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He's cold, he's always cold, his robes in tatters and never seem to keep him warm no matter how tightly he wraps them around his thin frame. He walks with bare feet, his boots lost and he's not sure when.
He thinks the sharp rocky ground should hurt but it doesn't, his feet just accept it as he walks and walks and walks. This place is on repeat, the same buildings, the same streets over and over again. Why is he here? When did he get here?
The only thing that breaks the monotony is screams. Screams and blood, fear, pain..and RAGE. So much rage, when it breaks the cold surface it's red hot and the heat is welcome for a time but then it gets so hot it's unbearable.
It consumes him, comes out in screams and explosive reactions around him. He has no outlet, nowhere to send this rage and it makes him so tired just to exist and he succumbs to blackness.
Rinse and repeat
He's cold, he's always cold, his robes in tatters and never seem to keep him warm no matter how much he tightly wraps himself up in them. He feels like he's done this before, he knows he has but he's not sure how many times.
He's lost and alone, there are faces in his memory he tries to recall but they are featureless and empty, names he can't remember.
A scene in an inn flashes in his broken memory, many sets of arms holding his down, pain a constant memory.
"Beat him to death"
Voices ring in the scene, a man stands before him, dressed in red.
"Wait, I have a better idea...we'll set his as an example, tie him up, gag him, don't let him scream for help"
There is a wicked smirk on a face, the only face he can remember...only name..Wen Chao.
Of course, when you've been murdered, you never forget the face of your killer.
There's a ghost of fingers on his face, holding his chin still.
"I’m going to make sure you regret every single action you've taken against me, Wei Wuxian"
Rinse and repeat
But today it's different. Something calls to him from the monotony, something sweet and warm.his steps deviate from their planned path and he walks towards a set of stairs.
There's a man sitting at the base of the red and black stone steps, he's beautifully draped in white robes, his expression hard to read but Wei Wuxian decides he's beautiful and doesn't belong in this harsh landscape.
There's an instrument in front of him, a guqin, stark white just like his robes. The song he plays is beautiful, haunting and inviting, almost making him want to speak to him...almost.
He peels his gaze off the man for a moment and looks up the steps to the top and freezes, he knows these stairs.
"It can't be him"
There's a man in purple beside him but he can't see him, he's already dead and no matter how much Wei Wuxian screams at him he's deaf to his voice.
"Please tell me it's not him"
The purple man's knees shake and buckle with his hands on his face. "God's… no…." Wen Chao had taken nearly everything from him, his home, mother, father and now his brother.
A man in white stands at Wei Wuxian's other side, eyes looking straight up at the top of the stairs, hands white knuckled and gripping at a sword at his side and doesn't speak a word but Wei Wuxian can feel the rage and despair roll off of him like waves.
"Get him down…" the purple man speaks through clenched teeth and a lost battle against tears. How was he supposed to keep strong now? How could he face his sister? "He's...been here this whole time…" he clenched a fist hard, nails biteing at his palm and purple sparks dancing along his knuckles before he hit the ground with his fist so hard it caused it to crack.
Wei Wuxian looks up to what the white man can't take his eyes off of.
A body hangs from one of the corners of the nightless city palace. Held up by one arm with a red ribbon tied several times around its wrist, the other arm hangs limp, broken and hidden under the ragged blood-stained robe. The corpse’s hair is messy, knotted with blood. There are old vicious wounds all over, unrecognizable with their age and decomposition. It’s hard to tell who the corpse belongs to, but certain things give it away.
The white man steps forward, his sword leaves its scabbard for a second and slices the red ribbon that has kept the corpse hanging in place then jumps up to catch it as it falls. "Wei Ying…"
That corpse is his. He screams in rage and despair.
Both men turn at the sudden scream, their eyes wide in surprise but nothing else follows and he's gone without even noticing they had heard him.
His breath comes in quick and short but really, he doesn't need to breathe anymore, it's more reflex than anything.
The music suddenly pulls him out of his daze, calming him and settling the rage in his shattered mind. He looks back down at the man in white… a cultivator, he knows what that is, he was a cultivator once, he thinks.
He watches as the spirits gather around him, There is so many of them, so so many who want to talk, cry, beg him for something.
The cultivator asks questions, repeating them in his music, over and over again. Sometimes he paused at some spirits when he gets an answer he likes and digs deeper, asking for other things before he moves on to the next spirit that answers correctly.
He's looking for someone, he's certain, he keeps returning day after day asking the same questions. slowly, some spirits stop coming, knowing he doesn't want them.
Wei Wuxian moves closer sometimes, tempted to respond when the crowd of spirits gets smaller and smaller. But he's positive he's not the one this cultivator is looking for.
Sometimes, a man in purple visits, helping the cultivator in his searches.
"I know he's here" the purple man frowns "he has to be…" he runs a hand over his face, easily tiring quicker than the cultivator
"Mn.." the cultivator responds, glancing at his instrument.
"You heard him too… we couldn't have imagined it...that scream"
Scream?
Wei Wuxian frowns but doesn't understand. But still, the music calms him when the cultivator plays, makes him not want to tear himself apart so he stays. He stays till he is the last spirit that visits the cultivator.
The cultivator seems frustrated but patient, waiting for a response from anyone, repeating the music and pushing his own spiritual essence into it, pushing it further, coaxing him more.
Finally, after days...weeks? Perhaps months, he's not sure how long he's been watching him, he was so alone… so tired. Perhaps, now, he should speak.
He opens his mouth but no sound came out and the cultivator didn't notice. Instead, he sighed and placed his hands down on the guqin and began to pack it away.
No!
Wei Wuxian frowned and ran up to him.
Wait!
He tried to tug on his sleeve but of course, he could not touch him. His heart ached as he watched the cultivator leave, wanting to speak but unable to and he could only watch his back.
He didn't return the next day or the day after that. Was he ever coming back? He felt panic starting to set in. what if he never did, what if he lost his chance?
He had lost himself when the cultivator returned. He had fallen back into his monotony, not even sure how long the cultivator was gone.
When he did return he had brought something with him. An extra sword? He placed it in the ground in front of him before he once more began to play.
Calm once more began to fill him, his eyes drifting over the sword on the ground. It called to him and he reached out, drifting fingers along its hilt and for a moment it seemed to vibrate at his touch and the cultivator hesitated in his playing when he saw it.
"....Wei Ying?"
Wei Wuxian froze at that name before drawing his hand back quickly, remaining silent.
With no reply, the cultivator frowned and went back to playing. This time he stayed late, well past dark and we'll past when he should be sleeping. Only when he had nearly fallen asleep did he frown and push himself up to leave.
Wait
Wei Wuxian watched, he had tried speaking again but still, he could not.
The cultivator grabbed his things, placing the new sword at his side and guqin at his back.
Please!
Panic was setting in as he tried desperately to stop the cultivator. Tried to grab him but his hands could never grasp.
Don't go!!
The cultivator didn't hear, starting his walk out of the nightless city, once more disappointed, once more leaving.
DON'T GO!
COME BACK!
He screamed this time, tugging at his own hair and dropping to his knees. What if he never came back?
No no no no! Don't go! DON'T GO!! DON'T LEAVE ME HERE! COME BACK! DON'T LEAVE!! COME BACK!
he screamed and curled up, pent up energy erupting around him as he screamed, clutching at his head
"LAN ZHAN!!"
The first thing that snapped him out of his daze was the sound of the guqin. A peaceful sound, warm and welcoming. His breathing steadied and his eyes slowly looked up.
The cultivator was standing with his guqin before him, his expression strained as he pushed the music forward.
There was a red line along his cheek, blood dribbled from it to his chin then dripping to his white robe, such a contrast in colors that it was startling.
Had he done that?
His resentment dwindled down to a low ache, his hands still in his hair but he no longer pulled at it.
Lan Zhan…
That was his name, this man...his cultivator in white. He remembered that now.
Slowly Lan Zhan relaxed and frowned, staring at the spot where Wei Wuxian knelt but only saw the dark energies that gathered there.
One more he began to strum, his music combine as questions.
'Who are you?'
'I don't know anymore'
Lan Zhan frowned at the reply and strummed a new question.
'Where are you from?'
There were hesitations before a reply.
'Southeast'
‘How old are you?’
‘18’
‘Man or woman?’
‘Man’
'Did you die here?"
'Yes'
'How did you die?'
'Murder'
Lan Zhan frowned deeply at that and strummed again.
'Who killed you?'
'W̶̥͂͒̇ę̸̜̼̘͖͕͠n̷͉͉̻̟̦͚͍̞͖̦̬̭̭̯͒̓͆̀̈̄̂̋͂̚͝ ̵̡͖̰̬̫̮͙̜̪̑̇͛̈́̒͋C̴̡͉̲̣͇̹̤̮̲̜͔͒̌͠h̸̜̄̊̈́͛̈́̓̉̂̕ą̷̛̯͖̩̮̹̺͎̰̝͚̥͈̺̽ǫ̶̺͎͔̜̥͔̩͆'
The guqin strings seemed to snarl the name and once more Lan Zhan frowned. He knew this was resentment, that this spirit he was talking to was angry, more then that, full of rage and violence, he had only just witnessed the tip of the iceberg just now when he had been attacked. If this really was Wei Ying… there was a lot of damage to repair before they could help him rest.
Lan Zhan reaches down to strum another question but the Wei Wuxian got to it first.
'I am sorry'
Lan Zhan blinked, surprised, it was rare for a spirit to speak without questions.
'For what?'
'Your face'
Ah, this was promising, the spirit was not too far gone.
'It is fine' Lan Zhan's chest felt tight, a sad wave rolled off him, his expression that near unreadable. He hopes..prayed this was Wei Ying..they had failed to save him in life, he deserved to be able to rest.
'Does it hurt?"
Wei Wuxian was standing in front of him now, hand reaching out to ghost his touch over the slice on the other's cheek.
'No'
'You are not angry?'
'No'
'Good'
'Mn'
'Mn'
There was almost a sound of amusement like the spirit was teasing the short answers.
'you are like talking to a stone wall'
'What?' Lan Zhan blinked, surprised.
'Stonewall'
the spirit continued to tease
'I don't mind, your emotions are strong even if you don't show them'
'You can feel them?'
'Yes, like waves"
The answers came out so easily now, why had he not been able to speak earlier?
'You are looking for someone'
'Yes'
'Who?'
Lan Zhan paused, frowning lightly. -you- he thought, but, he was still not positive.
'someone..very important to me'
'A lover?'
Lan Zhan felt his ears blush at the thought before he frowned.that was something...that could never happen.
'Ah...I'm sorry.. ' he could feel Lan Zhan’s pain like it was his own, torturous, aching.
Lan Zhan shifted to stand
His eyes went a little wide at that, no, was he leaving again? He felt his own chest tighten and he scrambled to grab his own tattered robes.
‘Don’t leave, I won't ask again'
Lan Zhan paused and sighed and shook his head “I am sorry, I can’t stay all the time” he frowned and “I will return”
‘Don’t leave’
He begged again.
‘Please, please don’t leave me alone’
It made Lan Zhan pause, just how bad was this spirits state. If he left it now, would it return when he came back? Would it shatter and be unfixable? This spirit was literally begging him to stay. “I.. will come back tomorrow” He could feel the tension in the air thicken then back off even as he was prepared to try and calm it again and he sighed “Wait for me, Wei Ying..” even if he was wrong… even if it wasn’t Wei Ying, he would save this one.
Stay.. please stay…
He backed up, stepping backward away from Lan Zhan.
You don’t know what it’s like…
He watched the white cultivator leave once more as he let the darkness take him again.
Voices woke him from the monotony once more, how long had he been floating here, in darkness, in nothing? Everything merged together, all time happened at once in his shattered mind.
The white cultivator..no, Lan Zhan and someone else. Taller, just as beautiful and also wearing white.
“Here, brother”
“Alright, Wangji, make sure he is here...” the Elder cultivator watched as Lan Zhan set up his guqin with a nod.
The strum of calming music lured Wei Wuxian out once more, eyes watching Lan Zhan before they moved to the elder cultivator.
‘Are you here?’
There was no response, the elder Cultivator bringing his dizi up, ready to play. “The resentful energy is thick here Wangji…”
“Mn” Lan Zhan nodded.
“How much time have you spent here in these past months?”
“Too much...But I need to find him, Brother”
The elder sighed “Does he still want to be found?”
Lan Zhan looked back down and once more strummed on the guqin
‘Are you here?’
‘Yes’
Wei Wuxian shifted his attention to Lan Zhan, standing close to him.
The elder cultivator listened, knowing the language of the guqin just as well as Lan Zhan.
‘What is your name?’ Lan Zhan tried again.
‘I can't remember…’
Lan Zhan repeated the questions from last time, wanting to make sure this was the same spirit.
‘What are you doing?’
'planning'
'these are the same questions'
The elder cultivator raised an eyebrow, Lan Zhan had told him this was an inquisitive spirit. “Be careful, Wangji… He may not wish to leave”
“Mn…” Lan Zhan nodded.
'What keeps you here?'
'I don't understand'
Lan Zhan hummed, trying to think of a better way to put it.
'how do you feel?'
'cold'
'lost'
'angry'
'not enough?"
"Mn…to vague" Lan Zhan frowned then had an idea...he couldn't remember his own name..but maybe…
'What is my name?'
The elder cultivator was surprised at the question at first, then utterly shocked at the reply that came.
'Lan Zhan'
There was no hesitation, it was clear and precise, and not once had he told this spirit his name.
"It's him"
"Wangji"
"No-one but him calls me by my birth name" he turned to the elder "Not even you, brother"
The elder had no room to argue "Very well…" he nodded "are you ready, then?"
Lan Zhan nodded and grabbed a small spirit pouch at his side and set it on the ground.
They started playing, the music calming Wei Wuxian at first before he felt a tug and frowned at a second tug.
What is going on?
There was another tug and he fought it, feet bracing against the rocky ground. He gasped as his head suddenly ached.
No!
He hissed at the assault of memories as he was tugged closer to the spirit pouch.
"Hold him down"
Wen Chao's voice echoed through his mind.
"Bind his arms!!"
Wei Wuxian gasped and clutched at his head, trying to force out the voices before he screamed, hearing the first few growls from the Wen's hounds.
Black resentful energy burst around him as he fought the tug.
"Wangji! He's-! WANGJI!"
Wei Wuxian lunged forward, completely engulfing Lan Zhan before everything went dark.
-=-
"You shouldn't be here…."
Lan Zhan groaned, his eyes opening to blackness then dim light as his surroundings started to come into view "...Wei Ying?"
"Lan Zhan, why are you here?"
Lan Zhan was sitting on the ground, cold Stone underneath him and he couldn't decide if the smell was old blood or cold iron, perhaps it was both.
He was inside a cell, cold, damp and aching. His head was pounding with each beat of his heart. He reached up to touch his head and frowned at the sticky wet of his hair. Pulling his hand back he saw it covered in blood, old and new and he winced at another throb.
Something else was wrong, his robes were black and filthy. There was no sword at his hip and when he tried to call up his spiritual energies nothing responded to him. He felt… empty, cold, alone and afraid.but these were not his own emotions.
"It's not there" a voice in the dark of the cell "it's gone, given away" Wei Ying's voice was soft but loud enough for the other to hear. He was sitting on the ground as well, skin pale in the darkness, eyes looking straight at Lan Zhan. "Ah... Lan Zhan Lan Zhan. I am sorry... I never meant to pull you in here" he gave him a small smile.
Lan Zhen went still when he saw the other "Wei Ying...you... you're-" he paused at the sound of his own voice.
"Dead? Yeah, sorry" his smile became a little sadder "you shouldn't be here, I am sorry, my mind's a little shattered and I lashed out...haha.." he placed a hand behind his head and his smile faded as his eyes landed on a rather nasty looking wound on his arm and he dropped it, pulling the robe down to cover it and turned his dark eyes away from Lan Zhan, Away form that look of pity and pain.
“What happened.. Wei Ying?” Lan Zhan was starting to put it together, this was a memory, Wei Ying’s memory.
“Wen Chao...Well.. you’ll see pretty soon” he looked back up with another sad smile “This is the day I died… please don’t think any less of me when you see it” he brought hands up to his face, slowly covering that pale face, tears already starting to fall. “Please don’t think me a coward when... When they-”
“Wei Ying…” Lan Zhan’s voice broke softly “Never” he shifted, wanting to go to him but as soon as he pulled far enough from the wall he was leaning on something stopped him, chains rattled and bit into his arms.
“You won’t get free… I tried, for days...weeks”
“Weeks…” Lan Zhan’s stomach growled and he frowned. His mouth was dry and tasted like iron, his stomach felt like he had been empty for days.
“They are coming”
There were footsteps down the stone hallway and Lan Zhan’s head was pounding, darkness tugging at his vision.
“I really miss my Shijie…” Wei Ying curled up into a tight ball “And Her Rib and lotus soup…” his shoulders shook as he started to sob again.
“Wei Ying…!” Lan Zhan tugged at the chains again as his vision went dark once more.
When Lan Zhan woke, he was being dragged. His limbs screamed in pain and he could no longer control Wei Ying’s body, fresh blood stained his filthy robes and he was suddenly tossed against a stone wall.
“Hold him down, Bind his arms” It was Wen Chao’s voice, He stood not too far from Lan Zhan, his face in a smug smirk “You know Wei Wuxian… I am glad you are awake for this” He laughed, a cruel and cold sounding thing.
Lan Zhan’s arms were suddenly bound, he catches a glimpse of the face of the man who is binding him, Wen Zhuliu, always the faithful dog following orders. but Lan Zhan does not speak, at least, does not say anything he wants to.
“What? Nothing to say little Wei pest?”
“I have nothing left to say to a Wen dog” Lan Zhan’s mouth moved on its own and he spat at the ground.
Wen Chao frowned then snarled “You won’t be smirking when were done” he swiftly kicked his side, then his face, knocking Lan Zhan to the ground to spit blood “Don’t worry, I am not going to beat you to death” Wen Chaos disgusting smirk returned “I just like to tenderize the meat for my hounds”
Hounds?... Dogs?!
Lan Zhan felt it the instant fear coursed through his body... Not just fear, absolute terror. Eyes wide with it as he tried not to look at Wen Chao, holding in a shuddering breath
“Oh yes... Are you surprised little Wei pest..?” Wen Chao laughed “A little friend told me your terrified of dogs” he reached down and grabbed Lan Zhan’s face to look him in the eyes “you must have pissed yourself last time with that one hound .. now let’s see how you deal with three”
Lan Zhan’s body tried to jerk away, heart hammering in his chest “W-wait” he was shaking, hands tugging at the ropes around them.
Wen Chao laughed “Wait..? “ he grabbed Lan Zhan by the collar and started dragging him towards a deep pit “Mn... What should I wait for…? For you to beg?”
Lan Zhan sucked in a shuddering breath, looking down at the pit where three huge hounds waited, eyeing him like a slab of meat. “Please..!” oh, he was struggling now, his heart in his throat “DON’T! WEN CHAO! LET ME GO!” his eyes were open in terror, feet scrambling to push himself away from the ledge. “Stop STOP!!! PLEASE!!” he's sobbing, begging his captors much to his horror, he can't control the fear in his gut.
This scene only solidifies the glee in Wen Chao's face. He's won, and he knows it, he's broken this young man to the point of begging and he's thoroughly enjoying it. He laughs again, acts as if he's going to pull him back and change his mind in a ruse before he speaks. “Goodbye Wei Wuxian” he grinned and lifted him up before he let go with his hand only to push him into the pit with a kick.
The scream that left Lan Zhan’s mouth was gut-wrenching and he knows it's not his but Wei Ying's. He hit the ground so hard he saw white stars in his vision. The next instant there was snarling and screaming, teeth ripping into flesh, the smell of iron blood and pain, so much pain. He can't even defend himself with his arms tied behind his back. There's no spiritual core to help him, that much Lan Zhan knows he just doesn't know why it's gone. The screaming only stops when a set of jaws bite down around his neck, accompanied by a sickening crunch and he goes still, a few ragged wet breaths escaping the mess of his neck before they stop.
-=-
“Wangji” there was something cool and comforting pressed against his forehead. A familiar scent of sandalwood filled his senses. “You’re crying...”
“Brother..?” Lan Zhan’s breathing steadies as he slowly opens his eyes, reaching to wipe the tears that had dropped. He’s home, in cloud recesses, how did he get here? How long has he been here? “Were home..?”
“Yes, Wangji” Lan Xichen Sits by the bedside, holding a wet cloth in his hand that he had been dabbing over Lan Zhan’s forehead.
“How long…?”
“Three days, you’ve been asleep for three days Wangji, you’ve had us all very worried, your fever broke last night”
“Fever?”
“Yes,” Lan xichen nodded “what do you remember?”
“Nightless city… you and me playing... Then...” he frowned “Wei Ying..”
“Wei Wuxian lashed out, He took you over Wangji, I had to subdue both fo you” he gave him a soft smile “do not worry brother” he placed a hand on the others arm softy “Wei Wuxians spirit is safe, he is here, in cloud recesses”
Lan Zhan let out a breath he had not realized he had been holding “...How is he?”
“His rage is strong… “ Xichen’s smile faded to a frown “His mind is...fragile. Uncle and a few others have been working to try and mend his spirit” he squeezed his arm gently then let go “it is good you found him when you did.. Much longer and he would have been too shattered to help...But.. how are you?”
“I am fine” Lan Zhan frowned before he moved to try and get up.
“No, Wangji” Xichen shook his head and placed a gentle hand on his chest to stop the other from moving. “You are to stay in bed… you had been spending so much time in a nightless city that it was no wonder Wei Wuxian had such an easy time taking you over. You.Need.To.Rest” He frowned down at him.
Lan Zhan gave a resigned hum and stayed put “...Brother, He showed me his last moments”
“His death?”
“Yes… Wen Chao… “ Lan Zhan’s hands curled into fists “We must find him… There is so much he must answer for…” he replays what he just saw in his fever dreams, the pure fear and helplessness. His breath hitches slightly but Xichen notices "he broke him so badly brother… he -needs- to pay"
“In due time” Xichen nodded with a frown “he has nowhere to run to if he moves to from his hiding place... His family is dead, the war is won. We will find him and Wen Zhuliu and they will pay for every death, every injustice”
There was a normal silence between the brothers usually uncomfortable but Lan Zhan's distress was almost palatable to Xichen so he broke the silence "Sect leader Jiang Wanyin arrived this morning, he wanted to speak with you when you were awake...I want you to speak with the doctors first before anything" he pushed up to his feet. "I will let them know you've woken...wangji, stay in bed" he gave him a stern look before turning away.
"Mn…" Wangji nodded and watched his brother leave.
-=-
"When can I take him home?" Jiang Cheng was right to the point, like always.
"It's still too dangerous yet, his spirit has yet to settle…he is refusing any of our attempts to help him rest" he gave a slight frown, the most emotion Jiang Cheng has ever seen from the other cultivator.
"Of course" Jiang Cheng huffs "it's Wei Wuxian, he always was trouble…" he frowned, his heart aching at those words. It had been hard, both on him and Yanli. He had blamed himself of course, maybe if he had been faster, stronger...his brother would still be alive and by his side. "Can I see him?...maybe I can help"
"Mn…" Lan Zhan thought about it, it did make sense, Jiang Wanyin had a connection to him closer then anyone at cloud recesses "I will speak with Uncle, and see if Wei Ying is stable enough…" he nodded.
Jiang Cheng got up, ready to leave and let the others continue to rest before Lan Zhan stopped him.
"Jiang Wanyin...before you see him..there is something you should know"
"I know to be careful around resentful spirits" Jiang Cheng frowned.
Lan Zhan shook his head "that is not it.." he glanced at the table and Jiang Cheng took the cue to sit as his frown deepens.
"I know what caused those wounds" when they had found Wei Wuxian, his body was in such bad shape it was almost impossible to tell which wound had meant his death but all of them looked bad. "I was pulled into his memories, just before his death" he frowned deeply "Wen Chao threw him to his hounds, Alive"
Jiang Cheng's face suddenly drained of all color eyes widened "Dogs…" He swallowed hard, adam's apple bobbing and eyes wide in horror "He… that goddamn bastard let his dogs tear apart my brother?" He snarled, purple lightning suddenly arching around his closed fists "-fuck!-" he snaps "I am going to skin the basterd alive!!!"
There was no doubt in Lan Zhan's mind that Jiang Wanyin meant those words.
-=-
Wei Wuxian was floating, warm and calm but not quite content. There was soft music around him, calming him and keeping him complacent.
He could hear voices, distant, faint and calm, like memories long forgotten.
He was still so lost, there were so many cultivators in white here but none of them were -his- cultivator. None of them were Lan Zhan.
He had seen the elder one, perhaps more than once but not until now did he see the familiar white cultivator walk through those large doors.
Lan Zhan…
He watched with lazy half-lidded eyes as he floated in the center of the room. His spirit gave off a deep red glow, almost the color of blood. His black hair floated around him like the air itself was a pool of water, never once letting his hair and tatters robes settle.
The purple cultivator had come as well, his face full of shock and anger as soon as he spotted the horrendous exposed hound bites Wei Wuxian's arms, legs, and neck
Lan Zhan also stopped by the entrance, his first time seeing the manifested form of Wei Wuxian's. It was beautiful and haunting at the same time.
"Jiang Wanyin, it's best you keep yourself calm in this room, his spirit can easily feed of your anger" the elder cultivator spoke up.
Jiang Wanyin… no...Jiang Cheng..he knew that name.
Wei Ying's eyes moved very slowly, following the man in purple.
"He looks calm…"
"He is, for now," the elder nodded "but don't test it, he can easily last out"
"Right" Jiang Cheng frowned, he knew this but seeing his brother like this was unsettling. He nervously played with the spirit weapon on his hand, frowning "Wei Ying…" his hands shifted to curl into fits “I should have been there... If I had been stronger..”
Someone placed a hand on Jiang Cheng’s shoulder, the elder cultivator giving a soft gentle smile “I am sure Wei Wuxian does not blame you Jiang Wa-”
“Cheng”
Everyone who heard the voice froze, eyes turning towards the floating spirit in the room. Or, at least, where he was supposed to be.
“Wei Ying!” Lan Zhan`s eyes went wide, bells began to ring outside the building, the doors slamming closed to keep whatever was inside it locked in.
The room was suddenly filled with black smoke, every single person had been suddenly pushed back, hitting the walls hard and pinned, unable to reach for weapons or instruments.
That is, everyone except for Jiang Cheng.
But even he stumbled back, Wei Ying now standing in front of him, shrouded in black and red, eyes glowing red as he took a step forward.
“Jiang Cheng”
Wei Ying could feel him, feel the fear that rolled off fo him... Was he really that terrifying? What must he look like to him? He watched as purple lightning-sparked to life in Jiang Cheng’s hand and he stepped back a few more steps.
“Wei Ying, stop” white knuckles gripped at Zidian, ready to strike if he needed to, even if he didn’t want to.
“Jiang Cheng… what are you doing..?” Wei Ying glanced down at his hand and frowned as he took another step forward. The spiritual power that radiated off fo Jiang cheng was familiar and warm… Like home.
There was a crack of a whip and Wei Ying lashed out, grabbing the spiritual weapon as if it didn’t affect him in the least. “...What?” Jiang Cheng’s face gave away his shock and confusion “how is-AH!”
“Jiang Wanyin!” the Lan’s had all be struggling, still held back by the resentful energy, only able to watch as the scene unfolded in front of them.
Jiang Cheng was yanked forward by the whip, pulled completely into Wei Ying’s arms and suddenly engulfed in red and black. He gasped, expecting pain, expecting possibly death... But the only thing that greeted him was blackness and silence.
The next moment he opened his eyes it was daylight and he was laying in the middle of the training field at lotus pier, the way it used to be before it burned.
“Really, Jiang Cheng... Did you think I was going to kill you?” Wei Ying was sitting on one of the steps, arm over his leg. “Idiot” he scoffed, playing with a blade of grass between his fingers.
Jieng chengs eyes went wide and he rolled over, eyes locking onto the black-clad cultivator “..Wei Ying”
“That’s me, I am here” he gave a soft smile to the other “I must look horrendous if you were so terrified of me…”
“I.. you… you really do…Wei Ying..” Jiang cheng slowly moved to his feet, making his way to Wei Ying. His face contorted, he was fighting back the emotions that wanted top surface. Fear, anguish, desperation. He dropped to his knees again in front of him “Wei Ying.. I am so sorry..” fingers clutched at the bottom fo his robe, tightening as they shook.
“Shh.. hush... You stupid fool..” Wei Ying frowned and patted the others head lightly “I don’t want you groveling at my feet” He grabbed a handful of the other's robe to pull him up “Oh.. Cheng..” He frowned at the other’s face and stopped as he saw the tears “no more, please..” he reached forward to wipe them away “I don’t think I can stand to see you cry like this...You are a sect leader now, be strong..”
Jiang Cheng cleared his throat, trying to collect himself as he used his robe to wipe the tears and dirt away. “Why.. why did you drag me here then... If not for this?”
Wei Ying rolled his eyes and reached out to smack the back of Jiang Cheng’s head and laughed as the other winced “I am not allowed to come to see you..?” he gave a bit of a wicked smirk “Jiang Cheng... You know we have always been stronger together than alone..”
“Yes.. but you..”
“I am dead, I know, you know people keep thinking that I don’t realize I am dead, its a little annoying” Wei Ying sighed and changed the subject “Jiang Cheng, I need your help” he gave him a sad smile, his image flickered, pale skin, bloodstains, lotus pier behind him up in flames and Jiang Cheng's eyes went wide as he stumbled back with a gasp. “Ah… sorry..” Wei Ying frowned and forced his bind to calm again “Sorry, I slipped… it happens” he shrugged lightly.
“Wei Ying..” Jiang cheng pursed his lips “What do you want? What do you need?”
“What do you think?” he raised an eyebrow.
“You-”
“' W̶̥͂͒̇ę̸̜̼̘͖͕͠n̷͉͉̻̟̦͚͍̞͖̦̬̭̭̯͒̓͆̀̈̄̂̋͂̚͝ ̵̡͖̰̬̫̮͙̜̪̑̇͛̈́̒͋C̴̡͉̲̣͇̹̤̮̲̜͔͒̌͠h̸̜̄̊̈́͛̈́̓̉̂̕ą̷̛̯͖̩̮̹̺͎̰̝͚̥͈̺̽ǫ̶̺͎͔̜̥͔̩͆'”
He hissed, everything around them shook with that hiss. “I want him begging, I want him suffering, I want him dead just like me, I want him to feel the same fear he put me through. I.Want.Revenge. Jiang Cheng!” He had reached forward, grabbing the front of the others robe, eyes glowing red, fire erupting behind them around Lotus pier. He was pale again, lips nearly blue. The bite marks were grotesque up close, deep and raw and horrendous.
Jiang Cheng closed his eyes, swallowing hard and gripping his own robe tight.
“Wei Ying… So do I”
“I know” his voice sounded calmer by the time Jiang Cheng once more opened his eyes. There was no fire, no blood “Jiang cheng... I am sorry... I keep slipping... It’s hard..” he let him go, smoothing the others robe gently “your core… how is it?”
“My core..?” Jian cheng reached up, placing a hand by his heart “It worked… I never got to tell you...Baoshan Sanren, she fixed my core”
Wei Ying gave a soft yet sad smile “I am glad...” even in death, he couldn’t bring himself to tell his brother the truth. He reached forward, placing a hand over his head “Protect it... It is precious... Understand..?”
Jiang cheng rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue “Cha, of course, Wei Wuxian! What do you take me for?”
“My stupid idiot brother?” he grinned back at him then let it fade to a smile “Help me find Wen Chao”
“There’s no question, that bastard will pay” Jiang Cheng nodded.
“Good...now its time for us to wake up”
-=-
There was something cold pressed against his wrists when his eyes opened. Everything was fresh and new, the color was everywhere..at least, the colors of cloud recesses. But the purple of his own robes was bright and full of life.
“Young master, he’s awake”
“Jiang Wanyin…?” Lan Zhan looked up, pausing in his guqin playing.
Ah, that’s right, it’s not his body. He looked to his wrists, spotting the heavy chains keeping him in place and sighed.
“Is this really necessary?” he turned his eyes to Lan Zhan and blew a bit of fallen hair out of his own face “well... I suppose I don’t have a very good track record..”
Lan Zhan’s eyes narrowed slightly and he moved a step closer to observe. “Wei Ying?”
Jian chengs face twisted in an uncharacteristic grin “Ah! Lan Zhan~ Lan Zhan! I never could put anything past you, could I?” his eyes gave off a hint of red as he tilted his head “unchain me”
“No” Lan Zhan frowned “Leave Jiang Wanyins body”
“No” Wei Ying shook his head “I need to borrow it for a little bit. Ah... Lan Zhan... It feels like home” he closed his eyes and sighed softly, enjoying the warmth of his golden core once more. Once he opened his eyes he saw the hint of worry in Lan Zhan’s face. “...What?”
“He is your brother”
“Yes, and..?” he suddenly pursed his lips when Lan Zhan’s face did not change. “ Oh, why does everyone think I want to kill everything I touch? Eh? Lan Zhan? Was I that dastardly a person when I was alive?”
“No”
“Do I look dangerous right now?”
“Yes”
Wei Ying huffed. “Lan Zhan! Let me go!”
“Why?”
Wei Ying blinked “Why? Why do you think?” oh, there was a bit of a snarl in his voice “So I can destroy Wen Chao” his eyes flared red, fingers curling into palms.
There was no surprise in Lan Zhan’s face but he didn’t turn away “How will Wei Ying find him?”
Wei Ying gave a harsh laugh “How..? the same way I found his whore, I know his taste... The flavor of his spiritual essence..” he licked his lips “Wang Lingjiao was too easy.. Wen Chao… I almost had him... But that bastard loyal dog of his whisked him away...Wen Chao Will regret ever existing” blood dribbled from his palms, fingernails digging in, breaking the skin.
Lan Zhan moved forward, reaching for his hands and unlocked the fingers to stop the damage to Jiang Cheng’s hands, all while remaining calm. So, that’s what had happened to Wang Lingjiao, they had found her corpse in an abandoned house in Nightless city, her face torn to shreds by her own hands and a long rod of thick bamboo shoved down her throat and her own hands still wrapped tightly around it in a deathlock. It had been a horrifying scene.. But this woman had been anything but undeserving. Lan Zhan gave a soft sigh “Will killing Wen Chao help Wei Ying rest?”
“I… Yes” Wei Ying seemed to calm down, noticing the blood on his hands and Lan Zhan gently sending spiritual power to heal the half-moon slices in Jiang Cheng’s palms.
“If Wei Ying is to keep using Jiang Wanyins body, he must take care of it” he gave a soft frown as he watched the palms slowly heal “Or he will hurt his brother, whether he means to or not”
“... Your right” Wei Ying frowned and made himself calm down, the red glow fading from his eyes.
“I will help Wei Ying”
Wei Ying blinked in surprise, eyes locking onto Lan Zhan “really?”
“Yes, if it will help Wei Ying rest... “ There was a deep sadness in his eyes before he turned away “I will speak to uncle and brother. “
-=-
“What are these?” Wei Ying rubbed his wrists where a set of iron cuffs now rested. They were heavy, and hold and felt like they had their own chains attacked to them but he saw nothing. He could feel the spiritual power in them, they were, of course, a spiritual tool... But who they belonged to in the past was a mystery.
“Brother likes to call them Spiritual binding cuffs, they will keep you in Jiang chengs body, unless we remove the bindings”
“How original” Wei Ying mused then paused “... what else does he use these for?”
“I do not understand what you are implying”
Wei Ying couldn’t help but grin “Binding..cuffs..”
Lan Zhan’s face was passive but perhaps there was a hint of pink to his ears “Shameless!”
Wei Ying laughed “Lan Zhan! You haven’t changed!” he grinned and wrapped an arm around the other cultivator’s shoulder and grinned stupidly at him.
Lan Zhan stiffened, reaching up to push the others arm off fo him. “Wei Ying, be serious”
“Mn, that never was my thing” Wei Ying shrugged “No, no Lan Zhan, while I am still myself.. I am going to have fun” he gave the other a small smile “I don’t know how long ill just be Wei Ying, but... Being here, with Jiang Cheng helps” he placed a hand over his heart, where his golden core sat.
Lan Zhan watched, the atmosphere changing from playful to sad in such a quick time “Wei Ying..” he frowned, recalling what the other had shown him in that dream, how Wei Ying had been so helpless in that cell, so empty and cold “Your core..you said-”
Wei Ying waved a hand “Ah.. what was said.. Just forget it” he turned his eyes away “It doesn't matter anymore”
“Wrong” Lan Zhan’s face still looked impassive “It matters to Wei Ying, So it matters to me”
Wei Ying looked up, surprised at “I… Lan Zhan” he pursed his lips lightly, feeling a slight flush to his cheeks “I was wrong… you have changed”
There was a tint of pink to Lan Zhan’s ears again “Mn, you are changing the subject” he shook his head “Wen Zhuliu..?” he had suspected core melting hand, it made sense with Wei Ying being their captive.
Wei Ying sighed, the subject being pressed “Yes.. and No” he shook his head and placed his hand over his heart once more “Lan Zhan, you have to promise me..”
“Promise what?”
“If I tell you this... You cannot tell anyone, not your uncle, not your brother, not a soul... And especially Jiang cheng”
Lan Zhan’s lips thinned, what was so important he couldn’t tell anyone? But still, he nodded “mn”
“My core..” he moved both hands to his chest, closed his eyes and called out the spiritual power of the core in Jiang changs body, letting it swirl in its golden magnificent light in the palm of his hands “Is right here... Alive, and well” he gave him a soft sad smile “I am still alive... In a way... With Jiang Cheng”
“I don’t understand” Lan Zhan watched the core and his own heart hurt at the others sad smile.
Wei Ying let the core die down and let his hands drop “ Long story short, This idiot brother of mine” he gave a fond smile towards Jiang cheng “Wen Zhuliu... He melted his core... so I gave him mine”
“What?” Lan Zhan’s eyes widened “you-”
“You have to understand Lan Zhan, Jiang Cheng... He needed a core... He needed it to rebuild the Jiang clan, to protect shijie, to avenge Jiang Fengmian and Madam Yu and all the disciples and.. I owed everything to the Jiangs, I was paying back my debt”
“Wei Ying-”
Wei Ying reached forward, grabbing a handful of the other’s white robes “Not.A.Word. do not even think it towards Jiang Cheng, I made up some stupid lie to protect him, he thinks it’s his. He doesn’t know, he never needs to know”
“He may figure it out on his own, Wei Ying”
Wei Ying huffed “If he does, he does, but you are not to tell him, Lan Zhan, please, promise me?”
“I Promise” he nodded.
“Thank you, Lan Zhan… for everything” Wei Ying’s fingers gently wrap around Lan Zhan’s for a quick moment and Lan Zhan’s chests tighten for that instant, then he lets go with a soft, sad smile and Lan Zhan almost wants to cry for he would give anything to see that smile like the sun one more time.
-=-
Jian cheng was currently in control, it turns out he had given full permission to Wei Ying to use his body. "He's resting" it was a nice way to say his brother currently pulling himself back together.
'Sorry, I slipped again'
That was Wei Ying's excuse ever time realities ugly face made an appearance. It happens more often then Jiang Cheng like, he would love it if it didn't happen ever..but he had to face the truth that Wei Ying was never going to be the way he was, his brother was dead and they were on their way to give him some kind of peace of not just revenge.
Lan Zhan had come looking for him and found Jiang cheng awake and eating his breakfast meal.
“Were getting closer” They had traveled for a few days. This was the third time Jiang Cheng was in control. He popped a grape in his mouth, sitting with one knee bent and an arm resting upon it, it was obvious to see that Wei Ying's behavior was not completely different from his brothers when he didn't need to be proper. "He's getting restless…, my dreams...or rather, his dreams are getting stronger"
"I will play" Lan Zhan wasted no time as he pulled out his guqin.
Jiang Cheng huffed "he needs more than just pretty music.." he ran a hand over his face. This was taking a toll on Jiang Cheng as well, he was pale, barely sleeping, barely eating. "He needs peace"
"Mn" Lan Zhan nodded, this was easily something the both of them agreed on. Even so, the music helped more than doing nothing. "Concentrate"
It also helped if Jiang Cheng relaxed as well, calming his own mind so Wei Ying to cling to that calm and collected state. Lan Zhan would have gladly offered his own body to help but the truth was the golden core helped even better than that.
For awhile Jian Cheng was quiet, having settled into a cross-legged position and hands on his knees so he could simply concentrate on the music and spiritual essence Lan Zhan was sending him, slowing his breathing only to have his eyes suddenly snap open “there here”
“What?” Lan Zhan instant stopped playing only to raise an arm to defend himself as the doors of the inn room were blast open with a wave of spiritual power, sending splinters and wood in their direction.
Wen Zhuliu stood at the broken door, effectively surprising the other two before he lunged towards Lan Zhan as the white robes cultivator reached for his sword. He kicked the sword away from Lan Zhan’s reach then swiftly aimed a kick at the guqin.
There were two other nameless men behind him, barging in, quickly going to grab Jian Cheng to hold him down.
Wen Zhuliu kept his attention on Lan Zhan, in his eyes, the biggest threat. They fought, Lan Zhan having to avoid that core melting hand of his. Lan Zhan was quick but he was cornered and without a weapon. Wen Zhuliu’s hand came for him, aiming right for his chest with no way to dodge.
A thick bolt of purple lightly wrapped suddenly around Wen Zhuliu’s wrist, yanking him away from Lan Zhan “Wen Zhuliu!” Jiang cheng snarled “Just who do you think is a threat here?!” the two men who had men holding him down were now lying prone on the floor.
“You-!?” Wen Zhuliu snarled, grabbing the purple whip and clenched his teeth through the searing pain “How?!” he snarled but didn’t wait for an answer as he lunged forward and yanked the whip at the same time, effectively making Jian cheng lurch towards him.
Not again
NOT AGAIN
Everything was in slow motion, he could see the sparks of power in the palm of Wen Zhuliu`s hand but he could not move to stop it.
No
No no no
I won’t allow it
Not again
NEVER AGAIN!
There was a scream, Jiang Cheng’s eyes flashed bright red and the spiritual binding cuffs cracked then shattered as they burst.
A hand went to Wen Zhuliu’s throat and gripped it tightly. Wei Ying’s pale bony fingers dug into the flesh “W̸e̸n̸ Z̷̼͐h̷̞͝u̵̡͋l̸̦͝ḯ̷̠u̵̦͌!̴!̷"̷ His pale face twisted into a horrifying grin as he gripped tighter, a crack could be heard "̴W̸e̸n̸ ̴Z̷̼͐h̷̞͝u̵̡͋l̸̦͝ḯ̷̠u̵̦͌!̴!̷"̷ he repeated, a laugh following it as he stepped forward.
Wen Zhuliu`s eyes were bulging as he reached up to grab Wei Ying’s pale arms, gasping for breath, eyes staring at him in horror.
Jian cheng had stumbled back and fallen to his ass behind Wei Ying, staring up through his hair as the crazed ghost.
“Wh̷e̵r̵e̸ ̵i̵s̷ ̵y̸o̸u̵r̸ ̷m̸a̴s̴t̸e̷r̷?̵ ̶L̵i̶t̵t̷l̶e̷ ̷d̷o̶g̴.̴.̵?̵"̶ Wei Ying tilted his head to the side as he raised Wen Zhuliu off the ground “W̵H̵E̵R̷E̵ ̴I̸S̷ ̵H̸E̴?̷!̸"̴” He screamed, the sound causing anything light and not tied down to scattered around them.
Wen Zhuliu choked and struggled, unable to answer even if he wanted to. There was another crack followed by blood spurting between Wei Ying’s fingers to stain his pale face and Wen Zhuliu’s face contorted as blood gushed past his lips before he went still. Wein Ying’s face contorted in disgust and he tossed Wen Zhuliu to the side, dead.
“Wei Ying-”
"̵W̶E̵N̴ ̴C̴H̸A̶O̴!̶"̴ Wei Ying screamed, completely ignoring Lan Zhan and Jiang Cheng. His form flickered for a moment, resentful energy coming if waves around him, knuckles cracking, eyes bleeding vicious red energy as pots and wood began to burst, shards of pottery and splinters of wood floating in the air.
Both Jiang cheng and Lan Zhan winced at the force of the energy.
“Wei Ying! Calm down!”
“N̴̼̝͖̯̙̱̪̆̄̌̌͑͑͝Ọ̵̖̼̣̈̇̓”
Red eyes snapped towards Lan Zhan who was now reaching for his guqin once more but having difficulties with the force of the black waves of negative energy holding them down.
“N̴̼̝͖̯̙̱̪̆̄̌̌͑͑͝Ọ̵̖̼̣̈̇̓”
Wei Ying repeated and both Jian Cheng and Lan Zhan slid against the floors to hit the walls.
“Wei Ying...Please...” Lan Zhan grit his teeth, tasting blood.
For a moment, Wei Ying paused, catching a glimpse of red staining the white robes cultivators lips but then something else cause his attention, something familiar... Something that tasted bitter in his mouth.
“T̷̬̋h̶̨͋ë̵̯́r̵̡͋e̸͚͌ ̶̤̔y̴̜͘o̴̮͝u̸̘͑ ̵̨̌a̷̜̐ṙ̵̨ê̵̳.̴̞͐.̶̯͐.̵̣̕W̵̨̥̺̉͋̀̆̿͝ͅë̶̤̮̱͔́̃̑̅ṉ̵̡̨̝͙̙͓͙̫̩̥̈́̆͒͠ ̷̧͖̺͊̓̏̿̄̆̓̈́̕C̶̡̱͇͔̻̭̯̲͠h̸͇͒a̷̡̡͇͎̝͍͋̿̊̈́̓̚ǫ̴̡̜̘̥̖̮͚̇̐̒͆ͅ”
Wei Ying`s form flickered then vanished, Lan Zhan and Jiang chang dropping to the grounds with a gasp from Lan Zhan and a groan from Jiang Cheng.
There was an eerie silence that followed, one second passed... Then another silence... Then suddenly, screaming, high pitched, terrified screaming off deeper in the small town.
Lan Zhan and Jian Cheng looked at each other.
“He will lose himself!”
“Godamn idiot!” Jian cheng groaned and pushed himself up, grabbing his sword “Get the hell up then!” he offered a hand to Lan Zhan who took it. “Let’s go shove his stupid ass into a spirit bag when he’s done!”
They ran toward the screams but the scene that greeted them was unexpected.
Wen Chao was in the middle of the street, the air heavy and thick with negative energy, ghostly hounds on either side of him, blood dripping from their teeth as they tugged at his limbs. A rather vicious tug tore his leg from his body, causing a torrent of screams from Wen Chao and onlookers alike. Two hounds decided to fight over the limb, tearing it to shreds.
The largest hound was standing over top of him, eyes glowing red as it tore into Wen Chao’s stomach and tore out innards, tearing them to shred. Gore still dripping from its jaws as it went in for another bite.
“Fuck” Jiang Cheng covered his mouth to stop himself from vomiting, the stench of gore thick in the air “Is that…”
“Wei Ying…” Lan Zhan nodded and frowned. They had to calm him down... Had to suppress the rage before it tore his fragile spirit apart. Once more Lan Zhan pulls out his guqin and started playing.
The hound standing over top of Wen Chaos corpse growled and laid its ears back as it turned towards the sound of music. It Bared its blood-stained teeth and started to make its way towards them.
“Jiang Wanyin... You need to keep him distracted...”
“Throw myself into his jaws... Go it” of course he didn’t mean it literally. “Come on, you dumb mutt” he stepped forward and lashed out the purple whip of Zidian “This way, Wei Ying” he snapped the whip and the hound turned its eyes towards him before he lunged.
“Good boy” Jiang Cheng laughed and used the whip to defend himself, one hand holding each side as the hound bit down on it with a bloody snarl “Didn’t anyone ever teach you not to bite..?” he kicked the beast back and waited for it to attack again, wiping slobber and blood from his face. “how can you still be this disgusting?” His heart was pounding in his chest, one half of him wanting to protect himself, the other half not wanting to hurt his brother’s spirit more than it always was. “Come on Wei Ying, this isn’t you”
The hound snarled and paced, eyeing him like a piece of meat before it lunged again. Only, this time it avoided the lash of the whip, aiming this time for the others shoulder and sunk its teeth deep into Jiang Cheng’s shoulder followed by Jiang Cheng screaming as sharp teeth tore into the skin and muscle
It was just then that the music was starting to take effect in calming his soul. The taste of blood was different… familiar. The large jaws unlocked and changed, Wei Ying stumbling back as he changed back into that pale and weak body “...Jiang Cheng..?”
No
“I..Am-”
What am I doing?
“I didn’t...What did..”
“It’s fine” It fucking hurts, but it's no life-threatening. Jiang Cheng steps back, clutching at his shoulder but remains standing, good, Wei Ying’s sort of back to normal. “Lan Wangji now would be a good time...”
Wei Ying drops to his knees, hands moving to his face “Jiang Cheng...Shijie... Please no more... Make it stop, Shijie.. shijie” his bony pale fingers and digging in “I don’t want this anymore..” he’s already crying, he’s cracking and slipping so fast he’s not sure who he is anymore. “Hah…. hnn…” the energy around him is getting dense again and his fingers tug at his hair in desperation as he sobs."SHIJIE!"
“Mn” Lan Zhan strums on his guqin change, softer, more controlled. Its a lot easier this time, Wei Ying’s spirit is so weak he has a very little fight left in him. Within a few minutes, everything settles and Wei Ying’s soul rests inside a bag at Lan Zhan’s hip.
The silence is deafening, Jiang Cheng’s heart is heavy, he has to lose his brother for a second time, had to watch him break from torture he should never have to go through again. He swears on his life if he could make it better, he would. He feels his own tears fall silently down his dirty cheeks as he turns his eyes away from the gory scene in the middle of the town street and starts walking away to tend to his own wounds..
-=-
He’s warm, He hasn’t been this warm in a long time. He doesn’t even care that his robes are in tatters, that he isn’t wearing any boots to cover his dirty feet. He’s warm and calm and there is no more anger, no more fear.
He doesn’t need to wonder anymore, he’s so tired and so he feels like he can actually -rest-. That maybe this was all just a bad dream and when he wakes up everything will be fine and he won’t have to worry ever again.
“Wei Ying?”
‘Lan Zhan?’
Wei Ying’s eyes open and Lan Zhan is sitting before him, no one else is in the room, no one else needs to be, he’s no longer a dangerous dark spirit ready to tear people apart but Lan Zhan can’t see him right now, he doesn’t know he’s right here.
“Lan Zhan…” His voice is soft and reaches out to him, he can hear it but not see him “Oh Lan Zhan...Lan Zhan…” He reaches out to touch those soft jade cheeks and Lan Zhan can feel it and he can’t help but lean into the touch and close his eyes. “Why are you so sad?”
Lan Zhan is not sure how to say it in words, the feeling of loss inside of him is so deep it’s like an endless ocean of ache. How can he tell him of this love he will never get to share? What if it was always meant to be this, one-sided, torturous.
Wei Ying reached up to gently stroke fingers by the other’s eye, wiping away a tear “Are you crying... For me?”
“Mn…” it’s all he can say before Wei Ying speaks again.
“All this time… have you felt this deeply for me this whole time?”
Lan Zhan nods and looks down.
“I am so sorry Lan Zhan… ah... What a cruel fate… If only things were different...”
“Not Wei Yings fault”
Wei Ying takes form for a moment, he only had a little bit of strength for this but he wants Lan Zhan to be able to see him.. To see happy and healthy him. He smiles at him, a sight that makes the sun shine in the room, a smile that takes Lan Zhan’s breath away. “In another time” he reached out to gently touch Lan Zhan’s face again “you could love me all you want” he leans in, gently placing lips against Lan Zhan’s but he doesn’t want to be cruel “My Lan Zhan” he brushes a thumb against the others bottom lip “This is all I can give you”
Lan Zhan leans into the gentle kiss, there’s already fresh tears sitting at the corner of his eyes. He’s surprised but he doesn’t want to pull away, not if this is all that’s left, all that he can reach for. He doesn’t want to close his eyes, for fear the other will vanish any moment. “Wei Ying..” he swallows hard, words stuck in his throat.
Wei Ying’s smile grows even more, a kind, warm smile “Lan Zhan, make me a promise?”
“Mn” Lan Zhan nods, not taking his eyes off the other.
“Live for me, every day, Live life to its fullest, jump into lotus ponds, drink emperors smile, eat spicy food, scream at the top of your lungs, If not for yourself.. Do it for me?”
Lan Zhan nods again “Wei Ying-”
He’s starting to fade, his strength to hold his form fading in front of Lan Zhan’s eyes and his heart cries.
“Wei Ying!” Lan Zhan gasps and tries to reach out, fingers grasping at nothing but a fading image “I love you..”
“I know, Lan Zhan” there’s a soft kind of laughter that’s warm against Lan Zhan’s heart. “Goodbye, Lan Zhan, and thank you, for everything”
The silence that follows is deafening, Lan Zhan searches for anything else but there’s nothing left but the gentle warmth of the others spirit finally accepting rest in the spirit bag in front of him. He stares for a moment before he takes a deep shuddering breath and forces his emotions under control, gently takes the pouch into his hands and leaves to meet with a waiting Jiang Cheng.