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“Did all four of us really need to come here?” Jiang Cheng asked, glaring at Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji who hadn’t let go of each other’s hand, not even when entering the cave. Lan Xichen shot Jiang Cheng an amused smile, and Jiang Cheng felt his face heat up, so he quickly looked away, taking a sudden interest in the rocks on the cave floor.
“Ah, Jiang Cheng, do you not like spending quality time with your brother?” Wei Wuxian asked, finally letting go of Lan Wangji’s hand to slink his arm around Jiang Cheng’s shoulders. Jiang Cheng half-heartedly tried to shake him off.
“Quality time? We’re looking for a dangerous demonic creature. In what world is that considered ‘quality time’?” Jiang Cheng scoffed.
“Any time spent with me is quality time.” Wei Wuxian grinned, kicking a pebble at his feet.
“You-!”
“And besides, you said it yourself. We’re looking for ‘A dangerous demonic creature.’ Lan Zhan and I needed all the help we could get.” Wei Wuxian turned to Lan Xichen who was examining another part of the cave with his brother. “Xichen-ge, you enjoy spending time with Lan Zhan and me, right?”
Lan Xichen smiled at Wei Wuxians antics and nodded, “Of course. Spending time with family is important.”
Jiang Cheng scoffed again, “Lan Xichen is just too nice to tell you to piss off Wei Wuxian. But I’m not, so piss off.”
Wei Wuxian pouted like the inner man-child he was and went to his husband again, claiming how Jiang Cheng had broken his heart again. Lan Wangji listened to Wei Wuxian’s babbling with the patience of a saint. How? Jiang Cheng would never know.
“I think I’ve found something.” Lan Xichen said, pointing to a set of carvings engraved on the rock wall.
Jiang Cheng squinted as he tried to read the jagged calligraphy. The dialect was different from that of anything he’d ever seen before but he could roughly translate the word to: Turmoil.
“Turmoil?” Wei Wuxian tapped his nose, indicating he was deep in thought. He turned towards his husband. “Wait, Lan Zhan, is this in any way connected to the Book of Turmoil that Jin Guangyao-” He stopped, wincing at the expression on Lan Xichen’s face when he heard the name. Lan Xichen had already been out of seclusion for a few months, but still, some wounds took much longer than others to heal.
Jiang Cheng shot Wei Wuxian an icy glare, before glancing at Lan Xichen to make sure the other was okay. Lan Xichen gave him an imperceptible nod: I’m okay.
Lan Wangji also looked to make sure his brother was alright before answering Wei Wuxian’s question. “I don’t believe the two are related. This is connected to the demon we’ve been trying to hunt. It’s referred to as the Entity of Chaos. ”
“How did you know that?” Wei Wuxian asked, frowning.
“I researched before we arrived.”
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian whined, “You researched without me?’
“Apologies, Wei Ying, you were sleeping.”
“That’s no excuse-”
“The demon’s named the ‘Entity of Chaos?’” Jiang Cheng cut in, and Lan Wangji nodded. “That just sounds like a synonym for ‘Yiling Patriarch’.”
Wei Wuxian huffed in outrage, “Jiang Cheng-!”
“Wangji, do you know anything else about this demon?” Lan Xichen asked, effectively curbing the brothers’ fight.
Lan Wangji shook his head, “All I could gather was that it feeds off of other’s inner turmoil.”
“That’s pretty standard for demonic creatures.” Jiang Cheng sighed.
“So the demon must be closeby, right? Should we summon it? Lan Zhan, remember that new array I was working on? Now would be the perfect time to use it!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed.
Lan Wangji shook his head, “We should know more about the creature we’re dealing with before we attempt anything.”
“For once, I actually agree with Hanguang-jun.” Jiang Cheng said, earning a withering look from Lan Wangji.
“I believe-” Lan Xichen began, but then all of a sudden, the words on the rock began to glow. All four heads immediately turned to stare at them. Lan Wangji’s hands went to Bichen and Lan Xichen went for his sword as well. Zidian sparkled with electricity on Jiang Cheng’s knuckles. Wei Wuxian made no move to grab Chenqing, unphased by the glowing rock. He moved closer to examine the words.
“Wei Ying !” Lan Zhan called,
“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, I’m fine! I just want to take a closer look at-” In an instant, a deep scarlet smoke shot out from the glowing rock and aimed itself at Wei Wuxian, intent on making him its victim. Before Jiang Cheng could even fully comprehend what was happening, he was pushing his brother out of the way and letting the smoke attack him instead. He choked, falling to the ground as everything around him began to blur and fade away. He could distantly hear shouts of “Jiang Cheng!” and “Sect Leader Jiang!” around him as he rapidly lost consciousness.
So much anger, self-hatred, and trauma...There’s so much turmoil inside of you, Jiang Cheng a voice whispered throughout his mind. It was laced with thinly veiled glee and barely sounded human. It made Jiang Cheng want to crawl out of his skin, but he was trapped. A prisoner in his own body.
It’s...delicious.
~~~
Wei Wuxian was pacing back and forth.
“Are the ropes really necessary?” He asked, gesturing to his unconscious little brother who was tied to a chair in the middle of the Jingshi.
Lan Wangji nodded, “They are laced with spiritual energy, just in case.”
Wei Wuxian bit his lip in frustration but acquiesced.
Lan Xichen was staring at Jiang Cheng’s unconscious form. His face betrayed no signs of worry, but he was clenching his fists so hard that his nails were digging into his palms.
Suddenly, the doors of the Jingshi burst open, and in came a furious Jin Ling with two exhausted Lan cultivators trailing behind him.
“Our apologies for intruding!” Lan Sizhui cried, bowing to his fathers and his uncle.
“Yeah, who knew the Young Mistress was so fast?” Lan Jingyi muttered under his breath. All three juniors stopped in their tracks as they took in the sight of an unconscious Jiang Cheng.
“I-is he…?” Jin Ling asked, staring at his uncle, eyes widened in fear.
“He’s alive.” Lan Xichen reassured him.
Jin Ling breathed out a sigh of relief, and then his scowl was back, tenfold. He glared at every single adult in the room, “Wei Wuxian, your letter was lacking. How did this happen? You're the best cultivators in the world!”
“Jin Ling.” Lan Sizhui said, trying to quell his friend’s anger. None of the adults were able to answer him.
“A-Ling?” Jin Ling’s head snapped up. There was only one person, aside from A-Yuan sometimes, that could call him that.
Jiang Cheng smiled at him. “Jiujiu!” Jin Ling cried and then ran over to his uncle, but was stopped in place by Wei Wuxian who held him by his shoulders.
“Get off of me! I want to see my uncle!” Jin Ling yelled, struggling out of Wei Wuxian’s grasp.
“We cannot be sure whether this is truly your uncle or not.” Hanguang-jun stepped in, eyeing Jiang Cheng with distrust.
“Is that why you have me tied up?” Jiang Cheng sighed, “I suppose I understand. You can never be too careful, isn’t that right Hanguang-jun?” Lan Wangji didn’t respond.
“Lan Zhan, how do we know when to let Jiang Cheng out?” Wei Wuxian asked, gesturing to the ropes.
Lan Wangji opened his mouth to answer, but Jiang Cheng interrupted him.
“I feel fine, Hanguang-jun. I’m just a bit tired, and a little hungry to be honest. It’s not like I can go rest and get food all tied up like this.”
Lan Wangji nodded, “Sizhui, please bring Sect Leader Jiang something from the kitchens.”
Lan Sizhui nodded, and made a move to leave when Jiang Cheng yelled out a harsh “No!” Everyone froze and stared at him.
“My apologies...” Jiang Cheng sighed, “Hanguang-jun, please let me go. These ropes are very uncomfortable and all I want to do is rest, I promise.”
Lan Xichen looked a little moved, “Wangji, maybe we should let him go. We can still look after him even if he’s untied.”
Jin Ling nodded in agreement, ignoring the worried glances Lan Jingyi and Lan Sizhui were shooting his way.
Hanguang was unmoved. “No.”
“Why not?” Jiang Cheng asked, scowling.
“It’s unsafe.”
“Unsafe? Unsafe? ” Jiang Cheng whipped his head to glare at Wei Wuxian, “And you? You’re usually so talkative, but you’ve been practically silent the entire time. What’s your say in the matter?”
Wei Wuxian grimaced, conflicted, “I-I don’t know if we’re talking to the real Jiang Cheng or not.”
“My uncle is not possessed, Wei Wuxian!” Jin Ling snapped, but his eyes wavered as he looked at Jiang Cheng, almost as if he were unsure of his own statement himself.
“We don’t know that.” Lan Jingyi whispered.
“W-wei Wuxian, you would really leave your didi here, tied up like this?” The tears beginning to form in Jiang Cheng’s eyes shocked everyone to their core, especially Wei Wuxian.
“No, didi no-” Wei Wuxian’s voice was strained.
“Please don’t keep me here. Please help me .”
“Lan Zhan, surely we can let him go-” Wei Wuxian begged, but Lan Wangji wasn’t having it.
“No.” Lan Wangji replied, fully glowering at Jiang Cheng.
“A-Xian please.” A single tear rolled down Jiang Cheng’s cheek. Wei Wuxian lunged for the rope, but Lan Wangji tugged him back. They struggled against one another. Hanguang-jun had the advantage because he was physically stronger than Wei Wuxian, but Wei Wuxian was determined. The juniors gasped at the altercation. They’d never seen Huanguang-jun and Wei Wuxian fight before. Even Lan Xichen was startled.
“Wei Ying .”
“Lan Zhan! Please let me-!”
A low rumbling chuckle came from the chair beside them. Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian immediately froze, turning to look at the source of the laughter.
Jiang Cheng was watching them, his face contorted in delight. He cackled, throwing his head back as everyone stumbled away from him. When he opened his eyes, his pupils were gone, replaced by swirling red smoke.
“I’m sorry, but that was really too easy. I couldn’t hold it in anymore.” The demon laughed.
“J-jiujiu?” Jin Ling whispered, confused.
“Your uncle is a bit preoccupied right now.” Jin Ling flinched at the sound of Jiang Cheng’s voice. It was twisted and warped beyond belief. It sent shivers down his spine. “But you’ll always have me, A-Ling.”
“Don’t call him that.” Wei Wuxian snapped, glowering as "Jiang Cheng" laughed at him. This thing wasn't his brother.
“Oh, A-Xian. You look upset. What’s wrong? Why do you look so surprised? So guilty? The people closest to you get hurt because of you all the time, this is no different.” Wei Wuxian felt his chest tighten at the demon’s words. He knew it was just saying these things to manipulate him, to feed off of his inner turmoil, but it stung nonetheless. It was especially painful because it was wearing his brother’s face.
“We should silence him, and then work to exorcise the demon.” Lan Xichen suggested, unable to look at Jiang Cheng.
“If you silence me, I’ll break his neck.” Jiang Cheng fired back just as quickly. He leaned back and then tilted his head sharply to the side as if to demonstrate how. “Oh A-Ling, don’t look so upset. If I kill him, he’ll be gone forever, but you’ll still have me.” He cackled again, and the sound was so jarring to hear from someone like Jiang Cheng.
The demon turned to Lan Wangji, “Hanguang-jun, as I said, I’m hungry. And I’m tired. So let me go, and once this is all over, I’ll let you live.”
Lan Wangji glared at the demon. “No.”
Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, “ No. Is that all you can say? No? A-Yuan must’ve had a rough upbringing.” Everyone tensed at the mention of Lan Sizhui. Upon hearing his name, Lan Sizhui’s head snapped up to look at Jiang Cheng, taking in the sight of the possessed Sect Leader with unease.
“Leave him alone.” Lan Jingyi demanded, his voice was firm.
“I’m sure you’ve had a rough upbringing too, Lan Jingyi, what with you being an orphan and all. I wonder why your parents decided to leave you here, all alone. Were you that much of a disappointment? Did you drive them away?”
“Do not speak to him.” Lan Sizhui frowned, defending his best friend.
“A-Yuan, look at you. Your Wen family would be so proud of you, thriving in the Sect that took hand in their demise.” Lan Sizhui visibly flinched, and Lan Jingyi and Jin Ling immediately went to comfort him. Jiang Cheng felt a hand collide with his face. It was Lan Wangji wearing a severe expression on his face, barely containing his anger.
“Hanguang-jun, shouldn’t you be a little nicer to your brother in law?” Jiang Cheng’s cheek was red, but his smirk grew even more.
“You are not my brother-in-law.” Lan Wangji growled. Wei Wuxian held him back.
“I guess I hit a nerve, didn’t I? My sincerest apologies, Lan Wangji.” The demon wore a taunting smile on Jiang Cheng’s face.
Lan Xichen grabbed his xiao, intent on playing music to tame the demon, but then Jiang Cheng said, in a silky smooth voice, “ Lan Huan~ ”
The demon had been calling everyone by affectionate names to anger them, but this was different. There was more behind it.
Lan Xichen’s knuckles went white around his instrument, and he raised it to his mouth, intent on playing and ignoring the demon when Jiang Cheng called out to him again. “Lan Huan. Don’t ignore me. It’s useless trying.”
“Brother, don’t.” Lan Wangji warned, not wanting the demon to get under Lan Xichen’s skin as it had his.
“Lan Huan, I hope your time out of seclusion has been kind to you.” Jiang Cheng grinned, scarlet eyes blazing. “You and I have spent a lot of time together since then.”
“My time was spent with Sect Leader Jiang, not you .” Lan Xichen replied. It was obvious, even to juniors, that he was struggling to keep his tone even. Lan Xichen knew this wasn’t Jiang Cheng speaking; the demon was only using him as a vessel to speak through. And Lan Xichen also knew that it was feeding off his discomfort, so he tried to bury his emotions deep within, but he found himself failing as the demon continued to speak.
“I enjoyed spending time with you too.” Jiang Cheng said, ignoring Lan Xichen. “But make no mistake, you were nothing more than a warm body to me.”
Lan Xichen dropped his instrument in shock. He was chanting through his mind, This isn’t Jiang Cheng. This isn’t Jiang Cheng. But the words cut through him like a knife .
Lan Wangji looked furious, like he wanted to hit the demon again. Wei Wuxian and the juniors looked equal parts astonished and mortified by the crude reveal that Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen were in an intimate relationship.
The demon wasn’t finished though, “You were nothing more than a hole he could thrust his sorrows into. He never loved y-” Jiang Cheng paused mid-sentence, choking on his words. For a moment it looked like one of the Lans had ignored the demon’s threat and cast a silencing spell on him anyways, but the demon looked to be in confrontation with itself. Its eyes flickered back and forth between scarlet red and Jiang Cheng’s familiar brown, but eventually red took over and the demon bared Jiang Cheng’s teeth, triumphant.
“Oh Jiang Cheng, did you really think you could take over?” The demon laughed, shaking his head. “I’m stronger than you’ll ever be you pathetic little-”
“Stop it! Stop this!” Wei Wuxian pointed Chenqing at the demon. His hands shook as he was forced to aim his weapon at the creature that had stolen the face of his little brother.
“Ever the hero, Wei Wuxian. Look at you, always so brave and selfless.” The demon’s words were remarkably similar to Jiang Cheng’s own past ones. It made Wei Wuxian close his fist around his flute even tighter. “What are you going to do? Play me a song? Hit me? You can’t control me with that thing. For once, I’m the strong one and you’re the weak one.”
“Stop talking as if you’re him. You’re not Jiang Cheng.” Wei Wuxian snapped.
“Fine, I’ll humor you, Yiling Patriarch, but only because I’m a fan.” The demon said placatingly, “But I’m in his head, Wei Wuxian. I know everything he knows.”
“Stop talking.”
“What? Are you scared of what you might find out?” Jiang Cheng giggled and the tone was eerie to everyone’s ears. “You must’ve felt like such a hero for giving him your golden core. Look at Wei Wuxian, look at how selfless he is. He gave up his own golden core to his brother who would’ve been useless without it. Oh Wei Wuxian, forever a hero. Forever our savior.”
The juniors gasped at this new information. None of them had any idea that Wei Wuxian had willingly sacrificed his core to Sect Leader Jiang.
“Jiang Cheng and I have already made peace about that.” Wei Wuxian crossed his arms, his jaw set. “You’ll get nowhere with me, bringing that up.”
The demon jeered at him but pressed on. “How do you think he lost his core in the first place?”
Wei Wuxian frowned at the unpleasant memory, “The Wens captured him.”
“He was grieving at the time, but he wasn’t stupid. He was weaker than you, but he wasn’t weak. ” Jiang Cheng smiled, clearly savoring this. The demon fed off of turmoil after all. “Wei Wuxian, do you really believe that Jiang Cheng’s capture was an accident? You really are stupid. Almost as stupid as him.”
“What do you mean? ”
“Jiang Cheng had just lost practically everything. His home, his sect, his parents. He only had two things left that mattered to him. His Jiejie and you. So when he saw the Wens approaching you on the streets all those years ago, the choice was simple.”
Jiang Cheng sat back and watched as looks of realization dawned on everyone’s faces. Wei Wuxian shook his head, “I-I don’t understand-”
“Are you really surprised? I mean he let a demon possess him for you as well.”
“Wei Ying, don’t listen. It’s feeding off of your emotions.” Lan Wangji’s voice barely reached Wei Wuxian’s ears.
“Jiang Cheng gave up his golden core for you. All you did was return it, behind his back no less. His sacrifice was worthless .” Jiang Cheng smirked, absorbing the negative energy that flew off Wei Wuxian in waves.
“And do you really think he would miss?” Jiang Cheng added. The demon was eager to torment Wei Wuxian even farther.
“Miss?” Wei Wuxian’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“On the mountain, with his sword, the day you died and fell off the cliff. Perfect aim always came easy to you, Wei Wuxian, but Jiang Cheng had to strive for it. It’s rather pathetic. Anyways. Do you really think he missed you with his sword, by accident? His aim was just as good as yours, and if he wanted that sword shoved in your chest, it would’ve been in your chest…” Jiang Cheng hummed, the demon could practically taste the shock and guilt coming from the rooms in waves. Jin Ling along with the rest of the juniors look pale. He was clinging onto Lan Jingyi and Lan Sizhui for strength. Lan Wangji was frozen, staring straight at the ground with a blank look on his face. Lan Xichen had crumpled to the ground, staring at the instrument. Wei Wuxian looked ill. He felt like he was going to faint.
All of this turmoil...It was everything the Entity of Chaos wanted.
“Uncle please.” Jin Ling whispered. He couldn’t bear hearing anything more.
“Uncle please’? Ridiculous.” Jiang Cheng taunted him, “I should’ve just left you to the Jin Clan for good. Let that traitorous, unhinged uncle of yours deal with you instead. You should've never been bo-” Jiang Cheng’s voice halted again.
“Jiujiu?” Jin Ling was crying. Wei Wuxian and Lan Xichen looked like they wanted to follow in suit, but they held back their tears.
Slowly one of Jiang Cheng’s hands raised, straining against itself as he and the demon fought for dominance over his body. The hand finally found its way to the spiritual rope and as soon as it made contact, Jiang Cheng let out a blood-curdling scream as his hand began to sizzle and burn.
The juniors clung onto each other with gaping eyes.
“Jiang Cheng!” Wei Wuxian shouted looking upon the horrifying scene of his brother being mutilated. He moved to advance towards him, but Lan Wangji held him back.
“Wanyin…” Lan Xichen muttered, horrified. It pained him to watch his lover suffer.
“What do you think you’re doing?!” The demon hissed. It was talking to Jiang Cheng, who was still trapped inside him. “You think you can win against me?” The demon yelled again as another hand grabbed onto the rope. Jiang Cheng’s body was shaking with pain, but the demon persisted. He was unwilling to leave this vessel, not after how well he’d just eaten. He was still hungry. He still craved chaos-
The demon let out a roar as Jiang Cheng broke free from the ropes only to wrap them around his neck and squeeze. Everyone was watching the scene in terror, but they dared not interfere.
Jiang Cheng choked and it was only until a deep red welt formed itself around his neck, the demon finally decided to leave. Jiang Cheng’s jaw clicked open and the red smoke rushed out, leaving Jiang Cheng crumpled on the floor. Lan Wangji and the two other Lan juniors immediately pulled out their guqins to exorcise the demon. They furiously plucked at their strings until the red smoke dissipated into the air. The other three rushed to Jiang Cheng’s side.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Jiang Cheng-the real Jiang Cheng-whispered into his brother’s shoulder. There were tears pooling at his eyes, but he would not let them fall in front of everyone.
“It’s not your fault.” Wei Wuxian said in a tone that left no room for argument.
“But-”
“I’m sorry that you had to protect me back then and even now. I’m the older brother, I’m supposed to protect you and I failed-”
“You didn’t fail me.”
“Oh, A-Cheng...”
“You didn’t fail me .” Jiang Cheng repeated, his voice thick with emotion.
“Are you feeling better now, Sect Leader Jiang?” Lan Xichen asked, refusing to meet Jiang Cheng’s eyes.
Jiang Cheng blanched and then quickly moved out of his brother’s embrace to grab Lan Xichen’s hands into his own.
“None of what the demon said was true.”
Lan Xichen shot him a sad smile, “It’s okay, Sect Leader Jiang I-”
“I love you.” Jiang Cheng blurted.
Lan Xichen looked stunned for a moment, but then his face dissolved into a brilliant smile, one that Jiang Cheng had grown infinitely fond of over the years. “You do?”
Jiang Cheng nodded, face heating up “I do.” A few forced coughs around him, reminded Jiang Cheng that they weren’t alone. He looked at the juniors’ blushing faces. Even the tips of Huanguang-jun’s ears were red. A love confession in the midst of such chaos? Why, he was almost as shameless as-
“Jiang Cheng, you’re almost as shameless as me!” Wei Wuxian laughed, the sadness clearing from his eyes.
“Wei Wuxian!” Jiang Cheng couldn’t bring himself to be angry. He turned to look at the other Lans. “I apologize for what was said earlier. To all of you. Sizhui, the Wens would be proud of you. Jingyi, you’re a gifted disciple. Hanguang-jun, despite all odds, you’ve raised exceptional children. What the demon said wasn’t true, for any of you. ” He made eye contact with each Lan to make sure they knew he was sincere.
Lan Wangji nodded at him, his lips faintly tilted upwards. “Not your fault. You were possessed.”
Lan Sizhui agreed with his father, “We don’t hold it against you, Sect Leader Jiang, but thank you.”
“Yeah, thanks Sect Leader Jiang. I, for one, hold it against that damn demon. I swear, if it ever shows its ugly red eyes around here again I’ll make it w ish it stayed in hell.” Lan Jingyi narrowed his eyes in the spot where the red smoke had vanished. Lan Sizhui smiled at his friend’s enthusiasm.
“Excuse me.” Jin Ling said and all but ran out the room. Jiang Cheng shot Wei Wuxian a worried look and his brother nodded, encouraging him to go after his nephew.
Jiang Cheng chased after his nephew, huffing at the strain it put on his already exhausted body, but that wasn’t important. Finding Jin Ling was.
“There you are.” Jiang Cheng eventually found Jin Ling slouched behind a tree in the forest. A couple of bunnies scampered away as Jiang Cheng took a seat next to his nephew.
“Sometimes I think that too.” Jin Ling whispered, tears trailing down his face.
“Think what?” Jiang Cheng asked, making his voice as gentle as possible.
“That I should’ve never been born.”
Jiang Cheng jolted up from his place on the ground, pulling Jin Ling up to stand with him. He had an iron-vice grip on his nephew’s shoulders.
“Don’t you dare say that about yourself ever again!” Jiang Cheng shouted.
“Why not? The demon was right! If I had never been born then maybe my parents would still be alive. Maybe you would’ve had an easier time leading the Jiang Sect. Maybe Jin Guangyao’s life would’ve been better off. Maybe-” Jin Ling stopped, catching sight of his Uncle’s face. This was the second time today, and in his entire life, that he’d ever seen Jiang Cheng cry. This time his tears were genuine.
“None of that is true, and you know that. Jin Guangyao’s downfall was his own fault. Your parents' deaths weren’t your fault either. Maybe it would’ve been easier to lead a sect without a snot-nosed three-year-old running around all the time, but A-Ling… I can’t imagine a life without you. Jin Zixuan is your father, but you’re my A-Ling, do you understand? You’re the most important part of my life and I love you, so much. I love you the most.” Jiang Cheng pulled Jin Ling in for a bone-crushing hug. They stood there, clinging onto each other as they cried.
“J-jiujiu?” Jin Ling hiccuped through his sobs.
“A-Ling?”
“I love you too.”
Jiang Cheng hugged Jin Ling tighter, vowing to never let go.