journey's over - I

[asako-otori]

(from conversation with a friend)
Я досмотрела.
Встретила рассвет вместе с героями этой истории Странное чувство - наблюдать два рассвета...

...

...
In the dark outside the window birds were singing and insects chirring.
Asami was worn out. This two weeks were tough. Little sleep. Work involving substitute. Hot weather. Little food. And the nightly journey that in a week's time grew to occupy even the free hours of the day time. The journey that made her hair stand, at times brought her laughter, but at times - bitter tears.

Her feelings were... confused but peaceful.
All was... as it should be...

Meng Yao paid for his crimes.
Asami didn't wish him death. Far from that. She just wanted him to stop slaughtering people left and right. She would be happy if he, maimed, stayed at Gusu and spend the rest of his days with the person with whom he had alwasys been... comfortable? No, with the person who he loved and treasured, though in his own peculiar way.
But he became the victim of the lies, told by the man who, owing to Meng Yao, had lost his brother in an atrocious way.
What did the man do? Not much. Just made a scared grimace and looked behind Ze WuJun's back with "be careful!' If Meng Yao hadn't betrayed Second Brother's trust, so ultimately and irretrievably, it would do him no harm...
He paid for his crimes. In full.



The truth about Yiling Patriarch was brought to light.
Though little does Wei Ying care about public opinion, still facing blatantly wrongful charges is just not something he had to put up with any longer. What he is responsible for he will take, but standing silently under the flow of groundless accusations was just wrong and misguiding for all of them.
Now finally his name is clear.



As for his family.... Brothers reconciled.
No more misunderstanding between them.
And they are equal.
Asami was doumbfounded when she learned why Jiang Cheng got captured on that day. He wasn't reckless. At least, not mindlessly. He gave up himself for his brother, his only living brother. And paid with his golden core for that.
And now he knows that his brother gave up his golden core for his sake, gave up his right to live as he used to, to be what he used to be. He accepted a life of powerlessness and all outcomings for him. And as it turned out, the price was higher than one might new - he paid for his brother's life with his own.
But how can one say that it all was the only possible innevitable result? All what happened next was the consequence of every single decision that he made afterwards. Whenever one can come up with an excuse that one had no choice, however humble but choice is always there. And given his circumstances, Wei Ying is still responsible for what he had chosen every single time. And he knows it and doesn't blame neither his brother - unreal! - nor his fate - rediculous. Now it feels all in the past.
And they are equal. Though Wei Ying doesn't know that. But some day he will learn that. One day they will drink together with his brother as long before and the truth will escape the drunken lips. And strengthen their restored relationship even more.



And Wen Yuan lived.
What a fine kind-hearted young man he had become. Asami was so happy and proud of him. And even more - when he hugged Wwi Ying, expressing the emotion she has cradled for a long time. Lan Zhan, you have brought him up... Wei Ying's smile and look that he gave Lan Zhan was beaming with warm intense feeling... Your child. You both gave him life, you both brought him up.
You made it - a happy family.



And Wen Ning smiled.
After all the heardship and loss, he could smile. For there were people who filled you with the warm feeling and love, and cared for you and protected you and whatever happened belived in you. All those people who stood for you gave you the chance to live as everyone is meant to live - loving and caring.
You grew up, Wen Ning. Into a childishly kind and charishing ideals strong man who can stand on his own feet now.



And one more person has grown up. Nie Junior, now Nie clan leader. In years past and with sad experience accumulated he learned how to be strong on his own. How to have his way in the world to stand up for what is dear.
Asami found herself prod of him a little, as she believed in him.

All was... as it should be... but something was off.

- Я просто подумала...
- Он же счастливо улыбнулся) Почему ты подумала что-то другое?)
- Wei Wu Xian окликнул тихий желанный голос... Но во-первых, Lan Zhan человек слова в большинстве случаев. Если он что-то решил, то чаще всего он это доводит до конца, а не отказывается от сделанного прежде выбора.
Хотя, признаю, он допускает исключения)
В последнее время все чаще.
Но есть еще во-вторых.
Теперь он глава всех сект.На нем ответственность теперь не только за свой клан, но и за все вместе взятые. И тут он пренебрежет этим и отправится странствовать?

С другой стороны...
Странствующий, он вполне способен выполнять свои обязанности в роли защитника слабых, носителя света и лидера сект. Просто это будет не сидящий на месте лидер, а очень деятельный Какого еще мир не знал 🙃
И последняя часть его обещания, данного когда-то давно, когда они были еще совсем детьми...
В английском переводе каждый раз, как этот момент всплывал в разговоре или в воспоминаниях? слова клятвы переводились по-разному 😅
(что заставило задуматься о том, насколько же китайский язык двусмысленный и многозначный)
В одном из переводов последняя часть звучала "...чтобы я жил без сожалений"
Если бы он отпустил Wei Wu Xian, он бы об этом жалел всю оставшуюся жизнь.
Ему хватило прошлых 16 лет пытки болью утраты наравне с неопределенностью.
Обдумав все, и, самое главное, услышав мелодию, которая их связала, он не мог бы его оставить.

Знаешь, пришла к этому выводу, пока тебе писала.

Такое ощущение, что он, молча передумав, просто ходил забрать что-то, чтобы взять с собой в путешествие с Wei Wu Xian длинною в жизнь.

По правде, когда я провожала взглядом Song Lang и Xiao Xingchen, который духом шел с ним бок о бок, я подумала, как, возможно, подумал и Ah Xian: подобно ему и Lan Zhan, которые встретились спустя много лет и стали тем, чем должны были стать, - единым целым, Song Lang и Xiao Xingchen тоже когда-нибудь могут встретиться. Чтобы стать единым, без ссор, разделяя абсолютное доверие.
Темный и белый удаляющиеся силуэты...
Мне подумалось, как они похожи на Ah Xian и Lan Zhan. И то, что для них странствие после того, как все закончится, будет наиболее естественным образом жизни...

Итак, путешествие его превосходительства Несущего Свет лорда и Призрачного Дитя начинается



Thank you for letting me accompany you on your journey! With all my heart I appreciate it.