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At first, there’s nothing but darkness, swimming all around him, enveloping him in a cocoon of black. He can’t make out any sounds, and the only thing slowly dragging him awake from unconsciousness is the dull, dismal throb of pain echoing all throughout his body. Soon enough, however, the black turns to a murky brown, and the dull throbs become like sharp blades ripping across his skin, making him grit his teeth in pain, his senses slowly overflowing with stimuli. He tries to open his eyes, but is immediately assaulted by a blinding ray of light, forcing him to shut them tight again. Shaking, trembling, tears pricking at his eyes and a warm liquid trickling down his arms, Lan WangJi slowly hoists himself up from the ground, a wave of nausea hitting him full-force as he rises. He gags, but manages to keep everything down, swallowing the scorching acidic substance with a wince. Where...where on earth is he? Is the only question replaying in his mind over and over again as he cracks his eyes open bit by bit, trying to accustom himself to the bright rays of sunlight shining down on him from a small cavity. Indeed...he seems to be in some kind of large room, he evaluates, rubbing his eyes and...blood? He accidentally smears it all over his face, looking down in slight alarm: indeed, his bare, pale arms are criss-crossed with multiple thin, angry red slashes, dyeing his skin crimson.Lan WangJi bites his lip, his apprehension increasing by the second; in fact, the more he takes in his surroundings, the more he comes to find he doesn’t like the situation at hand at all. Once his eyes are completely adjusted to the brightness and he’s managed to get up, staggering and wobbling to a nearby chair, he finds that everything is unfamiliar- from the very room he's in, to the wooden mahogany walls to the mess of scrolls and papers littering the floor: Lan WangJi’s absolutely certain he’s never been here his whole life. But the most startling thing, perhaps, isn’t just the room being unfamiliar, but his own face as well. In fact, from the reflection of a broken mirror, a pair of big, foreign black eyes stare into Lan WangJi’s own: from the soft contour of his pink lips to the gentle waterfall of black locks rolling off his shoulders, it’s made obvious that this body belongs to that of a youth, one that’s probably not even nineteen years old. Had it not been for the bloody streaks raking across his delicate, handsome features, he’d definitely manage to win any lady’s favour with a mere gentle look or small smile. Lan WangJi frowns slightly- the face in the mirror frowns as well, his brows furrowing together. He moves his hand towards the shattered glass, and the other long, slender hand does the same, until their fingertips are touching, leaving behind a thin veil of red.
‘This...this is…’
As he backs away from the mirror, his heart pounding and his ears buzzing, Lan WangJi swallows, desperately trying to collect his thoughts, in an attempt to piece together just what could have possibly happened here, and most importantly, why he’s here. After all, last time he checked...he was dead. Lan WangJi had exhaled his final breath in that dreary place of death and violence, and he had spent the rest of his “life” as a lost soul, wandering from land to land, from city to city, his consciousness broken and his thoughts always just out of reach, like something he could never quite catch or hold firmly in his hands. Now, however, he is aware, and frightfully so, and his newfound lucidity takes a minute or two of getting used to. Finally, after a while passes, Lan WangJi takes a deep breath in, a deep breath out, inhaling, exhaling...inhaling, exhaling.
“Let’s figure out what’s going on.’
He runs a hand through his hair, fighting down the feeling of dread blooming in his chest; he needs to remain calm, he must not lose his cool. Thinking this, he hunkers down, rummaging through handwritten notes. However, as he's sifting through the papers, something startling peeks out from underneath him. An array, drawn with blood, presumably this body's own. Lan WangJi tightens his lips; suddenly, the blurry picture comes into focus and everything falls into place-he knows exactly what happened here. After all, he'd recognise this horrid, ghastly kind of cultivation anywhere.Some fifteen minutes pass, spent in relative silence as he analysed the bloody pieces of parchment beneath his feet: they're old and torn, and from the scraggly, nearly illegible writing the tale of a man torn apart by grief surfaces: not even four years old when the Sunshot campaign commenced and the Yiling Patriarch rose to power, this boy, a young member of a minor branch of the Wen sect, found his entire family being persecuted and brutally slaughtered before his very eyes. He barely escaped with his life, and was taken in by a small, local sect, where he lived out the rest of his brief, tormented existence.
'Every night, I dreamt of revenge, it was all that kept me company thoughout the bleak nights of torment and agony, the thought of...but I had to come to terms with the fact I am weak, pathetically so, an ant, that bastard wouldn't even bother, he'd laugh at me, he wouldn't bother with me...why I called you here, and it disgusted me, it shook to my very weak, pathetic core I had to resort to his filthy ways. But the payoff will be priceless, priceless! You're here, you will be here, and that's all that that matters. I'm here to continue your legacy, to give you a second chance, I am your hope! That is my role, this is my destiny...
Kill the Yiling Patriarch.'
Some parts are completely incomprehensible, but the writer's message overall shines through the ugly black scrabbles. Lan WangJi purses his lips, expression unreadable. It appears...some things are never easy. For a minute, he's completely dumbfounded, his head feels light and dizzy, though that might also be the bloodloss. He leans on the edge of a counter, his chest swirling with countless emotions, and yet somehow also feeling numb. His entire world is crashing down on him in waves, their force nearly making him stagger to the ground, but he nonetheless steadies himself, fists trembling, in a desperate attempt to hold on and not let himself go to his emotions. No matter how unfair he feels it is, no matter how it makes him want to cry and kick and scream, no matter- "A-Yui, A-Yui? You’ve been in there for a while- are you okay?" A soft, sweet female voice calls out from behind the door, the sound slightly muffled. Lan WangJi is immediately shook from his thoughts; he gives himself a small slap, rubbing his eyes and clearing his mind. Feelings can come later, right now, he has a situation to fix. "Yes. Give me a minute." There’s a slight pause. Lan WangJi’s mouth twists into a slight grimace- has he already been discovered? After all, he can only guess what the boy’s- Jun RongYui’s- original mannerisms were like. Luckily however, whatever suspicion the girl might have had she obviously sets aside, as she speaks up once more. "I know you told me you were leaving today...I just...wanted to give you a goodbye gift. Not much, you know, just something to give you good luck on your journey!" Lan WangJi can’t see her, but even from here, he can sense her fingers playing with a lock of hair and the shy smile on her lips. Obviously, this young lady is infatuated with the man that used to reside in this body. He can somewhat empathize with her plight. "...I’m flattered. However, I really do need a few more minutes. Please wait outside." "Oh-? Yeah, sure!" The young lady brightens right up at his words- normally, the other boy is considerably more ill-tempered. Two youths walk side by side, the blazing mid-afternoon sun bathing them in a golden hue. One is a small, petite woman with large, glistening brown eyes and a bright smile, and the other is a tall, handsome boy with delicate features, who despite his young appearance carries himself with a certain sternness and maturity beyond his age, making him look older than he actually is. ”-and that’s when I told A-Yuan, it was makeup, not spice! Hahahaha..." The girl laughs, the sound is sweet and pleasant, but her bearing is awkward. Being around the other boy is obviously making her fairly uncomfortable, especially since he barely seems to respond to any of her attempts at making conversation; any adult passing by would merely shake their head with a sad smile- young love surely is cruel and unjust.The girl’s eyes linger on Lan WangJi’s bandaged arms- she can see the blood already sleeping through, and while she wants to say something, she’s afraid of him lashing out at her. Her actions that might’ve escaped Jun RongYui’s gaze, do not however escape Lan WangJi’s. "I got into a fight with a feral cat. It’ll be fine." The girl stares at him in surprise for a moment, before her entire face lights up in delight. "How- how on earth did you get into fight with a cat, A-Yui, you silly-!" She gives him a playful push, laughing merrily. Lan WangJi takes a moment to study her- she’s not the prettiest, but she has a friendly, approachable face, and looks lovely when she smiles. Coupled with her seemingly pleaseant personality, he feels a little peeved at his body’s old owner; such a nice girl who was madly in love with him, and he obviously treated her so poorly. He could’ve spared a little sympathy towards an aching heart... "...It was a very vicious cat." She laughs again. Jun RongYui is usually never in the mood to talk to her, or even entertain her. Is he feeling sorry for her, since this is their last day together? Who knows. But nonetheless- "A-Yui, where are we going?" Lan WangJi suddenly stops. "...I was following you." The two make their way back to the sect headquarters, and Lan WangJi still can’t bite down the feeling of slight shame. He blames his short-sightedness on the stress. As he trudges along, mulling thoughts over in his head, the girl who’s name he has yet to learn spares him a fleeting glance every now and then, the flicker in her eyes revealing she’s musing upon her own worries as well.However, she says nothing, afraid to push her luck. The scenery gradually passes them by, and so do the sounds of fellow sect members conversing or even quarreling with one another. The Jun sect folk appear to be a rowdy, unfriendly bunch. Lan WangJi pays them no heed, maintaining his straight face and aloof posture. He still isn’t quite sure what attitude he should display, but considering he plans on leaving as soon as possible, he dismisses it as a non-issue. He can’t afford to waste any time here, he needs to get to him as quickly as he can.After ten more minutes or so of walking, they arrive in front of a small yet sturdy looking pavilion, a pair of guards dressed in muddy beige robes guarding the entrance. They glance at the two, barely even paying attention to them as they make their way inside. Lan WangJi takes a moment to analyze his surroundings: judging from the poor quality of the materials used for, well, pretty much everything, he guesses they’re a fairly poor sect with few, if any at all high level cultivators. Nonetheless, this boy’s body hasn’t even formed a core yet, so no matter how weak his oppenents are, Lan WangJi still has to be cautious. The sect leader, a balding, middle aged man with ugly, greasy eyes and a large potbelly is seated in the middle of the entrance hall, discussing...rather animatedly with a young, pheonix-eyed beauty. "-and do you want anything else, my sweet?""Oh, no! This is more than enough-""Nothing can ever be enough for you, darling..." He laughs heartily, the sound raucous and unpleasant. Lan WangJi doesn’t miss how the lady squeezes her breasts together, clinging off his shoulder like drapery; the corner of his mouth involuntarily twitches in disgust. "...Father?" The young girl calls out to him. Ah, so they’re related. The middle aged man looks up, clearly not pleased with his daughter’s sudden appearance. "What do you want? Don’t you know when adults are talking, you don’t interrupt?" He laughs dryly, hiccuping as he holds a cup of liquor up. The woman next to him merely lowers her head, moving to stroke his chest with a long, slender hand. Lan WangJi feels he’ll throw up in his mouth if he must continue looking at such a shameless display any longer, and judging by the sour expression on the other girl’s face, he guesses she feels the same. "Here...Jun RongYui said to me, he wishes to leave the Jun sect. He said so not out of disrespect, but because he wants to find his own path, and-""Ah, is that it? Yeah, yeah, whatever, just let him ta-" "No!" A shrill voice rings out, catching everyone by surprise. It’s the busty pheonix-eyed lady.She coughs slightly, clearing her throat before continuing. "I mean...why?" Lan WangJi grimaces. Who exactly is this woman? Going by her age, she seems too young to be the girl’s mother. He wonders just what kind of power and status she holds in the Jun sect. "...Had you let her speak, you would’ve known. I feel as if my permanence here is restricting my freedom to cultivate and hone my talents. I will forever be grateful for what the Jun sect has done for me, but I feel it is time I move on to pursue my own destiny. So, if leader Jun would be so magnanimous, I wish to be granted permission to leave, and work towards the path of cultivation on my own." He considers each word carefully; he had already mentally rehearsed his speech before, as well as informed the other girl of it. He wasn’t quite sure what Jun RongYui had told her, so he tried to be as vague as possible when going over what he planned to say. She unsurprisingly had agreed to help. The Jun leader frowns slightly, stroking his beard in contemplation. He never liked this brat, and he could never understand what his beloved Fang MeiXiang saw in him... "Well, don’t you hear that, darling? He wants to leave! Youths should feel free to live their lives as they please, after all!" He chuckles, obviously unsure how to handle the situation. "Oh, but how are you not offended by his words? You take him in, you raise him, you offer him food and shelter so generously and kindly, and this is how he repays you, how you let him treat you? He obviously lacks in filiality, how disrespectful!" She pouts slightly, her lower lip jutting out. If there’s one thing to be said about the Jun family leader, it’s that he’s a superficial, hedonistic man who enjoys basking in the company of wine, riches, and women. He adores the illusion of power and control, of being respected and feared. Thus, the thought of someone mocking or deprecating him makes him lose his cool almost instantaneously, the veins on his small, fat hands bulging as he gnashes his teeth together. "You...ah! Actually, Lady Fang is correct. After everything I’ve done for you, you, you just want to leave like that! To come here and shame me like this? Rude, discourteous punk!" Lan WangJi bites the inside of his cheek, fists clenching tightly around his robe. This greasy, uncouth filth daring to treat him, a member of the Lan sect like a sheer ant makes his blood boil over. Had this been his old body, his mere presence would’ve been enough to make that crass man grovel at his feet. Nonetheless, right now, there isn’t much he can do about it, so he merely raises his head and steadies himself. To let such a trivial matter affect his temper, after all, would be shameful of him. "...I do not mean any disrespect, as young lady Jun had prefaced. I simply-""Silence! Do not utter another word. Go back to your stall, if I see you doing anything funny, I’ll make you feel the wrath of my ancestors-!" He shouts, breaking out into a coughing fit mid sentence. Fang MeiXiang looks fairly pleased with herself, the corners of her red lips raising as she moves to caress the man’s fat jaw. Lan WangJi is at a loss, and he glances at the young girl, reaching out to her for help... Only to find her staring at her own feet, gaze distant, refusing to even look him in the eyes. Before he can say anything, he’s dragged out by a couple of the guards, and is unceremoniously tossed out of the pavilion. A few hours later, Lan Wangji finds himself seated on a dirty floor, his mouth twisted into a grimace. This was certainly not an outcome he had expected. From the interference of that improper woman to young lady Jun's sudden "betrayal", what had previously been a clear-cut plan is now riddled with obstacles. His helplessness eats away at him, for as of right now, all he can do is purse his lips and try to think of a way to escape the filthy compound; indeed, attempting to flee would be easier said than done, since two guards have been placed right in front of the entrance to his shack, and when he tried to exit- they blocked his path, their swords like a barrier Lan WangJi couldn't trespass. He guesses that woman sent them- what for, however? Just why on earth is she so fixated on keeping him here? He can only speculate. He wishes this Jun RongYui had spent a little less effort retelling his tragic backstory, and a little more on providing him with actual, useful information. His musings are interrupted by a cordial knock; it's a dull-looking servant girl holding what appears to be a bowl of rice. She places it on the floor with a soft clack, completely unphased by the messy state of his room. Once she leaves, Lan WangJi glances at the bowl; it's obviously a freshly made dish, as can be seen by the rising steam. A pair of chopsticks are embedded in it's white mass. He extends his hand, not missing how his stomach growls at the sight of food; ah, this wretched, weak body, it can't go less than a day without substance and it already complains. An uneventful hour or so passes, that Lan Wangji spends tidying up. This rat's nest of a room makes him fairly claustrophobic, and besides, he wouldn't know how to explain the ominous notes and bloody array should someone happen upon them.As he busies himself with sweeping the floor, yet another knock sounds on the door. He's about to inquire further, but a sweet, silky voice does so before he can. "A-Yui, darling? Are you in there?" Lan WangJi's blood runs cold. "A-Yui, A-Yui~" she calls out, her voice like honey, so thick and sweet it makes one's teeth rot. Lan WangJi scowls, refusing to aknowledge her presence. "I know you're in there- why so cold towards your big sister? She's just lonely..." the door slowly slides open, the woman's lascivious, foxy grin peeking from behind it. The sky is cloudy and everything is murky, casting a dreary gray shadow on the room. Lan WangJi says nothing as she lazily slinks towards him, swinging her hips suggestively before hunkering down, unabashedly showing off her pale breasts. "Oh, A-Yui, you're always so cold..." she caresses the sharp contour of his jaw with her long, slender finger, just as deliberately as she did sect leader Jun's "-but I can't believe a man like you feels nothing for me. After all..." She moves to grab his wrist, in an attempt to bring it to her chest. He doesn't let her, holding his hand steady, the act of resistance obviously irking her. "-like all men, you can't resist at the sight of a beautiful, wanton woman-" she spits out through clenched teeth, her expression turning ugly. Lan WangJi merely "hmphs", before pushing her off, the action leaving her dumbfounded. "You'd be surprised." Lady Fang's eyes widen at his retort, her ears turning red from anger and shame. For a second, Lan WangJi is afraid she's going to cry out for help or cause a scene, but suddenly- his knees buckle, and a look of panic flashes in his eyes. He falls to the ground unceremoniously, beige robes sprawled out all over the floor and panting heavily.He looks up, and the woman's face has twisted into a dark, perverse grin. She kneels down slowly, smirk never fading as she moves to brush back one of his longs, raven locks, the disgust on his face apparent. "You're more stubborn than all the other ones-" she starts, before crawling on top of him, lazily opening his robes and revealing a lean, toned body "-but I always get what I want. And I want you, Jun An." She giggles madly, tracing the outline of his muscles with her index. Lan WangJi struggles, but his limbs don't move. "You, the rice-" "Oh, that? Yeah, I spiked it. Couldn't be helped, you know. You're such a gorgeous, beautiful boy, and my looks are wasted on the likes of that disgusting Jun pig. Only someone like you can fulfill my desires, make me happy..." her hand steadily makes it's way downward, following Lan WangJi's happy trail "Tell me, are you embarrassed about something, perhaps? About-" she then suddenly moves her hand somewhere she shouldn't have, firmly grasping at his crotch "-here? Does this not work? Poor thing, I can fix it for you, if you let me just-" She doesn't get to finish her sentence before being violently shoved off; her pupils widen and her lips part as if to shout, but in less than a second, she's on the floor, pinned, a hand over her mouth. "Did you really think I'd be that stupid?" Lan WangJi glares at her, his eyes like daggers, and this time, it's the other's turn to panic, except her fear is genuine. She struggles and writhes, and just as Lan WangJi considers what course of action to take, a sharp, searing pain rips through his abdomen; she stabbed him. He chokes, falling to his side and coughing up blood, as Lady Fang shrieks in alarm. "Help, help! Someone stop this villain, he's trying to hurt me, help-!" Her shrill cries ring out in the drab shack, and it only takes a few seconds for the door to slam open and for the two guards to rush in, swords unsheathed. Lan WangJi curses his luck, holding his wound in pain as the blood soaks into his robes- he's dreading this fight, but he has no choice. All of a sudden, however, something unexpected happens- the sound of a sword cutting through the air can be heard, and with several neat slices, the guards fall to the ground, groaning in pain, blood spurting from their bodies and splattering all over the shack.A small, petite figure stands in the doorway, hands firmly grasped around the hilt of her blade and her usually warm brown eyes lit ablaze with a cold, cruel kind of fire. "You- I knew you were scum, but to go as far as to do something like this-" she takes a step forward with each word, blood dripping from her weapon. Lady Fang staggers backwards, her beautiful features twisted beyond recognition as she holds her dagger in front of her in a protective manner, hands and limbs trambling. "Y-you! Stay back, don't you dare-!" "I've 'stayed back', long enough! I let a bitch like you run around freely, run around and ruin my family- you, you devastated my sect's reputation, you made my mother kill herself in shame! And just now, you attempted to defile one of our sect's members! Shame on you, had I not followed you-" She hacks at the air, and Lady Fang falls to the ground, dagger skittering across the floor and ugly tears rolling down her cheeks. "S-spare, spare me my life! Please, please, I won't do anything ever again, just please, don't kill me-" Lady Jun scoffs, her mouth twisted into a scowl. "Oh, I'll spare your life alright, but by the time I'm done, you'll wish you were dead." "Wha-what, what do you-" Lady Fang stutters, but her question is answered almost immediately- the girl's sharp sword hacks and slashes at her face at such a speed, Lan Wangji would've missed it had he blinked.The woman stares in shock for a moment, before a scream rips out of throat, and long, deep cuts blossom on her face, the most hideous being the one on her left eye. She clutches at wounds, but alas, the damage has been done; her good looks she had prided herself on her entire life are now gone forever. She can only fall to the floor, howling in agony, blood painting her now lacerated face crimson.Lan WangJi limps forward, staring impassively at the spectacle. "...Good technique." Dark, gloomy clouds swallow up the sky, cold gusts of wind sneaking through blades of grass. Two figures stand in front of each other- the both of them are dirty and bloody, though one of them is bathed in their own blood and the other in someone else's. They stare on impassively, the wind caressing their faces and moving their hair. The boy is the first to break the silence. "...Thank you." The girl eyes him, her expression indecipherable. "...You're welcome. I did what was right." She frowns slightly, looking down at her vlood-soaked sword.Lan WangJi is unsure what to say. After all, he owes this girl his life- not only did she save him during a moment of peril, she even offered to bandage his wounds for him. The situation fills him with a slight sense of awkwardness; he clears his throat, steadying himself as he clasps his hands together. "You have talent. Are you a cultivator?" She nods her head. "Yeah." The seconds inch by slowly, and Lan WangJi can feel his discomfort tangibly increasing. Luckily, or perhaps even unluckily, depnding on one's point of view, the girl sighs, dropping her sword to the ground as she speaks. "He, Jun An would never...Jun An..." "Mmn-?"
"Jun An would never be so kind to me!"
Tears well in her eyes, and Lan WangJi purses his lips. He had guessed that she had figured things out a while back now- it was the only plausible explanation for what she did back at the pavilion. The girl scoffs, her mouth twisting into a sad yet somehow angry smile "-you think I hadn't figured it out, that you weren't him?" Lan WangJi says nothing, merely staring on."You-he... I came across his...'experiments' a while back. He had been spending the past weeks cooped up in his room, and when I walked in on him, keen on those ominous books and those evil talismans, he...lashed out at me. He told me how much he hated me, how much he really found me annoying, how he was going to 'fulfill his destiny' and how I wouldn't be able to stop him-" tears start falling from her eyes, and Lan WangJi has no clue how to react "-and it hurt me, you know? We grew up together. My mother took him in when he was young, and he-" a sniffle interrupts her speech, her bottom lip starts trembling "-he was always so alone, so, so distant, and I wanted to help him, I wanted to be there for him, I-...wanted to love him. And up until his last breath, he never let me. And today, I thought, he finally had a change of heart, that my words had finally reached him, that-" Lan WangJi raises his hand, beckoning her to stop. She ceases her monologue, and Lan WangJi takes a deep breath in, a deep breath out.And then speaks. "Our hearts...are curious things. Sometimes, they love the people that love us, but most of the time, they love the people that don't...and we can't help it. If our hearts decide they want to love someone, then not even the gods can forbid them from feeling that love." His brows furrow sightly; he's unsure where he's going with this, but is determined to prove a point nonetheless "-but sometimes...we need to let go. We need to accept the way some things are...you are young and talented, you have your whole life ahead of you. Don't waste it." The wind howls. The girl stares at him, a complicated expression etched on her face. "Have you ever had to let someone go, mister?" A slight pause. "...In a way, yes. But to tell you the truth, deep down...I am a hypocrite." Lan WangJi hands a worn, scruffy looking man a few coins, sitting down on the old, moldy wooden boat as the other counts the items under his breath.Once he's done, the man sits down as well, moving to row the boat off the shore, and Lan WangJi can finally relax some, closing his eyes and throwing his head back as the waves rock him to and fro. The girl- who's name he later found out is Jun ChenGuang- helped him find where the old Jun RongYui kept his belongings, so he could pack for the trip. She was obviously curious as to who exactly he was and where he wanted to go, but nonetheless didn't pry. The two bidded each other farewell, and Lan WangJi spent the rest of the day scouring for any and all information on the Yiling Patriarch he could get his hands on. Some was helpful and most was not, and lots wondered why he was inquiring of this; they chalked it up to him being a curious traveller from far beyond, and he let them believe it.The only useful intel he managed to gather was that Wei WuXian was still currently living in Burial Mounds, which he had apparently however given a make-over; a large palace and various buildings now stood tall and proud in the middle of the city of death, home to the growing clan of demonic cultivators. Lan WangJi didn't know how to react to this information, and could only tighten his lips, the unsteady feeling in his heart rising and the cuts on his wrists flaring in pain for a split second. Lan WangJi sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose at the memory. He had barely gotten any sleep last night, and it shows. As he shifts in place, looking for a comfortable position to rest his eyes for a while, something stings him slightly. He raises an eyebrow at this, patting himself down in an attempt to find the foreign object. Soon enough, he spots the culprit; it's the "goodbye gift" Jun ChenGuang had given him yesterday- a small, embroided blue satchel with a single word written on it. "Love" Lan WangJi stares at the fragile item, expression unreadable. He then stuffs it back in one of his pockets. It was never meant for him- and yet he feels it would be disrespectful to just throw it away. Perhaps, he thinks, he can fashion it into something for the one he loves.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Lights flicker in the dark, small windows, illuminating the otherwise empty and dreary streets as the sounds of laughs, cheers, and loud conversations can be heard. They’re all coming from a dingy looking tavern, it’s wooden frame worn but it’s appearnce still somewhat tidy. If one were to make their way inside, they’d be greeted with the sight of people chatting animatedly, sharing drinks and stories. But not all, of course- some are off to the sidelines, sitting alone in a corner, not bothering to converse with anyone around them.Lan WangJi absentmindedly grips his cup of water, his sharp eyes distant and unfocused. To others, he might give off the impression of a frigid, unfriendly youth; a few people, namely young ladies, sneak a glance or two at him, but for the most part, he is ignored. All the better for him-he doesn’t wish to deal with people as of right now. Because, right now, he only has one goal, one task he must focus on: that of finding information. Namely on Wei Ying’s whereabouts, but he won’t pass up intel of any kind, namely if it regards his clan. In fact, the more he asked around, the more he had slowly come upon a startling realization- Thirteen years had passed since his death. While he was dead, he had no real way of keeping track of the days, regardless of wether or not he wished to do so. Thus, while somewhat aware that a substantial amount of time had passed, he was never quite sure of the exact amount. Once he found out, there was nothing he could do to stop his heart from sinking even deeper than it already had, his chest feeling heavy and his limbs going numb. So much time, so many years- it isn’t just about Wei Ying anymore-what happened to his brother? To his uncle? To his clan-? If the answers of strangers and passerbys were to be trusted, then no particularly ill fate had befallen the Lans...still, there is never a moment that feeling of apprehension leaves him be, lets him rest; it drives him mad, it makes him insane, but for now, he has only one goal, and that goal comes first, then everything else, then- "-nd said, he was the Yiling’s Patriarch’s disciple! Can you believe that?""Of course not, I call bullshit! There’s no way that kid is a Wei clan member-" Lan WangJi’s ears pick up on a table’s nearby conversation, and he perks up immediately, the mere mention of Wei WuXian’s title enough to pique his interest. "-but I’m telling you, I saw it with my own eyes! He called these ghost demons to his aid- no regular cultivator could do that!""But you certainly don’t have to be the Yiling Patriarch’s disciple to do that. Hell, gimme a scroll and fifteen minutes, and I’ll summon a ghost!""Hah, I’d like to see you try! C’mon, go summon a ghost-!""Dabbling in these sort of things is..." Lan WangJi gets up, the chair screeching slightly with his movement, taking long, confident strides towards the source of the discussion, until he’s face to face with four regular, ordinary, if slightly scruffy-looking men who upon noticing his arrival, fall silent, their words dulling to hushed murmurs. They don’t know what to make of this stranger-dirty yet of impeccable posture, young and yet carrying himself like someone way older; the handsome boy appears quite odd to them indeed. "This person, who claims to be the disciple of Yiling Patriarch-where is he?" "What agreement!? Give it back! I-""How could you forget our arrangement so quickly, darling? Surely-" From the inside of a brothel, Lan WangJi overhears a high-pitched, distressed female voice and a low, smooth, almost silky one arguing over...something. From his current angle, stealthily introducing himself inside the establishment, trying not to draw attention to himself, all he caught sight of was of an incredibly extravagant, handsome-looking youth, with long, unkempt black hair surrounded by pretty workers and holding what appears to be sword, and a small, petite figure who’s face is twisted into an expression of displeasure and frustration...a figure who..."Lady Jun?" He whispers to himself, almost incredulous. The world is small, and fate surely is a funny thing-but what on earth could she be doing here? Arguing with that rascal...who, on second thought, appears strikingly similar to the description those four men at the tavern had given him of the "demon disciple". Nay, his appearance is identical to their words; disheveled, messy black and red robes that in spite of their state of absolute disarray, somehow manage to enhance his figure and features- a pretty, elegant pair of black orbs like embellished jewels and ivory skin; a large sword also hangs from his side, and his left hand is bandaged, just as they had said. It must be him-there is no other likely candidate.Lan WangJi inches closer; a few of the brothel workers shoot him a suspicious glance, but say nothing, never the ones to turn down a potential customer. “You stole that sword, so you should return it!””Steal? Steal? Oh, you’re making me out to be some sort of criminal. I didn’t steal it-I merely borrowed it.""Well, if you borrowed it, good! I want it back now!""And I told you, I will give it back! All I ask is for a friendly spar in return. You win, fair and square, you can have the sword back, you lose, well, then you owe me something-"”I don’t owe you a damm thing-!" "Enough-! You, you shameless youths, you-! Have you no face!? Disrupting my business and my clientele like this? Get out, get out-!" Right when the fight seems on the verge of escalating, a middle-aged, graying yet still alluring woman bursts from behind one of the doors, very obviously livid at the situation. She storms inside the large room, narrowly avoiding the densely packed tables, the curious onlookers who had been paying close attention to the bickering duo from before making way, and a few distressed-looking brothel workers rushing over towards her, cries of "what’s happening?" and "what’s wrong?" echoing about the brightly lit, fancy establishment, its employees dressed just as lavishly as the shop itself.Lan WangJi merely hunkers down; unless the situation gets dire and violence becomes the only option, he decides to not intervene until things cool down a little."Oh, Lady Wu, I apologize, hahaha, really, I-" "Enoug, enough! Kong Li, I’ve tolerated your behavior far too long, only because you were one of our best customers, but now, I’ve had it! How many times have you brought turmoil here, how many headaches have you been the cause of!? Get out! Get out, and never show your face here again-!" The boy who’s name appears to be Kong Li chuckles, and Lan WangJi can’t figure out if it’s out of haughtiness or nervousness. "Right, right, Miss Wu, please-"Those words only seem to enrage the woman even further, and she continues lashing out at him, arms gesturing animatedly and long sleeves cutting through the air with every movement, punctuating her sharp, shrill shouts. Curiously, the onlookers all seem to be pleased by this turn of events: they either listen intently, donning a cocky smirk, or even egg the woman on, drunkedly waving their cups about. The only people who appear to be in distress are the young brothel workers, their red lips puckered into pouts and their small, painted brows furrowing slightly. Jun ChenGuang on the other hand still appears troubled, her face scrunched up and her fists clenched so tight, her knuckles turn white. Kong Li slowly backs out of the brothel-the ruckus they’ve made is so loud, it’s attracted a crowd of bystanders even outside of the establishement, a number of curious men and even a few nosy women stopping to find out just what all the commotion is about. As Kong Li steps outside, one foot at a time, back facing the crowd, he chuckles slightly again, a strange, indescribable expression somewhere between reluctance and cockiness etched on his face, before sighing slightly, running a bandaged hand through his jet-black hair. "Well, well, I guess it can’t be helped. I’ll be taking my leave now- but do know, I will be back- and Miss-Jun, was it? If you want to continue our conversation, you know where to find me." He gives her a wink, flashing a cheeky grin alongside it before running off, disappearing into the crowd without a trace- an action which leaves Jun ChenGuang sputtering, the lobes of her ear turning scarlet."Wa-wait! You, you, bastard! Come back here-!"She hurries after him, clutching at her robes, long hair fluttering behind her, nearly smacking some poor chap in the face. Lan WangJi shakes merely shakes his head and sighs, getting ready to follow the troublesome duo. Lan WangJi makes his way down the dwindling alleyways, following the bickering of two youngsters. They eventually stop behind a solitary, secluded house, their argument growing more heated with each passing second. He steps closer and closer- not even bothering to remain inconspicuous as he walks out from behind a corner, the boy noticing him almost immediately. "-and that's because...! Huh-?" Jun ChenGuang's expression shifts from one of outrage to one of perplexion, not understanding why the other suddenly whipped his head to the side. However, once she spots what had caused him to become distracted, the corners of her mouth lift and her eyes light right up."Ju-mister-!"She promptly rushes to his side, looking considerable less irritated than a few moments prior. Kong Li, on the other hand, seems incredibly annoyed by this, and he crosses his arms together, lips twisting into slight grimace."And who are you?" The boy does nothing to hide the disdain in his voice. Lan WangJi furrows his brows, preparing to recite his already devised cover story, but before he can say anything, Jun ChenGuang speaks up in his place."None of your business-! Actually, no, plenty of your business- this man is the rightful owner of that sword! The sword that you took and refuse to give back!"She points to the old, worn looking hilt and scabbard the other is holding. Lan WangJi can't help but be puzzled-did this belong to the late Jun RongYui? Then, why is it here? And most importantly, why is it in the hands of this delinquent?Kong Li's lips twist even further, his posture and expression giving off a comically childish vibe, greatly contrasting with his "charming bad boy" look he seems to be going for."So? What does this have to do with what we were doing?""-You-!""-Excuse me."Lan Wangji clears his throat, and the girl falls silent, her gaze fleeing downwards to meet the pavement. Lan WangJi merely sighs; what a bothersome situation."That sword is indeed mine. May I ask why it's in your possession, and most importantly, why you don't seem to want to give it back?"The boy juts his lower lip out at the question, before huffing slightly, closing his eyes and avoiding the other's own. Lan WangJi feels miffed at the action-what is it with all these people disrespecting him? Even if he is no longer in his old body, this level of impoliteness is abysmal."Why do you want to know? Are you her husband or something?""...I want to know because that is my sword." It really isn't, but Lan WangJi's just going to roll with it regardless. "Hmph! Don't you know who I am?" Kong Li steps forward, unsheathing the other sword at his hilt with another hand, wielding two blades and a cocky smirk. Lan WangJi genuinely doesn't know how to feel, nor what expression to make, and merely deadpans. "...the disciple of the Yiling Patriarch?" Both the boy and Jun ChenGuang's eyes widen in surprise at this, the first because he hadn't expected him to know, or to be so nonchalant about it, and the latter because she hadn't expected that, period.Kong Li's lips twist into an odd expression halfway between a pout and a frown, before he speaks up again. "And you dare to be so impudent? If you know who I am, then angering me is foolish!" Lan WangJi freezes, becoming so still, he doesn't even appear to be breathing. Jun ChenGuang appears apprehensive, inhaling sharply as her eyes nervously flicker back and forth between the two motionless figures, sword held tight in hand in case the situation escalates. "...Impudent...foolish?" Lan WangJi enunciates every syllable clearly and slowly, his tone as cold as his eyes, piercing the boy's skull like icy daggers; Kong Li gulps, suddenly feeling frozen to the spot-who the hell is this boy? He doesn't seem particularly strong, but the aura of oppression coming from him is nearly enough to bring him to his knees."I heard the brothel owner's words, I've seen your actions-you uncouth delinquent, you think you can carelessly throw your weight around and do whatever you want, because someone powerful is backing you up? Well, I think-" he takes a step forward, deep voice booming across the small street corner "-that you're lying. It's true, the ways of the Yiling Patriarch are unethical and unorthodox, but he is a powerful, well-respected man who would never stand for your level of coarseness, for your brazen arrogance-surely, he could never tolerate having to deal with a brat like you."Kong Li is shell-shocked, and staggers backwards slightly as if he had been punched in the gut, eyes like saucers; not everyone believes him when he tells them of his "teacher", but everyone at the very least appears uneasy, and then proceed to tread with caution, thinly-veiled fear of the demonic hid behind their eyes. This man on the other hand, appears devastatingly calm, no, he appears livid, not showing the faintest clue of worry or concern. Lan WangJi reads into the boy's thoughts, and can't help but scoff.
'I've come face to face with the real thing, how could I ever fear the likes of you?'
Nonetheless, once the initial shock of the other's words fade, Kong Li fiercely shakes his head and resorts to lashing out, shouting, his anger and irritation apparent."Well, it doesn't matter what you think! You know what, you know what-!?" Kong Li throws Jun RongYui's sword at him, the object skittering across the ground and the metal clacking against the hard soil. Lan WangJi looks down at the rusty thing- it looks like it hasn't been used in ages."Fight me right now! Fight me right now, and let's see if you're still as confident afterwards!"Lan Wangji ignores his heated gaze, and lowers himself to pick up the blade, before turning his back to the boy, who appears gobsmacked at the action."Y-you-!""I'm not sure what happened..." Lan WangJi lifts the sword up to inspect it- the name "LongWei" is inscribed on it's flank, revealing that it is most likely a sword possessing magical prowess-and yet, oddly enough, he doesn't sense the faintest flicker of spiritual energy emanating from it "-but, I'm going to guess, Lady Jun left this sword unattended for a minute or two, while you took the opportunity to pick it up. Lady Jun became distressed once she couldn't find it anymore, and scoured the town from top to bottom looking for it. She eventually caught wind of it being in your possession, and sought you out. And, because you were so desperate to impress her, you offered her a challenge, is that not so?" He slowly walks forward with each word, taking long strides, hilt and scabbard at his side and long hair flowing gracefully with each step before stopping once more. "Regardless, do know, you would've made a way better impression had you simply given it back. You merely made a fool of yourself." Kong Li is left floored for a few seconds, as he had been for almost their entire conversation, switching back and forth from speechless to fuming."-You, you coward! Are you a man or not, are you-are you actually scared of me!? I bet you are, come back here-!"He begins to ramble, words trailing off into angry sentences. He then starts walking forward, sword still unsheathed. Jun ChenGuang steps in immediately, sensing his intentions, the sharp sound of scraping metal echoing in the dank alleyway as she braces for battle. Seeing this, Lan WangJi stops, icy eyes scanning the tense duo, before turning to look at the girl- "Don't bother with things that are beneath you." Lan WanJi is somewhat surprised the youth didn't follow them, demanding to fight. He guesses it had something to do with Jun ChenGuang's presence- either way, the outcome hardly ended up being in his favour: he didn't manage to fulfill his original intention-that of finding more about Wei Ying. He still isn't quite sure whether the youth was lying or not, but he obviously knew about more demonic affairs than he currently does. Nonetheless, Lan WangJi considers, other options are available-and if he exhausts them all, he'll merely have to pack his bags and prepare for journey, and jump straight into his devil's lair, even if unprepared.Jun ChenGuang, meanwhile, who has been observing the other for quite some time, not missing the pensive and distant look on his face, frowns slightly, her large brown orbs flickering in contemplation as well. She had left Jun family territory specifically to seek him out, and fate had orchestrated their re-encounter not even a couple days later- all in all, she guesses that in spite of all the mishaps, she should consider herself lucky. "...Mister?" She inquires in a soft voice. Lan WangJi is roused from his thoughts, and he turns to look at her. The gentle late afternoon sun is shining on the both of them from the table whence they are seated, and the sounds of busy, bustling streets fill the air. "...Lady Jun." She coughs slightly. It's still bizarre, if she stops to think about it, the foreign mannerisms but the familiar face. "You-should've totally let me do that guy in. I'd have wiped the floor with him." She chuckles, forcing the corners of her lips into a smile. Lan WangJi resists the urge to sigh."One should never underestimate their opponents when in battle." Lan WangJi picks up the small pastry in front of him, bringing it to his lips before consuming the morsel "...Nonethless...Lady Jun-""Oh, please, Jun ChenGuang us fine.""...Jun ChenGuang. I can't help but ask-why are you here-?"The tips of her ears flush red in slight embarrassment, and she awkwardly scratches the back of her neck."Oh, right-well, I wanted to return that sword to you! After all, it's important to have the means to defend yourself on a long journey." Lan WangJi says nothing. "...And, I got kicked out." He had figured. Jun ChenGuang sighs, leaning back into her chair, grabbing and making quick work of one of the pastries. "My father...he lost it. He was furious, absolutely livid- he...I never had his favour from the start, I think he was happy to have an excuse to get rid of me once and for all, haha..." She plops down on the table with her elbows, a faint look of sadness etching itself into her delicate features. In all honesty, she's also partly glad to not have to deal him anymore, to not have to live there anymore; ever since her mother's passing, she had focused all her attention on Jun RongYui, and now that he's dead too, what else would be left for her in that small, dreary, suffocating place? Besides- she's curious as to who exactly this mysterious person is as well, she wants to learn more about him. He's obviously no evil spirit, so- was he once a ghost? Or was he something else? All Jun ChenGuang knows is that he's this strange figure who erupted into her life so suddenly, that had brought change, for better or for worse, to her otherwise monotone routine. To her, he was like the light at the end of the tunnel she didn't want to lose sight of. "...What are you going to do now?" Jung ChenGuang smiles awkwardly, eyes avoiding his gaze. "I was thinking...maybe, I could come with you." Lan Wangji looks at her, expression inscrutable. He can't have this young girl following him- sure, she's skilled with a sword and not entirely defenseless, but he still doesn't wish for her to come with him. Nonetheless, he doesn't want to leave her to fend for herself all alone, either, for pretty much the exact same reason."Where I'm going is dangerous, and not a place suited for the righteous and civil. You are better off somewhere else- I'm confident there are other sects that would gladly take you in as a disciple."Jun ChenGuang's eyes light up at this, and the melancholy from before ebbs away."Do you seriously think so, mister?"Lan WangJi nods. She's young and has considerable talent- if cultivated properly, she can become formidable. He's sure, even some of the major sects would accept her- perhaps not the likes of the Nies and the Lans, but the Jiangs and the Jins might be willing.Jun ChenGuang smiles, reinvigorated by the news. She's about to say something, before the sound of yelling and crashing startle her, and she whips her head around to seek the source of the commotion. A group of obviously drunk men are bumbling about, making a ruckus, the displeasure of both shop-owners and clients alike apparent. Broken, incoherent phrases tumble out of their mouths raucously in between bellows of gruff laughter; a few of the more daring ones even harass a pair of pretty ladies passing by, groping at their chests and pulling at their clothes.Lan WangJi closes his eyes, his displeasure apparent. He gets up, action followed by the short sound of a chair raking across wood, and brings a hand to the hilt of his sword. "What goes around really does always come back around." A young boy trudges along a lonely dirt road, kicking away the pebbles in his path, the dim glow of lanterns illuminating his features; judging by his angry mumbling and the twitching of his eyelid, it's obvious something is bothering him. His hands are clasped together behind his back as he strolls under the starry midnight moon. Absorbed in his own thoughts as he is, he doesn't notice the shouting and the commotion approaching from afar until a table is kicked over, various items and goods spilling onto the ground, the sounds of objects crashing against soil adding to the cacophany of shouts, voices and jeers.Kong Li looks up, startled, a look of worry flashing in his black orbs, especially when their broken, slurred words reach his ears. "-Hah- did you, hic! Did ya see the look on his face! Ah, hahaha! Running away from a woman-""That Kong Li, he only knows how to run his mouth-! He's all bark and no bite, some demonic cultivator-!""Hahahahaha! If that's what they're all like, why are we even worried!? Little brat, if I get my hands on 'im, I'll grab him be the neck, tie 'im to a-" With every word, Kong Li feels a stone being pelted against his heart. His grip on his sword, ChangMing, tightens, the metal sinking into his flesh as he takes long strides forward, the fury in his eyes apparent even in the dimly lit alleyway. He can't take it, he can't take it! When other people make a fool of him, when they look down on him so condescendingly, when his words and actions aren't taken seriously! Yes, he admits it, his ego had taken a huge blow when that girl reacted so poorly to his advances, when he was so unceremoniously kicked out of the Apricot Brothel, when that invertebrate treated and regarded him like an absolute baffoon, but now, this is it! He's had it today! He's tired! He's tired, he's tired-! "Those are some big, hefty words, sir-" Kong Li emerges from the shadows, face split in a grin but teeth audibly gnashing together "-well, I'm right here! Why don't you keep your promise?"The group of men appears surprised for a second, not expecting the other's sudden appearance. Then, however, the small crowd breaks out into a roaring laughter; Kong Li says nothing, his face twisting into an even uglier expression and sword held in front of him in an attack stance."-Ah! Haha-! Hic-! Well speak o' the devil! It's Kong Li himself!"Though hardly counting as a joke, those words evoke large bellows of laughter in the man's friends, their already beet red faces flushing an even deeper crimson color, almost as if their heads were about to explode. Once the ugly cachinnations die down, the one who had spoke up before takes a few steps towards the young man, swaying and stumbling slightly under the influence of alcohol but somehow not toppling over."You's been a real pain in the ass ever since ya came 'ere, eh? Who'd ya think you are, harassing wives like they don' belong to somebody else-?""Harassing? Hmph! It's you ugly old coots who go around harassing, I'm just innocently fooling around! I've never laid a hand on anyone-""Well, it don't matter what you's done and not done! I'm gonna teach to respect your elders, punk!" The man lunges towards him, arms and hands raised to grab him and spittle dribbling from the corners of his mouth-Kong Li deftly dodges his clumsy attack, spinning out of the way and landing right behind him, before delivering a swift kick, foot landing squarely on the other man's back and sending him flying forwards, crashing into a pile of stacked chairs.This action doesn't seem to deter the rest of his friends much, and they proceed to throw themselves at the boy as well, jeering and shouting while waving all sorts of rudimental instruments about. Kong Li makes quick work of then: it's all a punch, dodge, spin around, kick, hit with the hilt of his sword, dodge again and again, punch and kick some more-soon, almost the entire crew is down for the count. Kong Li takes a few steps backwards, admiring his handiwork and watching as one of the last men topples over, groaning all the way down before hitting the ground with a blunt "thud". The boy is left slightly breathless, beads of sweat rolling off his forehead. But, all in all, this was no difficult ordeal-Just as he thinks that, he feels a strange powdery substance being thrown in his face, creating a cloud around him-he coughs and hacks, temporarily blinded as he tries to get his bearings, his heart skipping a beat in horror once he realizes- "This- this- are you out of your mind-!?" he shouts, a tinge of desperation in his voice, eyes red and hands rubbing at his eyelids, trying to pinpoint the man's location- it's revealed unto him soon enough as he feels a blade slicing against his chest, shredding his robes and leaving long, angry red cuts red cuts on his skin. Taken by surprise, he hollers in pain, landing awkwardly on his two feet and the arm holding his sword hanging limply."Hahahaha-! How's a taste of your own medicine, no good, useless demon-!""You-you're crazy! Insane- that powder, it'll turn you into a walking corpse too! Just how much do you crave your own death-!?""Life and death have mattered to me no more, no more, ever since you took her away from me-" the man's face is split in half by a ugly, demented grin, his eyes glimmering with a dirty, greasy kind of light "-she was, she was beautiful, so perfect, eyes like morning dew and breath like gossamer, her pearly white skin would glimmer under the sunlight and her brown doe eyes would turn into crescent suns whenever she saw me- we were in love, TungMei and I, we were meant to be, but ever since you-""Wait, TungMei? As in TungMei, the brothel worker? Are you about to imply, she's in love with every man she lays underneath?" Kong Li coughs some more, blood threatening to spill from his lips and running a hand through what is now a filthy, unkempt bird's nest "-and, well, a young, pretty lady like her can't help it if she'd rather service a young, handsome youth like me instead of a creepy, repulsive old coot." "-you...DIE-!" Hearing those words, the already unstable man completely loses any semblance of rationality he may have once had, lunging forward to strike down the boy "once and for all".However, before his strike has a chance to land, the old man seemingly trips over nothing, blood gushing both from his mouth and from behind him, eyes turning empty and body going limp just before hitting solid ground, bones cracking at the impact.Kong Li is surprised to find his attacker suddenly dropping dead, and even more surprised to find who his very unexpected savior is: small, petite but the fierceness of a wild tiger glowing in her heated brown orbs, blood trickling down her sword and familiar features twisted into a scowl. "Ah...hahahahaha! Well, look who it is! Deep down, you couldn't stand being without me, could you-?" The statement does nothing but infuriate Jun ChenGuang even further, eyebrows knitting closer together in vehemence. "You-you men-! You're all the same, I've had it with you! Reckless, shameless scoundrels, even after everything that happened today, you still have the face to say something like...to say, something like..." Her words start trailing off and her eyes start moving downwards, following the dripping scarlet lines etched into the boy's chest, flesh and wounds exposed by the torn black garment...and underneath said garment, barely visible but still obvious, round, small, soft lumps of- The girl's shrill cry of disbelief is enough to wake all those who hadn't yet been roused by the commotion from before. "Well, as a sign of my gratitude, I'll be honest with you- I'm not the Yiling Patriarch's disciple, or at least, not yet." Kong Li downs the bitter antitode in one go, trying however not to let the disgust on his, no, her face show.Both Jun ChenGuang and Lan WangJi say nothing-the first doesn't really know how to feel about this, and the latter had figured that was the case quite a while back. The youth being female, however, caught him by surprise as well -crossdressing isn't a foreign concept to him, but this was nonetheless the first time he'd ever met such a brazen, bold, audacious woman, who's features and mannerisms possess not an ounce of grace or femininity; in fact, it's only now that he knows what to look for that he notices how she has no prominent addam's apple, or the slight bulge of her chest and the lack of any defined pectoral muscles. "What do you mean, "not yet"?""I mean-" Kong Li sets the bowl down, wiping the corner of her mouth with her sleeve "-that I will become his disciple, soon enough!"Lan WangJi frowns slightly at this-"That is not a title you can so carelessly claim as yours, when you do not in fact possess it.""Yeah, yeah, well, that's my problem." Kong Li waves a hand about-she still doesn't like this boy, why does Jun ChenGuang need to be so attached to him- isn't she just as good-looking? And just as tall, as well!Jun ChenGuang misses the reason behind the other girl's pouting, only chalking it up to immaturity "-You say you're going to become his disciple. So, of course, you've made plans already?""Sure have!" Kong Li smiles, leaning back into her chair, specks of dust floating down from the ceiling of the drab little inn room "-I'm heading off for Burial Mounds in a few days. I'm already well versed in the art of the demonic, surely, that old man will be so blown away by my skills, and my charm, that he won't be able to help but beg me to accept him as my teacher!" Kong Li ends her sentence with a wink, making Jun ChenGuang flush slightly."...The Yiling Patriarch isn't old-" Lan WangJi's voice is but a soft mumble, which soon gets overtaken by Jun ChenGuang's higher pitched one "-Oh please, as if! I've heard the Yiling Patriarch is a man eating monster, his long beard reaching the ground and his armor dyed red with the blood of his enemies! Hmph! He'd have someone like you for breakfast!""...the Yiling Patriach doesn't-" "-Oh, that was a joke, ever heard of that? But nonetheless, if we're talking about who's eating who for breakfast, then I'd have to fear for you, dear, you're so small and cute, a brutal, vicious man like him would gobble you right up as soon he sees you! Straight with all his other captured damsels, you'd go!""No, no way-! You, listen, you-" Lan WangJi sighs, hanging his head as the sounds of their bickering begin filling the room. Really, how troublesome.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Lan WangJi had spent the past few days in relative solitude. He was never truly alone, for he was always surrounded by other people in some shape or form, but nonetheless, he spent his nights in blissful silence and his days wandering amongst the masses, the sounds of bustling city life and crowded inns never truly registering in his mind as he continued his journey, aloof and detached from mortal matters. However, as of late the status quo has been dramatically reversed. “Oh, but I'm being genuine! They serve some of the best wine, and they-” “ We're not stopping at a brothel-! ” Gone are his peaceful days of considerably more serene travel, now that he has company, at least. As he makes his way towards today's chosen inn, the sounds of their bickering a dull thrum in the back of his head, he realizes he’s not quite sure how to feel about the situation: on one hand, he finds their presence bothersome, annoying even, especially as a person who's always preferred solitude. But on the other, both of these girls may be battle-savvy, but are nonetheless fairly young, and he'd feel terrible if he were to just leave them to fend for themselves- namely Kong Li. He isn't sure why she’s hard-pressed on following the demonic path, but it makes him fear for her safety. Are some of the more rebellious youths beginning to look up to the dark arts? He’s afraid it might be so.Eventually, the two make it inside, their sudden appearance and the commotion following it drawing attention to them.The onlookers follow the trio as they move to sit down, and Lan WangJi internally wishes the two could cease their arguing at least in public. “So, what will it be, darling? I personally recommend-” “ Don't call me that -” Jun ChenGuang mutters through grit teeth, the lobes of her ears turning red. Kong Li's self-confident smirk widens, her black eyes lighting up in amusement.“What do you want me to call you, then? Sweetheart? Honey? Love-” “Why must you so casually throw around such embarrassing words!? Have you no shame? Why can't you just call me by my name-?” “But aren't they just words…”Kong Li mumbles, leaning back into her chair, hands crossed behind her head, before perking back up with a smile “...then, A-Guang!” “...Fine.” Jun ChenGuang swallows, gaze flickering downwards. “Three bowls of congee soup, please-” meanwhile, Lan WangJi has ordered all three their meals.He turns to look at the two, his eyes like bottomless pools as he wordlessly observes their interactions. Somehow, in some strange, awfully strange fashion, their presence is also...comforting. “Nonsense! There’s no such thing as a ‘corpse flu’-” “-But didn't you hear what that man said? The young girl and her entire family turned into walking corpses in a matter of hours. I mean, you’re not trying to tell me a zombie snuck into their home in the middle of the day, right?” “Well, I don’t know, but between the two of us, who-” “It doesn't matter whether that man was lying or not. We’re not staying here.” Lan WangJi cut their conversation short, the gears and cogs in his brain whirring as he plans their next move: Kong Li had told them that at their current pace, it would take them less than a day to reach Burial Mounds. She’s obviously not going to be deterred from her end goal, and Jun ChengGuang will probably follow him around until she finds a place to stay- so what to do once they reach their destination? He'll definitely have to keep an eye out for Kong Li, she seems prone to getting herself in trouble, and as for the other, if he somehow manages to find a way to get in contact with somebody who can provide- As he leisurely strolls down the winding road, lost in his own thoughts and worries, he doesn't even notice that the two had stopped following him, and were merely staring from afar with expectant expressions. “...No.” “-But, Mister-!” “No.” Lan WangJi isn’t sure what this whole ‘corpse flu’ might be, but he’s not going to stick around and find out. “-dozens of people have died already! It's a serious issue, they've even quarantined themselves. Kong Li knows a lot about the undead-I’m sure she could help them!” “Wait a minute, who said anything about helping them-?” “and I’m sure she could help them, right, Kong Li? ” Jun ChenGuang's voice turns syrupy sweet, her smile however not betraying an ounce of warmth. Kong Li coughs, awkwardly rubbing the back of her head before muttering a reluctant “Fine…” Lan WangJi shakes his head at this, eyebrows twitching slightly ”-Nonsense. It's too dangerous.” “Well, it’s not like we're going someplace less dangerous, Mister! Wei clan territory is far more peril-ridden-!” “It’s not the same. We-”
‘-Ended up coming here anyways.’
Standing in front of the city gates, Lan WangJi can’t help the feeling of growing frustration in his heart- he still isn't used to being treated as an equal and not a superior, or having to argue and bargain even with those he had once considered beneath him. Granted, he doesn't view the two girls in such a derogatory light, but he nonetheless still desperately wishes he could have his old body back. His old, familiar body, with a strong, powerful core and striking, distinguished features; this body is by no means ugly- on the contrary, it is far from that, but it is also far too young and delicate-looking. His words no longer carry the same weight, now that his staggering pressure or deep baritone voice aren’t backing them up anymore. Or his status, for that matter. Nevertheless, if trouble happens to be brewing...he can’t help but want to investigate it deep down, either. But why is his heart aching-? He wonders as he knocks on the city doors, not quite sure what answer to expect, or if to even expect one at all. After ten seconds or so pass and nobody responds, he exhales deeply, before moving to knock again. However, right before his knuckles can come into contact with the wooden gates, a voice resounds from behind them. “Go away-!” It's loud and scratchy, akin to that of a weary old man. Lan WangJi steadies his heart, before pressing onwards without hesitation. “...Did the town officials not ask for cultivators to investigate...that matter? Well, we are here.” Silence can be heard, as the voice quiets down in contemplation. “...That...Hmph...what clan are you even from?” “Jun clan.” A few more mumbled phrases and uncertain seconds pass, but the guard decides to let them through regardless, and soon after a click and loud creaking sound can be heard as the massive gates begin swinging open, the noise just as eerie and unsettling as what lays behind them: drab, worn buildings resting on top of one another, deserted roads littered with papers, goods, and rotten food falling from abandoned stalls. Had it not been for the all doors and windows having been recently sealed shut, and the occasional wary face peeking out from behind cracks in the walls, the entire place would have given the impression of having been evacuated in a hurry. Once the gates are fully open, the doors slamming with a dull thud, Lan WangJi takes a few steps inside, analyzing his surroundings. Resentful energy hasn't begun to accumulate just yet, but he guesses that, given a few months time, the entire place will turn into zombie bait.The old man from before comes limping towards them, one of his glassy eyes sealed shut from a scar of unknown origins. He eyes the three warily, scanning them from top to bottom with his single functioning orb. “So you're the ones they sent? Whatever, it'll do…” he trails off under his breath, before whipping his head to stare intently at Kong Li, noticing her suspicious black-and red robes “-and who are you supposed to be? What’s with that freakish clothing-?” “Well, you see, I'm-” “ Jun Li , an apprentice!” Jun ChenGuang steps on her foot whilst flashing the old man the sweetest smile she can muster. He raises an eyebrow, obviously not convinced by the flimsy cover-up story, but drops the matter regardless. Lan WangJi feels thankful that at least one of them seems to possess a smidgen of common sense. “Fine then. Follow me.” he says with a low grunt, before turning around to limp away surprisingly fast considering his malfunctioning leg-it's as if it doesn't hinder him in the slightest. The trio don’t wait long before trailing behind him, slowly making their way inside the unsettling city. As Lan WangJi inspects the quiet buildings and surroundings, all senses alert and nerves on edge, the hushed back and forth of the two girls bickering behind him reaches his ears. “ What were you thinking!? Do you want to get us in trouble-? ” “ Well you see, I'm a demonic cultivator! I should-” “ Shhh! Are you actually that stupid-!? ” Lan WangJi chooses to ignore them for the sake of his sanity, biting down any reproach he had planned on making seconds ago. He guesses the black-and-red combo has become synonymous with the demonic nowadays- but for some reason, while some people eye Kong Li with suspicion, others ignore her entirely. Regardless, amongst the growing list of ‘problems to solve’ Lan WangJi has mentally started tallying, he adds ‘provide Kong Li with some more inconspicuous clothing’.The four continue down the winding, empty streets, the sun hidden behind the storm clouds making everything appear even drearier, casting all in a dull gray light. Lan WangJi soon realizes the old man appears to be leading them to the heart of the city- perhaps to speak to the officials? Countless options flash before his eyes as he begins devising what would hopefully be a convincing enough cover story, the notion of having to rely on the others’ improvisation skills to pull it off rendering him a tad apprehensive. “-By the way, Mister-” as a tall, lavish looking building begins coming into view, Jun ChenGuang trots up close to Lan WangJi, her voice turning to a faint whisper “-how did you know they had asked for cultivators to come investigate?” “...I didn't.” “Oh! It's such a shame, really-” a greasy looking man with a long, black beard, clothed in sumptuous, luxurious clothing- as well as fair young maidens- laments as he leisurely fans himself, though Lan WangJi can't tell if it’s because the man feels hot, or if he wishes to show off the item's fanciful flower motif “-they were such a proper, well-respected family- truly! Truly the epitome of law-abiding citizens. They even had such a lovely, young, beautiful daughter, to lose her in such a incident-” he casts his gaze downwards with a large sigh, snapping the fan closed “-was really an unprecedented tragedy.” Lan WangJi's brows furrow, gaze as inscrutable as ever as he analyzes the man's words. Before he can say anything, however, Jun ChenGuang speaks up instead. “But, sir, they weren't the only ones who died from this…’corpse sickness’, correct?” “Indeed-” he leans back into his chair, hand moving to stroke his moustache “-we have lost, hm, ten people! An unparalleled bout of bad-” “Twelve, Sire.” “Ah, right, right, twelve-” the other voice had come from behind the seated man (who they had previously been introduced to as the mayor) : it belongs to a small, short, pot-bellied official with thin eyes, who Lan WangJi guesses must be his secretary or adviser. Seconds of uncomfortable silence pass in the room whence they are standing, and after clearing his throat, Lan WangJi decides to pry deeper. “And, they all died because of the same reason, correct? They all showed the same symptoms, before turning into walking corpses.” “Yes, indeed-” the mayor nods, hands caressing his beard “-the sickness targeted people randomly, I'm afraid. First, it was the young girl's family, and then, hm, lots of other people-” he pauses for a second, taking a moment to deeply sigh once more “-and, alas, we had no choice but to immediately dispose of them all. It wasn't worth the risk, you know? Especially since we don't know how the sickness spreads...” Lan WangJi raises an eyebrow at this, following the man's movements as a young lady moves to refill his cup, which he downs with gusto, even smacking his lips afterwards, smiling sleazily at the girl. Everyone else in the room can't help but shift in place uncomfortably. “...Pardon me, but, do you really have no clue how the sickness could have spread? Or what could have caused it?” “Yes-” the man nods once more, eyes closed, his growing disinterest apparent.Lan WangJi swallows his rancor and speaks up once more, ignoring the temptation to put this sordid man in his place- does he not care for the fate of his citizens at all? How can he be so neglectful, so inconsiderate-? “Are you absolutely sure, Sir? Were there no signs of supernatural activity prior to-” “If I said yes- uh, no-! That means no! We are a small, peaceful town. We have had no zombie or, any other unpleasant encounters for year-” “Bullshit-!” a loud voice suddenly rings out, and Kong Li slams her foot on a nearby stool, a hand on her hip and another on her knee, lips contorting into something between a grin and a scowl “-there is no way people can just randomly drop dead like that. Absolutely none. And then, they even turn into walking corpses immediately after? It makes no sense! It's impossible- Sir , I'm afraid you might have a rogue corpse or two on the loose-” “ K-Jun Li-! ” an indignant Jun ChenGuang grits through clenched teeth, and Lan WangJi resists the urge to bury his face in his hands- Kong Li just does not care, does she? She has no sense of self-preservation whatsoever. He's surprised she's lived this long, considering all the enemies she must have made on her journeys.The Mayor appears to be taken aback by the sudden outburst, jumping slightly in fright and cowering into his chair, as he holds up his fan in a protective motion.Lan WangJi had lent Kong Li his beige outer-robe before entering- though convincing her to actually wear it had been quite the struggle- so that her get-up didn't look as ominous or foreboding. However, it appeared her brash attitude was more than enough to put the fidgety man on edge regardless. “We-well, how was I supposed to know that? I'm no cultivator. That's why we called you over, you, you-! Is this how the Jun clan educates it's disciples? How brutish! How disrespectful-!” “I, apologize, Sir, you see, Jun Li here is an apprentice- s-he, as a new recruit, he is not yet familiar with our customs-” Jun ChenGuang steps in, laughing nervously, her grip on Kong Li's shoulder tightening as if she wished those hands were throttling her neck instead. “Hmph! Customs? He doesn't even know proper etiquette! Was he raised in a barn-” the Mayor sneers, straightening his back in an attempt at regaining a somewhat dignified posture.“Are those your thoughts on the issue? Well, does it really matter? Above all, you should be grateful we-” “ Jun Li-” Jun ChenGuang's grasp on the other's shoulder turns to iron, her icy smile widening even further, and Lan WangJi feels as if the circulation of the girl's blood must've ceased entirely in that area “-stop. Now .” A few seconds of absolute silence pass, as nobody quite knows how to react, especially since nobody knows how the situation had escalated to this point, either.Kong Li stares at Jun ChenGuang, handsome face donning a strange expression, before shaking her head, body relaxing, sighing and smiling as if she can't help it. “Oh well- when such a pretty lady begs something of me so kindly, I can't help but comply.” the corners of her lips dip into a gentle smile as she turns to face a Jun ChenGuang who was definitely neither impressed nor satisfied, eyes still lit up in a cold fury. Somehow, this reaction only seems to amuse Kong Li further, who laughs, running a bandaged hand through her messy black bangs. “Oh, A-Guang. You have such a beautiful smile.” “Are you-” “Ahem-” Lan WangJi clears his throat. The two girls snap out of their daze, not even realizing they had begun to drift off to their own little world in the middle of what is a rather pressing argument. Ah, young love- Lan WangJi spares a moment to mull the thought over fondly.Once they settle down with an “excuse me” and an awkward cough each, the topic from before can finally resurface. The Mayor, who hadn't looked too pleased about the trio’s appearance from the get go, opens his fan, hiding away his mouth as his brows furrow, eyeing the three warily. From the second they had stepped inside, he could tell there was something...off, about them, all three of them- no matter! The plan would be executed regardless. “Let us not forget why we are here…” the Mayor mumbles, eyes flickering downwards “- we called you over to investigate. I hope, at the very least, that you make up in practical prowess what you lack in other areas…” he throws the underhanded jab for what it's worth, not missing how Kong Li's eyebrow twitches at the remark, before continuing “...we will have old man Fu accompany you to the house where it all started- where our first victims were found.” Lan WangJi nods his head, simultaneously biting his lip in apprehension. Something is missing, something is missing- he feels it's obvious, and yet, what is it? The thick musk of rotting sandalwood and the stench of decay hits them full force once they enter. The house is in an absolute state of chaos: the few furnishings and paintings on the walls have been knocked down, broken glass shards and heaps of wood litter the floor, miscellaneous everyday objects of every sort are strewn all over the place. The only light illuminating the small cottage is that shining down from the holes in the walls and the roof. The four people slowly make their way into the abandoned living quarters, none looking all too pleased about their current situation and eyes scanning the place from top the bottom as they lean forward to get a better view of the craters in the walls or crouch down to inspect something on the floor. “Jeez, what a mess...what on earth happened here?” Jun ChenGuang mumbles, her lips pulling downwards into a frown, large brown eyes glistening. “I was sent here to dispose of the corpses after the fact.” old man Fu utters impassively, stealing swift glances at the hacks and slashes in the walls and furnishing. So, the elderly man is a cultivator? Lan WangJi should've figured. Judging by his age, he guesses he's a rogue who was hired by one of the officials to defend the city. Thus, he must be of non-insignificant strength. Almost unconsciously, Lan WangJi’s hand moves to rest on the hilt of his blade. “Hmph- it still makes no sense. Old man, were there really no traces of resentful energy here, or of vengeful spirits running amok? None at all?” “...No. None.” he remains as impassive as ever, and Kong Li snorts, crossing her arms and turning her back to him, mumbling curses underneath her breath as she paces back forth, taking long strides and occasionally stopping to analyze a nook or cranny. What was once the humble abode of a modest lower-class family has been turned to nothing but piles filth and rubble, Lan WangJi considers as he runs his fingers over the bulk of a pillar, seemingly mesmerized by the dust on his index- really, how long had it been since the whole incident had occurred? It didn't warrant this level of filth...unless… His eyes widen in realization. He had been right all along: it really would have been best if they had never come here to begin with. Regardless, it doesn't matter- They need to get out, now. Lan WangJi’s head snaps towards the girls, who were currently busy inspecting the contents of an old chest. His mouth opens, about to say something, but out of the corner of his eye, he notices: the old man from before is staring at him.Staring at him with an inscrutable expression, staring at him transfixed, his one single eye burning a molten hole into his body. As the seconds tick by, the blood rushing in his ears growing louder and louder, Lan WangJi only has a gut feeling, a split second to react. A sword slices through the air, the knockback strong enough to send rubble flying, surprised yelps sounding and metal clanging against metal as Lan WangJi grits his teeth, trembling as he struggles to block the sword’s blow, veins popping and teeth gritting; curse this weak new body of his. The old man squints, retracting his sword before cutting mercilessly at Lan WangJi, hacking and slashing left, right- he dodges, nearly tripping but not falling, using the momentum to his advantage and falling back, pressed against a wall, narrowly avoiding the blow of a sword as a powerful gust of spiritual energy is sent his way, destroying what little was left of the already demolished structure. “What the hell!?” Kong Li shouts, unsheathing her sword, the shrill shing of the metal complementing the sound of Jun ChenGuang's own blade. Unlike Kong Li, however, she wastes no time, rushing to Lan WangJi’s aid and blocking a blow that was nearly about to fall on his shoulder, struggling and grunting, feet slipping against the ground, before pushing back against the man's weapon with a shout, exerting all her strength in an attempt to knock the blade from his hand with a deft flick of her wrist- she fails, but the old man nonetheless stumbles backwards a few steps. He however doesn't seem to be the least bit perturbed, and resumes his onslaught immediately afterwards, fending off attacks from both young cultivators with placid, unbothered movements whilst the other two struggle and blunder, giving it their all, as the old man’s intentions are fairly obvious: eliminating them. “-You bastards, I smelled something rotten from the start-!” Kong Li's eyes glow red, the signature of all demonic cultivators, resentful energy gathering at her fingertips, before turning into a ball of black ooze that she sends flying towards the old man- he appears caught off guard by this, and the demonic energy hits him square in the chest, full force, knocking all the air out of him with a grunt, sending him careening backwards.Jun ChenGuang doesn't hesitate, and instantly follows up the other's maneuver with a powerful strike, the air around her blade cracking with spiritual force; the hit doesn't land entirely, but she nonetheless manages to graze the elderly man's shoulder, red drops of blood spurting and spattering all over his clothes and face. Old man Fu takes a few steps backwards, wiping the blood trickling down his lips with the same nonchalance as before. He raises his weapon, tip of the blade pointed towards the other three as he speaks. “Your fate has been sealed already.” his glassy eye narrows, as he enunciates each word with a cruel kind of clarity “-you might as well let me take your lives now- I vow that your deaths shall be quick and painless.” Lan WangJi's brows furrow, Jun ChenGuang's eyes widen, and Kong Li sputters. “Quick and painless!? Hah! And you just say that to my face. What are you even blabbering about? Who's fate is-” “The powder.” Lan WangJi speaks dryly, his grip on LongWei tightening.Kong Li inhales sharply, a single eyebrow raising in puzzlement, black orbs buffering before a lightbulb goes off in her brain and she gasps. The old man lets out a small “hmph”, his tone unpleased yet impressed “-So you figured it out. The nail in your coffin.” Jun ChenGuang's brown orbs furiously dart back and forth between the three figures, as if she's not sure which one to concentrate on. “Powder? What powder? You can't possibly mean-” “Corpse powder.” Lan WangJi doesn't dance around the subject- he's figured it out. The missing puzzle piece, the key to this dilemma- he feels foolish for not having understood it before. In spite of his heart lurching, he maintains his erect posture and cold, piercing gaze, arm as steady as ever and blade always pointed towards the throat of his enemy. “This was all a ploy from the start. There was never any ‘corpse flu’, the people who turned into zombies turned via natural means. Perhaps, the powder was distributed in secret, or hidden in people's food, but nonetheless- everything was planned.” The old man lets out another grunt, just as unmoving and unrelenting as the other, the tension between the two palpable. “Indeed. You have a sharp mind, boy, I’m not surprised, you put two and two together-” he pauses for a moment, a faint, indiscernible emotion flickering in his eye before continuing “-I wish it weren't like this. But I have no choice. I must obey my master, I must heed his call- nonetheless, I shall pray for souls in the Nether world. May you forgive me for taking your life-” “You talk big, and you talk fancy! Fucking old coot, you sound so sure of yourself-!” Kong Li, who had already been considerably angered by the situation, has turned absolutely livid, and she lunges at the old man, ignoring Jun ChengGuang's cry, eyes glowing crimson and resentful energy gathering and twisting around her body as she charges towards him, sword clasped between her hands.The old man's gaze turns icy, and in retaliation to her attack he lodges his blade in between the wooden floorboards with a single smooth motion, the air all around him crackling with a blue light: the sheer force of the barrier that forms is enough to expel all demonic magic, the black coils surrounding Kong Li evaporating on contact. She chokes, the shield sending her reeling backwards, coughing up blood and swaying side to side, somehow not falling or dropping her sword. “-For all except you. Vile, putrid scum, you're even worse than the greed corrupting this city-” he draws the sword from whence he embedded it, the floor turning to splinters and debris as the weapon begins charging. “No! Dammit-!” Jun ChenGuang’s voice cracks: she's about to move, she's about to shield Kong Li from the blow, a blow she can’t handle, Lan WangJi's teeth gnash together, hand trembling, hairs raising and an absolute feeling of horror and helplessness overcomes him as he stumbles and- “D-demons! Wei clan! The Wei clan demons are here! Demons-!” A loud, shrill voice sounds from outside the building. The accumulation of energy subsidies as the figures inside grow still, each taken by a momentary bout of confusion. However, that same feeling of befuddlement grows as the voices in the street in turn become louder and louder, sounds of panicking men, women, and even children filling their ears. Shouts and shrieks permeate the air, and yet, even amongst all this ruckus, the rhythmic stomping of hoofbeats still reach the four's ears, and they all remain completely immobile, as if frozen in time, as each of them feels differently about what is happening but none of them are quite sure how to react.Eventually, the hoofbeats come skidding to a halt, not too far away from where they were currently- more panicked wails and cries can be heard, but in the midst of all the fear and hysteria, a calm, gentle voice, like a tranquil stream pouring from a mountain, makes it's way through the people's ululations with astonishing serenity. “Settle down, settle down, we are not here to hurt you-” it belongs to a male, a young one at that- most likely not older than fifteen, a youth at best. As one could expect, his soothing tone does nothing to calm the masses, and people of all ages disperse, running away, falling down, trampling over one another, either begging for their life or simply spewing a series of incomprehensible pleas or curses. Lan WangJi's heart tightens- something, something deep inside him- feels unsettled. Unsettled like an old rock being overturned, wet soil being newly exposed to rays of sunlight. And this feeling, the perturbation that grips at his chest increases with each step, with each leisurely step sounding against the soil, with each step that gets closer and closer until a figure comes into view: tall, single ponytail left to flow freely behind his back, the same color as his robes, accentuated by red highlights. A kind, gentle face, lips raised into an affectionate, cordial smile, eyes as still as the ocean on a summer morning. Lan WangJi feels as if time has stopped for him- he holds his breath, his knuckles clench. After all, how can you forget the person you raised as a son? “Good afternoon, everyone. What happens to be the issue?”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
He strolls inside, hands clasped behind his back, donning a pleasant, serene smile, as if he were leisurely strolling through a picturesque garden on an idle summer afternoon, and didn't currently have the eyes of everyone drilling holes into him, following his every step, his every movement, every wayward flicker of his clear black orbs. As he makes his way amongst the rubble and wreckage, he steals a glance at the damage he can only presume has been done by the four fellows standing in front of him, swords drawn and bodies tense. “What happens to be the issue?” his words are spoken calmly, with a nonchalance that leaves even Lan WangJi floored- this has to be-this has to be him. There’s no doubt in his mind; the shape of his eyes, the bridge of his nose, his profile which is now beginning to chisel into that of a handsome young man's, but that had been round and plump, the last time he had set his eyes on the boy- but nevertheless, there’s no room for any mix-ups or misunderstandings, Lan WangJi can feel it in his very bones. Wen Yuan. But if he has to venture and guess, he figueres that's no longer his name. The boy stops in front of the four, the final clack of his boot echoing in the open empty space, sunlight cascading off his ebony robes. Utter silence reigns for a moment or so, as everyone is frozen- some are slightly apprehensive, some are as impassive as ever, some actually feel trepidation at the newcomer's sudden appearance. But no matter what it is they feel, their bodies are petrified.Breath shaky, Lan WangJi decides to take control of the situation, and he steps forward, firm in spite of the hesitation in his heart. “We were...settling a dispute, is all.” “That, I can see.” lips always lifted in a cordial smile, the boy maintains his aloof attitude, even as the sound of frantic, heavy footsteps begin to reach his ears, and he slowly turns around to face a panting clansmen of his- goodness, he looks even younger than A-Yuan, way younger. Is Wei WuXian recruiting children now? “Elder brother, elder brother Wei-” hands on his knees, doubled over on himself and heaving, it’s obvious he greatly exerted himself to get here. “Yes, Wei XiaoDan, settle down now-” Wen- no, Wei Yuan attempts to calm him down “-did something happen?” “The Mayor and his officials, the Mayor and-” the other huffs and wheezes, before steadying himself, brushing some dust off his black robes and coughing, face still flushed red and beads of sweat rolling down his face “-the Mayor is coming down. Here. To investigate.” The younger looks fairly disconcerted by this piece of information, but Wei Yuan and his peers are fairly more calm considering the circumstances, Wei Yuan’s own smile deepening enigmatically at the news and the other demonic cultivators, all still on horseback, either remaining unperturbed or snorting in amusement. “That can’t be helped. I'm afraid we did make quite the bombastic entrance, after all-” “Is there more of you filth than there are ants, nowadays? What brings you all here?” old man Fu's fury is of a tranquil kind, but his emotions are still apparent, his single clouded orb swirling with all sorts of emotions.Wei- XiaoDan, was that his name? Appears fearful of the elderly one, and rightfully so- he his most likely an incredibly high level cultivator, of such high level, in fact, he even manages to hide his true strength. But Wei Yuan has no such qualms, and manifesting the same amount of composure as before, hands always behind his back, offers the old man a polite response. “A request for help was sent by the city executives, correct? Well, that is why. After all, a case like this falls under our area of specialty.” “Who would ever want help from the likes of-” the man's word are cut off by distant roaring of footsteps and shouts- it appears everyone is gathering here. Lan WangJi can smell trouble brewing- or, well, rather…more wood to be added to the already existing fire.The Mayor from before, surrounded by a platoon of armed men, is rushing towards the gathering crowd, his march outwardly tenacious and gallant but his fear apparent from a mile away. “Demonic cultivators, in my city, barging in unannounced- you have no respect for the Fu family name! Here, how dare you-!” “Now, Sir, there is no need to be so brash, I suggest we discuss this calmly, over a cup of tea-” “Kill them!” his voice is hoarse and spittle flies as he shouts, a deranged look in his eyes.Old man Fu wastes no time, and springs into action immediately afterwards, sprinting into the air, sword drawn and leaving a cloud of dust behind him as the ground beneath his feet rumbles with the sheer force of his soles.Jun ChenGuang, who up until that point has been in a dazed stupor, snaps back to reality, staggering backwards slightly, clutching her own blade close. “What-what do we do-?” she stammers, but before either Lan WangJi or Kong Li have a chance to answer her question, Wei Yuan merely chuckles, jumping backwards into the sky and deftly avoiding the blow of the old man's sword, that had left a huge crater in the soil.Spinning, robes fanning in the air, he pulls a black umbrella out of his sleeve, before opening it in front of him, the action releasing a gust of resentful energy and revealing that on top a single white eye is painted. Before anyone can fully process what's happening, the eye begins glowing red, the umbrella starts whirling in Wei Yuan's grasp and a beam of energy hits the old man on the ground full-force.The elder’s sword forms a shield of dazzling light around him, guarding him from the blast, but Wei Yuan had predicted this, and as he floats to the ground, umbrella open behind his back and graceful as ever, the other demonic cultivators all rush forward, their weapons drawn, resentful energy surging and lunging for their target. As the sound of metal clanging against metal fills the air, the battle of clansmen versus the single cultivator ensuing, Lan WangJi can't help but notice the platoon of men from before are also charging into the fray, and, grip around the hilt of LongWei tightening, he beckons the two girls behind him. “Let's deal with them.” Jun ChenGuang nods, setting aside her hesitation, and with a single kick she covers the distance between her and the squadron of men, decapitating one with a single blow.Lan WangJi also runs to aid her, but out of the corner of his eye, he spots Kong Li, who’s feet are still firmly planted to the ground- what is she doing- she's, she's eyeing those demonic cultivators, isn't she? Her gaze is fixated on their form, on the black clouds of energy surrounding them, on their onyx robes and red hair ribbons fluttering in the wind, but she doesn’t notice- the hit about to land- “Kong-!” before he has time to even shout her name, he feels a sharp pain in his shoulder, and he groans loudly, teeth grit, stumbling forward from the impact.Lan WangJi's cry of hurt startles Kong Li to reality, and she ends up dodging the attacker's sword at the last second, kicking him in the shin and slashing at his chest. The other meanwhile, still on the ground, has no time to even register the blood oozing from his shoulder, promptly rolling to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade that would've otherwise impaled him through the heart.Eyes wide, Lan WangJi is forced to think fast, and grabbing a handful of dirt, chucks it right in between the man's eyes, who lurches backwards, howling. He extends his foot, making him trip, he grabs the enemy sword embedded in the soil, and taking advantage of the other’s temporary blindness, uses both blades to stab him through the chest.The man slopes to the ground, groaning and gurgling, blood dripping down his mouth. The whole ordeal's over by the time Kong Li reaches Lan WangJi, and she scans him from top to bottom, eyes lingering on the ugly open wound near his clavicle. “You- you okay?” her lips twist in an odd expression, the sounds of battle, of distant shouting and clanging still surrounding them. “...It’s fine. Just don't get distracted again.” she nods at this, a faint layer of scarlet dusting her cheeks. She overcomes her apparent embarrassment less than a second later, however, and sword still held tightly in hand, dashes to fend off the rest of the platoon, Lan WangJi close behind. Meanwhile, on the other side of the metaphorical field, the battle against old man Fu and the cultivators is still raging on, each holding their own but neither giving in. The elder fends off attack after attack, only occasionally hitting one of the young, black-clad fighters, making them stumble backwards and split blood, but another is always there to take their empty place a split second later. “Stand ground!” Wei Yuan’s order is composed and firm, and he hacks at the air with the large black umbrella, the air whorling and twisting around it-he’s charging another attack, a shrill, high pitched laughter resounding as the single pupil shrinks in size, radiating with resentful energy as yet another stalwart assault is launched on the old man. And yet again, with but a flick of his wrist, Fu deflects it, the resentful energy dispersing. “Dammit-” Wei yuan grits his teeth, shielding a fellow clansmen from the wayward slash of a blade, a multitude of options flashing in front of his eyes as he racks his brain for a solution: this man is incredibly powerful- just who the hell is he-? No wonder that slimy, pathetic excuse of a city Mayor was so confident he would be enough to exterminate their entire squadron. But no matter- he'll just have to resort to using that . “Formation-!” he doesn’t even have to call out their names, each syllable an order and every small movement an instruction, but none of the others have any issue following him, as a mere gaze is enough to communicate their intentions, red eyes glowing and swords slashing through the air as they spread out, encircling the old man, who quickly figures out what's going, but before he has time time to even react, Wei Yuan throws the umbrella in the air; floating above the elderly cultivator, it suddenly triples in size, casting him in a dark shadow and spinning furiously in on itself, a force field of crackling red lightning trapping the man inside. The object's loud, ugly laughter can still be heard, echoing maniacally as Wei Yuan draws his sword, crimson bolts reaching the sky. “Ready- forward-!” he's aware, JiaYing will keep him trapped for even less than fifteen seconds, so they're going to have to act fast.Everybody's set, they're all in position, and Wei Yuan's ready to deal the final blow- “Spirit golem, go forth-!” a young, boyish voice calls out, and Wei Yuan's eyes widen in dismay- he only has a split second, right after seeing a small hand raise a talisman in the air, sucking spiritual energy inside before spitting out a large, bumbling beast, with hollow white eyes and a massive black body, he only has a split second to cry out “XiaoDan-!”, outraged, impaling his sword on the ground, the formation weakening but not giving in by a miracle, stumbling forward to block the monster’s raised paw and shield the lightning formation with his bare body, the sheer mass and weight of the behemoth knocking him out cold as soon as it collides with his own being, and he falls to the ground like a ragdoll on impact. “ Are you crazy!? Are you out of your mind-!? I told you to not get involved-! ” “I, I'm sorry, I just, I really wanted to help, I-” “Sorry? Sorry!? You could've killed him, you could've killed all of us! Would've sorry sufficed then, huh!? Would have it-!? ” “I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry-” The young boy is crying and crying, tears rolling down his cheeks and chin, snot running from his nose- it's an ugly kind of cry, a helpless, foolish one, but the younger's sincerity still shines through as he sits in front of a senior cultivator, down on his knees; the older is tall and brawny, with stern features, and is going on and on, berating the small Wei XiaoDan- and rightfully so, but Lan WangJi can't spare the boy too many thoughts for now. His eyes flicker towards old man Fu: wrapped in red, electric cables all over, the knots at his sides restricting any and all movement- not like that would be an issue, anyways, since as soon as they had him trapped and restrained, the Weis took it upon themselves to knock him out cold. What they’ll do with him afterwards is anyone's guess- but there are more pressing matters to deal with currently. Doing his best to wipe the blood off his hands, Lan WangJi turns to stare at a couple of Wei sect youths who've grabbed the Mayor by the scruff of his neck, their taunting and jeering increasing the more he flails about. “Not so brave now, huh? Where's all your spunk from before-?” “Un-unhand me! Let me go, you, you-” he stutters and stammers, his face blanching and his eyes nearly bulging out of his sockets as beads of cold sweat drip down his jaw; the Wei's fearsome reputation precedes them, and even though some imitators or rogue cultivators occasionally pop up, there’s no doubt these are the real thing- from the insignia they wave to their temperament, hell, the sheer fact they managed to beat old man Fu is a testament of their strength. And the boy that got knocked out- it couldn't be- Wei Yuan, that infamous direct disciple of the Yiling Patriarch-! “You think you could get away with your shifty ploy, did you? Well-! Listen up, villagers of Fu town! Lend an ear, or even both while you're at it, because I'm about to tell you the truth about your precious ‘city officials'” a boy, seemingly the same age as Wei Yuan, grins evilly, an ugly scar streaking down his left eye and black orbs glimmering with an almost childlike mischievousness, as he toys with an undistinctive maroon satchel, throwing it in the air before catching it with a single hand, over and over again. “Do any of you happen to know what this is?” he then holds the satchel up, going from taking slow, long strides back and forth to suddenly stopping, feet sinking into the rocky terrain. At first glance, it appears he’s monologuing as he seemingly as no audience, but if one were to pay close attention, the’d notice all the wary, worried eyes peeking from behind doors, from behind buildings and cracks in the walls. “No-!” The Mayor's already ragged breathing becomes even heavier, and he flails and thrashes about, skin turning the color of death-but he's unable to escape the cultivator's firm grasp. “This-"the boy’s twisted grin grows even more sinister whilst he loosens the cord around the satchel, before turning it upside down, it's contents slowly trickling down in front of him like the grains of an hourglass. “-is corpse powder. But I understand- this isn't something most non-cultivators are aware of, so to put it simply: it's a substance secreted in excess by walking corpses, usually by a specific low level kind. A mere trace of it is enough- once it gets inside your body, you're doomed: in less than twenty four hours, you'll die. And then turn into a zombie yourself, of course-!” he gives a low chuckle “-And guess what was being sprinkled in your food, hidden in your houses, administered to you in secret?” the white substance pools at his feet, grains falling on his shoe, but the boy isn't minimally worried- he comes into contact with this stuff every day, and not only has their sect leader refined the antidote to a simple, convenient pill, he’s also working on a way to make one immune to the powder entirely. “No, I- that can't-” tears are unabashedly running down the Mayor's face, his prideful nature and his cowardly personality clashing, a turbine of emotions that promise to leave a clay vase like him broken and shattered. “That’s right-!” the boy shakes the remaining white grains from the small leather bag, and once it's contents have been completely emptied, stuffs it in one of his pockets “-and can you predict what was going to be next? After another ten, twenty, even fifty of you lost your life to this mysterious ‘corpse flu’, and you'd be ready to abandon all hope, to give in to despair, ta-dah - ! Here they would come, your saviours , with a miraculous cure-!” he then fishes out a sleek, shiny red pill from his sleeve “-a heavenly concoction capable of saving you! A groundbreaking invention, to be sold at a ridiculously high price- also a common antidote known by many cultivators, by the way.” A veil of silence falls on the city, it’s weight suffocating most of its residents, the rubble and ruins of wrecked buildings seemingly amplifying the deafening sound. “You...you can't, you can't-! You can't believe, please, do you trust these Wei clan demons-” the Mayor breaks out into choked sobs, ugly tears staining his greasy skin. But his predicament earns him no sympathy, in fact, it only makes him look even more deplorable, and one of the nearby cultivators kicks him in the back, raucous laughter echoing as the other falls over sobbing and whining, before being shushed by one of his clanmates with a disapproving glare. The citizens feel conflicted. They feel conflicted, because they don’t know who or what to believe: on one hand, a blaring shout inside their head roars at them to not trust those demonic cultivators, those vile, treacherous scum they say they hate- but above all fear. They bring nothing good, they can't- but on the other, a quieter, softer voice of indiscernible origins whispers, whispers that that sounded exactly like something the Mayor would do; that cheap, prideful, pathetic man, nothing is beneath him when it comes to earning some extra cash, some more gold lingots to add to his hoard of treasures and beauties. So they wonder, they wonder, and wonder. But since there is no one to take a stand, and since they are sheep, they only cower behind the rubble, waiting either for someone to make a choice for them, or to be forced to make one. Lan WangJi despises this kind of mentality- but in this very specific case, he can't say he doesn't empathize with their plight entirely: he, too, doesn't know what to make of the demonic- or rather, he doesn't know what to make of it’s practitioners, because he knows exactly what he thinks of the dark arts: they’re a vile, depraved, horrid profession that go against all every cultivator should stand for, whose very existence violate the foundations of their moral code of conduct, so of course, Lan WangJi despises it all, this abominable, evil lifestyle that destroys those who exercise it from the inside out, from damaging their personality and temperament to chipping away at their very soul.But...how can he hate all those who practice it? How can he say he despises every single demonic cultivator as everyone else does, when the man he loves, the one he gave his life for is not only one of them, but the founder of this...this dastardly sect? How can he hate the young boy who's still crying, sniffling as he awaits his punishment for intervening when told not to, all because of his wish to feel useful? How can he hate the wounded youths, coughing and sputtering blood as they bandage each other's injuries, cracking jokes with sad yet cheeky smiles whilst they playfully banter amongst each other, just as teenagers do. Because all in all, they look less like sect members, and more like a ragtag band of teen delinquents, beneath that scary appearance of theirs, just like Kong Li. How can he hate them, but how can he forgive them? Because ultimately, which is worse, the sin or the sinner? Lan WangJi is left with no time to mull the question over, much less answer it, as the boy with the scar from before shoves the red pill back up his sleeve, an impish grin always perched on his lips, continuing his speech “-Well, I guess I can't make any of you believe me, but it doesn't matter. By the way-” turning his back to the hidden crowd, short ponytail swishing behind him, he keeps on talking as he marches towards his fellow clansmen, seemingly nonchalant “- we hope you don't mind us investigating the city for any remaining traces of powder. It would be a shame if any other useless death were to occur-” he then stops for a second, tilting his head back slightly “-we also have plenty of the antidote right here, and it's gratis -feel free to ask us for it, feel free to not do that. But do know: by the time your skin starts turning ashen and your fingers begin to wither, it'll already be too late.” After having dropped that bombshell on everybody present, he trots on merrily towards the rest of his peers, surprisingly peppy considering the situation. Lan WangJi merely hangs his head and sighs, an action he has gotten used to doing, and that he feels might become a signature of his should he keep it up. Thoughts slink through his brain as he trudges along, and he eventually makes his way to Jun ChenGuang, who’s sat on the ground next to Kong Li, trying to get her to bandage her wounds. “Can you just, agh, how long have you had these bandages on for? They're filthy! There’s a wound there, it needs fresh cloth, let me change it-!” “I said it's fine, woman! Can't you see it's just a nick?” “It doesn't matter, it still needs proper care, and if you don't bother with it, I will-” Lan WangJi ends up stopping in front of the two, their bickering about wounds suddenly calling attention to his own, and the gash on his shoulder begins pulsating again, making him grit his teeth in discomfort. “Aww, you're so worried about me, A-Guang! How cute-” “I-I'm, I'm not, just, give me here already-!” she roughly pulls Kong Li's blood soaked, bandaged hand towards her, but the duo eventually cease their antics once they take notice of Lan WangJi's presence. Turning around, Jun ChenGuang's eyes automatically drift upwards, towards that ugly injury of his. Her lips twist into a frown, brows furrowing. “That looks nasty-” she gets up, grunting slightly as she nears Lan WangJi, inspecting the wound, much to Kong Li’s obvious displeasure. For a second, Jun ChenGuang moves a hand forward as if to touch his skin, but seeing Lan WangJi openly tense up, she withdraws her fingers, offering him a small smile. “You might need some herbs for it. We could ask...them, I'm sure they-” “Hey, excuse me, wasn't I the sick one a second ago?” “I’m sorry, what was that you said? ‘Oh, it's just a nick’-tolerate it now! Some things take priority over others.” “-But-!” Kong Li opens her mouth as if to protest, but promptly shuts it tightly right afterwards, pouting, resting her chin on her knuckles.As Jun ChengGuang fumbles about, that tall, buff-looking cultivator who had been reprimanding the small boy from before makes his way over to the trio, his footsteps heavy and his path resolute- coupled with his impressive stature and strong features, he looks fairly intimidating standing in front of them, large hands on his waist- “Greetings, you, rogue cultivators-” the sentence begins as a question and ends as a statement, the uncertainty in his voice betraying the...awkwardness, of his bearing. As if he just doesn't know what to do with his body.In the background, the sounds of scuffling and shouting can be heard, as a whiny voice-presumably the Mayor’s- keeps crying and begging for it's life, shouting at the demonic cultivators trying to apprehend it- meanwhile, the tall young man clears his throat, before continuing, opening his other palm and revealing three smooth ruby pills. “I am Gang ShiRong. Thank you, your help was...needed. Your aid turned the tides of battle in our favour.” he offers them the contents of his hand, and though with a certain lingering caution behind their movements, each of the three takes one into their mouth. “Well, we, uhm…”Jun ChenGuang attempts to formulate a response to his gratitude, but she finds herself tongue-tied; she, too, still isn't quite sure what to think of the Wei clansmen. Had this encounter happened a mere week ago, then she would've definitely not tolerated their presence, but now, she feels conflicted- but hasn't she already helped them, after all-? Sensing her uncertainty, Lan WangJi takes a deep breath in, ready to properly deal with the situation at hand- “It was nothing- really-!” Kong Li, having seemingly brushed off her grouchiness, shifts from one foot to the other like an excited child, eyes wide and doing her best to contain a grin that would otherwise split her face in half- all for the sake of keeping up her “cool” image.“-anyways, you're- members of the Wei clan, correct?” Gang ShiRong is unsure how to react to her exuberance, and from her enthusiastic attitude, he can tell she's one of those demonic wannabes- although, he has seen her fight, and she seemed to show prowess- indeed, she might have not been very powerful with her attacks, but her level of control over resentful energy was remarkable, as that is usually the most difficult aspect of this cultivation path to master for many dark practitioners, both young and experienced. Perhaps... “Clan or sect doesn't make much difference in our case, but strictly speaking, yes-” he coughs, before looking up at her again, trying to ignore the ruckus behind him “-we understand we...have something of a reputation, so we weren’t expecting help, that is all-” the noises get louder and louder and, and he closes his eyes, brow twitching in frustration at the growing cacophony “-so, if...you need our help with anything, then please, let us know- we are in your debt.” “And so are we.” it's Lan WangJi who speaks up this time “-we most certainly would have died, had you not come. In a way- we are even. Nonetheless, if none of you mind helping us with…” “Oh of course, really, it is all fine- we've never had such a thing as an...'ally', so-” a loud crashing noise reaches their ears, followed by laughter and a high-pitched screech, and for Gang ShiRong, this seems to be the tipping point. “Excuse me, I apologise-Enough-! What the hell are you all doing-!?” he roars, abruptly turning around, quickly abandoning the conversation as he storms off to find the source of all the commotion.All three of them exhale a breath no one was aware they had even been holding, before seeking each other’s gaze. “So, how did I do? Left a mighty good first impression, didn't I?” “I’m...not quite sure what kind of “impression” you gave back there-” Jun ChenGuang and Kong Li mutter amongst themselves, Lan WangJi in the meantime pressing a hand on his shoulder- fresh blood is still flowing. No wonder he's starting to feel dizzy; the more time goes on, the more he hates this body. They could've chopped a limb of his clean off back when he was Han-Guang-Jun, and still manage to single-handedly defeat an entire army of men.As he looks around, a few wary faces peeking out from behind the rubble, he also notices: Wei Yuan- laid on the ground, jet-black robes and hair sprawled out, face deathly pale. He knows he's alive, from what he heard being said and the subtle rising and falling of his chest, but he nonetheless can't help the knife that twists in his heart at the sight. Out of all the things his recklessness cost him that day, having to abandon A-Yuan...was perhaps one of those that weighed on his conscience the most. His brother, his clan- those were the biggest of them all. Perhaps it's just his imagination, but the cuts on his wrist thrum. But he doesn't have the time for any of that, he thinks, feeling slightly queasy as he steps forward towards the idle figure, his emotions indiscernible. The people who are meanwhile hunched over Wei Yuan notice him approaching almost immediately- they are wary, but ultimately say nothing. These people-so far, they don't seem so hostile.Just as Lan WangJi considers leaving, possibly so he can take care of his own wounds, Wei Yuan’s long lashes flutter, the tips of his fingers twitch, and he gasps slightly, opening his eyes. “-Senior brother Wei-!” “-you're awake-!” they move to inspect him closer, scooting further away once he waves at them to leave him some space, eyes tired as he sits up straight on the floor. He clutches his head, inhaling sharply in pain-that must be where the beast’s paw hit him. In spite of the strain, he slowly turns his head to look at Lan WangJi, his brown eyes like still, deep pools wherein the very sky seems to be reflected. So full of life, and yet not nearly as bright as the ones he used to know. Like a torch getting dimmer and dimmer with the passing of time. Seconds of stillness pass- Lan WangJi then realizes how odd his behavior must be in the other's eyes, especially since there’s no way he can recognize him, not in this body. But luckily, Wei Yuan decides to attempt to ward off the heavy atmosphere, the corners of his lips raising into that ever so gentle, polite smile of his. “Greetings, kind stranger-” he blinks slowly, almost as if the action were deliberate “-thank you for your help. The Wei clan appreciates your magnanimity-” his brown orbs flicker up and down his body, before stopping at the hideous wound near his clavicle; the blood has completely soaked into the left corners of his robe, making the cloth stick to his skin. It's incredibly uncomfortable, and the already troubled Lan WangJi almost can't help but shift under his scrutinizing gaze, feeling the dry blood on his shoulder crusting around his flesh. “Oh my, that looks painful-” Wei Yuan starts, hand on the ground, swallowing as he attempts to stabilize himself so he can get up “-if you wish, I can ask someone to tend to it for you-” “Thank you, but that won't be necessary-” he shakes his head, but regrets it soon after as a bout of nausea climbs up his throat at the action “-I can do so myself.” Jun ChenGuang had brought along a variety of useful items, and Lan WangJi had bought some on the way here too, so he definitely has access to everything he could need right now...he thinks…. “Well, I apologise for my rudeness, but I have something urgent I must attend to-” he tries to stand, but almost falls over in the process, leaning on one of his sect members for stability; they appear alarmed, and swarm even closer, phrases like “Take it easy, Senior brother-!” and “Yeah! Sect leader Wei is going to be here anyways to take care of business in-” Lan WangJi nearly chokes on his own spit. He has some dignity left so he doesn't actually, but he was damn near about to do so. “The Yiling Patriarch-? ” the words involuntarily spill from his lips in a disbelieving whisper. The cultivators in front of him mistake his surprise for alarm, and one of them even smirks a little- yeah, their boss has an even worse reputation than they do. But it's somewhat amusing, seeing some people’s reaction to that name- “That's right- our Senior brother Wei’s special move, Crimson thunder cage , doubles both as a restrainer, and as a distress signal! Sect leader's going to be here within the hour!”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Those words hit him like a bucket of cold water, permeating in but an instant to his very marrow and startling him to reality. "You...he-" He's at a loss for words, tongue tied, truly, frozen to the spot, his arms and legs suddenly weighing thrice more than usual; the disciples seeing this giggle and snicker, taking the opportunity to poke fun at the older's blanched face. "Didn't you hear us? You should feel honored! You'll have a chance to meet the one, the only, the bone chilling, the-" "Enough-" Wei Yuan silences the youth with a tired flick of his hand- something's...off, about this stranger, he can sense it. It's this feeling of a puzzle piece that doesn't quite fit, of a sensation he just can't put his finger on- stranger, even that word, stranger , it sounds wrong. But why?Alas, even had he wished to ask such a thing out loud, Wei Yuan isn't given the opportunity to do so, because Lan WangJi has turned his back to the Wei clansmen, taking slow, dreary strides towards nowhere, his feet dragging slightly in the rocky terrain, leaving sunken trails behind. How undignified he must look, how far he's fallen-he thinks he hears someone calling out for him, but he's not sure. Either way, he pays the voice no heed, and just continues walking. Where to? Again, to nowhere. He guesses that has to be somewhere, there's no such thing as nowhere, after all, but does it matter? This sinking feeling in his gut weighs him down like an anchor, and he's drowning. But he's really not-ah, what the hell! He doesn't know what to do. Indeed, Lan WangJi, the serial planner, the irremediable perfectionist, doesn't know what to do, or how to act-Wei Ying is coming. That's all he knows for certain. Wei Ying is coming, but what now-? He's completely unprepared. But how could he not be, anyways- in his situation, how could he ever be prepared even if he were given a thousand years to get ready? How could he-?
'-and to bind the soul to the body, to balance the flux and not let the scales tip to either one end or the other, an agreement is made, an agreement like a sword hanging above one's head, with no certainty aside from that of falling unless one can escape its path; thus the contract is stipulated. It's a parasite of the spirit, that latches on with the fangs of a leech, it will eat out the heart and splinter the mind, until it can safely be said, one ceases to exist.'
'-with the only exception being, and I mean this frankly: the fulfillment of the contract. Abide by the wish expressed by the body's previous owner, pray that it is feasible and that it's host bothered to speak of it, and then, and only then, will the soul be set free.'
'-kill the Yiling Patriarch.'
… Idiot, Lan WangJi thinks. Idiot, idiot, idiot! He's nothing but an idiot, a blundering, numbskulled idiot- some Second jade of Lan, he no longer deserves to call himself that, not after all this! No matter the precautions he took or the time he spent planning his every move, in the end, none of it mattered, because nothing could have ever prepared him for this engulfing, all consuming feeling of dread, of helplessness. Because Lan WangJi genuinely, wholeheartedly, as much as he tried to ignore this fact, has no idea what to do.And it's all his fault. … No-Lan WangJi thinks. Battling with the claws at his esophagus and shining a light on the darkness in his heart, he can't let himself go like this, he won't let himself go like this. Woozy, dizzy, he's not quite sure, where is he putting his feet? That's a good question. But even as he wades through the murkiest of waters, Lan WangJi, with his heart of both silk and iron, steadies himself. There is a reason for everything he did, for everything he's doing- and he'll make it through all of this, head held high. He's not sure how he'll do that, right now-because he's not thinking straight anymore, is he? Black spots are dancing in front of his eyes, morphing in all sorts of arrays, his consciousness slipping. But he still forces himself to think-to tell himself- that he will manage. That he will make it. No matter what, absolutely, through the most ridiculous or ludicrous of means, through thick and thin and through highs and lows and ups and downs- It can safely be said, at this point Lan WanJi is quite literally losing his mind. He registers his surroundings no longer, but right before falling, right before hitting something that admittedly felt nothing like the ground, he catches a flash of familiar violet orbs. Of the most beautiful color he's ever seen. The uncanny feeling of loss greeting him upon his awakening is one Lan WangJi has long grown used to. Questions akin to "where am I?" and "who am I?" have become familiar as well- to welcome said emotions with such impassivity-he can't tell whether it's a good thing, or a bad one.Nevertheless, being accustomed to the confusion grants one the ability to more easily push aside any lingering sense of loss or hesitation, and thus, it only takes the man but a minute or so to force his eyes open, lifting himself up by his elbows. However, though his heart may not waver, his body gives out, and a harrowing pain zips from his shoulder all the way down to his arm, making him groan as he falls back on to the hard bed. The loud thud alerts the other person in the room, who rushes over to his side; the clacking of shoes registering only somewhat in Lan WangJi's mind. "Mister! Mister, are you all right-?" "Jun...Chen…" "Yes, yes, it's me- don't talk, don't force yourself. We're safe now." Lan WangJi swallows, the cool saliva somehow setting his throat on fire as it slides down; the mere action of opening his mouth is excruciating. He looks up at her, hoping his eyes are enough to do all the talking, voice raspy as he breathes in- "They...the disciples, the Wei clan members-they took us here. Right now, we're somewhere south of Yunmeng." Lan WangJi's dully takes in her words, swallowing again in spite of the pain, gesturing ever so slightly; 'What happened? What happened to me?' "You...passed out." Jun ChenGuang continues tentatively, guessing he wants to be filled in on what he's missed "From blood loss-and exhaustion. Your wound is all patched up now though-! But you're also running a pretty high fever, so try and take it easy- and again, don't talk too much, either. Your throat's really bad. " Lan WangJi stares, unblinking. The burning throb of his shoulder complements the torrent of questions raging inside him, and his inability to voice any of them makes him shift and writhe, once again doing his best to try and get up and- "Don't-! Lay down. Your wound is infected. Like I said, it's best not to exert yourself-" she moves her hands as if to lay him back down, without however actually touching him. Lan Wangji nonetheless lets his back rest against the dirty old, dirty mattress once more, not missing the flash of worry in Jun ChenGuang's eyes. She takes a deep breath in, a deep breath out. "Let me take it from the top. You passed out, and...where found. You were brought back to us, unconscious and bloody, and of course, we freaked out. Although Kong Li will say she didn't-" she chuckles, the laughter however slightly forced "-anyways, you were then taken away to receive medical care. The rest of us, we travelled with the disciples, ended up spending some time with them. They're...actually quite friendly, you know. Kong Li integrated herself basically right away- I wonder if any of them have figured it out yet, she hasn't told them..." she smiles again, giving way to something more sincere this time "-and, we've spent the past few days...here. We're in the woodlands right now, but I still don't really know why we're here exactly. Gang ShiRong- the boy who gave us the pills back in Fu town- he told me they were investigating an illegal corpse powder ring, or something like that." She then lifts her head in something that is halfway between a huff and a sigh "But you- you wouldn't wake up, we've been on the road for days now-you had us worried, you know! Next time, let others help you instead of pushing yourself to your limit-!" She goes off, tone akin to that of a concerned mother's, and Lan WangJi can't tell if he finds her spiel annoying or endearing; after another ten seconds or so of agitated rambling, she settles down, hanging her head and arms in dejection, before glancing upwards, looking him in the eyes. "...but anyways- this might not be the most appropriate conversation to have right now. Besides, there is... something I've been meaning you talk to you about for a while now-" her voice turns quieter, and she leans over, brows knit together in concern. Lan WangJi holds her gaze, casting aside the sensation of dread that follows her statement m, merely blinking slowly, wordlessly egging her on. "He...and by he, I mean-Wei WuXian-" her voice cracks on the last syllable, and Lan WangJi can feel his heart lurch, just hearing that name being said- "You see, he... well, do you remember Jun RongYui?" Lan WangJi nods his head- the old owner of this body, yes? He didn't have a good feeling about this from the get-go, and now, that feeling intensifies. "Jun An...was always going on and on about revenge, about his unquenchable thirst for the Yiling Patriarch's blood...and that has to do with why you're here, doesn't it? Why you were looking to come to Burial Mounds in the first place?" Lan WangJi's eyes widen, and he can feel his heart lurch inside his chest. "I didn't get the chance to ask this of you before, and even now...I'm just guessing. Hell, I don't even know who you are. I don't even know your name- but…" her brown orbs flash back and forth, her curled fists tremble slightly, and she gulps, fighting down her unease before looking him the eyes once more "...whatever your goal is...I'll do my best to help you. I don't think you're a bad person, and you've only ever been kind towards us...and I, personally, still owe you. For having- for a lot of things, actually. But having said, do know that-" "Yeah, yeah, tell him he can try if he wants- A-Guang! How are you-" a door unceremoniously slams open, making the two jump: Lan WangJi only sighs whereas Jun ChenGuang's face turns from white to red as she spins around to face the other girl, eye twitching. "How many times have I told you- stop slamming the door-! Does it kill you to be a little more gentle-!?" "I'm sorry, I'm sorry~ but, I just thought you like it r-oh, you're awake!" Kong Li's eyes light up, and her face goes from a smug grin to a large smile as she takes a few strides towards him, hunching over slightly to examine his supine form "-You look terrible-" "-Ah yes, say that to someone who just woke up-" "What? I'm only being hon- I mean, haha, you don't look nearly as bad as you did a few days back- because trust me, when Wei WuXian, arrived carrying your unconscious body along with him, I really thought you had been done in. Gave us quite the scare- to Jun ChenGuang especially, you should have seen her, she was always crying, and I always had to comfort her: 'it's okay, don't worry, he'll wake up soon-" Jun ChenGuang rolls her eyes. Lan Wangji can't tell who's being serious and who isn't-but he doesn't dwell on that matter, because, what Kong Li said- The distant hoots of a wayward owl can be heard as a door cracks open bit by bit, it's hinges making a low creaking sound. A pair of eyes peek out from behind a small sliver, and a hand slowly pushes the rest of the door open, just enough for a lean young man to squeeze through, before noiselessly shutting it behind him.He takes a few tentative steps forward, testing his balance-it's been a day or so since he woke up, and he's no longer feeling as queasy- so he guesses it should be alright in spite of the pain. He starts walking forwards, no particular destination in mind, merely taking in the decadent structure surrounding him- this is an abandoned house that used to belong to a woodworker's family- or so he's been told.
"Who, sect leader Wei?"
Kong Li stares inquisitively at a groaning Lan WangJi, who had interrupted her mid-sentence with a choked croak of 'Wei Ying'.
"You're already calling him that…" there's a certain resentment behind Jun ChenGuang's words, a bitterness that makes Kong Li shift in place awkwardly.
"It's-of course I am! And besides, it's also about respecting him, you should know that-" she trails off, but her eyes are once again drawn to Lan WangJi, who's displaying the most emotion she's ever seen him exhibit so far, a hand reaching towards her-
"Hey, you-"
"Look, Kong Li, now's just not the time, and if you could, then please-"
"-You want to know more about him, don't you-?"
Lan WangJi's steps are careful, his mannerisms like a cat's as he skulks behind a corner, careful not to make a sound. It's stupid, what he's doing. He knows it is, and it infuriates him, this, this lack of self-control that landed him in this situation in the first place. In spite of the righteousness he once used to profess having, of the values he barely manages to uphold- in. spite of everything, he let his heart and eyes be blinded by that man. That man.
"-Well, picture the most grotesque, vile, monstrous man you've ever met-then, picture something worse-! Picture the smell of blood and-"
"Kong Li-"
"Alright, alright. He's actually a pretty decent looking dude."
" More than decent looking. Way more."
"Yeah, sure-anyways...he's a really good guy, you know? I was prepared for anything, considering I was to join a demonic clan of darkness, but sect leader Wei turned out to be quite the charming, charitable fellow, if I do say so myself-I already told you, he's the one who found you after you fell unconscious, he even treated your wounds- and he's been very gracious about things so far. Granted, he may be a bit on the odd side, but I guess that can't be helped-"
"Hey, look-"
"What? What am I doing now?"
"This really isn't-oh, nevermind. What did you even need me for?"
The sound of footsteps suddenly reverberate across the corridor, startling Lan WangJi as he ducks for cover inside an old, dusty room, doing his best not to cough as a pair of voices suddenly reach his ears. "...Did you hear that?" "Hear what?" "A sound." "Surprisingly enough, the world is full of them, you should get used it." "Not just any sound, a suspicious one-!" "And what exactly counts as a suspicious sound in your book?" Lan WangJi holds his breath, hand clutching at his robes- they're...what was his name again, that strict looking young man, Gang ShiRong? And that one boy with the scar running down his face- he pretty sure it's him, at least. He's not exactly worried about them finding him, but he'd rather they don't. He wouldn't know what to say, what excuse to make. Or, he guesses he does, but he'd really prefer just not having to use it. "Ah, good lord, here we go again- I swear, if this ends up being yet another cat-" "-And even if-! We are in a precarious situation, we cannot afford to be careless or lackadaisical." "Lacka...ok, look, all I know is that in two hours time, we technically should be "waking up" because the heist is tomorrow, or should I say, later today, and-"
"-basically, remember the whole ordeal with Fu town? As it turns out, that was just tip of the iceberg-as predicted. The scam runs deeper than most of us could have ever imagined. The Mayor's lackeys finally fessed up everything-although one got away. They were receiving additional, fairly hefty funds from an unknown source, as an...incentive, if you may.
"Don't tell me-"
"-thus, clan leader Wei has reasons to suspect-some of the larger sects may be in on this too."
Jun ChenGuang pauses at the other's words, biting her lip in apprehension. WangJi only has a vague idea as to what they're talking about.
"-so help me god, if I don't get at least an hour of sleep tonight, I'll-" Suddenly, a loud crashing sound can be heard coming from the other side of the building, of pots and pans clanging and crows screeching. "That was-" "Alright, who do I need to kill-" Distracted by the fairly more alarming noise, the two young men dash across and out of the hallway, loud, heavy footsteps following them, growing quieter and quieter until all is still once more, sans for a few distant shouts and indiscernible, frantic sounds.It is only he can once more make out the owl hoots, the buzzing of insects and creaking of floorboards that Lan WangJi sighs in relief, taking a few tentative, cautious steps towards the door, making his way out- "Are you lost?" Lan WangJi's heart nearly bursts out of its ribcage as his neck snaps around, his shoulder screaming in pain as he stumbles slightly, inspecting the dark room in an attempt to pinpoint the origin of the voice- the deeper, graver, yet strikingly familiar voice- "Here." A figure slowly emerges from the darkness, the timbre of its voice...amused, almost, the rapid fluttering of pages and leisurely clacks of black boots the catalysts for the dread in Lan WangJi's heart, said heart that's beating, beating so fast the blood is roaring in his ears, louder than the crashing of waves. He forces himself to stand tall, to not waver, but he can't help how his breath hitches, how his pupils dilate and how his fists clench into balls, all the color draining from both his knuckles and face. In the musty, dank room, lit only by soft rays of moonlight, the figure finally comes into view: white face the color of snow and bones, light cascading down his jet-black hair and robes, white specks of dust flaking his lashes like dew, all framed by a small smile perched on comely lips and handsome violet eyes- so beautiful, one's heart aches at the sight.Sometimes, human's imaginations blow things out of proportion, once memories begin to fade, that is, they hang on to what little sensations they can recall, and thus, if they remember that something or someone beautiful had once left them awestruck, then surely, as the years go by, that person will become even more beautiful in their minds and thoughts. So should they come to meet said thing or person once more once a substantial amount of time has passed, certainly, they will remain disappointed by the reality in front of them. But not Lan WangJi. Not him, because the person making his way towards him, flipping through the pages of an old, moldy book with an air of nonchalance, is infinitely more breathtaking than the man in his dreams. Gone are any traces of boyhood, only sharp, cutting features remain, he appears to have grown taller-even taller than him, or this body, at least- and Lan Wangji is suddenly reminded. The 'why' of everything he's done so far, the reason behind his madness.
Wei Ying.
"Keep gaping and you'll swallow a fly-" with a diverted expression, he snaps both the book and Lan WangJi's mouth closed, trapping the other's chin between his thumb and index, the faint touch is enough to nearly make him gasp "-am I really that handsome?" 'Yes' is the certain, instant, spontaneous answer of Lan WangJi. But all that comes out is an inaudible gurgle, throat still screaming in agony. Wei WuXian proceeds to sigh enigmatically at his distressed face, absentmindedly rubbing a thumb over Lan WangJi's lower lip before retracting his hand. Lan WangJi can't help the shiver up his spine. "Did you know- this used to be the family's library-if you can call it that-" Wei WuXian turns his back on the other, leisurely strolling to the other side of the room, before taking the book in his hand and sliding it inside an empty slot rimmed with other books- it's a bookshelf "-family recipes, a few letters, some journals: things of strictly sentimental value. They still piqued my curiosity, though- a glimpse into the everyday life of a humble abode, the joys and woes of the common people. In the end, they're not so unlike our own, you know. So that's why I'm here." He lifts his arm, a long, slender yet masculine hand lingering on some proximate books, caressing their spines with an index before picking one, carefully seizing and opening it as he relaxedly paces about the room. "But you-" he inquires, eyes scanning the contents of the pages and long black bangs falling in front of his face "-why are you here?" He stops a little ways away from him, purple orbs darting upwards to catch his gaze. His heart is still beating fast, way too fast. He has trouble making out anything in this storm of emotions, and only manages to croak out a single unintelligible word- even Lan WangJi himself isn't sure what he meant it to be. Wei WuXian chuckles at this "-of course, I guess you can't answer. I heard you have a fever-" he gasps slightly in between sentences in faux dismay, nails tracing the outlines of characters Lan WangJi can't make out from his angle of sight. "-I'd recommend you run along back-no, actually, I'll take you there. What if you fainted on me again?" He stuffs the book inside a pocket of his robe, and for every long stride Wei WuXian takes towards him, Lan WangJi takes a shorter one backwards, inching towards the room's exit. Wei WuXian's expression is indecipherable, brow raising ever so slightly. "What's the matter?" The question lingers in the air. And though he doesn't say it, though the actual Wei Ying doesn't utter another syllable, Lan WangJi envisions it-
'Weren't you looking for me?'
Torn between the projection and the reality in standing ahead of him, Lan WangJi finds himself both physically and mentally incapable of formulating any sort of response. "I guess the shock's still getting to you-all the more reason to not go out on a midnight stroll. Or rather, an early morning stroll. The sun is set to rise-but the night is still long." Lan WangJi has a hard time processing the man's remarks, and he can't tell if it's his own pain and exhaustion taking their toll, or Wei WuXian's cryptic choice of wording. He doesn't have time to mull over the notion however, because the black-clad sect leader is making his way towards him, path certain and resolute; and before Lan WangJi even has time register it, he's swung up in the air, ebony locks and light robes cutting through the dust and moonlight before finding himself held firmly in the other's arms, the ghost of a smile hanging from the demonic leader's lips as he looks down on the slightly smaller man. And really, Lan WangJi's poor heart just can't take it anymore. His face goes from white to red, and then all the way to white again, before finally settling on a light blush. Wei WuXian's grin deepens at the sight, at how the other is squirming in his embrace- to be held in a princess carry like this, really, his shameless nature has not changed even after all these years-! "Are you embarrassed? There's no need to be. After all, who do you think carried you back when you fainted?" He leans in close, way too close, close enough for his warm breath to ghost over Lan WangJi's face, who can't do anything to stop his ears from turning scarlet. "Who do you think changed the bandages on your wrists?" And not even a few seconds later, all the blood rushes away from his head, so quickly, Lan WangJi may have stumbled had he been standing, face once more turning deathly pale in color. Wei WuXian says nothing, the lights in his eyes as cryptic as ever. Neither of them say anything afterwards. Lan WangJi merely lets himself be held, resisting the temptation to burrow deeper into the other's chest- he's technically a stranger to Wei Ying right now, after all. It's grown broader though- he really has become a man. Amongst the chaos of emotions churning in Lan WangJi's heart is now also shame-shame yet again, for this pretty, youthful body of his. He feels he can no longer hold a candle to the other.Wei WuXian's steps sound out in the night, and Lan WangJi is then hit by a sudden tidal wave of drowsiness: his eyes begin to flutter closed, and he makes no attempt to keep them open-he feels...tired. This is what he wanted, why he had even made this bold, daring escape in the first place- to see Wei Ying again, if even for a second, if even only whilst he slept- but now, he's so tired. Every part of him aches both inside and out. He wishes he could talk to him, say all those things he had meant to tell him that day, before his own life had slipped through his hands and the words died in his throat alongside him. And yet just like then, his consciousness fades away to another realm, across the chasm of nothingness into the world of dreams: of broken, fleeting, confusing dreams. But dreams nonetheless, dreams wherein everything leads to a single person, a single entity. Wei Ying . All is still on a quiet, peaceful night. The moon casts its gaze downwards, illuminating everything in a soft, white light, its rays dancing across the trees and canopies of a large stretch of land, and buildings wedged between mountaintops. The winds gently tousle blades of grass like a mother running a hand through her son's hair, snaking through the greenery before reaching a small creek, it's clear, crystalline water lapping at pebbles, providing a shaky mirror to every star hanging in the night sky. And not too far away from this creek, perhaps at the distance of a deer or two, rests a large, wooden edifice of fairly large size. It's quite spacious, and its broad windows allow for a full view of the inside, should one decide to peek in. And, should one decide to peek in at this very moment, they'd notice a figure- dimly lit by the warm, hot glow of a candle, ink brush in hand as the fine tip swirls away on paper, creating intricate black shapes of fine beauty. The figure appears serene and peaceful, focused on the task at hand, the many stacks of papers and scrolls littered across a mahogany desk tell-tale signs that they had been keen on their work for a substantial amount of time. However, the reticence is broken by the rhythmic stomping of footsteps up a corridor. The figure had noticed the being's presence even before their ears caught wind of the racket the other's making. Hearing all this commotion, he would normally frown slightly and make a mental note to lecture whoever is the cause of such agitation, but a gut feeling in his stomach tells him there is most likely a good reason for the freneticism. The footsteps then stop right in front of the entrance to the building. A few pants later, a shout echoes. "Sect leader Lan, sect leader Lan!" A pair of brown orbs slink upwards as a hand sets the ink brush from before down, lips curling into a pleasant smile. "Yes? What is the reason for all this noise?" "You-it is imperative. You must see to this, immediately!"