A Glimpse of Another's Tale

One day, Jiang Wanyin received a visit from Wei Wuxian of another world. A Wei Wuxian whose brother was the one and only Sandu Shengshou, the founder of the demonic cultivator.

Notes:

Here's the thing: I actually had the whole plot for the demonic cultivator Jiang Cheng universe planned out. It started with a failed golden core transfer, ended with Sandu Shengshou's death, and kickstarted again by WeI Wuxian's attempt to revive his brother by going to another universe (a.ka canon universe) where Jiang Cheng was still alive. Alas, I currently have no time to write the full story of it so ... Here's a glimpse of divergence!WWX and canon!JC's encounter looked like.

Work Text:

“So, Ah-Jie is alive.”

“Yes.”

“In Lotus Pier, with Jin Ling. With you.”

“Yes.” Wei Wuxian’s smile had a tint of sadness and guilt in it, as if the alternative arrangement—of Ah-Jie staying in Carp Tower as a lonely widow, of Ah-Ling spending his childhood bullied by the Jin boys—was somehow a better option.

“It's her own will. She renounced her status as the lady of Carp Tower and moved back to Yunmeng. Of course, it also means that Ah-Ling is no longer an heir ….”

“It’s better that way.” What he wouldn’t give to make Ah-Ling his heir instead, to watch him grew up in Lotus Pier still instead of sitting on the throne too big for him, far away in Lanling where Jiang Cheng could no longer protect him. “Trust me.”

But could you really know which was better and which was worse? Wasn’t the two of them sitting here, two Jiang leaders of different worlds, was a testament that no matter which path they chose, it would only lead them to sorrow?

Instead of answering, Wei Wuxian sipped his tea. It irked Jiang Cheng in a strange way, this side of this Wei Wuxian. He still had his old body, all broad shoulders and proud posture; but he was too subdued, too diplomatic. The thirteen years he endured as a sect leader had taught him when to shut up, and it felt … wrong.

“And how is he? Jin Ling,” Jiang Cheng asked then, if only to fill the uncomfortable silence that shouldn’t have been present together with Wei Wuxian. “How does he fare, as a Jiang member?”

A soft wind blew, carrying a sweet fragrance of water through the round window on the far side of the room. They both turned their gaze toward it, to the pond outside overflown with blooming lotus. They had a full bloom this year, myriads of colors doting the spread of greens like water lanterns. The soft petals nodding like sleepy heads.

“Ah, he’s a lively one,” Wei Wuxian chuckled, shaking his head. “A little princeling, just like his father was. Always up to no good. But he’s hard-working, and always eager to help. He has his mother’s heart,” there, Wei Wuxian’s tone swelled with pride and fondness.

Jiang Cheng’s heart ached. How that Ah-Ling was so similar to his own Ah-Ling still. How different their fates were.

Even if his Ah-Ling stayed in Lotus Pier, Jiang Cheng couldn’t possibly give him half the things the other Ah-Ling got. It wasn’t the same. Jiang Cheng was not a real parent, and nor was he Wei Wuxian.

And just like that, Jiang Cheng thought it was worth it. Ah-Ling’s happiness, Ah-Jie’s life, Wei Wuxian’s presence in their lives—it was worth Jiang Cheng’s death ten times over. He wouldn’t say it to this Wei Wuxian because he wouldn’t understand, because this man loved his shidi too much to ever consider him less than a great man; but Jiang Cheng knew himself the most.

It didn’t matter which world he existed. It didn’t matter that he was a different entity than the dead Jiang Cheng (the demonic cultivator Jiang Cheng, the one without a golden core, the man who was spared from the pain of survival). Wherever he was, Jiang Cheng was Jiang Cheng. He would make the same mistakes.

In his death, the other Jiang Cheng at least managed to save his family. What wouldn’t Jiang Cheng do to get that chance?

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Comments

Muse007 Sun 06 Sep 2020 03:43PM UTC

This is so interesting. I would definitely read more if you ever get the chance to write it. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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1. psycheros Mon 07 Sep 2020 05:04AM UTC
  
  Thank you so much, glad you like it! Yes, hopefully I can write it asap!
  
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checkedalright Sun 06 Sep 2020 05:31PM UTC

This was short, but very poignant! I love it. I always wondered what it would be like if JC was the one who turned to demonic cultivation and died.
The glimpse of a subdued WWX who has had to learn to be a sect leader, learn to be diplomatic and to hold back parts of him is so wrong and yet it makes me wonder if WWX in canon had stayed in YMJ, would he eventually have learned to rein himself in? Part of his downfall was his own hubris, so it's a very interesting take that he somehow managed to square up and grow up faster than he should have.
I love how JC sees the similarities between both JL's even through a description.
The fact that canon!JC would have given anything to accomplish what other!JC saved in death? Ouch, so painful and so true. JC would die a thousand times over to save his loved ones and viewing himself as less because he somehow survived is just so him.
Thanks for writing this!

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1. psycheros Mon 07 Sep 2020 05:27AM UTC
  
  AAAAA You get it you get itt! Thank you so much!
  And yes, while WWX didn't change as much as canon!JC did, I think he still had some shifts in character. A big part of it was because he spent his 13 years actually living as a sect leader; and hence, for the better or worse, he grew up. Rather than a conscious effort, it was more like an imperceptible shift of an idealistic youngster to a more pragmatic adult. However, ironically JC's death was the thing that kept his more idealistic, prideful side aflame, because he would stop at nothing to get JC back :D
  JC paid such attention to his nephew, he would know how JL's like through meager words :"))
  HAH! Yes indeed. And this would make Canon!JC went down further to his self-depreciating hole, because apparently, not only Jiang Cheng was a "failure", he was apparently the worse half of the loaf because his counterpart at least managed to save JYL & WWX.
  and thank YOU for reading and gosh, getting this! You make me so happy!
  
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Artemis1000 Sun 13 Sep 2020 04:31PM UTC

I love this ficlet! It's such an intriguing peek into a very different universe and a meeting of worlds. I love how unsettled canon JC is by AU!Wei Wuxian's sect leader behavior.

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kitten83 Thu 17 Dec 2020 01:23PM UTC

short but good..n its time for wuxian from this timeline to grow up and take responsibility for everything that he does and etc..glad that he had learned that words and actions has consequences..he was too spoiled and arrogant in my pov..sure he is kind and righteous..but he is also selfish, arrogant and neglectful.. probably because of jiang fengmian spoiling him rotten..oh well..

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mecchasenku Mon 26 Apr 2021 08:39PM UTC

sHUT UUUUUUUUUUUP

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DittoTiny Wed 29 Sep 2021 01:18AM UTC

ALL THE KUDOS

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