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Of course it was a trap.
Jiang Cheng forces a breath out and shakes his hand loose, calling Zidian to life. He’s grateful to be alone, at least, as he sent Jin Ling to follow his friends as they dispelled the water demon at the lake. But the water demon, while dangerous, had been a diversion. The cave had been the real danger, and it was one Jiang Cheng headed down without a second glance. If he makes it out alive, Huaisang will likely murder him -- mostly murder him -- and he will accept his fate with dignity because he deserves it for being the biggest --
“Idiot!”
Jiang Cheng turns in time to catch Huaisang as he crashes into him.
“I’ve married the biggest, most reckless idiot, in a world that contains Wei Wuxian!” Huaisang exclaims. He shoves Jiang Cheng against the cave wall and kisses him before pushing away from him. “What happened?”
Jiang Cheng bites his lip. There’s no good way to spin this.
“I wasn’t paying attention.”
“You weren’t…” Huaisang rubs his eyes. “Alright.” He takes his sword, a deadly, beautiful spiritual weapon Jiang Cheng gifted him at their betrothal, and grips it tight. “Why did you go into the cave? What were you following?”
“I sent out a few of those scouting talismans Wei Ying has been working on with the Ouyang boy. They went straight for the cave, so I followed, intending to take a look, and...wait. Why are you here?”
Huaisang takes out his phone and shows him the small white token hanging off the phone case. It’s one Jiang Cheng has seen often enough, a fan-shaped bead carved from white jade. Lan Wangji had given one to Huaisang and one to Jiang Cheng as wedding gifts. Jiang Cheng’s was tied to Sandu’s hilt. “Tracking token,” he says.
“A tracking -- what? I thought it was a protection amulet!”
“Yes,” Huaisang explains patiently, “it protects by letting me track you! Wangji knows how often you go haring off without a thought to your own safety, so he made this for me.” He hangs the token on his belt again and rises up to kiss Jiang Cheng. “I have to say, I’m proud of you for making it six years before I needed to use this.”
“A tracking token,” Jiang Cheng says.
“If it makes you feel better, he makes your brother wear one, too.”
“It does not. Why couldn’t you just call me?”
“Do you have your phone?”
Jiang Cheng looks away. “It’s in the car,” he mutters, and Huaisang gives him a Look. He tries to look contrite -- and he is sorry! He really is! -- but Huaisang merely smacks Jiang Cheng with the hilt of his sword.
“Jiang Wanyin!” Huaisang punctuates the syllables of his name, poking him in the ribs with the pommel. “We are partners! In every way! You are not a rogue cultivator! You are my husband and a sect leader! I thought we’d gotten past all your self-sacrificial bullshit!”
“I’m sorry,” he replies, misery in every syllable. Huaisang sighs.
“What are we facing, and why are we stuck here until we face it?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t had the chance to study it yet. I was about to, and then you barged in and…” A mischievous smile blooms on Jiang Cheng’s face. “Hey! You barged in here, too! Now we’re both trapped!”
Huaisang gapes at him. “I… that’s not… oh, shut up, A-Cheng.” He crosses his arms. “You’re still in trouble for sending your backup away AND leaving your phone in the car.”
“Fair enough,” he agrees. He holds out a hand. “Shall we investigate together?”
“Alright, fine,” Huaisang says. He takes Jiang Cheng’s hand. He pulls Jiang Cheng to him and kisses him, hard, a promise of things to come —if we make it out alive, A-Cheng, so let’s not screw this up —and they make their way down the tunnel, deeper into the cave.