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META: Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian's death (CQL EDITION) and what exactly is going on here? Because I think a lot of people misread it.
Often because they're paying attention to Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, and not what's going on with Jiang Cheng.
OKAY LET'S BREAK THIS SCENE DOWN
Often because they're paying attention to Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, and not what's going on with Jiang Cheng.
OKAY LET'S BREAK THIS SCENE DOWN
First let's address: CQL version, those grudges against Wei Wuxian? Unjustified, these dudes are attacking EACH OTHER over the Stygian Tiger Seal. Sect Leader Yao straight-up murders a dude. (Ouyang too.)
Wei Wuxian is crying-laughing, watching them kill and maim each other, knowing, really, that they'll still blame him for it. That's guaranteed.
That these power-hungry bastards all act like he's the evil one.
That these power-hungry bastards all act like he's the evil one.
This boy is watching his man and he's afraid.
But then the laughter fades. Wei Wuxian is still crying, but he's nodding. Like he's accepted something.
Lan Wangji? Sees that. And is not pleased.
At this point? He takes his eyes off Wei Wuxian.
He's looking around. Trying to see what Wei Wuxian sees.
He has a horrible feeling he's spotted it.
He's looking around. Trying to see what Wei Wuxian sees.
He has a horrible feeling he's spotted it.
And then Wei Wuxian stops crying. (For the moment.)
Now he looks determined. Resolved.
Now he looks determined. Resolved.
He leaps across to the cliff edge.
Lan Wangji sees that and is suddenly terrified. He follows.
Lan Wangji sees that and is suddenly terrified. He follows.
Wei Wuxian starts crying again.
Lan Wangji pleads.
Wei Ying does not come back. He backs away to the edge of the cliff.
Lan Wangji pleads.
Wei Ying does not come back. He backs away to the edge of the cliff.
He falls.
Not to break your hearts but I need you all to observe how absolutely comprehensively Wei Wuxian had already decided to die. No-one else was actually making that decision for him.
But Lan Wangji catches him.
Wei Wuxian: this is not what I planned
Wei Wuxian: this is not what I planned
Lan Zhan is holding him, but he clearly doesn't have the strength to pull him up. He nearly drops him.
The face of a man who knows it's too late. He looks at their hands, face working.
All of which is building up to where I'm actually even going with this, still, but this is the scene: grief, lose, resignation and determination.
All of which is building up to where I'm actually even going with this, still, but this is the scene: grief, lose, resignation and determination.
*loss, argh.
"Lan Zhan. Let me go."
"Lan Zhan. Let me go."
Lan Zhan does not let him go.
Enter Jiang Wanyin.
Note that he's not even looking up as he approaches.
He's also exhausted.
He's not eagerly rushing over. He's dragging himself there step by unwilling step.
Note that he's not even looking up as he approaches.
He's also exhausted.
He's not eagerly rushing over. He's dragging himself there step by unwilling step.
Note that Sandu is already bloodied.
Jiang Cheng has already been fighting.
Jiang Cheng has already been fighting.
His expression is a tangled mess of anger and grief. Mostly grief.
He just lost his sister.
He's about to lose Wei Wuxian.
Let's pause to discuss some motivations.
He just lost his sister.
He's about to lose Wei Wuxian.
Let's pause to discuss some motivations.
We're a while past: "If you continue, I won't be able to protect you," and Wei Wuxian continuing. Jiang Cheng couldn't protect him.
How could he? The Jiang Sect was murdered. He's got a handful of disciples he's managed to pull together since the Sunshot Campaign.
How could he? The Jiang Sect was murdered. He's got a handful of disciples he's managed to pull together since the Sunshot Campaign.
And a duty to every ancestor he has to rebuild the Jiang Sect, not throw himself against the entirety of the rest of the cultivation world and get it crushed.
It's come to this. This is the end.
He cannot, CANNOT be seen to stand by the Yiling Patriarch now.
It's come to this. This is the end.
He cannot, CANNOT be seen to stand by the Yiling Patriarch now.
His expression here is... interesting. Wei Wuxian sees him. A little smile. An acknowledgement.
And the rage is suddenly... not there. Suddenly he's just Jiang Cheng again.
Silent communication. They're good at that. They're bad at words.
And the rage is suddenly... not there. Suddenly he's just Jiang Cheng again.
Silent communication. They're good at that. They're bad at words.
His expression here isn't angry.
This is just pain.
He just held his sister while she died and now he's watching Wei Wuxian kill himself.
This is just pain.
He just held his sister while she died and now he's watching Wei Wuxian kill himself.
Still not angry. Upset eyebrows, not angry eyebrows.
Lan Wangji's upset. Jiang Cheng? Hesitates.
But Wei Wuxian smiles. Approving. Closes his eyes. Lan Zhan tells him to stop.
Jiang Cheng's expression? "I fucking hate your stupid plans, Wei Wuxian."
Lan Wangji's upset. Jiang Cheng? Hesitates.
But Wei Wuxian smiles. Approving. Closes his eyes. Lan Zhan tells him to stop.
Jiang Cheng's expression? "I fucking hate your stupid plans, Wei Wuxian."
This is his face for "Wei Wuxian, go to hell!"
Still.
Not.
Angry.
Just hurting.
Still.
Not.
Angry.
Just hurting.
He closes his eyes.
He can't even look.
He can't even look.
And sword hits rock.
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji's hands did not move.
Jiang Cheng could have hit them if he'd actually wanted to.
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji's hands did not move.
Jiang Cheng could have hit them if he'd actually wanted to.
Wei Wuxian's expression: wtf bro
Jiang Cheng's: trying not to cry and failing
Jiang Cheng's: trying not to cry and failing
WWX: well the window of opportunity here is short.
And that's when he yanks his hand free of Lan Wangji's.
And that's when he yanks his hand free of Lan Wangji's.
Because here's the thing.
The Jiang Sect is still in a precarious position. Jiang Cheng has not exactly been whole-hearted, until now, about his condemnation of the Yiling Patriarch.
He's been sneaking off to see him. Took his sister and everything.
The Jiang Sect is still in a precarious position. Jiang Cheng has not exactly been whole-hearted, until now, about his condemnation of the Yiling Patriarch.
He's been sneaking off to see him. Took his sister and everything.
You know what would shore up his position, right now?
If he, personally, killed the Yiling Patriarch.
Wei Wuxian has already decided to die. He can't live. Not at this point. It's gone too far, it's too late, and he doesn't have the will anyway.
If he, personally, killed the Yiling Patriarch.
Wei Wuxian has already decided to die. He can't live. Not at this point. It's gone too far, it's too late, and he doesn't have the will anyway.
Jiang Cheng gets to the place where Lan Wangji is trying to save Wei Wuxian's life.
Wei Wuxian isn't interested in being saved.
But they look at each other.
And Jiang Cheng makes a great big show of furiously murdering Wei Wuxian.
And doesn't touch him.
Wei Wuxian isn't interested in being saved.
But they look at each other.
And Jiang Cheng makes a great big show of furiously murdering Wei Wuxian.
And doesn't touch him.
Wei Wuxian's reaction is closer to: "FFS Jiang Cheng, do I have to do this all myself?" than "oh no my brother, he hate me".
Because this?
This is the last chance he has to do something for the Jiang Sect. To support Jiang Cheng.
And Jiang Cheng turns away in grief.
Because this?
This is the last chance he has to do something for the Jiang Sect. To support Jiang Cheng.
And Jiang Cheng turns away in grief.
It's easy to focus on what Lan Wangji is going through here, because... it's a lot, it really is.
But Jiang Cheng just held his sister while she died, and now he's looking at Wei Wuxian, and he knows, he KNOWS that politically? The best thing to do is kill Wei Wuxian.
But Jiang Cheng just held his sister while she died, and now he's looking at Wei Wuxian, and he knows, he KNOWS that politically? The best thing to do is kill Wei Wuxian.
He has no reason to hold back his strike.
Apart from one.
Love.
He can't kill Wei Wuxian. He can't hold his sister while she dies and then kill their brother. He *can't*.
Even if Wei Wuxian wants him to. He can't go through with it.
But Wei Wuxian?
Apart from one.
Love.
He can't kill Wei Wuxian. He can't hold his sister while she dies and then kill their brother. He *can't*.
Even if Wei Wuxian wants him to. He can't go through with it.
But Wei Wuxian?
Let's face it.
What Jiang Cheng wants has never been his highest priority.
What Jiang Cheng *needs* is political strength.
Killing Wei Wuxian will give that to him.
Wei Wuxian will take the wind.
Jiang Cheng didn't kill him.
In the end, Wei Wuxian died for him.
[end]
What Jiang Cheng wants has never been his highest priority.
What Jiang Cheng *needs* is political strength.
Killing Wei Wuxian will give that to him.
Wei Wuxian will take the wind.
Jiang Cheng didn't kill him.
In the end, Wei Wuxian died for him.
[end]
