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They said that the smell of burning bodies, blood and brimstone traveled for miles, as screams filled the air. They said that Lan Xichen, one of Gusu's Twin Jades, stood in front of the Cold Spring unseeing in his grief, with tears pouring down his eyes. His snow white robes drenched in blood, Shuoyue a broken blade in his hands. He lost Liebao early on, when he single-handedly slaughtered the Yingchuan Wang sect.
His Wanyin, his soulmate and husband was brutally taken right in his arms. It was supposed to be an ordinary night hunt, his first out of seclusion, when they were ambushed. Wielding both Shuoyue and Liebao - a technique he learned from Lan Wangji, he fought side by side with Jiang Cheng until he heard a scream from one of the juniors fighting with them.
"Sect Leader Cheng!" a horrified scream echoed in the night.
He turned in time as he saw the blade that pierced his husband left his body in a spurt of blood, his body slowly falling down like a drop of morning dew. "A-Cheng, no!" Blinded by rage, Xichen rushed to his husbands side, cutting everyone that crossed his way. He knelt, grabbed Jiang Cheng and tried to stop the bleeding. One of the Yunmeng Jiang disciples rushed over and slaughtered the one who injured his Sect Leader, tearing his body to pieces with his blade.
"Huan-er...don't look at me like that. I messed up", Jiang Cheng murmured as he lifted a bloody hand to touch a pale, blood smeared cheek. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Wanyin, save your strength. We're near Meishan... we'll get you to a doctor soon." Lan Xichen's voice shaking as he held his husband to his chest, not caring about the blood. He pressed multiple acupressure points to stop the bleeding but Jiang Cheng was losing blood faster than his hands can move.
"Lan Xichen, Lan Huan, my strong Zewu-jun...Why did I love such a stubborn fool?" Jiang Cheng pressed a light kiss to his lover's lips. "I love you, you know?"
A soft sigh passed between Jiang Cheng's lips as the light faded in his eyes. Lan Xichen couldn't breathe, his heart pounding so loud he can hear it echo around him. The juniors from both GusuLan and Yunmeng Jiang said that Zewu-jun roared so loud that the trees and ground shook, and with a quick flash of white and red killed those who wore the Yingchuan Wang sect colors. Blood flowed endlessly from his Shuoyue, and Liebao who used to play the softest of songs turned into a deadly weapon as Lan Xichen wielded them both seamlessly, knowing that no matter how much blood was shed it cannot restore what he just lost.
A year has passed but the pain and regret of not being by his husband's side hasn't faded. Lan Xichen handed over his position to his brother, Lan Wangji while he mourned in seclusion once more - this time, he feels that he may not venture to the world anymore as he has lost the light, his light. He blames himself for being weak, for not being there to protect Jiang Cheng's back, his mind constantly running different scenarios of what he could have done, what could have happened if he was stronger but he still ended up losing the other half of his soul. He was lost in his thoughts when heard a small knock on the Hangshi.
"...." He looked at the doors but did not respond. He knows its his brother checking on him. It's only Lan Wangji and his husband Wei Wuxian - who is currently managing the Yunmeng Jiang Sect well despite all the naysayers, who often check up on him.
"Brother." Lan Wangji spoke softly, his arms gently carrying a package wrapped in Yunmeng Jiang purple silks. "Wei Ying sent this from Yunmeng. He found it and said that it was a present from Jiang Wanyin."
Lan Xichen whipped his head toward his brother as Lan Wangji gently laid the elaborate package on his table. His hands were shaking as he gently touched the present. It was long, wrapped in layers upon layers of purple silks and plush velvets. Lan Xichen looked at Wangji for a few seconds, his eyes belaying his unspoken emotions before he slowly peeled away the silk coverings, a soft lotus scent emanating from within. Slowly, a sword with a gleaming silver inlaid sheathe patterned with intertwined lotus flowers and clouds emerged from its wrapping.
"Wangji...w-what is this?" Xichen asked, his hands reverently touching the delicate filigree, turning it over in his hands and tenderly touched the rare white/purple jade tassel it came with. Wangji didn't answer, waiting for his brother to unsheathe sword that he was given. Lan Xichen took a deep breath and smoothly pulled the blade out - a lustrous silver blade almost similiar to his Shuoyue but with a heavier weight and a hint of purple at the center.
"Chen Xi - the first glimmer of dawn." Lan Wangji said, gently placing the blade down on his brother's table lest it fell. "Before you and Jiang Wanyin got married, Jiang Wanyin specially commissioned this from Yunmeng's finest smith as a gift. He requested to include a part of Sandu in it so he will be there to protect you always - if not physically, then spiritually. Wei Ying said that Jiang Wanyin fought tooth and nail to have Sandu's width cut down despite Sandu being a powerful spiritual sword of its own right. The purple color was not intended, he said. It just appeared."
Lan Xichen stared at his brother after he explained and back at the sword lying innocently on his table. He felt like his heart, a shriveled thing, started to beat so loudly that his chest hurt. He fingered the filigree on the handle, seeing one of Jiang Cheng's rare genuine smiles directed at him, hearing his snarky voice as he argued with Wei Wuxian, his booming laughter echoing, the small moans and huffs of pleasure of the nights spent together. A teardrop fell on the blade, and it shimmered a pale, purple light - like dawn's first light breaking through an endless dark night. Tears started flowing earnestly from his eyes when he saw a small piece of paper hidden underneath which read the following:
"The dawn is not distant, nor is the night starless; love is eternal. Know that I am here, my heart and soul forever yours. - Wanyin"