[Disclaimer: This story is purely my imagination inspired by The Untamed and Mo Dao Zu Shi. Characters and settings belong to their original creators.]
The wind was howling.
Nightless City was drowning in blood and fire.
Screams tore through the air—
A chorus of rage, pain, and betrayal.
Everyone wanted him dead!
The Yiling Patriarch!
The Demon who tore the world apart…
The battle raged on, but he didn’t stay to watch.
He flew. Through smoke and ruin.
Through the shrieking hatred of enemies and the pleas of the desperate.
Until he reached the cliff’s edge.
The Yiling Patriarch’s back was to the abyss. The darkness of the cliff calling him.
His robe was torn, heavy with blood.
Fingers trembling around Chenqing, knuckles white.
His lips were cracked, smeared with blood.
A faint trail ran down his chin, drying against his skin.
But he didn’t wipe it away.
He only stood there—Staring ahead.
And there, he stood.
Facing Lan Wangji, the man who had followed him here – To stop him, to save him.
But when the Yiling Patriarch blinked…
He saw someone else.
White robe.
Soft eyes.
The faint scent of lotus on the breeze.
It’s Wei Wuxian!
Dressed in the simple white robe from his youth—the one he wore in Gusu.
A memory of a time when life had been full of possibilities.
Wei Wuxian stood before him, the faint scent of lotus swirling in the air.
His hands gripped Suibian firmly.
And his smile—His smile was gentle. Unbroken.
Wei Wuxian: (softly) You’re late,
(chuckling faintly) I’ve been waiting!
The Yiling Patriarch’s lips parted slightly.
But no sound came.
His throat tightened painfully.
He blinked.
Lan Wangji was still there.
But so was Wei Wuxian.
Yiling Patriarch: (hoarse whisper) You’re not real… I buried you a long time back!
Wei Wuxian stepped closer.
His smile didn’t waver.
Soft. Like the boy he once was.
Wei Wuxian: (playfully) Mm…(teasing) Since when did you care for what’s real? Huh?!
The Yiling Patriarch let out a shaky breath.
His hands trembled around Chenqing, bloodied fingers slipping slightly over the flute’s smooth surface.
Yiling Patriarch: (broken voice) Why are you smiling?
Wei Wuxian: (simply) Because I know you.
(pause) You’re still trying to carry it all, aren’t you?
The Yiling Patriarch’s throat tightened.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
Shaking his head slightly.
No… No, he wasn’t.
He was letting go.
But when he opened his eyes—Wei Wuxian was still there.
Close now. So close. Like he used to be…
Yiling Patriarch: (voice cracking) I ruined you… I ruined everything…!
Wei Wuxian’s eyes softened.
He reached out slowly.
Fingers grazing the back of the Yiling Patriarch’s hand.
Wei Wuxian: (gently) No, You saved us!
The Yiling Patriarch’s breath hitched.
His knees felt weak.
But he didn’t fall. Not yet.
His voice cracked… Barely a whisper;
Yiling Patriarch: (pleading) I wanted to go home…
(broken) I wanted to grow old. I wanted… to stay.
(voice trembling) At least for him…
And just a moment, his eyes flickered to LanZhan.
Wei Wuxian’s smile faltered slightly.
Just for a heartbeat. Then he exhaled softly.
Wei Wuxian: (softly) I know… I wanted that too…
The Yiling Patriarch squeezed his eyes shut.
He wanted to look away. But he couldn’t.
Because Wei Wuxian was still there…
Smiling.
Like he always did. Like he always would.
And then, Wei Wuxian slowly reached out.
He brushed a lock of hair behind the Yiling Patriarch’s ear.
Soft. Tender. Like he had never left.
Wei Wuxian: (voice trembling) And I forgive you…For everything you did… to survive…!
The Yiling Patriarch’s breath hitched sharply.
And then, suddenly—His face crumpled.
His chest heaved with a ragged, broken sob.
Tears slipped down his blood-streaked cheeks.
Heavy. Unrestrained.
For the first time in years.
He tried to speak.
But his voice was torn. Shattered.
So he simply stared at Wei Wuxian.
Helpless. Breathless. And cried.
Wei Wuxian’s eyes shimmered.
And his smile—
God, that smile!
It stayed.
So warm. So familiar.
But this time—There was a faint tremor in his voice.
Wei Wuxian: (softly) Our Shijie is waiting for us…
(pause, eyes locked with his) It’s time…You can rest now. Peacefully!
The Yiling Patriarch’s chest constricted.
A sharp, staggering breath caught in his throat.
His hands grew slack.
He loosened his grip on Chenqing.
But he didn’t let it fall. Not yet.
He looked at Wei Wuxian.
His shoulders trembled.
Tears continued to fall, but his lips curved into a faint, broken smile…
And slowly—he nodded.
Yiling Patriarch: (a whisper, accepting) Yes… it’s time!
Then gradually, he leaned back.
Slowly. Deliberately.
And let himself fall…
As the wind screamed in his ears—
He finally let go!
Chenqing slipped from his fingers.
Falling. Soundlessly.
Disappearing into the void.
The last thing he saw—
Was Wei Wuxian smiling at him.
And just before the darkness swallowed him whole He heard it.
A scream—Faint but desperate.
“Wei Ying…!”
It was Lan Zhan.
And then—
Wei Wuxian’s whisper reached him
Before he closed his eyes;
Soft as a breath.
Faint as a memory.
Wei Wuxian: (softly) “In another life… we’ll make it right…!”
The Red Ribbon 
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