Chapter Text
"A-Xian!"
A familiar call broke through the haze of clanging swords and painful cries. The musical tone held one of desperation, but as it reached Wei Wuxian's ears, he froze. It was as if someone had poured a basin of water over the dark stains spreading across his heart and washed it away. A feat only Yanli could achieve. A soft word left his lips. "Shijie?"
"A-Xian! Where are you?!"
Yanli!
Abruptly, his fingers stilled on Chenqing, his dark eyes lifting up and away. Yanli! Without a glance spared towards the white figure he had been dueling, he lunged from the rooftop.
How could she be here? Why was she here?!
She was… Why was she calling for him?
"Shijie! Shijie, where are you?!"
"A-Xian!"
Feeling lost, he craned his neck over his right shoulder, then his left. His eyes swept the battlefield as he haphazardly deflected blows with his bamboo flute. A bright blue flash suddenly swept forwards, blowing back an attacker.
"Lan Zhan!"
"Wei Ying! Your flute."
Understanding passed through him and he lifted the bamboo flute to his lips. A haunting melody cut through the air and the way was cleared. Resentful spirits spun from and around him as he advanced, pushing back anyone Lan Wangji could not fight off.
"A-Xian! A-Cheng!"
Finally, his eyes found her desperately turning this way and that, searching for her brothers. His flute lowered and he took a step forward.
"Shijie!"
Relief was stopped short, as from behind her a puppet with white eyes and black veins crawling up its neck raised a sword.
"Wei Wuxian! Make it disappear!" called Jiang Cheng.
"Go away! Don't touch her!"
However, the puppet did not obey. He watched, icy horror trickling through his veins as the sword came down on her back.
"Shijie! Behind you!"
She fell.
He stopped breathing.
Pain twisted through his chest as he watched everything crumble. For a terrible moment, everything slowed and the sounds of battle drowned out against that of his own heartbeat.
Suddenly, however, desperation pulled his heart and his feet forward. "Shijie!" He cried out as his eyes stung red.
A hand stopped him and his frantic heart went wild with panic. Lan Wangji held fast on his shoulder, his voice urgent and pleading. "Wei Ying! Stop your puppets!"
His heart trembled in his chest as he suddenly shoved the obstacle out of his way and he threw himself to his knees, heedless of Jiang Cheng's presence. With trembling hands, he reached out to Yanli only to find himself on his back at Jiang Cheng's blow. A pang of anguish and guilt went through his heart.
"What's going on? You told me you could control it! You said it was no problem!"
Turmoil roiled about in his brain, pushing all thoughts and reason and clarity from it. "I- I don't know why they aren't listening to me. I-I thought that I could. I didn't tell them to... Why won't they listen?" his heartbeat was loud in his ears and he couldn't seem to draw in enough breath. It was as if the panic was taking over his lungs, blocking and obstructing them in an attempt to kill him.
"A-Xian…"
He jerked.
"I'm here" he stated hurriedly as he scrambled back over. "I'm here, what is it?"
"You have to stop it."
As if he had been doused in ice water, he stiffened and hurriedly nodded. "Alright, alright, I'll stop. I'll stop." and he snatched Chenqing from the ground and shakily brought it to his lips. Letting in a deep breath, he closed his eyes before playing a shaky and urgent tune, drawing in any evil spirit that continued to protect him from any attackers and forcing the vengeful energy to expel his command into the air with as much strength he possessed. All at once, everything grew still. Even the puppets he had unintentionally created and had previously been unable to control were compelled to stop with the two commanding sharp cracks from the instrument. The flute fell from his fingers as he felt a hand cup his cheek and run down it.
"My A-Xian. Such a good boy."
"Shijie…"
"You ran away so fast I didn't get to get a good look at you, or talk to you. I wanted to say… come home…I've missed you"
Her words fell away and alarm shot through Wei Wuxian. Just then, a shout sounded from behind him and he turned his head to look just as a sword tip ran through his side, immense pain following suit.
"Wei Ying!" Lan Zhan's call rang.
In the next minute, he felt the sword yank from his body and he fell forwards, his palms hitting the stone.
"A-Xian!"
The grating sound of metal filled the air and he could sense a presence standing behind him, protecting him. However, he could no longer turn to look. He coughed roughly and blood spattered to the ground.
"Jiang Cheng. Take Yanli out of here" he managed to get out, his fingers scraping the dusty cobblestone before his arms gave way and his cheek hit the cold stone.
The sound of movement accompanied his brother's exit and, through blurry vision, he watched what appeared to be a guardian angel in white stand protectively over him. In spite of himself, his lips quirked gently into a smile at the sight of his noble, resolute figure.
"Lan Zhan…" he coughed out as ants crawled into his vision, overtaking everything until it went black.
"Wei Ying!"
~~~
Wei Wuxian opened his eyes to the sight of dark stone slabs above his head. For half a second, confusion overtook his brain. This wasn't the Demon-Subdue Place ceiling that he had been silently lamenting his losses to the past year. Suddenly his memory caught up.
"Shijie!"
He sat straight up only for pain to stab through his gut. "Ahh!" He gasped out, his fingers going to the wound as his chin tilted downwards. His brows knit together as the offensive sound of iron chains filled the cell from the shackles and chains attached to his person.
"You dare call her name after what you pulled?"
It was then he lifted his head to focus on the figure that stood on the other side of iron bars with his arms folded, a reproachful expression in his gaze. He was completely clad in a dark purple that gave off an air of rigidity. Despite the stern expression, a certain level of pain glittered in his eyes.
"Jiang Cheng."
"You said you could control it. You told me not to worry."
"Jiang Cheng."
"Do you know what you've done! Yanli-"
Wei Wuxian flinched.
"I told you this would happen but you just couldn't let those Wen dogs go! Are you finally done? Humbled enough yet? Or are you still determined to cause-"
"Jiang Cheng!"
"..."
"How's Yanli?"
"She's resting."
"She's alive?... She's alive."
He let out a breath, his eyes dropping before his brows knit and they looked back up.
"Lan Zhan?"
"Him again" his eyes flicked away before bitterly biting out "Of course."
"..."
"He was very noble. Kept them from killing you. You should hear what they've been saying, the 'great and righteous Hanguang-jun' has fallen enough to defend the Yiling Patriarch."
His words were sharp and prickly, but as he met his brother's eyes, the complicated expression stalled any words he might have said. When Wei Wuxian did not respond with a barbed statement right back at him as was custom, his expression slipped.
"I'll have to thank Lan Zhan when I get-" his words fell short and they both looked to the floor as an awkward and sorrowful feeling filled the room. "Right. Jiang Cheng, will you thank him for me?"
Silence reigned through the space as Jiang Cheng's lips pursed and he looked down, brows furrowed as Wei Wuxian so glibly acknowledged that he wouldn't be 'getting out'. The Yiling Patriarch had been caught, there wasn't a prayer in the world that he was heading anywhere but the executioner's blade and then the pyre they would burn him on.
Finally, Jiang Cheng spoke, his voice quiet and his cheeks burning from shame as he stepped forwards and wrapped his hands around the bars of the cell and pleaded with his big brother for help.
"Tell me what to say to them. I don't know how to protect you from them."
A sorrowful smile graced Wei Wuxian's face as he picked himself up off the stone slab, the heavy chains clamped to his wrists clanging and he crossed over to the bars. Reaching out, he set a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Nothing can be said now. There's no other path to take. I'm the murderous Yiling Patriarch, master of demonic tricks." A self deprecating, sarcastic smile had painted across his lips and then it faded. "Besides, the Wen Clan is gone. Where else can I go but with them now?"
"The Wen clan again."
"Of course, should my priorities change just because they were slaughtered by the rest of the cultivation world?"
"You-!"
An unexpected blow to his chest suddenly sent him flying and he hit the opposite wall. Warm blood rose in his throat and he spit red, coughing roughly and holding his chest. At that, Jiang Cheng glanced down at his hand before his brows knit, looking as if had suddenly remembered something or had at least confirmed something horrific.
"Jiang Cheng!" He shouted incredulously as he struggled against the chains to stand "That-"
"What happened to your spiritual power?"
The sudden question knocked the words out of him and his eyes rose, hand dropping.
"Why did you stop carrying your sword?"
"This again" Wei Wuxian tsked.
"When they took you hostage, Lan Xichen tried to seal your spiritual power. Want to know what they found?" Jiang Cheng pressed.
"..."
"Why did you stop carrying your sword?"
"..."
"Wei Wuxian!"
Wei Wuxian glanced down at the floor, a sticky feeling of dread in his chest. Did he figure it out? He let out a soft breath and carefully composed his expression into one of arrogance and sarcasm as he scoffed.
"I didn't feel like it anymore" he stated blithely.
He watched as Jiang Cheng's face turned first white, then red, then almost as dark plum as the clothes he was wearing. It would have been amusing any other time. He clucked his tongue and balled his hands into fists as he glared at his brother on the other side of the bars.
"Even now you can act proud?"
Jiang Cheng stepped back towards the bars, his face contorted in anger.
"Wei Wuxian!"
A serene smirk had appeared on his face and he folded his hands in front of him since he couldn't fold them behind. He watched as suddenly, the purple drained from his face and it once again turned white. His eyes flicked back and forth in alarm as if he were literally putting a puzzle together.
"When…?" He said, almost in a whisper as he suddenly looked gutted. As if he was beginning to realize something. "When did you stop carrying your sword?"
Not good.
Wei Wuxian sighed, closed his eyes for a second, and then stated haughtily, if not a little desperately.
"Do I need a sword to defeat any of you anyways? What one person could beat me? Didn't it take armies?"
His tactic of distraction didn't seem to work.
"Wei Wuxian, you-"
"Forgive me the intrusion" cut in a new voice.
A new figure swept into the room dressed in muted teals and wearing a serene, calming expression. His expression and demeanor were refined, but gentle and not closed off unlike his counterpart in the Twin Jades of Gusu: Lan Wangji.
"Zewu-jun" Wei Wuxian greeted, his arms lifting with a loud clang and his chin dropping in courtesy. Out of the corner of his eyes his gaze flicked to Jiang Cheng who, haunted though he looked, could not forget manners and shakily gestured in courtesy.
Behind him entered an ever-smiling man dressed in expensive golds and a black felted hat perched just above the red cinnabar dot on his brow. Wei Wuxian let his arms drop and he lifted his chin, his expression that cool, arrogant, and predatory one he showed the rest of the cultivation world. If he presented himself any other way, they wouldn't be satisfied.
"Sandu Sengshou" Jin Guangyao greeted, gesturing courteously.
"The clan leaders have concluded the Discussion Meeting. It is a shame that you found yourself unable to attend. Hasn't your clan been slighted the most by Master Wei's actions?" He announced demurely.
He'd expected a terse expression at the inciting remark, and when he got none his eyebrow raised ever so slightly before his serene smile returned. Perhaps he was correct in his theory that the falling out between Wei Wuxian and the Jiang Clan was a farce.
"Jiang Wanyin, are you alright?"
His brow quirked ever so slightly to see the Jiang clan of Yunmeng's clan leader looking so, for lack of a more respectful term, frazzled.
"They've decided already?" Jiang Cheng stated instead.
A humble smile appeared on his face as he nodded.
"Is there any other decision that could be reasonably made?"
A complicated expression twisted Jiang Cheng's features. Helplessness and frustration appeared on his face as he watched six guards file in and point their swords at the cell.
"There is no need to handle him so warily. He has no spiritual power" the Jin Clan cultivator stated off-handedly as he opened the cell, unlocking it with a wave of his hand. Immediately the guards rushed in and two seized him by the arms. Without the physical strength of a cultivator, Wei Wuxian had no choice but to let them do so, wincing all the while.
"There is no need to be so rough with him" Zewu- jun's calming voice protested. His eyebrows knit together, a sorrowful and regretful feeling lodging itself in his chest. In spite of it all, he couldn't help but call to mind the exuberant and wild youth that had once run rampant through their Cloud Recesses. How things had changed.
Seeing his friend's disturbed expression, Jin Guangyao gave a single nod and a flighty smile. "Of course. We are not the Wens after all. He should be treated well." He stated, giving a pointed look at the guards who abruptly let go of Wei Wuxian's arms.
"Funny. It would seem that there is a rather hazy line between what is and is not accepted of the Wen clan's practices. Or was I mistaken when I saw Madam Li and the other defenseless Wens strung up as trophies outside of Nightless City?" He couldn't help it. Wei Wuxian had never been one that could keep his mouth shut.
An uncomfortable tension thickened the air at his blunt words and multiple glances turned askance.
Instead of addressing those words that weren't technically wrong, Guangyao merely gestured towards the stairs.
Stepping from the dark stone color palette into the blindingly cream and white of Koi tower was quite jarring. Honestly, he had expected to have been confined in Nightless City. He looked around in confusion for a moment before turning to Lan Xichen.
"Zewu-jun-"
"Wangji carried you here on his sword and refused to let anyone touch you." Lan Xichen stated softly as he stepped up and glanced at Wei Wuxian, a gentle smile on his face.
Wei Wuxian's gaze snapped to the elegant figure beside him. Lan Zhan… He did that?
"He insisted you be taken away from Nightless City."
Why?
"Indeed, you've caused quite a bit of trouble for Hanguang-jun as of late. Surely, it will be a relief to no longer do so " Jin Guangyao supplied in the most perfectly helpful, 'look on the bright side' tone.
Lan Zhan…
With a swallow of the lump in his throat, Wei Wuxian nodded slightly.
This is for the best. Lan Zhan won't have to be burdened with worrying about me. He'll be happier. Jiang Cheng too. I'll no longer be a trouble to anyone I care about. I… only wish I had gotten to see Jin Ling before I go. It's probably for the best that he never met me though. Jiang Cheng and Madam Yu were right.
Pain laced itself around his heart before constricting it like a snake.
When they stepped up to the top of the steps to the grand palace, his ears were immediately assaulted by shouts.
"You're getting what you deserve!"
"Death is too merciful for you!"
"My family died because of you!"
"This is what happens when you cultivate the demonic path!"
"Death to Wei Wuxian!"
At this last shout, a chorus of agreements rose up.
"Death to Wei Wuxian! Death to Wei Wuxian!"
The sight caused his footsteps to stall and pain suddenly assaulted his chest as the miasma of resentment towards him thickened the air.
That's right, our Wei Wuxian is everyone's favorite.
How wrong that statement rang now.
Standing before the entirety of the cultivation world as they screamed for his death almost made him sway on the spot. Sorrowful regret nestled in his heart, a dull ache as his eyes stung with red.
Where did it go wrong? At which point? If he thought back to Lotus Pier, could he trace the turning point?
"Today we erase the evil of the Yiling Patriarch!" Jin Guangyao's voice placated the crowd. "And tomorrow, We will spread his ashes over Qiongqi Way to satisfy the souls of the lives that he took!"
A thunderous, collective shout rang out.
Was he crazy? Was it worth it? Every action he'd taken, all of the lives he had protected… None of that had mattered in the end. They were all dead now and Jin Zixuan had joined the mix. If he hadn't of protected them…
Then he wouldn't have known a second family. Madam Li, A-Yuan, Wen Qing, Wen Ning… For as full of misery and longing he had been this past year, they'd made it bearable. The consequences of his actions were disheartening, but he'd never regret saving them. If given the chance to make new decisions with the knowledge he held now… the only one he'd change is the path he had chosen to take to Lanling.
He let out a large, shuddering sigh that rocked his chest to fight the sorrow.
As he was urged down onto his knees, he lifted his eyes and gazed at the crowds of people. Subconsciously, his gaze searched for the familiar stark white of funerary clothes only to come up empty.
The only one who would be appropriately dressed and he's not even here…
The joke brought a faint smile to his face before it faded. Instead, it was replaced by disappointment that choked him and he closed his eyes once more, a single tear tracking down his face. Jin Guangyao unsheathed his sword and stood before him.
Night had finally fallen on his single log bridge.
Wei Wuxian's body tensed and suddenly there came the sound of swords clashing. His eyes snapped open in time to see Bichen's blue glare as it struck Jin Guangyao to the ground.
"Hanguang-jun?!"
"Hanguang-jun!"
"Lan Wangji?"
His heart suddenly stopped and then did a flip as Lan Wangji stood in front of him, the serious expression on his face seeming as if it had been carved from smooth jade.
"Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian gaped as Lan Wangji turned in an elegant sweep and brought his sword down upon his chains, freeing him. In the next moment, he had grabbed hold of his wrist and had pulled him to his feet before he moved to drag him out of there.
Immediately the sound of swords drawing filled the air.
For a moment, Wei Wuxian let him drag him away, but as a sea of glinting swords greeted them, he dug his heels in.
Indeed, you've caused quite a bit of trouble for Hanguang-jun.
Lan Wangji snapped his gaze back to him, expression blank as ever but his brows were furrowed. They both knew that if Lan Wangji wanted to, he could drag him down these steps like a ragdoll and he would not have the spiritual power to stop him. However, Lan Wangji was ever the gentleman. He stopped and his grip on his wrist tightened.
"Wei Ying."
He knew what it meant. What are you doing? We have to go.
Wei Wuxian swallowed.
"Lan Zhan. It's better this way."
"It isn't!"
The force in which Lan Wangji snapped that statement immediately caused his mouth to clamp shut. However, Wei Wuxian was ever unrestrained and could not simply keep quiet.
"Lan Zhan!"
"Hanguang-jun! What are you doing! What manner of tricks has he used to bewitch you?!"
Wei Wuxian let out a heavy sigh and he glanced around as they were very rapidly surrounded. If Lan Wangji continued this, he would certainly be punished for it.
"What manner of tricks?" Wei Wuxian cracked a laugh and he could immediately see Lan Wangji's eyes on him. "Take your pick. I am, after all, Wei Wuxian" he spread his hands with a flourish as if he were painting out a headline. He sauntered out from behind Lan Wangji with an arrogant swagger to his step. "master of crafty tricks, the evil-" as soon that word left his mouth, Lan Zhan suddenly struck out, grabbed his wrist, and yanked him back and behind him, causing him to stumble. "No."
Caught off guard, Wei Wuxian stared up at him in bewilderment, meeting his whiskey colored eyes with his own darker ones.
"No?" He quirked an eyebrow.
A fuzzy warmth began to spread throughout his chest as Lan Wangji stared into his eyes and the meaning of the word sank in. Wei Wuxian didn't know whether to laugh or cry at such an inopportune feeling in the middle of his execution. He couldn't help the smile that appeared on his own face.
"No." Lan Wangji reasserted.
Not evil.
Seeing an opportunity to strike, the cultivators suddenly closed in, charging with swords drawn. Lan Wangji snapped into action, withdrawing his guqin with a flourish and strumming it once aggressively. Several cultivators flew backwards, but it wouldn't be enough. They would be coming from all directions. They would be coming at Lan Zhan from all directions. He couldn't let it happen. There was no other way this could end for him, but he could at least spare Lan Zhan.
Wei Wuxian tried again, grabbing onto his sleeve for attention.
"Lan Zhan, there isn't any other path for me to take. This is it… the big end of the bridge."
Lan Wangji strummed once more.
He tried again.
"Lan Zhan!" he tugged the sleeve twice in desperation as he grasped at straws. "There's nowhere for me to go!"
It was as if he hadn't said anything at all for a moment. Then, "Come back to Gusu."
They both knew that was no longer an option. Stubbornly, however, Lan Wangji just pulled him closer, as if trying to hide him away from everyone. As if, if they couldn't see him then they couldn't try to kill him.
He let out a frustrated breath as Lan Wangji continued to dig the hole he placed himself in deeper. Finally, he grabbed onto his shoulder, grip strong as he tried to ignore the sticky cringing feeling in his chest with his next words; at what he would ask.
"Remember what we promised at Qiongqi Way?" Lan Wangji's fingers abruptly stilled on the guqin, the calm look finally broken by one of horror as he slowly twisted to look at him.
Striking while the iron was hot, Wei Wuxian took a step forwards, reaching for the sword at his waist only to have Lan Wangji jerk away from his grabby fingers.
Wei Wuxian pursed his lips and let a breath out through his nose.
"Okay, let me remind you"
He took another step forwards, heedless of the horrified look that had yet to leave Lan Wangj's sculpted features. It couldn't faze him. He'd seen it so many times during the Sunshot Campaign. He pressed on.
"If I finally have to fight with them-"
He suddenly felt as if his bottom lip and top lip had been glued together and shock appeared on his face. The Silencing Spell! He didn't want to hear it that much? Was he serious!? Honestly, that was worse than the execution.
Lan Wangji held his incredulous gaze for a prolonged moment before he turned away, once more seizing him, by the hand this time, and forgetting decorum to drag him stumbling behind him heedless of any protests he made in the form of grunts and whines.
"Don't let them escape!"
The armies converged on them suddenly and Wei Wuxian cringed as numerous swords began to slice through the air, aimed at him. Just then, a flash of white-purple crackled through the scene as the lightning whip Zidian cut forth and swept away his attackers.
Jiang Cheng!
His brother stood behind him, Lan Wangji in front and he couldn't help but be stunned.
"What are you looking like that at me for?" Jiang Cheng snapped thornily. "If you died Yanli would scold me."
It was clear, however, by the look in his eyes that he didn't want to see his older brother's death no matter how vexed and troubled his actions made him. In spite of himself, the corners of his mouth quirked lightly.
"Get lost!"
Lan Wangji gave a curt nod to him and once again dragged him down the steps.
Even with Jiang Cheng, there was no way they were escaping this; not when the entire cultivation world had come to see his death. Desperately he pulled and yanked and tugged on Lan Zhan's clothing as he fought off attackers one by one. His heart twisted in his chest as the sight of blood spread across his white clothing.
Finally, his eyes caught the sight of two long, white strands of ribbon flapping back in the breeze. Without a second thought, he grabbed hold of one and yanked. The ribbon came away in his hand and Lan Wangji's footsteps finally stalled.
Suddenly, the Silencing Spell was lifted and Wei Wuxian let out a relieved huff before letting loose two shrill whistles that stopped the oncoming army in their tracks. It wouldn't hold them for long. With this opportunity, he tugged at his sleeve once more and finally Lan Zhan spared him a glance. He paused, trying to pick his next words carefully, knowing they had to count before the stubborn Lan thought better of it and silenced him again. Before he could, however, Lan Zhan spoke.
"You would prefer it to be me."
He remembered.
Lan Zhan's eyes had dropped to the ribbon gripped tightly in his hand. For some reason Wei Wuxian had no inclination to let it go, but rather hold it tighter. Someone would have to really try to pry it out of his grip. Finally, their eyes met.
Slowly, he nodded in affirmation.
"If I am doomed to death…"
His hand lifted and grabbed onto the hilt of his sword, their hands overlapped. Lan Zhan neither fought it nor helped. His gaze seemed as if he were trying to burn a hole in his very being but he did not look away. Slowly, he guided his hand until the tip of the sword was raised towards his chest.
"Lan Zhan. Please, make it worth it"
"Come back to Gusu with me" Lan Zhan's voice cracked, pleading.
Beyond them, the crowd began to shift, the spell Wei Wuxian had set on them having begun to lift. However, as they saw the sword Bichen pointed at the Yiling Patriarch, they all froze.
From the top of the steps, Jiang Cheng looked on in shock and horror.
"Wei Wuxian!"
At the sound of his brother's voice, Wei Wuxian paused and turned his head to look back at him. A helpless and resigned smile appeared on his face, his smile so wide his eyes crinkled into crescents.
Turning his gaze back to Lan Zhan, his grip tightened on his hands and he suddenly pulled Lan Zhan towards him until the sword had run through his chest and his chin touched his shoulder.
Lan Wangji stood there, as if every single bone and joint in his body had been paralyzed. Slow horror made it's way through his veins as He felt Wei Ying's body crash against his.
"W-Wei Ying!" He cried out.
It must have been only a second but it felt like a lifetime for Wei Wuxian as he felt the energy leave his body and his legs collapse. Lan Wangji went with him, falling to his knees and ripping the sword from his body before flinging it away as if it was a monster for causing Wei Wuxian injury and may strike again. His arms wrapped around him, restricting Wei Wuxian's instinct to curl up like a shrimp.
Excruciating pain twisted his heart as he pulled Wei Ying against his chest, his head bowed to look at his face. Blood slowly dripped from the corner of his mouth and Lan Zhan lifted his hand, slowly swiping his thumb against his cheek and wiping the red away.
Wei Wuxian struggled to open his eyes, and the sight of blinding white filled his vision before it focused and he was gazing up into the sorrowful eyes of Lan Wangji.
"Lan Zhan…" he managed softly before letting out a rough cough.
"Wei Wuxian is dead!"
Around him, shouts of triumph filled the air and Lan Wangji's head snapped up, quieting the crowd with a single glare. Suddenly, the overwhelming urge to protect him from the cheers, from the celebration of his demise overtook Lan Wangji. He had to get him out of here before he faded completely. He had to get far enough away that he wouldn't hear the shouts.
Carefully, he slid one arm underneath the crook of his knees and the other one wrapped around his back. Rising, he lifted Wei Ying's body whose hand limply fell and dangled over the side, the white and bloodstained ribbon he had pulled from Lan Zhan's head still clutched lightly in his fist.
"Hanguang-jun!" Someone called out in askance.
He paid them no mind. Regally, he descended the stairs and people scrambled to get out of his way. His face said it all in it's cool and quiet anger. This was an injustice. Jiang Cheng had fallen to his knees, watching deftly and helplessly from the stairs.
Nobody attempted to stop him as he carried him away from Koi Tower. Behind him, the sounds of cheering rose up and then became more and more distant until it was but a murmur in the background.
"Lan Zhan…" the sound of his voice was almost like a jumpscare and he lowered a gentle look towards him.
"Mmn"
"No more walking… It hurts…"
Abruptly, his footsteps stalled and he stood there for a moment before he finally just lowered himself to the ground where they stood and gently lowered Wei Ying until he was laying across on his lap.
Wei Ying spoke up once more.
"Lan Zhan…?"
"Mmn."
"Why did you insist on taking me from Nightless City?"
Even at death's embrace he couldn't stand to be quiet, it made Lan Zhan smile softly. He reached out, hesitated, then lightly ran his fingers along Wei Ying's cheek.
"You didn't belong there."
A weak smile quirked Wei Ying's lips.
"Because that place is evil?"
"Mmn"
Lan Zhan gently tucked some stray hair from Wei Ying's face before slowly running his fingers down along his jaw. By now even his lips were pale from bloodloss.
"That feels nice…" he murmured faintly.
"Lan Zhan?"
Lan Zhan's fingers stilled on his cheek for a moment.
"Do you remember the melody you sang in the cave of the Xuanyu of Slaughter?"
"Yes."
"Will you sing it for me again?"
Soft humming filled the air then and Wei Wuxian let his head fall to the side and against his chest. As his consciousness faded, he felt peace settle through him.
"Lan Zhan... Thank you"
16 Years Later
Mo Xuanyu….
Mo Xuanyu…
Who is calling?
Mo Xuanyu.
Who is Mo Xuanyu?
It's you.
Wei Wuxian's eyes fluttered open.