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Jiang Cheng was losing his mind.
For the sake of the kids and his disciples, he’s trying his best to keep it together.
But, it has been nearly three days since the kids had been found on their joint night hunt without Lan Wangji. Four, since he disappeared.
In accordance to children’s report, they had looked for him endlessly for an entire night before deciding to call for help.
They’d underestimated the threat, and in Wangji’s attempt to lure the yāoguài away from the kids, they’d watch him get dragged away into the mass of trees. The falling foliage, uplifted dust and debris had made it impossible to pinpoint which direction. Of course, they’d set out to look for him immediately, but with only the four of them available, it proved almost impossible to search the entirety of the forest.
Regardless of Wangji’s amazing strength and abilities, he’d been missing now for about five days and if he was wounded—
Jiang Cheng did not want to think of that. He wanted— needed —to believe Wangji had beaten the beast and was okay. He had to be okay. Surely the reason they were unable to find him was because he was probably injured and saving his energy. He was probably waiting on Jiang Cheng, counting on him to find him.
If only he could get ahold of himself long enough to think clearly. He’d walked away from his disciples, needing space and silence to think. Where could Wangji possibly be?
He could hear the faint sounds of a waterfall nearby—his head snapped in the direction of the sound. A waterfall, of course.
“There’s a waterfall nearby!” Jiang Cheng had yelled, getting the attention of his disciples, “perhaps there’s a cave, something”
“Shall we accompany you, Sect Leader?” Zhao Lian, his second in command asked.
He shook his head, “I will take two of you, but I’d appreciate it if the rest of you carried on combing through the forest once again—just in case”
Jiang Cheng motioned to the two closest disciples and began his trudge towards the sound of falling water. He had to believe he’d find Wangji there.
Finally after a few good yards of walking downhill, they reached a clearing with a small lake connected to a waterfall leading towards the river.
“One of you take the right side, and the other the left, I’ll search closer to the waterfall—shout if you find anything” Jiang Cheng orders, then hurries towards the waterfall.
There’s a rocky ledge leading towards the back of the waterfall, which Jiang Cheng climbs and follows. He slips and trips a couple of times, and he takes a moment to settle his nerves. He continues climbing, trying to find anything.
Unfortunately, that’s all that there is to the waterfall, a rocky wall and ledge that leads directly towards the lake.
Jiang Cheng growls in frustration and dives headfirst into the lake. Could there be an underground cave? He rises above the water, taking in a huge breath of air before diving down.
Aside from water life and plants and more rocks, there’s nothing else. As Jiang Cheng surges upwards, one of his disciples tells out for him.
“Sect Leader!” he yells frantically, “there’s a cave, just around the bend—“
“Show me!” Jiang Cheng demands as he climbs out of the lake following fast behind his disciple. He catches sight of the cave’s opening and rushes forward, not heading his disciples warning.
He takes a bit of a tumble, nevertheless, he catches his footing and finds himself back on his feet. He can tell that there’s some depth to the cave and he’s going to need some fire.
“Fuck” Jiang Cheng growls, he’s going to have to turn back.
“Sect Leader!” Wei Xiu shouts, as he tumbles through the cave entrance towards him. He’s got two lit torches in his hands. “Yu Mei went back to look for Zhao Lian and the rest” he informs. “Shall I accompany you?”
Jiang Cheng shakes his head, “best if you wait by the entrance for everyone else”
Wei Xiu hesitates before nodding and begins to make his way back out.
Aided now by the torch in his hand, Jiang Cheng carries on forward, hoping and praying that Wangji is somewhere inside.
Jiang Cheng isn’t sure how long he’s been walking until he finally reaches some kind of open space. There’s minimal lighting, and what could be considered some sort of lake. There’s plenty of shrubs and dirt. He’s never seen a cave such as this one before.
He scans the area, heart pounding in his chest. He doesn’t want to loose hope, but there seems to be no signs of anything—and then he catches it. A gleam of the light, a flash of white. He makes a dash towards it, ears pounding with the rush of his blood.
“Wangji!” he exclaims, and there in between the shrubbery, muddied and bloodied up, lies Lan Wangji against the rocky wall of the cave, immovable. Jiang Cheng’s heart lurches painfully in his chest as he throws himself towards him, torch propped to the side. It’s honestly the least of his worries.
“Wa—Wanyin” Wangji rasps, eyes fluttering open.
“Gods, I’m so angry at you” Jiang Cheng fussed, patting him down and checking him to his best abilities. He shares a steady flow a qi with Wangji, thankfully finding no major injuries except for the few cuts and bruises he most likely wasn’t able to heal due to him trying to conserve his energy.
“Mn. I knew you’d find me” Wangji whispers and Jiang Cheng all but throws himself at his stupid husband. He cradles his face between his hands, pulling him in for a rough, and desperate kiss.
“You’re a god awful idiot” Jiang Cheng tells him, pressing their foreheads together. He kisses Wangji once more, gripping to his robes with a vice, afraid that he’d disappear if he lets go for even a second.
“Sect Leader Jiang! Hanguang-Jun!” someone—Zhao Lian, Jiang Cheng deciphers—yells.
“We found them! Guys, they’re in here! Bring the healer!” he hears.
“Just wait till we get home” Jiang Cheng grumbles, but for the first time since he was told Lan Wangji had gone missing, he’s able to breathe.