Beloved Beyond the End! Wangxian...

Hearing the elders discuss Weiying's punishment, Wangji felt a wave of numbness wash over him. The situation felt eerily familiar, reminiscent of the day he lost his mother—a memory that haunted him. He closed his eyes, struggling to breathe as the pain of that loss resurfaced. The fear of reliving such trauma gripped him, but he had to maintain the dignity expected of the second young master of the sect. No one could see his turmoil, except his brother, yet Xichen could read him like an open book.

On the other hand, Xichen shared Wangji's pain; he too had lost their mother. But he felt powerless to help either Wangji or Weiying.

Wangji stood there, legs trembling as he fought to remain upright, feeling as if he might collapse at any moment. His mother had meant everything to him—she was special, a beacon of love in his life. As a child, he had been helpless against the irrational decisions of clan elders, and now that helplessness returned, leaving him nauseous.

While the elders debated Weiying's fate, Wangji was lost in his thoughts. Finally, they decided on a form of seclusion that was far worse than anything he could have imagined—one that would cut Weiying off entirely from the outside world. He would receive minimal food and water, just enough to keep him alive, and no one would be allowed to interact with him. It was a prison disguised as punishment.

Wangji was shocked by their cruelty; he had never thought his clan could be so heartless. Unable to bear it any longer, he stepped outside the hall and walked toward the Jingshi with a heavy heart.

Feeling powerless to change anything, Wangji tried to push aside his emotions. He knew Weiying had made mistakes—no matter the reasons—but now he felt trapped in a marriage that would never allow him the life he had envisioned for himself. With this weight on his heart, he settled into a lotus position and began to meditate.

Yet concentration eluded him as thoughts of Weiying swirled in his mind, each one a reminder of the bond they shared and the pain that now threatened to sever it forever.

Weiying was acutely aware that his punishment would be difficult, but the severity and cruelty of it were unexpected. He had learned to survive on the streets alone, so he consoled himself with the thought that he could endure this too. Outwardly cheerful, he was broken inside, always living on hope—hope for acceptance from Madam Yu, hope that Jiang Cheng would understand he wasn't someone to be jealous of. Deep down, he knew Jiang Cheng loved him; it was just hard for him to express that brotherly affection.

The only person who truly understood him was Jiang Yanli. She treated him with kindness, cooking delicious soups and comforting him when he was sad. To Weiying, she was more than a sister; she was a motherly figure who never judged him for his origins or body. Now, he felt a deep sense of responsibility to save her.

Accepting his punishment in silence, Weiying realized there would be no more medical supplies for his wounds. He would have to heal on his own—his wounds would not become infected, but the pain would linger. While the physical wounds could eventually heal, the wounds of his soul felt irreparable without Yanli by his side.

As time passed in seclusion, Weiying lost track of the outside world. He no longer cared about those who had disowned him; his only concern was for Yanli. Yet, another name lingered in his thoughts—Lan Wangji. At first, he couldn't understand why Wangji occupied his mind so much, but eventually, he recognized it as something deeper: he was in love with Lan Wangji. It might have been one-sided, but perhaps it wasn't entirely.

Meanwhile, Wangji struggled with his own feelings for Weiying. Though he tried to bury himself in sect work to keep those thoughts at bay, they still crept into his mind. Time seemed to move differently for them; while Weiying's days dragged on in loneliness and despair, Wangji's passed quickly as he immersed himself in responsibilities.

Weiying faced severe challenges in seclusion. With limited food and water, he often found himself dizzy and weak from hunger and thirst. The nights were particularly tormenting—nightmares plagued him, leaving him drenched in sweat and tears as he curled up alone in the dark. He had no one to comfort him or quench his thirst, and the tasteless food barely sustained him.

In three months, he lost over 28 pounds; his body grew frail and fragile under the harsh conditions. Yet despite everything, thoughts of Lan Wangji filled his mind—his face became a beacon of warmth amid the loneliness.

As for Wangji, he remained busy with sect duties but often found himself drifting back to thoughts of Weiying during quiet moments. He wished desperately for a way to reach out and help him but felt trapped by clan traditions and expectations.

Both men were caught in a web of unspoken emotions and unresolved feelings—one longing for connection while the other grappled with helplessness. The distance between them felt insurmountable, yet their hearts remained intertwined through shared pain and hope for understanding.

---

Weiying's condition had deteriorated significantly over the past five months of seclusion. Once weighing 145 pounds (64 kg), he now weighed only 90 pounds (42 kg). Depression had settled in deeply, and he had stopped caring about food and water, often passing out on the floor for hours without any recollection of where he was or what he was doing. Each time he regained consciousness, he leaned against the bed for support, only to collapse back onto it, his body frail and weak, with no one to care for him.

One day, Lan Wangji decided to visit Weiying after his brother insisted he check on him. Reluctantly, Wangji made his way to Weiying's secluded quarters. Upon entering, he found Weiying sleeping on the bed and initially considered leaving quietly. However, after a moment's thought, he called out softly, "Wei Wuxian."

No response.

"Weiying! Wei Wuxian! There's something I need to talk with you about." Still no answer. Growing concerned, Wangji approached and gently shook him.

"Wake up! We need to talk!" he urged.

When Weiying remained unresponsive, Wangji shook him harder. Panic began to rise within him. "Hey! You listening!? Wei Wuxian! Wake up!"

He grabbed Weiying's hand to check his pulse, fear gripping him as he tapped his face and tried to rouse him. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Weiying's eyes fluttered open.

His vision was blurred as he struggled to focus. "Wangji," he whispered hoarsely, a faint smile breaking through his parched lips despite his condition.

"Are you alright? What happened?" Wangji asked frantically, observing the pallor of Weiying's face.

Weiying looked like a ghost—dark circles under his eyes, hollow cheeks, and lifeless yet somehow shining eyes that puzzled Wangji. That glimmer was a reflection of joy at seeing Wangji again, even in such a dire state.

"I'm okay; it's common," Weiying replied softly. "Don't worry. You're here. Are they changing my punishment?"

"Common?" Wangji echoed incredulously. "How often does this happen? You need to see a healer; we're going."

"It's fine. Um, Wangji, don't trouble yourself," Weiying protested weakly.

"No trouble! This is important; it can't be ignored." Without waiting for further protest, Wangji lifted Weiying from the bed in a bridal carry. Weiying tried to resist but couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his lips—something Wangji failed to notice amidst his worry.

As they moved toward the healer's pavilion, Wangji felt a mix of relief and dread. He was determined to ensure Weiying received the care he desperately needed while grappling with the overwhelming emotions that came with seeing him in such a fragile state.