i think 13-years-later wei wuxian, if given the chance to, would also say "i'm sorry & thank you" to wen qing.

i feel like for wq, it was always at the back of her mind that maybe she was taking wwx away from his true family. with any mention of jyl, jc, or lwj, as much as wq would do everything she can so that wwx can see them again, it was like it was almost time for this dream to end.

and wwx knows this. so he makes a-ning promise not to tell his sister he met up with jc and jyl that day in town when jyl arrived in her wedding dress. and it was only when he drank too much that he shared his fond memories of lwj with wq.

but i think as much as wwx couldn't deny wanting to go back home, burial mounds was a place he could be completely himself, without restraint, without needing to keep secrets. it was the best home for him in that moment, and he was happy.

he didn't have to explain to anyone why he changed nor why he needed to be alone for days at a time bc wen qing and a-ning understand. they are the only two people in the world who know his deepest secret and why he turned to demonic cultivation.

that year at burial mounds was wwx's most innovative and free. i think he restrained himself quite a bit growing up. he always had an interest in experimenting with different methods of cultivation but kept it under the radar to follow the rules.

but here, nothing was holding him back, and he made creations that the rest of the cultivational world couldn't help but admire and use even a decade after his death.

"i'm sorry"

i'm sorry for not saving your brother in time.
i'm sorry i didn't realize earlier and had forgotten your kindness during the toughest part of my life.
i'm sorry for bringing him back only to be feared and despised by the world.

「溫家家訓 有恩必報 」

on the surface, wq, wn, and wwx say they saved each other again and again bc "every kindness must be repayed," but they were becoming like family and relied on and needed each other, especially during that year at burial mounds.

"& thank you"

thank you for giving me a place i could call home.
thank you for not pressing when i needed to be alone.
thank you for pushing me when i needed to be pushed.
i'm sorry i couldn't stop you from going to jinlintai in my place.