wei on your trip."

Nie Huaisang, "I am leaving too!" he screams from the outside of the window that he was spying into.

Jiang Cheng looks over at the window and faces plants into his hand. "Of course you would be listening in too." he motions for the disciples to let him in. "Young Master Nie, your brother will KILL you if you leave!"

Nie Huaisang, "I don't care! It was my fault for Wei Wuxian taking such a beating and Young Lady Jiang is right, they didn't even look into the truth about what we did brother Jiang! I don't want to be here for a second longer!"

Sighing, Jiang Cheng knew there was no turning back or changing his mind so he nods instead. "Gather everyone in front of the entrance and we will take off at daybreak."

…

Daybreak did come and the Jiang's, Wen's, and Nie's guest disciples were all packed, ready to leave Cloud Recesses. In the front of the line was a carriage holding all Wei Wuxian, resting on his stomach, Jiang Yanli applying a wet rag to Wei Wuxian's face, wiping away his sweat, and Wen Qing, who was applying needles to ease Wei Wuxian into a deep sleep and easing the pain for the beginning of the trip as to going down is nothing but stairs and the bumps will be nothing but pain and misery for poor student Wuxian. Lan Qiren was woken up to the commotion, to find more than half of his guest students were asking to be let out. Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji were already out there bewildered at the sight.

Lan Qiren, "What is going out here?"

Jiang Cheng comes forward in front of his brother's carriage, Jiang Cheng, "We are all heading home. Our brother needs medical help and I apologize, but I don't trust him in the Lans hands after yesterday."

Lan Qiren, "Jiang Cheng, what is the meaning of this, you...!

Lan Xichen steps in, "Young Master Jiang, I am sorry for what almost happened last night but please, I promise your brother will get the best treatment here in Cloud Recesses and will continue to be looked after once he is in seclusion for the rest of the year."

They all knew he was trying to be the peacemaker between both parties, but his words still pissed of the Jiangs, Jiang Cheng, "I am not going to let my brother go into your seclusion!" he hisses, "Think of me in any way you want, think of my Sect. as you pleased, but if you mess with one of us, you mess with the entire Jiang clan and I'm not afraid to put my foot down and face my parents once we are home!"

Lan Wangji, "What about your studies?" he asks, still in shock because he has never seen this before. He's always had the rules to guide him through every scene he has ever faced, but this was something that was beyond him. A disciple broke the rules, a Head disciple of one of the great Clans no less, he had to be punished, maybe not in the way that his Uncle decided. His uncle is also going to face punishment for allowing his emotions to get the best of him because of what happened the other day, but Wei Wuxian had to be put back in place. Lan Wangji never seen this ever happen before, so many were ready to step in and protect him, the Jiangs, the Nie's, and the most shocking, the Wen's. Even Young Master Wen Ning was standing beside the carriage looking ready for a fight if it came to it, Lan Wangji always saw this boy as a small temper and soft-spoken and very timid.

Jiang Cheng, "It doesn't matter what I learn or never learn about, Second Young Master Lan, I will still be the Sect. Leader of Jiang Clan and that role doesn't require me to learn all the secrets that you hold in Cloud Recesses. I don't need to know all the knowledge of the world, because I will always do the best for my clan, but my family will ALWAYS come FIRST so I ask again to let us through."

Lan Qiren, "What ignorance!" he spats like venom in his tongue, "I should have never let that wretched boy into Cloud Recesses!"

Lan Xichen, "UNCLE! That's quite enough!"

Lan Qiren, "Never in all my years of teaching has this ever happened, Lan Xichen! Do not speak to your Uncle this way you hear?!? Once I learned his name and learned he was HER son I should have turned him away! I even disciplined my own Nephew for lack of judgment for that boy!"

Wei Wuxian, "I thought I told you to never speak of my mother that way again, Grandmaster Lan." he says coming out of the carriage and pulling the needles out of his skin and handing them back to a shocked Wen Qing, as she thought he was already out from her needlework, He steps down from the carriage and stumbles for a split moment but Wen Ning caught him and helped straighten up. Jiang Cheng runs to his side and was ready to force his brother back into the carriage with their sister and Wen Qing, but Wei Wuxian pushed him to the side and walks forward in a daze to the Lan Clan. Lan Qiren remembers the threatening looks he was given by speaking ill of Wei Wuxian's mother the other day and steps back afraid of what is to come. All the Disciples of the Lan Clan also felt that energy from the boy as well and had their hands on the hilts of their sword, ready to defend their home if it comes to it but Wei Wuxian never came too close and threw everyone into a frenzy when he falls to his knees and bows down to his head on the ground in front of Grandmaster Lan, showing off the wounds of his back that his clan affected on him yesterday and caused them all to look away in shame.

Wei Wuxian, "There are two things that I learned to say, that you will NEED to say in any lifetime is Thank you and I'm sorry." he pauses for a moment before raising his head to stare at Lan Qiren, "Thank you for allowing us to study under you Grandmaster Lan, and I am sorry I've caused trouble for you but is it honestly worth all of this? Please let my family and the other Sects who wish to leave, pass peacefully. Let this misunderstanding end here and have no hard feelings for the future."

Lan Qiren didn't know what to say, he never in million years thought such a thing will ever occur, and here this boy who looks so much like his mother, the woman of Lan Qiren's dreams, the only woman he will ever love, was in front of him on his knees, and for a moment his mind was playing tricks on him because instead of Wei Wuxian, he saw in front of him was Chengze Sanren on her knees crying and begging forgiveness and her back torn wide open that was inflicted by his own clan. It made him stagger back covering his mouth as his stomach threatens to release his breakfast. He can see her, can see her in place of her child but that faded and instead, he saw her only child, and oh how in the world has he never noticed before? This boy looks so broken so small and young but with so many years behind those lifeless silver eyes, Eyes that he inherited from his mother no less, and they don't seem to fit him at all. No, the endless joyous and mischief is what should belong to him but not this boy's eyes that hold so much grief. He can not speak, he can not move. He can not face what he has done and possibly made worse.

Lan Xichen noticed this from their Uncle and knew it was the right to do. Gusu Lan failed to live up to their motto and uphold justice, to lead these young and fine generations to a greater future that they should have set for them. Instead, they've made a grave mistake in one night and need to atone for their mistakes and let those who wish to leave, leave as Wei Wuxian said, in peace.

Lan Xichen, "Let them go, all of them, and Young Master Nie, I will write to your brother and explain and request for him not to send you back if you don't wish to."

Nie Huaisang bows to Lan Xichen and motions for his disciples that came with him to be ready to depart. Jiang Cheng and Wen Ning runs to Wei Wuxian side and helps him up to his feet and half carries him back to the carriage, but Lan Xichen calls out before the boy was out of sight, "I am sorry what we did to you Young Master Wei, and I hope you can forgive us and mostly my brother, as he might not say it out loud but he did wish to befriend you."

Wei Wuxian stops in his tracks but didn't look back, Wei Wuxian, "I accept your apologies Young master Lan, but I am going to have to disappoint your brother, for I don't wish for friendship with anyone as I only bring trouble and chaos wherever I go. I never want to bring others into my deeds, as they might be condemned right alongside me. Besides, Lan Wangji always gave off the impression that he hated me, and if so he should continue."

Lan Wangji, "I don't..." he steps forward, "I never hated... hated Wei Ying. I... I am sorry!"

Wei Wuxian, "Thank you Second Master Lan, but I don't like you even as an acquaintance, let's leave it here, and I will leave first." Wei Wuxian ends it here and lets himself be carried away.

Lan Wangji heart shattered into million pieces, he's been rejected and for good reasons, and he never got to tell Wei Wuxian what he discovered yesterday, that he discovered that he loves him and wishes to stay by his side, but what he did yesterday... what he let happened is unforgivable and now like his Uncle and Father he has to watch to only love in his life walk away from him and he deserves it tenfold.

…

The trip was long and tedious as the days passed and they made their way through China. Young Master Nie were the first to break off from the group as Qinghe Nie was an off-path from the one that the Wen's and Jiangs had to take. Nie Huaisang was hesitant to leave them, however, but his disciples reminded him that his brother would be waiting for him back home. So being pulled away, Nie Huaisang had no choice but to say goodbye and hope to see them again. A few more days and Yunmeng Jiang came into view, and the Wen's followed them in because Wen Qing wanted to make sure the Jiang physicians knew what to do to take over Wei Wuxian treatment before they left them.

The disciples who were running laps around the entire Lotus Pier came to spot the large group with both red and purple robes coming to the docks, as they had to switch from carriages and horses to boats to be able to dock in Lotus Pier. They spotted Jiang Cheng helping a battered Wei Wuxian from the bottom of the boat and right away, even if they get into trouble they ran for the sword hall to where Madam Yu was training the Seniors and Jiang Fengmain was helping the younger disciples with their archery.

"Madam Yu! Sect. Leader!" a bunch of them yelled for their leaders.

Madam Yu stands from her throne and stares at them, Madam Yu, "What is this? What's wrong to cause such a ruckus."

An older disciple bows to Madam Yu, "We just spotted Sect. Heir, Young Lady Jiang, and Young Master Wei coming up the docks! Young Master Wei seemed to badly hurt!"

This time Madam Yu didn't even bother with formalities and Jiang Fengmain dismissed all the disciples and asked the Seniors to meet his children at the docks and the Juniors to go get the doctors. Side by side, Madam Yu and Jiang Fengmain run to the docks to see Wei Wuxian being set on a stretcher and Jiang Cheng by his side as he lets the disciples let him. Jiang Yanli was being helped out of the boats by Wen Ning and Wen Qing wasn't far behind them but quickly caught up to Wei Wuxian and the others as she followed them in.

Madam Yu, "Jiang Cheng, what's the meaning of this? Why are you back so early and what happened to Wei Ying?"

Jiang Cheng, "Mother, Father, that is a story that we will discuss in a minute, but right now my brother needs to settle in and be taken care of. A fever has spikes on him on the river. Young Lady Wen says she has a brew that can help Wei Wuxian but needs him in a comfortable position."

Jiang Fengmain, "I suppose you should take him to his quarters. I will have the doctors meet you all there in a moment." he turns to Wen Qing and bows, "Please take care of him, Young Lady Wen."

Wen Qing bows back, "It would be an honor Sect. Leader Jiang." and she and Wen Ning followed in from behind to Wei Wuxian's rooms leaving Jiang Sect. Leader to fond over their daughter trying to get answers out of her, but like her brother, she tells them to wait for them to be all settled.

...

It took a while and a lot of struggles because Wei Wuxian's back grew to have an infection, so Wen Qing had to cut off the puss from his back until it was all raw once again. The rest of the day was nothing but the Jiang family sitting by Wei Wuxian's door listening to the screams of Wei Wuxian as he sobs as he was taken underneath the scalpel. Wen Qing wished she had something to be able to put him under with but sadly with how his fever gotten it was a horrible risk to with her work him to be put under so she had her brother hold him down and try to offer some comfort as she worked as delicately and fast as she could possibly go, but the pain was still there and Wei Wuxian has too far out of his mind to think of stopping his screams but that wouldn't be so until Wen Qing was done.

Though when it came to her being finished, she sent her brother to go and brew a new batch of medicine to help Wei Wuxian rest while she stayed to dress his back and replace the ice on his back but with how hot Lotus Pier is, it was a fruitless task to keep him comfortable. She honestly wishes to have the Cloud Recesses cold springs at this point but she had to respect the Jiangs wishes and do what she had to work with. Once she got Wei Wuxian sleeping, she made sure her brother was by Wei Wuxian's side to keep an eye on him as she went to go speak with the Jiangs about his treatment.

When the screams stopped coming from Wei Wuxian's room, the Jiangs decided it was best to settle down and try to stomach some dinner, but for the most part, everyone was looking down at their bowls of rice and fish, while Jiang Cheng looks to ready to pass out face first into his food from exhaustion, while Jiang Yanli was fidgeting because she wanted to return to Wei Wuxian's side. The Sect. Leader was confused beyond belief once Jiang Cheng told the entire story. Madam Yu was grateful and proud that Wei Wuxian saved her son's honor but knew he might have taken it a bit far, but the Lans went miles too far! For drinking wine and touching a Lan ribbon added up to almost dying? She wanted to storm down there and whip them all until all they could see was bone on every one of their backs for what they did to her head disciple.

Wen Qing, "He is now sleeping and might be for the next few days. Someone will need to feed him and force him to drink water every day. I showed your doctors what to do if the infections come back and how to dress his back properly every four hours and make sure he has ice and rags covering the majority, to ease the pain. Needlework and medicine could only do so much until it isn't enough anymore."

The Jiang family stood up and bowed to her, Jiang Cheng, "Thank you for all you've done, Young Lady Wen, for saving our brother."

Jiang Yanli, "We will always be grateful and in your debt for helping A-Xian."

Madam Yu, "If you and your brother ever need anything please don't hesitate to ask for me or my husband."

Jiang Fengmain, "Jiang Clan thanks you for you and your brothers' hard work today."

Wen Qing bows back, speechless for how grateful they are for her. She only wanted to help because it's what she does and she is also grateful to Wei Wuxian for befriending her brother. But today she felt she brought some honor to her Clan and her family's name. Her Uncle can go to hell but she did this in the name of her parents.