Two Jades of the Gusu Clan

Two Jades of the Gusu Clan

From the moment I embraced the beings of this wordly affairs, Gege is my only constant.

His kind eyes, his gentle words, his understanding of my personality and not demanding me to change, this soul is forever indebted to him.

People revere him to be the wise and me an aloof. We're few years apart but he has been my sole pillar of strength.

My mother.

My father.

My bestfriend.

Somewhere in this world if I can be who I want to be, it is only because of him.

~Lan Wangji 5 years old~

"Wangji?" his kind words makes my pale eyes turn towards him. They say we're mirror image of eachother. The only point of difference are our eyes. His are warm honey coloured and mine is cold and pale as ice.

"Gege" I nod and turn back to admire the snow covered mountains of Gusu.

"What is wrong?" Caressing my hair he enquires kindly. What do I say? Should I tell him that kids from the clan are making fun of me? Should I tell him I have no one to play with? That those kids won't take me in their team? Or that uncle again lectured me to give up on everything that was ever close to me?

A while ago Uncle caught me walking past Jingshi and he canned me for disobeying his order of never entering Jingshi. He asked me to give up on everything!

I don't tell any of this to my brother. Why should I trouble him with my woe? He himself has a lot going on. With my mind made up, I simply shake my head in denial.

He smiles and opens his palm. My eyes widen when I see the object in his hand.

My mother's Jade Hair Pin!!! That's what I wanted to bring along with me from Jingshi when I was caught by Uncle and confiscated it. This young heart was shattered.

Brother smiles kindly and gives it to me "Wangji, keep it" and my eyes seek his.

Am I allowed to? I don't ask but he nods. He always understood what's in my heart.

"Wangji, you don't have to ever use your words with me, I can understand my baby brother just by looking at him." Pulling me in for a hug he continues, "My wish is to always protect you, Wangji. You're my brother. You'll always come first."

Brother.

"Hey you!" I turn around when a young Gusu disciple throws a snowball at me. "Why are you so weird?" Hearing their chorus laughter makes me question my own quirks.

Am I weird?

"Why are you so pale?" They mock again, "Is that the reason your mother left you?" Throwing another snowball at my face they continue to insult me. I wouldn't have been bothered with these imbeciles if they had just continued to insult me, but to drag my mother, I Lan Wangji would never forgive them.

Anger. Deep sated anger.

In a fit of rage I charge against them and for the very first time break all rules of Gusu.

"Lan Wangji!!!" Uncle roars in rage as I am covered in blood. Theirs and mine. He slaps me in front of everyone, not once giving me a chance to explain. They cry. I stand still as water.

Dragging me to the quadrangle, he continues to cane me, commanding me to recite the Gusu house rules. With every beating, their laughter mocks me further and this act chills my very being even further.

Why am I being punished and not them?

Why? Why? Why?

My heart grows colder.

Emotions are bad Wangji.

They'll always hurt you!!!

That night Gege knocks at my bedroom door and quietly requests me to follow him. Ambling our way towards the cold pool he instructs, "Take a dip in here,Wangji, it will help you to heal."

How can one heal a broken heart Gege?

He sits on the shore as I immerse into the bone chilling water. Gege patiently waits for my reaction. I give none. I don't even flinch. Remember there are no emotions within me.

Sighing he looks up at the moon, "I heard what happened today." Turning back to look at me he pleads, "Say something, Wangji!"

What do you want me to say? That it hurt me? That they hurt me? That why did mother leave? Was it because of me? But I don't dare ask.

Feelings would always hurt you.

"Wangji, you weren't wrong. The method you used was wrong. Violence begets violence." He smiles, "Best way to get everyone to not speak anything hurtful towards you is to become the best," he winks "become the best cultivator that the entire realm has ever witnessed. Wangji, you have what it takes to become a supreme cultivator." He goes back to silently observing the moon and I look at my Gege.

If what you say is true then I shall strive to be the best and nothing less.

I Lan Wangji, shall promise to strive to be the best cultivator that the realm has ever witnessed.

From that day on under the tutelage of my brother I strived to the best.

For we were even called the Two Jades of the Gusu Clan.

Only thing I gave up in bargain were my emotions, my feelings and my heart.