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Chapter Text

The sky is cloudless, the sun burns into the ground and the heat it gives off lies like a blanket on the earth. The stifling heat muffles all noise except the panicked yells of the man running wildly over the yellowed grass. 

The man skids to a halt before the towering gates and screams for help. He is let in and a few hours later, leaves with a group of disciples following him hurriedly. 

The sun tips over and starts sinking down and the disciples return carrying two weapons that really shouldn't be there. 

Two weapons that really should be with their owners but for some reason, are not. 

The disciples hand them over to their sect leader, who stares in disbelief at the two things in his hands. 

Nie Huaisang demands they go back to the place they found them and search for their owners. 

'We already have, Sect Leader Nie, they are nowhere to be found…' one of them says carefully. 

Nie Huaisang, 'Look more! They can't be far, they'd never leave these behind!' 

The disciples bow and Nie Huaisang follows them, because he wants to see for himself. 

The sun has just touched the horizon when they arrive at the spot the weapons were found. Despite the sun's descent, the heat is still heavy and the fan in Nie Huaisang's hand works hard, breaking the silence with which they stare at the non-saying patch of grass. 

Why would they even be here, Nie Huaisang asks himself, there is nothing here. 

It's in the middle of nowhere, just a random field, no signs or tracks to be seen. 

Nie Huaisang, 'Who found them?' 

One of his disciples answers, 'A farmer walking to his sheep, he said he has had to put his sheep further away to places where there's still some green grass to be found, so he has walked by here two times every day the past few weeks. He said he saw nothing, that this morning they were just there.'

Nie Huaisang hums and looks around, there's nothing. Just a sloping field running up to a hill further away, barely any trees to be seen. 

The yellowed grass looks like a sea, a deadly still sea. No wind, no waves, just an eerie silence in the thick air that seems to stick to his skin. 

Nie Huaisang assigns two of his disciples to stay here, to see if anything happens during the night, and returns to his home. 

He ponders while walking but cannot think of a single answer, there is no reason for those weapons to be there, much less their owners themselves. 

Before he can retreat to his room and try to sleep, try to shake off the unsettled feeling that has crept into his bones, he turns to a disciple, 'Send a messenger to Gusu.' 

Nie Huaisang pauses, wonders quietly while his disciple waits.

Nie Huaisang, 'Say that Bichen and Chenqing have been found, without either Lan Wangji or Wei Wuxian to accompany them.'

The disciple nods and disappears. Nie Huaisang retreats to his room and sits, stares down at the weapons in his hands.

Bichen, the famous sword belonging to the famous man, Lan Wangji. 

Chenqing, a weapon that instills fear, its name a curse, belonging to an infamous character who instills double the fear. Wei Wuxian, the Yiling Patriarch. 

What on earth were Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian doing there, in the middle of nowhere? 

Perhaps more importantly, where did they disappear to? 

Had they been attacked? But then wouldn't there be signs of a struggle? Why were Bichen and Chenqing left behind? If someone or something had taken Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, why leave the weapons behind as a clue? 

What could be powerful enough to overcome Lan Wangji, famous for his strength? 

What had occurred there, out of view of the world? 

Nie Huaisang finds no answers to his questions, just the distant noises of the people of qinghe preparing for the night.

Nie Huaisang tries to sleep, tells himself that perhaps Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian just lost the weapons and that they are fine. 

He eventually falls asleep, his dreams filled with a empty sea of dead grass, a looming sky that weighs heavy on his shoulders. 

He falls and falls into the ground, he is swallowed up by it and falls into dreamless sleep. 

The next few days nothing happens, nothing at all. The disciples he stationed at that place return and report that everything was normal. 

Then, a rattled Lan Xichen arrives. Nie Huaisang had expected Lan Qiren, since Lan Xichen was still rumoured to be in exclusion. 

But it is Lan Xichen who appears on his doorstep, something haunted behind his eyes. He is accompanied by Lan Sizhui and some other younger disciples of whom Nie Huaisang does not know the name. 

Lan Xichen, 'Where are-?' 

Nie Huaisang is unable to look him in the eyes, hands him the weapons with head downturned. 

Nie Huaisang, 'They were found in a field, nothing suspicious anywhere near it. Do you have any idea what HanGuang-Jun and Brother Wei would be doing there?' 

Lan Xichen shakes his head, 'Wangji just said they were going on a night hunt, nothing else.' 

Lan Sizhui, 'There was something weird, ZeWu-Jun. They wouldn't let us come, they insisted on going alone!' 

Lan Xichen looks at the boy and back at the weapons. His hands run over Bichen's sheath and hilt, he twirls Chenqing in his fingers much like the man the flute belongs to would. 

Lan Xichen, 'There were no traces?' 

Nie Huaisang shakes his head, 'Nor any in proximity, I had people look but nothing has been found yet. The ground is too dry, no footprints are left behind, nothing…' 

Lan Xichen stares down at the sword in his hand and looks back up at Nie Huaisang. Nie Huaisang is surprised by hardness in the man's eyes. 

Last time Nie Huaisang saw Lan Xichen was a few months ago, at that temple. The day he had finally gotten his revenge. The day that Lan Xichen found out exactly who Jin GuangYao was, what he had done.

Then, the man had looked destroyed, filled with a deep sorrow.  

Nie Huaisang can very well remember the look on Lan Xichen's face, the disbelief and pain in his eyes. 

It does not compare, Nie Huaisang finds, to the terrifying look Lan Xichen wears now. 

Lan Xichen, 'Show me, we will look too.' 

If Nie Huaisang was a little less scared of the man, he might be offended by the hidden suggestion that his disciples would miss something.

As it is, Lan Xichen is currently terrifying, exuding an aura of power that makes Nie Huaisang very much inclined to accept anything he says. 

Thus he neighs his head, 'Very well, ZeWu-Jun. Someone will lead you there.' 

~

Lan Xichen cannot help the sinking feeling in his stomach, it feels as if someone is twisting his insides. 

The days since he received the news Bichen and Chenqing were found without Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian have been taken over in memory by a vague haze.

It is a mere feeling he remembers, an immense fear that he has only felt once before: when his father had told him he could never visit his mother again and he found those words true. 

A feeling punctuated by scattered thoughts that form little coherence except please, please let it be different from my fears, please, please. 

He finds Nie Huaisang did not lie to him, the place the weapons were found is ordinary at best. In the middle of a field, someone stuck a branch in the ground to indicate the exact spot, on a slight slope. 

The sun burns on Lan Xichen's skin, the air heavy as it has been the past week, the sky filled with ominous clouds. They are gathering, forming a darkness in the heavens and suddenly the sun is buried above them, hidden from view. 

Lan Xichen stands there, rooted to the spot while his juniors search all around. 

The rain starts pattering on the ground and Lan Xichen can only scratch together the vague thought that he did not bring an umbrella. 

Lan Sizhui, 'ZeWu-Jun! ZeWu-Jun! Look here!' 

The voice is distant, partly drained by the rain. Lan Xichen startles and looks at where his junior is. Lan Sizhui stands far away, near one of the only trees there, waving his arms above his head. 

Lan Xichen is there within seconds, 'What is it?' 

Lan Sizhui says nothing, just points at the ground. Washed clean by the rain, a shimmer of something sky-blue in the soil. 

Lan Xichen bends over and wipes away some of the dirt, fingers running over the fabric and pulling it up. 

His heart sinks further, in his hand dangles what must be Lan Wangji's forehead ribbon, stained red with what Lan Xichen can only assume is blood. 

Lan Xichen runs his thumb over the fabric, looks up and tries, tries to discern something, anything, in the surroundings. 

There is nothing, just a dark sky and a flash that lights it. A thunder rolls over them, bringing a tremor that enters into their bones. 

A tremble to his hand, the ribbon slips from his grasp and is stolen by the wind.

Beaten to the ground by the rain until Lan Sizhui picks it up. 

Lan Xichen looks at the branch that indicates the place they left their weapons, looks at the tree and looks further. 

If they left their weapons and moved here, where Lan Wangji lost his ribbon, would they have moved further in the same direction? 

If it was them, that is. 

Lan Xichen starts walking towards the hill to at least look somewhere but Lan Sizhui stands before him. 

Lan Sizhui, 'ZeWu-Jun, we must go back! It's dangerous!' 

As if to support his words, the sky flashes once more, a tree on top of the hill is cast alight, the erupting flames fighting against the rain. 

The thunder sends a tremble through Lan Xichen that makes his teeth rattle, a ringing in his ears. 

Lan Xichen is awoken from a daze when he looks upon Lan Sizhui staring up at him with wide eyes.

Lan Xichen, 'Lie down! We must stay low!' 

He yells this loudly to all his disciples, though his voice is drowned in rain. He drops to his knees and lies in the now wet grass, glad to see Lan Sizhui follow his example. 

Lan Xichen closes his eyes and nothing exists except the rain battering on his back, the thunder cracking through the air, the wind rushing over and pulling at his robes. 

It takes long for the thunderstorm to move and Lan Xichen uses this time to set out what he knows:

Two weeks ago, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian left for a night hunt. They went alone, taking no one and telling no one where they were going. 

Four days ago, their weapons were discovered abandoned on a random field in Qinghe by a farmer. Near them, Lan Wangji's forehead ribbon stained with blood. 

Curiously, no blood on the ground anywhere even though it had not rained for a while. It would be easy to assume whatever happened occurred on that field, since that's where the clues were found. 

But one would expect more signs of a struggle if a fight occurred there. 

No, Lan Xichen is quite sure they had been attacked somewhere else and fled away over the field. 

It is thus that, when the thunderstorm finally relents and they return, soaked, to the unclean realm, he asks some of his disciples to go around to nearby settlements and ask around for any disturbance the past two weeks. 

Lan Xichen himself goes to that hill, to see if there is any sign, anything, that may lead to where they went. Lan Sizhui goes with him and together, they walk to the top of the hill. 

A charred tree stands on it, blackened branches reaching desperately to the sky. The thunderstorm drew out the stifling heat, a pleasant breeze running over the empty fields. 

Lan Xichen raises the reddened ribbon and watches the wind play with it. 

Unfortunately, on top of the hill, there are no signs either. Just an emptiness, a still yellow sea that slopes and drowns in the trees that line the beginning of a forest.

A forest that runs over to the high mountains that tower into the clouds. 

Lan Sizhui, 'Why would they go there, ZeWu-Jun?' 

Lan Xichen shakes his head, 'I do not know, Sizhui.' 

He motions Lan Sizhui along, they move down and end up before the trees. 

Lan Sizhui stares up at the canopy above, looks back at Lan Xichen and sighs. 

Lan Sizhui, 'I wish uncle Ning was here…' 

He whispers this softly but Lan Xichen catches it, glancing at the boy and realising that it is quite strange Wen Ning is not here. Wen Ning always follows Lan Sizhui, immensely protective of his nephew. 

Lan Xichen, 'Where IS Wen Ning?' 

Lan Sizhui doesn't look surprised Lan Xichen heard him, shrugs, 'I don't know, I have not seen him for a while.' 

Lan Xichen hums and adds this to his list of the events. It is plausible Wen Ning followed them, since Wen Ning is very loyal to Wei Wuxian. 

Lan Xichen, 'Let us return and see if the others have found anything, tomorrow we shall return here.' 

~

The man whimpers, twisting his hands nervously and is seemingly unable to raise his head and look at the sect leaders before him. 

Lan Xichen, 'Speak.' 

The man startles and glances up, a tremble to his hands. 

Nie Huaisang, 'It is okay, we merely wish to know what happened.' 

He throws a look at Lan Xichen and Lan Xichen avoids his eyes. The man has been uncharacteristically blunt the last few days. The longer the search lingers, the worse his temper seems to get. 

Today marks a week since the weapons were found, the past three days filled with hopeless searches.

Until one of Nie Huaisang's disciples had found someone who said they'd seen something. 

The man gives a grateful nod to Nie Huaisang, starts his tale carefully. 

'A night a week ago, I was walking trying to catch a runaway chicken a-and I saw something… Weird.'

Lan Xichen, 'What did you see?' 

'Well it was dark and I couldn't make it out clearly, but there were people fighting. They were yelling and one of them seemed really angry… Then, I think three of them fled away.' 

Nie Huaisang, 'What about the others?' 

The man shook his head, 'They ran after them and I ran back home, I was scared.' 

Lan Xichen, 'How many?' 

'Two, I think.' 

Nie Huaisang exchanges a look with Lan Xichen, who looks to be deep in thought. 

Nie Huaisang, 'No details on their appearance?' 

The man shakes his head again, looking apologetic, 'Nothing apart from one of them wearing light robes, sect leader Nie.' 

Lan Xichen perks up a little, 'Which one?' 

The man startles, 'O-one of the two who chased, S-sect leader Lan.' 

Nie Huaisang, 'Very well, thank you.' 

Nie Huaisang whispers to one of his disciples to serve the poor man a cup of tea and then send him home. The man is led away and Nie Huaisang looks at Lan Xichen. 

Lan Xichen, 'So Wangji and master Wei chased three others?' 

Nie Huaisang nods, taps his fan to his nose and looks over the rim, pondering who on earth would be stupid enough to attack those two with just three. 

Lan Xichen, 'But where did they go? If they were attacked and beat them, why not just return? Why would anyone even attack them?' 

Nie Huaisang, 'I don't know.' 

Lan Xichen sighs, squeezes the bridge of his nose and runs circles over his temple. 

Nie Huaisang glances and steels himself, or tries to, 'Perhaps revenge?' 

Lan Xichen sighs, 'Perhaps… Though revenge brings no joy, I wonder why people make the mistake of thinking it does.' 

Nie Huaisang almost contradicts him, wants to say his revenge on Jin Guangyao made him very happy but he can't. He can't because it is not true. 

It didn't bring Nie Mingjue back. 

And yet, Nie Huaisang does not regret it. Because having had his revenge still feels better than watching Jin Guangyao walk away unpunished. 

He cannot explain this to Lan Xichen, however, without mentioning the name and he feels he's already on thin ice with the man. 

Lan Xichen, 'We need to search those mountains.' 

Nie Huaisang nods, 'I will tell them to gather supplies and we can go tomorrow.' 

With this, he rises and bids goodnight to Lan Xichen. Before he can leave though, one last thought arises in his head. 

Nie Huaisang, 'Should we not notify the other sects?' 

Lan Xichen, 'That is your choice, sect leader Nie. It happened on your territory, after all.' 

Nie Huaisang hums and says goodnight once more, returns to his room still deep in thought. 

He cannot say he isn't secretly enjoying the mystery, he's missed racking his brain for solutions and schemes. 

Still, Nie Huaisang does want them found. Wei Wuxian is, though Nie Huaisang isn't sure about Wei Wuxian's side, his friend. 

He sends a disciple to gather things for a long journey, the mountains are far and hostile, treacherous rocky cliffs with wild rivers. 

Nie Huaisang wonders if they truly went there but quietly admits that it is a perfect place to lead someone into a trap. 

There's a lot of places where one could fall unexpectedly, caves wrought out by water. For someone who does not know the mountains well, they are a dangerous place to be. 

If someone attacked them merely to catch their attention and then fled, knowing Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, they surely would follow. 

If the attackers set up a trap beforehand and if the trap was strong enough, even Lan Wangji would be caught. 

This raises another question tho, who would wish them harm? Nie Huaisang had  proposed revenge because it was the first thing that arose in his head, no one would be foolish enough to try and rob Lan Wangji or Wei Wuxian. 

Revenge on? Lan Wangji or Wei Wuxian, or both? Nie Huaisang has to acknowledge that if anyone would have a grudge against one of them, it would be against Wei Wuxian. 

Wei Wuxian, in his time, seemingly killed a lot of people. 

Nie Huaisang can think of no one else with proper motives than those robbed of relatives during the bloodshed of Wei Wuxian's descent in madness. 

Still, he has no proof for any of his thoughts. Merely speculations and guesses. 

But Nie Huaisang can't help the premonition of doom that settles in his heart. 

It is with darkened heart he lies himself down and a sympathy arises in him for Lan Xichen. 

Nie Huaisang remembers very well the pain of losing a brother, thinks every day of his brother. How must Lan Xichen be feeling, his precious brother lost? 

~

The mountains tower high into the cloudless sky, the sun burns once more. The heat had been steadily building up the last few days, the air stuffy and filled with the promise of another thunderstorm. 

Lan Xichen looks up at the looming rocks and a deep dread fills his bones. 

Wangji, he says silently, Where are you? 

Lan Xichen is immensely, horribly afraid. 

Fear has taken over his every moment, mixed with an intense longing.

He misses Lan Wangji, his brother is closest family and Lan Xichen does not even want to entertain the thought that he won't find him.

He will, he must find him.

Lan Sizhui stands by his side and Lan Xichen can only glance at the junior. 

Lan Sizhui, 'ZeWu-Jun… We will find them, right?' 

Lan Xichen, 'Of course, even if I have to turn the world over to do so, I will.' 

Lan Sizhui nods and hesitates, 'They'll be-' he breaks off, stares down at the ground, blinking furiously. 

Lan Xichen really, really wants to say that they're probably fine. That there is a simple, silly reason for why they haven't returned yet. 

But lying is forbidden. 

Lan Xichen can try as he might to convince himself, to lie to himself, but to speak the words would be breaking the rules aloud. The rules never specified if lying to one's self is also forbidden. 

Lan Xichen can only place a hand on Sizhui's shoulder and remain silent. To lie would be to give the boy hope when there seemed to be depressingly little. 

But still. They are fine. Lan Xichen is going to find them playing merry games in the mountains, they are fine. 

They have to be. 

Thus, they start the trek into the mountains, going on by the pure guessing of events. 

That night they rest under stars, clouds forming and dissolving and Lan Xichen can't sleep. 

He hasn't been able to sleep the last few days, despite his upbringing and the strict discipline of the cloud recesses. 

All he sees is a young Wangji floating before his eyes, asking him with tear-stained face where mother went. The wounds on his back, the intense grief he had to witness his younger brother struggle with. 

Wei Wuxian, who had brought his brother joy with wide smiles and loud laughter. Who had brought his brother endless pain and returned to his side once more. 

In the darkness of night, memories burn brighter, lit up by the light of stars. 

A flame runs through his mind and all his thoughts are dissolved to ash. Fear remains, poison in his veins. 

Even when Lan Xichen had had to entertain the possibility that Jin GuangYao wasn't who he thought he was, even when he'd been confronted with the reality of everything, there had been thought. Some coherent thought left inside his head, mingled with an overwhelming sadness. 

Now there is nothing except fear, a sense of willing time to speed to the moment they are found whilst also willing time to stop. 

So lies Lan Xichen under the night's sky, meandering in the fire of his mind. 

The morning comes unbidden and flees again. They explore the mountains, to no avail, for two days before they come upon a old fire. Long ago died, ashes and charcoal lay on a pile in the middle of a valley. 

In the ashes, stained grey, a hint of something red. 

A scrap of what Lan Sizhui loudly exclaims is Wei Wuxians ribbon, burned and torn. 

A yell interrupts any thoughts Lan Xichen has, two disciples drag a younger male, dressed in golden robes. 

'Sect leader Nie, we found this one spying!' one of disciples says. 

Nie Huaisang, 'Who are you, why are you spying?' 

The man just stares, demonstratively presses his lips together. 

Nie Huaisang, 'Do you know where Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian are?' 

No answer, just the tiniest upturn of the corners of his mouth, a barely hidden triumph in his eyes. 

Nie Huaisang gives a small nod and one of his disciples delivers a hit to the man's stomach, making the man double over and sputter. The man scowls and hisses angrily. 

Lan Xichen, in a daze, grabs his collar with one hand and places Shuoyue against the man's neck, the sword almost vibrating with the anger Lan Xichen pours into it. 

Lan Xichen, 'Where are they?' 

The man trembles a little, cold exterior broken by the fear in his eyes. 

'You'll never find them.' 

Lan Xichen presses, the sword cuts into the man's skin, blood dripping down onto his golden robes. 

A flash of a similar sight, a voice in his head. 

Stay and die with me. 

Lan Xichen clenches his jaw, an immense rage that is unlike anything anything he has experienced before running wild through his veins. 

The man winces, stares wide-eyed at the man before him. Even Lan Sizhui sets a step back. 

'Y-you're too late!' 

Lan Xichen, 'WHERE ARE THEY?' 

The man flinches, 'I'll show you, I'll show you! Please, don't hurt me!' 

Lan Xichen fights for control, pushes the fury back down and finally loosens his grip on the man, who falls to the ground limply. 

He whispers the same words over and over, 

'I'll show you.' 

~

The heat is almost unbearable but Wei Wuxian is still happy. 

They'd finished off the resentful spirit that was bothering a village and were on the way to an inn now.

Wei Wuxian couldn't be happier, walking beside his husband, skipping despite his tiredness. Finally alone, no Juniors following them. Just him and Lan Wangji. 

Wei Wuxian, 'Lan Zhan oh Lan Zhan!' 

Lan Wangji turns to him, 'Mn?' 

Wei Wuxian laughs and presses a kiss to his lips, 'Nothing! I just like when you look at me!' 

Lan Wangji raises an eyebrow, but there is a hint of a smile on his lips, 'I never look away from Wei Ying for long.' 

Wei Wuxian grins, 'As you should!' 

Lan Wangji takes his hand and pulls him forward. Though, he doesn't let go even when Wei Wuxian falls in step beside him. 

Wei Wuxian can't fight the smile and is just about to open his mouth to tease him about it (not that he wants Lan Wangji to let go, quite the opposite, actually) when a scream echoes through the night. 

Alarmed, they look back. 

Wei Wuxian yells, 'Wen Ning?' 

He knows very well Wen Ning is following them despite Wei Wuxian telling him he shouldn't. Wei Wuxian had given up on trying to convince Wen Ning, had chosen to just accept and let Wen Ning do whatever he wanted to as long as he didn't interrupt him and Lan Wangji.

Wen Ning calls out, 'I've got it, Master Wei. Go, I'll catch up!' 

Wei Wuxian exchanges a look with Lan Wangji, shrugs and walks on. 

They get about five minutes, Wei Wuxian swinging their intertwined hands back on forth between them. 

Then, Lan Wangji grunts in pain and surprise, yells tear through the night and silhouettes rush towards them. 

There's no time, no time to grab Chenqing and summon Wen Ning. Wei Wuxian is overwhelmed, hands everywhere, the loud clashes of Bichen colliding with other swords ringing through the night. 

Wei Wuxian is held, a sword to his throat and chenqing ripped from his fingers. 

Then a furious scream, Wen Ning appears and flies into one of the attackers. 

A burst of pain, Wei Wuxian groans as something hits his head. He is dragged away, a furious wail leaving Lan Wangji as he glances at the fleeing people. 

A wild chase, Wei Wuxian struggles to get free, hanging heavily in his kidnappers arms, kicking with his feet as they drag him along. 

'Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan!' 

'Wei Ying!' 

Lan Wangji and Wen Ning have almost caught up when Wei Wuxians kidnappers stop and the sword is back on his throat. 

'STOP OR HE DIES!' one of them yells and suddenly, everything falls silent, Lan Wangji and Wen Ning skid to a halt, breathing heavily. 

Wei Wuxian breathes heavily, mind running wildly trying to come up with something. 

He sees Lan Wangji, who sports a arrow in his right shoulder, face scrunched up in pain, bichen faintly glowing in his hand. 

'Lan Zhan.' he says, worried about the visible pain his lover is in. 

'Lay down your weapons!' the one who's holding him demands. 

Lan Wangji, face twisted with rage, lays Bichen down on the ground. Wen Ning puts Chenqing, which he must've picked up back in that chaos, next to the sword. 

'You! Seal your cultivation!' 

Lan Wangji complies silently, unable to do anything. Wei Wuxian curses himself, he really should be better about being captured and used as blackmail! This is the second time already! 

'Walk in front of us! No funny business!' 

Thus, Lan Wangji and Wen Ning walk before them, occasionally looking back. Wei Wuxian racks his brain for a solution, but his kidnappers hold him tightly, the sword seemingly stuck to his skin. 

He sees Lan Wangji shake his head, something small cascading to the ground. 

At some point, all three of them get blindfolded and tied up. It is like this that they walk for about two days, from the different voices Wei Wuxian gathers more people join, guarding the prisoners. 

There is a moment something catches in his hair, a horrible tearing sound as part of his ribbon is lost. 

After the long trek, they are pushed through a small space. There's a singe of power in the air, it smells like a cave. 

Wei Wuxian, with help from Wen Ning, who is much stronger than mere ropes, gets his ties and blindfold off. 

It is indeed a cave, it is cool below the rock, the only entrance is a small passage about waist high. The rest of the cave is quite small and unfortunately, there no holes anywhere except the entrance, so it is half-dark. 

'Ah.'

Wei Wuxian rushes to Lan Wangji's side, the man has laid himself against the rock, an unfamiliar pain on his face. 

Wei Wuxian, with shaking hands, inspects the wound, with clenched teeth pulls out the arrow. He mutters sorry as he binds the wound, slightly panicked. 

Lan Wangji sealed of his cultivation, he can't heal himself. Nor can Wei Wuxian or Wen Ning help him. 

Wei Wuxian sits beside Lan Wangji, wonders why on earth this happened. Who were those people? Why were they doing this? What was the point of it? 

Wen Ning tries to escape but they sealed the entrance, they cannot get out. 

They are held there for days and the meaning becomes very clear, scarily clear. 

Lan Wangji does not heal, in fact, his wound get progressively worse and Lan Wangji falls into a fever. 

Wei Wuxian inspects the arrow closer, finds traces of poison on the head, curses and curses. 

Shaking hands, he unbinds the makeshift bandage. The wound is inflamed, the skin around it an angry red. 

Lan Wangji sleepily mumbles his name and Wei Wuxian can only frame his face with his hands. 

Lan Wangji, 'Wei Ying, where are you?' 

Wei Wuxian, 'I'm here, Lan Zhan, I'm right here.' 

But Lan Wangji doesn't seem to hear him, makes a soft, confused noise that breaks Wei Wuxians heart. 

Wen Ning, 'Master Wei, he's not doing well, is he?' 

Wen Ning sounds soft, young, and Wei Wuxian is almost brought back to the times when Wen Ning was the poor, sickly boy protected fiercely by his older sister. 

Wen Qing would be able to help Lan Wangji easily. 

But she's not here. 

He's alone in this godsforsaken cave with Wen Ning and a very, very sick Lan Wangji. 

Lan Wangji, 'Brother? Brother, I've lost Wei Ying!' 

Wei Wuxian, 'Lan Zhan, I'm right here!' 

Lan Wangji whines, a cry in his voice, 'Can't lose Wei Ying!' 

Wei Wuxian, 'You haven't! I'm here, Lan Zhan. Please…' 

He presses his head to Lan Wangji's chest, cries silently into the man's clothes. 

The unfairness, the hopelessness and the frustration, it's tearing at him.

If no one comes, Lan Wangji will die. 

Wei Wuxian cannot lose Lan Wangji. 

He can only hope and hope that someone will come. 

That someone will find them. 

~

Nie Huaisang cannot bring himself to stop glancing at Lan Xichen. He has never before seen the man this angry, Lan Xichen was terrifying. 

Now still, there was an air of desperate rage hung about him, the air around him almost tingling with it. 

The man is giving them directions, one of the Lan disciples holding a sword to his throat. 

Nie Huaisang walks next to the man, asks in a soft tone, 'Who are you?' 

The man, broken by Lan Xichen's terrifying performance, answers straight away, 'My name is Boqin, sect leader Nie.' 

Nie Huaisang, 'You captured Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian?' 

Boqin nods, just a hint of pride in his eyes. 

Nie Huaisang, 'Why?' 

Boqin hisses, 'That Wei-bastard doesn't deserve to be happy! He killed my father!' 

It is with quiet resignation that Nie Huaisang finds his guesses as to the culprits were correct. 

Nie Huaisang, 'So, how did you do it?' 

Boqin gives a grin and Nie Huaisang finds he also guessed right that this man is very proud of what he's achieved and would love to talk about it. 

Boqin, 'We worked together, me and the others. A few attacked and drew the ghost general away while the others attacked Lan Wangji and the Wei-bastard. Took a note out LianFang-Zun's book, capture the Wei-bastard and the other two will listen.' 

Nie Huaisang, 'Interesting, so you had them captured, then what?' 

Boqin laughs maniacally, 'Then comes the best part! We put them in a special cave and sealed them in. Thing is, we poisoned Lan Wangji, so that Wei-bastard would have to watch as the person he loved most withered and died before his eyes and he could do nothing about it!' 

Nie Huaisang almost stumbles, stares at the man, who seems very satisfied with himself. 

Such cruelty and for what? Revenge? 

Nie Huaisang personally feels that whatever Wei Wuxian might've done wrong, he was punished plenty for it.

The massacre of Lotus Pier, the loss of his precious sister. The hatred of his brother. 

No one deserved this, no least Lan Wangji, who was famous for being everywhere to help the people in need of his assistance. 

Nie Huaisang shakes his head, looks at Boqin and can't help feel a resentment towards his stupid grin.

Nie Huaisang, 'How… Cruel.' 

Boqin stares and the grin on his lips falters, 'The Wei-bastard's the cruel one! He killed my father!' 

Nie Huaisang leans closer to the man, 'Is that enough reason to torture him? To kill another?' 

Boqin nearly growls, 'Of course it is!' 

Nie Huaisang, 'It really isn't, I would say you have fallen below him. Far below him.' 

Boqin hisses, a intense rage in his eyes. 

Nie Huaisang, 'Wei Wuxian did things wrong, yes. But he would never do something this vile and cruel.' 

Boqin surges up in fury, baring his teeth like an animal. 

Lan Xichen turns around and glares at Nie Huaisang, who feels this is rather unfair. 

Lan Xichen, 'Are you done?' 

Nie Huaisang just stares, still rather terrified of the man. 

Lan Xichen, 'Where should we go now?' 

Boqin points at a cliff on the other side of a river, a gap gapes out in the rock. 

Boqin, 'They're in there, but you're too late! The poison works fast!' 

Lan Xichen decimates the seal with one swing from Shuoyue and moves to go in but Nie Huaisang stands in his way, heart beating loudly. 

Nie Huaisang, 'M-maybe someone else should go first?'

Lan Xichen says nothing, seethes in what seems a mixture of horrid anger and all-consuming fear. 

From the side, Lan Sizhui puts a hand on Lan Xichen's arm and gives a nod to Nie Huaisang. 

Nie Huaisang takes this as a sign and moves closer to the cliff, two of his disciples following close behind. 

He drops down and crawls in, eyes blinking to get used to the dark. 

Immediately someone grabs him and pushes him against the rock and Nie Huaisang stares into Wen Ning's face. 

Nie Huaisang, 'It's me it's me, it's Huaisang!' 

Wen Ning puts him down carefully, mutters a soft sorry. 

Nie Huaisang looks around and spots the other two. 

The two this while quest started for. 

Lan Wangji lies on his back, Wei Wuxian cuddled close, face pressed into Lan Wangji's neck, a soft crying arising from his lips. 

Nie Huaisang moves closer carefully, 'Brother Wei?' 

Wei Wuxian doesn't acknowledge him, eyes closed as if he's sleeping. 

Nie Huaisang pokes Lan Wangji's arm, 'HanGuang-Jun?' 

Lan Wangji doesn't respond either, his usually pale skin white as snow, a stillness to him that seems unnatural. 

Nie Huaisang whispers, 'Carry them outside, let's get them into fresh air.' 

When his disciples move to pick up Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian whines and suddenly yells loudly, 'NO!' 

Wen Ning starts forward and holds his masters waist as they carry Lan Wangji out. Wei Wuxians screams echo in the small space, filled with an anguish that Nie Huaisang is sure he will never forget. 

~

Lan Xichen hears a loud yelled no, wants to move but is somehow stuck to the ground. Then, a Nie disciple appears, holding two feet clad in boots that Lan Xichen's recognises instantly.

His heart beats wildly, a fear in him he can't shake. 

He's fine, he's fine, he's fine!

Then appears the rest of Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen can no longer lie. His face is pale, deadly pale, a limpness to his body. 

The disciples lie Lan Wangji down on the grass and up high a bird calls, the sound echoes through the valley. 

Lan Xichen kneels next to his brother, reaches out with trembling hands, a hesitation in them that delays his movement. 

He is only vaguely aware of Wei Wuxian emerging, helped by Wen Ning. Only vaguely registers the pitiful crying of Lan Sizhui. 

Then, his fingertips touch skin, ice cold. Lan Xichen rests his fingers on Lan Wangji's neck, desperately willing there to be something. 

There's nothing. 

Lan Xichen leans closer, rests his head on his younger brothers chest. 

Silence, all is still except the ringing in his ears. The world moves slow, his vision lags and there is the realisation. 

The gut wrenching realisation. 

Lan Wangji, his younger brother, is dead. 

He died pitifully, hidden from the world, succumbing to poison. 

And suddenly Lan Xichen is on his feet, suddenly Shuoyue flashes angrily and a man gurgles when the sword cuts through his throat. 

Lan Xichen falls to his knees, a scream he can't hear escapes his lips. 

It slips from him unheard and Lan Xichen rests his forehead against his brother’s and there is nothing. 

There is nothing and there is everything. 

A bird's call, echoing in his ears. 

Lan Xichen looks up at the sky and screams at the heavens, the silhouette of the bird circling high. It flies away, diving over a mountain and vanishing from sight. 

Wei Wuxian slips from Wen Ning's grip and his hands push Lan Xichen away.

Wei Wuxian, 'You're too late, you're too late! YOU SHOULD'VE COME EARLIER!' 

He yells and screams, hands balled into fists battering Lan Xichen's chest and Wei Wuxian dissolves in tears. 

Wei Wuxian hisses softly through his cries, 'You're too late.' 

And Lan Xichen can only accept his words in horror, an anguish taking over him. It consumes him, his heart crumbling into an abyss. 

If only he'd been faster… Just a little bit faster. 

Wei Wuxian is beside him and all Lan Xichen can do is stare, stare at the sky and seethe in emotions he can't discern. 

A flame blown out by wind, burned up and withered.

An abyss filled with shattered things he can't face, he stuffs his whole heart in there, his mind run empty. 

'Brother.' 

With enough time, a river can carve through the toughest rocks, break the strongest stone, form a bed to lie itself down in. 

An empty riverbed, the river run dry. The sun glares, clouds forming up high, gathering at the mountaintops. 

Lan Xichen sits quietly, staring unseeing at the patch of grass before him. 

There's an emptiness in him, there is no sadness or grief. 

There is nothing. 

Lan Sizhui appears before him, tear-stained face, hides in Lan Xichen's robes as he used to when he was smaller. 

Wei Wuxian stands high up on a cliff, hair blowing in the wind, Lan Wangji's forehead ribbon around his wrist. 

Lan Xichen stares and stares at the grass, at nothing. 

Someone takes his arms and ushers him up, he has no will to fight. 

Time flies and stands still. 

He stares at mountains, a city, forests, his home but sees nothing. 

There's a burial, he thinks. He can't discern if it truly happens, can't decide if he's dreaming or not. 

It doesn't matter. 

There is nothing. 

There's only emptiness, a void where his heart should be. 

A horrible stillness where should be beating of a heart. There's only silence, a breath untaken. 

~ 

The skies rage, rain pouring out of the heavens, lighting followed by thunder. 

The grass is no longer dead and yellow, a cold wind rushing over the green sea. 

In the middle of a field stands a branch, stuck in the ground there some time ago. 

It reaches to the sky hopelessly. 

Far away, the mountains are hidden in dark clouds. 

The heavens rage, it seems. Soaking wet, a group of people in green clothes marches over the empty fields, amidst them some clad in gold and red, and other colours. 

They knock on the towering gates and walk through the silent city. 

Nie Huaisang can only say this, 'Lock them with no escape, they shall know their wrongs.' 

Lan Xichen stands before his mother's old room. Lan Wangji's room. 

He dares not knock on the door, for fear of the emptiness within.

Scared to find what he knows is true. 

Lan Xichen is alone. 

People have come and gone, spoken to him in hushed voices, sympathy on their faces. 

It doesn't matter.

Lan Xichen lives. It should have been him. 

Lan Wangji leaves such pain behind, a family who grieves and wails for him. 

Lan Xichen has no one, it should have been him. 

These thoughts that crawl out of the abyss where his heart resides he allows, consumed by them. They fester in his mind and worse things come to feast on them. 

He wishes to cry but no tears will come, he takes this only as further fuel for his guilt, a stair that those thoughts clamber up on, echoing loudly through his head.

Lan Xichen is alone and there is nothing. 

There is nothing. 

He turns and there is Wei Wuxian. 

Wei Wuxian opens and closes his mouth, but there are no words. 

Wei Wuxian steps forward and wraps his arms around Lan Xichen in silence. 

Lan Xichen stands still and there is a flicker in the void. 

A tear slips from his eye and suddenly, he weeps. 

A small flame bursts alight, a shatter struggles out of the abyss and takes place in the void of his heart and it is enough. 

It is enough.