#yes Lan Jingyi began teasing Jin Ling that he should be prepared add a new Uncle to the list

[sillyandtwisted]

Chengning story thoughts: WN is starting to lose his emotions. JC unknowingly is helping them resurface.

Wen Ning never approved in coming back to life. He had hated it. He had hated the looks of fear and disgust. He had hated having strength that he would forever have to be cautious to use. Hated that his sense of touch and taste had dulled.

But he couldn’t hate the people who brought him back. The ones that loved him so much they defied the odds to bring his consciousness back. He should be grateful, he knows and he is, but it’s getting harder to even feel let alone emote his feelings.

He once thought he was just maturing, becoming more sure of himself, but now he’s realizing his emotions are just leaving him. He doesn’t feel happiness, sadness, or even hatred as he used to. He doesn’t stutter, fidget or even unconsciously move anymore either.

This is worse than being dead, but he still doesn’t want to die.

He’s not quite sure why he even wants to continue living in such a state. Lan Yuan and Lan Jingyi don’t really need him on their night hunts anymore even if they assured him they enjoy his company and help. Wei Wuxian had made it clear he wanted him to find his own path and had even forbidden him from calling him Master Wei. Second Master Lan seemed to also find his presence uncomfortable? Mildly inconvenient? He wasn’t quite sure where he stood with him even now. Not to mention his run-ins with Sect Leader Jiang.

Sect Leader Jiang, the hot tempered leader of Lotus Pier, still hates him and makes sure he knows it. He’s not quite sure how they keep running into each other, outside of night hunts, but every time they do he was sure to get berated by the man. From his appearance to his methods Sect Leader Jiang always has a harsh comment to make.

It stirred something in him.

He wasn’t quite certain what it was, but he wanted to hold on to anything that caused him to feel more.

Maybe that’s why he’s currently tailing the junior quartet again. He knows wherever young master Jin is his overly protective uncle wouldn’t be too far behind. Hiding in the shadows waiting for anything to go wrong and then to swoop in with Zidian and Sandu to destroy the threat.

However, lately he’s been confined to the sidelines as the juniors have become more confident and capable in their abilities. They now easily cover each others weak points and strategize more effectively then when they all first started night hunting together.

Now it’s only once every so often that he and Sect Leader Jiang intervene and it seems this night wouldn’t be one that they do.

“Come down from there they don’t need us this time.”

He was perched up on a branch and gave a quick glance down to the noticeably impatient man, before returning to examine the battle.

“Things could still go wrong Sect Leader Jiang.”

He knows that will get a rise out of him, but he was also still worried for the juniors safety.

“Are you questioning my judgement Ghost General? Or are you that doubtful of your little Lans abilities?”

Wen Ning felt a tingle of amusement. His little Lans? Well he guessed he was unofficially one of their guardians.

“No, just being cautious Sect Leader Jiang. Thank you for your faith in the the Lan juniors abilities.”

He forced his face muscles to give a smile to show he meant what he said.

He heard a straggled noise before he felt Zidian wrap around him and pull him down.

Now he wasn’t sure what he did to offend Sect Leader Jiang so much so to feel the sting of Zidian, but he didn’t quite mind. He could have easily dodged, but he wanted the shocks from the spiritual weapon go through him. It relieved him to be able to still feel something even if it was unpleasant.

“You should be careful with the faces you make.”

He jolted himself back from his thoughts to look up. Maybe he’s also losing his sight, because he swears he sees a faint blush marking Sect Leader Jiangs face that’s being illuminated by the light of the moon.

“I was only trying to smile for you Sect Leader Jiang.”

Yes, he’s certain his sight is going awry as he sees the blush getting darker and the tips of the ears go red.

He also feels a slight pang in his head of another emotion that he can’t identify. Perhaps it was from the fall and the shocks.

“That’s not necessary.”

Harsh as always.

“Forgive me, I will not smile anymore to you if it offends.”

Maybe it really did offend him. It would be unnerving to have a corpse smile at you in hindsight.

“That’s not what I meant! I mean you... you can smile at me if you like, but don’t force yourself if it’s not something you want to do.”

Oh.

“I can’t smile naturally anymore Sect Leader Jiang. I have to will myself to do so as such I am always deliberate when I do.”

Maybe he should have kept quite, because now the dark blush has turned to a full face flush and something really weird is going through him.

Oh.

Oh no.

He certainly hadn’t felt this in a very long time.

“Sect Leader-“

“Wanyin.”

“Pardon?”

“You...you can...you are allowed to call me Jiang Wanyin, Ghost General.” He huffed as the red in his face increased.

If Wen Ning could blush himself he probably would have been just as red.

“I see. Then you are allowed to call me Wen Qionglin, Jiang Wanyin.”

A courtesy name for a courtesy name that is only fair. He saw Jiang Wanyin bristle at the permission and then he began to snicker.

“I am honored to be allowed to address you as such, Wen Qionglin.”

Sarcastic jerk, but he doesn’t remember his courtesy name ever sounding so nice before. It was as if Jiang Wanyin took care in saying it.

“As am I, Jiang Wanyin.”

Oh, he certainly looked better without a scowl.

He is still on the ground with Zidian wrapped around him and Jiang Wanyins face bright red with a look he has never seen before being directed towards himself.

It felt like time had stopped with them just staring at each other, before Zidian returned to its master who then offered a hand for Wen Ning to pull himself up.

That wasn’t necessary, but he took the offered hand and if he might have lingered a bit before letting go for being able to enjoy the warmth and slight smile Jiang Wanyin was giving him nobody needed to know.

#chengning #ningcheng #the intimacy of calling each other names few are allowed to #side note:juniors saw this exchange happen #yes Lan Jingyi began teasing Jin Ling that he should be prepared add a new Uncle to the list #Ouyang Zizhen is living for this potential romance and Lan Sizhui is politely internally screaming