.

Wuxian was once again looking at himself in the mirror, cursing the day he agreed to wear whatever this is supposed to be. Keeper Daozi spared no expense when it came to showing him off. Wuxian knew he was good looking but this is ridiculous. The extra flowy fabric tail at the back, over the top silver embroidery and to make things worse, Wangji decided to pay extra attention in styling his hair with jade beaded braids. Wangji looked super proud of the work he's done, staring at his soul-bond with a star struck eyes.

Wuxian turns around and frowns at his soulmate: "You're still mad at me, aren't you? This is punishment for the duel!"

Wangji looks confused: "You don't like it?"

Wuxian sighs in irritation: "I. Am. Not. A. Girl. Why do I have jewelry in my hair? Why do I have so many layers of fabric hanging off?"

Wangji blinks at him and with a straight face replies: "Because I like showing you off."

Wuxian closes his eyes and groans: "You say this now, and when people start gazing and commenting you go crazy with jealousy!"

Wangji smiles and takes his hand: "Let's go."

Wuxian whines: "If anyone calls me beautiful I will start maiming people!"

Lan Clan arrived at the assembly and from the moment Wangji entered with Wuxian, people were staring, gossiping and moving out of their way. Wuxian looked around in confusion: "Lan Zhan, did I miss something?"

Wangji: "Duel." Wuxian sighs: "Right. I forgot how much people like to gossip." Ziyang entered with his wife and did not look very pleased: "Fellow cultivators, Ouyang Clan Leader proposed we prepare a crowd night hunt for our disciples the day before the end of this conference. I have decided to accept his request." People started cheering. Ziyang looks angrily at Wuxian: "However.. this hunt will be somewhat different: I would like to invite the Clan Leaders to join other clan disciples.. as a learning experience."

Wangji was starting to sense the hostility towards his soulmate who was currently playing with his food in boredom. It seems like Ziyang's attempt to provoke him is not working at all.

Ziyang puts on a fake smile and continues: "Since I cannot join the hunt as a host, I would like to invite Treasure Wei to join on my behalf to lead one of the other clan disciples. He has impressed me with his skills earlier today and I'm sure the disciples can learn a great deal from him."

Wangji tenses and looks at Wuxian, who was not listening at all: "What?"

Wangji whispers: "He wants you to join the hunt as a substitute leader."

Wuxian looks in boredom at the crowd awaiting his reply and shrugs: "Sure. Why not?"

Ziyang claps his hand in joy and toasts the clans before moving on to discuss other matters.

After the announcements are over, Ziyang makes his way towards Wangji's table with a jar of wine. He bows and offers Wangji a drink, which as always, Wuxian accepts on his behalf. After the second cup, Ziyang looks at Wuxian: "Treasure Wei, you left in a hurry today. I didn't get the chance to congratulate you on your victory." Wuxain shakes his head: "Thank you for the duel. It was very.. informative." Ziyang nods: "Indeed."

Later that night, Wangji sat next to Wuxian while he drank his night potion and voiced his concern: "Wei Ying, I don't feel comfortable about the upcoming night hunt."

Wuxian: "Why?"

Wangji: "Jin Leader has ulterior motives."

Wuxian chuckles: "I've fought the disciples from Jin Clan today. Believe me, there is nothing to worry about."

Wangji still looks worriedly at Wuxian: "He has a grudge against you."

Wuxian sighs: "I seem to make enemies more than friends."

Wangji: "Since our disciples will be participating with another clan leader and I will be leading another group, keep Wen Ning close just in case."

Wuxian smiles: "Always."

'It was a dark place. The light coming from the moonlight was dispersed by the thick mist and made the sky look like a giant illuminated cloud. He was sitting on white sand, mesmerized by how soft and silky if felt between his fingers. Not a thought on his mind. The sand starts to slide and shiver. Sand is not supposed to move by itself? He sees golden eyes emerging between the grains: 'Have you forgotten?' A deep voice echoes around him. He replied in confusion: 'Forgotten what?' The eyes moved closer until he saw it's real form. He didn't know that snakes could be this big. It slithered close until it was right in front of the confused man: 'We kept your company for many years. You came to us broken and you were stolen from us too early. Have you forgotten?' The man raised his hand to touch the snow white snake: 'I don't know.' The snake moved towards the extended hand to wrap its body around his arm until it reached his ear: 'Time is running out. You need to remember. We will find you, young oracle, and together we will fulfill your destiny.' The snake strikes, biting his neck.'

Wuxian woke up with a loud scream, grabbing his neck in pain and gasping in shock. His ears are ringing but he feels hands touching his cheeks and smoothing his hair back. He can feel the pain radiating from his arm, up his neck to all his body in pulses. Even breathing hurts. Slowly, the ringing fades and he hears himself moaning in pain. He opens his tearful eyes to see a freaked out Wangji trying to sooth him: ".. sh it's alright. You're safe. I got you. It was just a dream. It's alright." He kept repeating it until Wuxain felt his muscles relax and he let out a pain filled sob: "Why?" Wangji tried to smile through his anxiousness to ease the distress from Wuxian: "You're alright. Can you tell me what happened?" Wuxian exhales another sob and shakes his head: "I can't take it anymore. Make it stop!"

Wangji's heart breaks a little. No one wishes hardship on their beloved. He keeps stroking Wuxian's hair and shushing him until he cries himself to an exhausted sleep. When the smaller man loosened his muscles completely, Wangji started looking at the arm and shoulder Wuxian was clutching in pain. He sees nothing but scratch marks made by Wuxian when he woke up in panic.

Wide awake, Wangji retrieves crushed herbs and soothing creams to treat the scratches and wraps them with a long piece of cloth. He stays awake to make sure Wuxian doesn't fall into another nightmare until the sun rises. Wen Ning knocks on the door and let's himself in: "Master Lan, they're asking for your presence in the Glamour Hall." He sees Wangji's haunted face, sitting by a sleeping Wuxian. Wen Ning steps closer: "What happened to his arm?" Wangji: "He hurt himself waking up from a bad dream."

Ning frowns: "Should I go find a healer?"

Wangji sighs: "Could you please summon Jiang Clan Leader?"

Wen Ning bows and leaves to get Cheng.

Cheng shows up a few minutes later with a worried look: "Wen Ning told me about the nightmare."

Wangji looked furious, which confused Cheng. He suddenly gets up and on his way out asks: "Can you stay with him today?"

Chang nods: "Gladly."

Without any other explanation, he leaves.

Cheng looks back at his sleeping brother and sighs: "What kind of trouble did you get yourself into now brother?"

Wuxian wakes up a few hours later with a sore throat and weak muscles. He opens his tired eyes to see his brother sitting at the table cleaning his sword in silence: "Lan Zhan?"

Cheng looks at him and huffs: "He left hours ago."

Wuxian struggles to get up and notices the bandages. He coughs a little to clear his throat and whispers: "What happened to my arm?"

Cheng looks at him with a frown: "You tell me."

When Wuxian looks at him in confusion, he says: "You had a nightmare and did that to yourself."

Wuxian trailed the bandages from his arm up. The moment he touches his neck, memories of his dream come crashing back to him and he gasps. Cheng looks up to see his brother shaking and breathing heavy. He walks over and sits next to him in bed: "What's wrong? Do you feel ill?"

Wuxian looks horrified and whispers: "I don't think it was a dream."

Cheng: "Then what was it?"

Wuxian: ".. a.. a vision."

Cheng takes his brother's hand: "What could be so scary that made you harm yourself?"

A few tears rolls down Wuxian's eyes and he looks at his brother: "I.. I.. I don't know. I just know.. it's not a dream. It was.. real. It hurt."

Cheng was starting to get frustrated: "How about you tell me what happened in this.. vision and I will help you figure out what it means?"

Wuxian tells him about the sand, the snake and the bite. Cheng: "Snakes don't talk."

Wuxian groans: "I am aware. This one didn't speak. It projected it's thoughts to me somehow."

Cheng looks annoyed: "Snakes don't do that either."

Wuxian sighs and tries to get up, only to end up back down when the world fades a little. Cheng catches him on the way down and lays him back in bed: "You're cold again."

Wuxian hums and rubs his dizzy head.

Cheng smiles at him: "Do you want some Lotus and rib soup? I brought the ingredients with me."

Wuxian nods, eyes still closed. He stays there until Cheng returns half an hour later to help him sit up and eat the warm soup. Wuxian smiles at his brother: "Thank you." Cheng smiles back: "I'll make it for you whenever you wish for it."

Cheng made Wuxian drink a calming potion when he refused to eat his lunch and extra meals. That helped him go back to a deep sleep. Wangji returned before dinner, still looking angry. Cheng blocks his way towards a sleeping Wuxian: "Are you mad at him?"

Wangji glares. Cheng was starting to get annoyed: "He asked for you the moment he woke up. I don't know what he did to piss you off but have a seat and let me tell you what he told me."

Wangji allows Cheng to sit with him and tell him the details of what Wuxian told him. He also told him about his day; lack of food, coldness and subdue behavior. Wangji didn't say a word. He bowed his head to convey his gratitude and to subtly ask him to leave. Cheng huffs in irritation and with one last worried look towards his sleeping brother, he leaves.

A couple of days had passed and Wuxian was depressed. Wangji refused to speak to him ever since he had his nightmare/vision. Wangji made sure he had his potions, he made sure someone was with him, he even made sure someone changed his bandages regularly. He just refuses to look, speak or touch him and that's making Wuxian feel like dirt. He layed in bed waiting for Wangji, trying to figure out what he can say to sooth Wangji's anger. It's hard to apologize for something unknown.

Wangji enters silently to change his clothes and prepare the night potion for Wuxian. The smaller man sees him and sits up in bed, a few tears made their way down his cheeks as he whispers: "I'm sorry." Wangji stops and looks at Wuxian with a shocked expression. Wuxian sniffs and looks down: "I'm sorry." Wangji sighs and sits at the table, as far away from the bed as possible to put his head on his hand: "Why are you apologizing to me?"

Wuxian lets out a choked sob: "I don't know. I just don't want you to be mad at me anymore."

Wangji looks up at him and stares at the silently sobbing man: "I am not angry at you."

Wuxian looks back at him with pleading eyes: "Then what is it? Tell me so I can fix it."

Wangji shakes his head: "It's not for you to fix."

Wuxian whispers back: ".. not for me."

Wangji realizes his mistake and gets up to get closer to Wuxian who flinches away: ".. not for me? Tell me what I did wrong to deserve this harsh punishment."

Wangji closes his eyes and breaths in slowly before saying in a low voice: "I'm not trying to punish you." Wuxian wipes his tears harshly: "Then what is this? You're hurting me! I feel like I'm being rejected."

Wangji kneels in front of the bed Wuxian occupies and looks at the ground: "I have failed you."

Wuxian looks confused: "What?"

Wangji: "I have failed you as a soul-bond and I don't deserve to be in your presence."

Wuxian lets out another sob the whispers: "How can you lead clans and be this stupid!"

Wangji looks up in shock: "Wei Ying?"

Wuxian gets out of bed and crashes from weakness on the ground in front of him: "You can't do this to me! I stayed for you! We need each other to survive and you ignore me because you feel guilty over a nightmare I had? YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!"

The yelling turned into a cough fit. Wangji jumped to hold a hacking Wuxian until he could catch his breath: "I'm sorry. I won't do it again." Wuxian continues to sob into Wangji's robe until it's soaked before he pushes him away in anger: "Tell me how is it that you've failed me?"

Wangji helps him lay back in bed and sits next to him: "You asked me to make it stop. To take the hardship away. Ever since we decided to be soul-bonded, you've been suffering. I can't help but wonder if my choices are somehow contributing to your adversity."

Wuxian smacks him in the arm hard: "You're the dumbest man alive!"

Wangji rubs his arm and looks confused. Wuxian grabs his robs and yanks him close: "I will say this once so listen carefully. If you ever ignore me again, I will leave and you will never see me again. Do you understand?"

Wangji looks horrified and nods his head. Wuxian lets go and sighs: "Now hold me. I'm cold." Wangji lays down behind him and wraps his arms around his waist to pull him close: "You've lost more weight." Wuxian replies: "Who's fault do you think it is?"

He can feel Wangji swallow hard from guilt behind him. He will not let this stupid man off so easy.

Wangji buries his nose behind Wuxian's ear and takes a deep breath then lets out a sob. Wuxian's eyes widened in shock: "Lan Zhan?" Wangji tightens his hold on Wuxian as he weeps. Wuxian grabs the hand wrapped around him in worry: "Lan Zhan, why are you crying? Did I hit you too hard?"

He can feel Wangji shaking his head behind him and whispers in pure anguish: "Don't leave me."

Wuxian sighs: "I won't. I was just angry when I said it. I won't."

Wangji refused to let go all night, clinging to Wuxian in fear and regret. That made the smaller man feel so guilty for threatening him. So when he woke up the next morning to a still clingy Wangji, Wuxian whispered: "I swear I won't leave you. I'm sorry I said that last night. Now let go. I didn't drink my potion last night and I'm really hungry."

With a tender kiss to the back of his neck, Wangji got up to secure them food. He sat so close to Wuxian, it almost felt like the Wangji was one hair away from pulling him in his lap. If he thought Wangji was insufferable before, he should've kept his mouth shut before making threats about leaving. So many regrets.

Wangji was solemn for the next few days. He dragged a tired looking Wuxian everywhere he went and kept close contact with him at all times. Wuxian didn't say anything because of his guilt. If this assures Wangji that he wasn't serious with his threat then it's a small price to pay.

Cheng sat next to them that night for the banquet before the hunt. They're about to draw the names of the disciples each leader will guide. He looked at the way Wangji was glued to Wuxian's other side and annoyingly whispered: "He ignores you for a few days and now he clings like a lost child who just found his mother."

Wuxian smacks his arm hard: "Stop it!"

Cheng rubs his arm: "What? How could you forgive him so easily? He made you cry!"

Wuxian sighs loudly when he feels Wangji tightens his arm around his waist: "Someday, your temper and his jealousy will be the death of someone. I just pray that it's not me."

Cheng just rolls his eyes and changes the subject: "Who are you hoping to pick for the night hunt?"

Wuxian drinks his herbal tea and rubs his nose: "I don't know. Anyone but Jin Clan. I want Jin Ling to enjoy this without worrying about my presence."

Cheng slams his cup on the table: "That brat needs a few whips from Zidian to set him straight!"

Wuxian looks at the two men beside him and groans: "How am I the sane one between the three of us?" He looks back at Wen Ning, who smiles at him warmly from the table behind: "I wish they'd learn from your patience and poise. I guess that's why you're my favorite." That earned Wen Ning a scathing glare from the two jealous men.

Ziyang announces the beginning of the draw. Leaders lined up to pick a stick that has the name of the clan disciples they're going to lead tomorrow during the hunt. Wangji picked Nie Clan, Cheng picked Jin Clan and Wuxian picked Ouyang Clan. He looks at the joyfully waving disciples he recognized from the second master test. He waves back in excitement. This will be fun.. He hopes.

.