Chapter Text
A happy ending. Finally he has a happy ending! I never thought it would happen. After years of watching over him... it's finally over. I could feel my strength disappear more and more each second. My end is getting really close. I have only minutes at most. But I can't bring myself to regret my actions. Now I can finally join my beloved, knowing that our plan has worked.
" Are you happy?"
I haven't heard that voice in years. It's strange that she decided to contact me after so much time has passed.
" I am."
" You're going to disappear soon. You've already started. I can feel it. "
" I know that."
" You were always such a bright child. Why did you do something so foolish? "
" Foolish? I don't think what I did was foolish. "
" Do you even hear yourself! What both of you did is against nature itself! Turning back time was the stupidest thing you've ever done! I don't remember teaching you this!"
" I know that! And we paid the price for that. We knew what we were doing was wrong but can you really blame us?!"
" His soul has already shattered! He doesn't exist anymore and he will never enter the cycle of reincarnation! I have no clue to what happens to souls like that! And the same will happen to you! It already is! And I can't help you...not with this! "
" I know that master. But I would still do it again if I had the same choice. The only regrets that I have are the lies that I told him. I'm a descendant of a Huli Jing and I forced my blood to awaken in him. It changed him. It took his humanity away and changed his gender. I knew this would happen so I lied to him about the price. If he knew that the one who would pay it wasn't him,he would have never agreed to do it. So selfishly, I lied to him. I told him that the price is his humanity and part of his identity. And in a way it was. The ugly part that the Jiang's have molded has disappeared. Wei Wuxian disappeared. "
" You still shouldn't play with fate! "
" So what was I supposed to do! Watch as my child's spirit is destroyed! "
" Cangse!"
" My son has died! My little boy so full of life has died! We both watched over him this whole time! I saw everything! And I could do nothing! Just watch as that world was tearing him up piece by piece. And even in death they wouldn't let him rest!"
" You both should have entered the reincarnation cycle when you had the chance! "
" You spend so much time locked away on your mountains that you forget how painful it is to watch the person you love the most be slowly destroyed by the world. The feeling of helplessness that consumes you from within! "
" I knew about their hypocrisy! Why do you think I secluded myself! I lost too many precious people! "
" Then you should understand me! My son's soul was slowly disappearing! Do you know how much energy it took me and Changze to stop their summons? To save what was left of his soul? Forcing him to watch his life was tearing me apart but I had to make him see the ugly truth!
I had to see him shatter so he could pick up the pieces and rebuild himself! And it still took him years to be able to stand on his own two feet! We failed as parents! We left our boy unprotected in this rotten world! So we had to fix it! "
" You call that fixing it? "
" Turning back time wasn't easy....we both agreed that we will enter the cycle together or disappear together. I used most of my energy to awaken my blood in my son while Changze used all of his to bring him and his soulmate back. The price? We paid it gladly. We will cease to exist and will never reincarnate again but at least we will be together in whatever hell we will end up. I used the remaining energy that I had to watch over him till now. Finally I can join my husband with clear conscience, knowing that my child is safe and happy and those who have wronged him had paid the price "
" Cangse...You really have thought it through. I must say that I have failed you..."
" Master?"
" I should have kept in contact with you all...maybe then...none of this would have happened...and if not I should have taken care of your son when both of you had died..."
" I don't blame you. I know now ,how ugly this world is. So I understand that you have your reasons to hide from it. But even with all the dirt it has the world is beautiful too,you know? So I just want to say thank you. I had the most amazing childhood. I loved my time on the mountain but I would never have stayed. As much as I loved them I wanted to see the world that was beyond. Meeting Changze was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Having Wei Ying and traveling together was the happiest time in my life. I don't regret this."
" Foolish child. You have nothing to thank me for. "
" Master. May I ask you something? "
" Ask. "
" Will you visit him? It doesn't have to be now. He's immortal after all...but could you someday visit him? And maybe tell him about us? But not this....not my part in this mess...I don't want him to live with the thought that the happiness he has achieved was in exchange for our existence. He finally lost all of his shackles and I don't want him to wear another one. "
" I will. Not now but someday,when I'm ready to face this unfair world I will.And I hope that wherever you two will go you will be happy. Always smile ,my child. "
" I will master."
And with that the rest of Cangse Sanren's soul dissolved. And Wei Ying will never know that he has met his mother or the sacrifice his parents have made for him. But at least he will live his life free, unburdened and most importantly without regrets. Just like his parents wanted. He will unknowingly honour their wishes.