It turns out that whatever lies behind the waterfall is not the only hidden space in Cloud Recesses; the library apparently contains a secret underground room.
"How cool is that," Xue Yang whispers next to Xingchen's ear as they descend the flight of stairs revealed behind one of the bookcases, and Xingchen gives him an absent nod. He might've felt more impressed were his mind not consumed by his worry about his friend. The times certainly have changed in some other respects, but the one thing that can still be taken for granted is that when people are held somewhere against their will without a fair trial, hardly anything good happens to them. He is of course happy that Song Lan is probably alive, but the idea of him being subjected to interrogation or experiments doesn't sit well with him.
In the secret room, there is a wall lined with bookshelves holding what looks like several hundred books and scrolls. Xingchen supposes he should count this abundance as a good thing, as more resources amplify the chance of finding something useful. However, in reality he must look overwhelmed because Wei Wuxian says, "Most of these are foreign books on magic and alchemy, we don't need those. Gimme a minute."
After a moment, he presents Xingchen with less than a dozen volumes, most of them looking rather worn.
It takes Xingchen about an hour to find that the books Wei Wuxian chose from his collection unfortunately don't contain anything suitable.
There are six history tomes that mention cultivation but don't really offer any practical advice.
Three of them are cultivation manuals for beginners, containing basics of meditation and forms.
The next book is full of complicated music spells for the guqin, which Xingchen has only started learning to play recently, so any of those are also out of question.
The last one is a highly specialized medical treatise on the healing properties of spiritual energy. Xingchen finds it of great interest, but it won't help anyone out of prison.
He shuts the medical book closed and looks at his companions.
Xue Yang is idly leafing through one of the history books Xingchen discarded, humming to himself as he follows the lines with his eyes.
Lan Wangji is sitting still in the corner, assuming a lotus pose. He kept his hair long, just like Xue Yang and Wei Wuxian; it frames his serene face like black silk curtains. If it wasn't for his strange modern clothing, he'd look like the elegant famous cultivator he used to be in his past life.
Wei Wuxian right across from Xingchen is fidgeting. There's also a stack of discarded books by his side, but he's not looking at any of them, just twirling a pencil between his fingers in what looks like frustration. He clearly hasn't found what he was looking for either.
And then Xingchen notices that something on the shelf right behind Wei Wuxian radiates spiritual energy. He takes a better look, and sees that it's a stack of tattered papers roughly bound together with a thick red thread.
"What is that book right behind you?" Xingchen asks Wei Wuxian.
"What – ah. That's – to call it a book'd be an exaggeration. It's just… someone's scattered notes. Nothing but scribbles. I don't think that's something you could use," Wei Wuxian hastens to say.
"Let me be the judge of that," Xiao Xingchen replies, perhaps a little more sharply than he intended. But he didn't find anything of use in the books Wei Wuxian had entrusted to him, so what else can he do? Moreover, Wei Wuxian's behavior seems strangely cagey, making Xingchen's interest in those energy-induced papers increase further.
"Let me take a look at those notes," Xingchen requests bluntly when Wei Wuxian makes no move to hand him the papers in question. Wei Wuxian complies, but it is with obvious reluctance.
The source of this reluctance becomes apparent when Xingchen manages to decipher the first page, and finds out that it describes a talisman whose purpose seems to be attracting evil spirits – a reverse version of a commonly used protection array.
"This is… demonic cultivation," he says with some surprise. Books on demonic cultivation were quite rare in his time; Wei Wuxian is very fortunate to possess one in his collection.
"Yeah," Wei Wuxian says a little sheepishly. "I told you that's not something you'd use."
Xingchen makes a non-committal sound, and continues to peruse the manuscript. The script is sometimes almost illegible, as if it was written by someone whose thoughts were stampeding at a speed so fast that their hand struggled to keep up, but after exploring several more pages, he notices that although the talismans and arrays described in the manuscript do seem dark and dangerous, they're actually not what he'd call evil. He doesn't stumble upon anything requiring human sacrifices, for one.
"That's not necessarily the case. If the technique wasn't harmful to anyone and it was to help Song Lan, I would use it," he says decisively.
Wei Wuxian seems surprised, for some reason. Once again, Xingchen has to wonder what exactly the former Yiling Patriarch knows about him.
This is why I couldn't find you. Because you simply weren't here yet, Wei Wuxian said earlier. What did he mean by that? They have no time to discuss this now, but Xingchen is definitely filing this away for later.
"In that case, I'll show you something," the man in question interrupts his musing, coming over to Xingchen's desk. He picks up the notes and opens them on a page with something that looks like a child's drawing of a human figure.
"Paper… Metamorphosis?" Xingchen reads the barely legible title out loud.
"Yes. I have already transcribed these notes before, but I dunno where I put that transcription. I'm such an airhead," Wei Wuxian says with a self-deprecating chuckle, "but don't worry, I can tell you the gist of this spell."
When Wei Wuxian is done with the explanation, which essentially involves putting the caster's soul into a slip of paper, which can be used for spying, and also telepathic communication, Xingchen nods in approval, because this is exactly what he needs.
"This could work. This way, I can infiltrate the prison and notify Song Lan in advance about the time when the doors will open."
"Wait a moment," Xue Yang raises his voice in what sounds like agitation to Xingchen, "Did I understand correctly that you're gonna be risking your – soul during this thing? That if someone catches this paper man and crumples it, it will be your actual soul that gets crumpled?! That's like, literally worse than death! Screw this magic shit, we should just get some fucking guns and go fully ballistic!" Xue Yang snarls, balling his hands into fists.
"Xue Yang," Xingchen says warningly, which is enough to make the other man fall silent, even though the glare he's directing at Xingchen is downright mutinous.
"I'm sure the prison guards also have guns, and unlike you, know how to use them," he tells Xue Yang, remembering how the man claimed that he had not engaged in any physical violence since he was a child. "What you're proposing is thus a suicide mission, while I'll be doing espionage, with a tolerable degree of risk. Moreover, it's my decision to make. And as it was my arrival here that caused Song Lan's plight, it is my duty to save him from it."
"That's bullshit," Xue Yang mutters darkly, "and didya forget you're still recovering from your surgery? What about your eyes?"
"I won't be using them, or other parts of my physical body. The only part that will enter the prison will be my soul," Xingchen points out, which only makes Xue Yang groan in frustration.
After that, Xue Yang doesn't try to stop him when he studies the details of the spell, with occasional questions directed at Wei Wuxian. Still, even as he focuses on the crooked characters in front of him, he's aware of Xue Yang radiating strong disapproval, and he's reminded of the way Lan Wangji looked when he allowed Wei Wuxian to help them. He does his best to ignore this disapproval, telling himself that he doesn't require Xue Yang's blessing.
…
While Xue Yang is off to discuss the logistics and hacking aspect of their plan with Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, Xingchen spends the rest of the day outside in a pine forest, meditating. The last few days have been sunny, so the mossy ground underneath him is dry. He prefers meditating outdoors whenever he can, because the energy of nature has always aided his efforts.
During his short life, Xingchen has managed to build a very strong golden core, which served him well when he fought evil together with Song Lan, as well as later in Yi, even though he doesn't want to think about what exactly it was he was fighting there.
After appearing in this unexpected new reality, his spiritual power was a little shaky at first; when he had to fight a fierce corpse before he even understood what was going on, he felt so unbalanced that he almost feared qi deviation. No wonder he momentarily forgot about Xue Yang's true identity after that.
Fortunately, he managed to get a grip on himself, and hours spent on meditation brought him full control of his capacities in the matter of days.
Still, the spell he is about to use is a challenge for him. Throughout his life, he has learned a lot of cultivation techniques, but most of them are related to either fighting or healing. Paper Metamorphosis is primarily used for espionage, which is something he has never done in his life; hunting monsters sometimes required a certain degree of stealth, but this is something else entirely. Even as a slip of paper, he will be navigating through a heavily guarded place, so he must proceed with the utmost caution.
Moreover, the nature of the spell truly possesses a risk to his soul; Xue Yang was right to be concerned. Xingchen must spend no longer than necessary in the paper man form, lest he suffer permanent damage. And of course avoid anyone noticing him, let alone touching him.
Xingchen fills his lungs with pine-scented air, letting the forest soothe his soul.
He reminds himself that he once removed his own eyes with his bare hands. Survived his own death, and travelled hundreds of years forward in time.
He should be more than able to handle a bit of demonic cultivation.
…
On the following day, they take Lan Wangji's and Wei Wuxian's maroon car, which is considerably larger than any vehicles Xingchen has ridden so far – a van, Xue Yang teaches him – and embark on a three-hour-long journey to the PKP prison facility, which is located on the other side of the same mountain range as Cloud Recesses. The road they're taking is narrow and winding, with increasingly sharp turns. The higher they climb, the more breathtaking are the vistas of scenery below interspersing the thick growths of trees that offer themselves to their view; it's a pity that Xingchen is unable to appreciate them right now.
After one exceptionally pronounced dip in the road, Xue Yang next to him makes a strangled sound. When Xingchen turns to look at him, he notices that the other man seems rather ill, covering his mouth with his hand as if he could become sick any minute now.
"What is the matter with you?" Xingchen asks worriedly.
"Don't mind me, 's just motion sickness. Should've gotten some pills for it," Xue Yang's muffled voice answers him.
Xingchen takes his other hand and immediately starts to channel his qi into Xue Yangʼs meridians.
"What–" the other man starts to say, but then he jerks his hand away from Xingchen's grip.
"Are you crazy?" he snaps at Xingchen, "Don't waste this stuff on me! You need all of that for your paper stunt. I can survive a bit of stomach ache!"
Xingchen has no reply to that, because Xue Yang is essentially right; he should be saving all his spiritual power for Paper Metamorphosis. He just acted on impulse because he dislikes seeing anyone in pain.
Even Xue Yang.
Especially Xue Yang, he amends, because there is no point in being less than honest with himself. So he admits to himself that he is glad that what little energy he managed to transfer before Xue Yang stopped him was enough for the other man to look only paler than usual, but no longer on the verge of throwing up.
…
Just when the shadows of trees around them grow longer and dusk begins to fall, they stop by the side of the winding mountain path before the last bend of the road leading to the prison, which is located on the peak.
"Let's recap," Wei Wuxian, who has somehow ended up as the leader of their rescue mission, says in a matter-of-fact tone. "Do you remember where to go?" he asks Xingchen, who answers in the affirmative. He memorized the plan Wei Wuxian showed him right away, because it was extremely simple – the prison is a three-story building, with Song Lan's cell located on the topmost level, two doors from the furthest right corner.
"I'll find Song Lan and communicate to him that we'll be opening the doors at ten in the evening, just when the guards change," he says aloud. It's not exactly a complicated plan.
"If it's not possible for some reason, agree on some later hour," Wei Wuxian reminds him. According to what the former Yiling Patriarch was able to find out, the prison curfew is at half past nine, so all inmates should be at their cells at the time Wei Wuxian issues the remote command to open the doors, but it's always wise to prepare for contingencies.
After that, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji exit the vehicle with baskets in hand, so they can say they're searching for shiitakes in case they run into any patrols.
Xue Yang looks after them, and then back at Xingchen, uncertain.
"You should stay here," Xingchen tells him. "Someone should look after my body while I'm gone."
When these words leave his mouth, a strange expression flickers over Xue Yang's face. It looks mostly like bewilderment, but mingled with a hint of sorrow. Truth to be told, the sentence didn't sit well with Xingchen either; he decides that what bothers him is probably the fact that Xue Yang is no cultivator, and can't really help him if Xingchen encounters any trouble on his incorporeal journey.
He's not saying it out loud, though. Xue Yang looks anxious enough as it is, clutching Xingchen's hand like a scared child.
"Please stay safe, Little Starfish," he whispers in a rough voice.
Xingchen gives him a reassuring nod, and presses his hand in return. Then he reaches into his pocket to take out a paper figure.
…
As he passes the sharp curve, a menacingly looking dark grey building appears in front of him. It has a watch tower at every of its four corners and is enclosed by tall walls that have a strange sort of thorny wire on the top, clearly meant to prevent any escapes. He doesn't have to concern himself with that, because as a flying slip of paper he is able to pass right through the building's grilled gate.
When he's in, he finds himself in a corridor lined with rows of identical cells. There are armed guards marching up and down in pairs. Xingchen keeps himself by the ceiling so he's not noticed, and goes to the direction of the staircase.
By the time he reaches the third floor, his flying speed slows down a little. It means that his energy is diminishing; when he finds Song Lan, he must get his message across as quickly as possible, as any dallying could cost him dearly.
As expected, he manages to find the right cell without any incidents. Just like in the case of the entry gate, he has no trouble fitting through the narrow slit in the door, but this is where his luck runs out.
When he enters the shabby looking cell, whose inventory consists of a bunk bed, not dissimilar to the one he and Xue Yang made use of in Traveler's Delight, a desk with a single chair, and a filthy-looking toilet and a sink, which are not in any way divided from the rest of the room, he finds there's only one person in there. It's an emaciated, sickly man lying curled in a ball on the top bunk, and looking at him makes Xingchen feel both anxiety and relief.
He's anxious because this man is not Song Lan, and relieved for the exact same reason, as he wouldn't want to see his friend in such a state.
Xingchen now weighs his options; he could stay in the cell and wait for Song Lan, who's probably being interrogated or experimented upon, but Paper Metamorphosis is now draining his spiritual energy at an alarming pace, and Xingchen doesn't know how much longer he could last. The other option is to search the facility, which is just as risky, and even if he succeeds in locating Song Lan, his friend probably won't be alone so communicating with him would be extremely dangerous.
While he's still considering these two unappealing choices, the door to the cell bursts open and Xingchen immediately hides himself under the bed, but not as far back so that he wouldn't see what's happening, which is two guards dragging in a person who seems completely limp in their grip. The prisoner's hair is cropped short, but the face is one that Xingchen would recognize anywhere. It's covered in bruises, but otherwise Xingchen is happy to note that his friend appears more or less unharmed; his cellmate has probably spent much longer in this facility to look as tormented as he does.
There is a thud above Xingchen, as the guards carelessly throw Song Lan's body on the bottom bunk bed.
"Lieutenant Wen really did a number on him," one of the guards comments with a trace of sympathy. "He'll be out cold for at least an hour, if not two."
"Serves him right for being so stubborn," the other, older looking guard replies coldly. "He should just own up to his magic tricks already. I wonder what he has to gain by denying he can do it. What they all do."
"Beats me. But you know what's even weirder? Why can't any one of them just... magic themselves away, huh?"
"That's because of all the drugs they're getting," the older guard lectures his colleague, "I heard it's quite a cocktail."
While listening to this exchange, Xingchen feels a surge of rising panic because his vision starts going blurry, indicating that the spell is weakening. He must touch Song Lan to be able to communicate with him telepathically, but could he do it with the guards still present?
One of Song Lan's hands is limply falling over the edge of the bed. As the two armed men are still talking, showing no sign of leaving the cell, Xingchen makes a split-second decision.
He starts to creep along the bottom side of the iron frame of the bed, very, very slowly, and attaches himself to Song Lan's open palm. He tries to join his and Song Lan's minds, but it's like he's running into a wall; no matter how hard he concentrates, he can't get his message through.
Probably because Song Lan is not awake, Xingchen realizes with dismay. The description of the spell didn't mention that the other party had to be conscious, but unfortunately it seems that way.
"What's that in his hand?" the younger guard exclaims in surprise, and Xingchen leaps away on pure instinct.
Which turns out to be a grave mistake on his part.
"Look at that paper thing!" the other guard shrieks, "It's moving by its own! Quick, catch it!" he yells, and swings his hand in Xingchen's direction. Xingchen doesn't wait to be caught, immediately retracting his spiritual consciousness back to his own body. The last thing he hears, already from a distance, is …and they all keep lying to us that they can't do anything. I think this calls for an extra round of interrogation tonight.
And then he's no longer made of paper, and his corporeal body is shaking and gasping for breath. Someone is holding him close, steadying him. Xue Yang, Xingchen realizes a little distantly, and feels himself relax. Because even though that now after his vision has been returned to him, he sometimes finds the sight of the face that haunted his nightmares a little hard to bear, as he expected Xue Yang to look the same but expecting and seeing that with his own (new) eyes were two different things, it doesn't change the fact that this version of Xue Yang has brought him nothing but comfort, care and affection.
And when Xingchen is offered these things now, he doesn't even want to resist, letting Xue Yang hold him until he's fully in control of his body.
His emotions, however, are a different story.
"I failed," Xingchen whispers, his own voice sounding thick to his ears.
"What happened?!" Xue Yang asks in a panicked manner. He breaks the embrace, raising his hands to gently cup Xingchen's face. He gives him an intent look, obviously searching for any signs of harm, in particular focusing on his eyes. Speaking of which, Xingchen feels some wetness escaping them. Fortunately he's not seeing red, so it's tears, not blood.
He told Xue Yang the truth that it was his soul that was at stake, but he omitted the fact that if his spiritual energy decreased too rapidly, his body might suffer some damage as well. Xue Yang, however, seems to be concerned anyway.
"Nothing happened to me," Xingchen says out loud, wiping the tears away with the back of his hand. "But I couldn't talk to Song Lan. He's unconscious. Also, one of the prison guards noticed me. But I was able to return to my body before they could catch me."
Xue Yang lets go of his face, regarding him with palpable relief.
Xingchen is a little touched by this display, but relief is the opposite of what he's experiencing right now.
"They – I cannot go back there in the same way. Even if I meditated for several hours, I don't think I can replenish my spiritual power to this extent. Moreover, they'd be on their guard against the spell," Xingchen explains, still feeling shaken, but already getting a grip on himself.
He focuses on the most important thing, which is that Song Lan is alive, even if unconscious. They will get him out of that awful place. There's got to be a way, he thinks determinedly, while Xue Yang uses his phone to contact Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, telling them they should return to the car.
"Isn't there a spell for communication with someone unconscious?" Xue Yang asks him, guessing at his thoughts.
Xingchen gives it some consideration, and remembers the book of music spells in Wei Wuxian's collection.
"In one of the books in the secret room, I came across a spell used to communicate with spirits of the deceased, which might also be applied on unconscious people. But it requires the use of a guqin."
"Inquiry," says a voice belonging to Lan Wangji, who has just opened the front door of the vehicle. He's followed by Wei Wuxian, who naturally wants to know why Xingchen needs the spell. Xingchen briefly recounts his failed attempt at contacting Song Lan before turning to Lan Wangji.
"How do you know this technique, Lan-laoshi? Have you also studied cultivation?"
"I – it's complicated," Lan Wangji says with a frown.
"Lan Zhan knows how to play Inquiry, but it never yielded any results because he doesn't have the necessary spiritual power," Wei Wuxian explains in his husband's stead.
"I might have some now," Lan Wangji corrects him.
"Beg your pardon?" Wei Wuxian exclaims incredulously. "Lan Zhan, are you…"
By this time, Xingchen is giving Lan Wangji his full attention. Surely enough, his spiritual energy signature feels different than that of a regular human; it appears that he possesses something like an unstable, freshly formed golden core.
"You do have some power, Lan-laoshi," Xingchen says in surprise. "I could in theory lend you some of mine, thus increasing it to the point where you'd be able to perform Inquiry. But I fail to see how we can use it at present," he adds, because even if Xingchen fed Lan Wangji some of his spiritual energy, they didn't exactly bring any guqins with them.
"Let's get out of the car," Lan Wangji says. He goes to the back of the van, and opens its trunk. The remaining three of them can do nothing but stare because inside there is a big black case, which upon opening reveals nothing else but Lan Wangji's guqin.
"Lan Zhan, why didn't you tell me?" Wei Wuxian whines with a pout.
"I wasn't sure there was anything to tell," is Lan Wangji's curt reply.
Wei Wuxian looks like he might burst with excitement over this discovery and more than ready to shower his husband with questions, but he restrains himself, apparently aware that there are more pressing issues to be addressed, such as the one Xue Yang asks right now: "How far does this guqin spell reach?"
When no one replies, Xue Yang goes on, "Everyone but me's familiar with that spell, right? Does the book say how far you've got to be from the person you want to communicate with? Like, how many feet? Or are we talking miles?"
"It depends on one's spiritual power," Xingchen finally answers, which makes Xue Yang groan.
"Not this shit again," he grumbles, and despite all the anxiety consuming him regarding Song Lan's situation, Xingchen can't help but feel the faintest twinge of amusement at the memory of Xue Yang being similarly frustrated when they were still in Yi, packing for the journey.
"So how many inches can you fit in?" Xue Yang asked him, only to immediately become flustered and hastily add, "in your qiankun pouch, I mean" in a strangely choked voice, which made Xingchen quite bewildered, because what else could Xue Yang be talking about, really? Nevertheless, Xingchen said that the holding capacity of qiankun pouches depended on the holder's spiritual power, and now he found himself repeating his words.
"It's so very unscientific," Xue Yang complains.
"It's magic, comrade, what do you expect?" Wei Wuxian sniggers at him before adding, "But I totally get that frustration. Right now it'd be really useful if we knew the exact range we have to get in to use the spell."
"I can't give Lan-laoshi that much power because I used Paper Metamorphosis. So I'm afraid we have to get as close as possible, say, ten to fifteen feet, if you want to be exact. But I can't see how we could do that."
"I can," Wei Wuxian interjects. "Remember that Song Lan's cell is on the topmost floor. And you have a sword that can fly, am I correct?"
There's a brief silence during which everyone tries to digest Wei Wuxian's suggestion.
"Attempt the impossible, huh?" Xue Yang finally scoffs, clearly not overly enthusiastic about the idea. "But at least you're in no danger of damaging your soul this time, right?" he asks Xingchen with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
Xingchen shakes his head.
"No danger," he says reassuringly, even though he has to fight a tone of hysteria from creeping into his words, because what he and Lan Wangji are about to do can only be described as mad.
…
They wait twenty more minutes until it gets pitch dark, and both Xingchen and Lan Wangji spend this time by meditation. Xingchen doesn't recover all that much of his energy in such a brief period of time, and is concerned whether he'd be able to keep himself, Lan Wangji and his guqin airborne long enough for them to fly to the prison roof and back, but it's not like Lan Wangji can do it without his help.
Xingchen takes a deep breath and unsheathes Shuanghua. When it reflects in the beam of light coming from the pocket lamp Wei Wuxian is holding, Xue Yang asks whether such a shiny sword won't be too conspicuous in the dark.
"Man, I wish we had a can of camouflage paint. Didn't you bring any?" he asks with a hopeful look at Lan Wangji, which is no wonder as the latter had the foresight to bring along his guqin of all things.
Lan Wangji shakes his head, which is just as well, because Xingchen doesn't think that covering Shuanghua with any paint would be a good idea.
When Xingchen mounts his sword, followed by Lan Wangji who holds onto him with one hand and clutches his guqin in the other, he first lifts them just a few inches above the ground so they can find their balance.
Shuanghua quivers a little beneath their feet. Xingchen feels the strain on his badly depleted spiritual energy already, but the thought of Song Lan, captive and beaten to unconsciousness, makes him determined to push himself past his limits. He's about to tell Lan Wangji to get ready for the takeoff when the other man beats him to it by asking, "Can you step down? I want to try by myself."
This request takes Xingchen by such a surprise – as he considers it absolutely impossible for Lan Wangji to be able to fly unaided with that barely formed golden core – that he complies with it.
And together with Wei Wuxian and Xue Yang lets out a shocked gasp when Lan Wangji rapidly takes off, shooting towards the sky without as much as a word.
"Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian cries after him as the flying figure disappears among the treetops.
Xingchen is too stunned to do even that, just directing a dumb stare at Wei Wuxian.
When the erstwhile Yiling Patriarch overcomes his own shock, Xingchen is surprised to see a determined smile settling over his features.
"Don't worry," he tells them. "I'm sure that Lan Zhan can make it."
…
Miraculously enough, Lan Wangji did make it.
"It is done," he says simply when he dismounts Shuanghua and hands it to Xingchen. "He woke in the end."
Xingchen almost sags in relief, because that means that one of his concerns has been cleared; Song Lan is awake, and hopefully won't relapse into unconsciousness before they get to open the doors. Now they just have to wait and hope that Song Lan will be able to make his escape. Xingchen wishes he had the same faith in his friend that Wei Wuxian seems to have in Lan Wangji, but he actually spends the next half an hour on tenterhooks, feeling like this is the longest and most excruciating wait of his life.
What if Song Lan is removed from his cell again, for that extra round of interrogation the guard mentioned?
At exactly ten o'clock in the evening, all the cell doors of the prison open, causing a complete power outage. The inmates have several minutes before the backup generators kick in, and they make a run for it. During this time window, Wei Wuxian drives the van closer to the prison so that when Song Lan emerges as one of the first escapees, cutting through the grilled gate with Fuxue that he has somehow managed to reclaim, he tries to run right past them.
Xingchen jumps into his way. "Song Lan," he calls out, trying to sound reassuring, "we came to rescue you. Please get in the car."
"How can I believe you?" Song Lan asks him warily, making no move towards the van. He looks on the verge of collapse, but also extremely apprehensive, both hands tightly clutching onto Fuxue's hilt. Of course, Xingchen thinks with a twinge of pain in his heart. To this Song Lan, he is nothing but a potentially hostile stranger.
Wei Wuxian comes out of the van to say, "Even if you don't trust us, what do you have to lose? No offense, but you don't look like you can run much further." His words unfortunately make Song Lan scoff and start to run away from them, as if to prove Wei Wuxian wrong.
"Wait! We really want to help you!" Xingchen calls after him in despair, but his words fall on deaf ears.
It is only when Xue Yang cries, "Don't run away from your rescue party, you moron! I'm Xue Qing's brother!" that Song Lan halts his movements. He turns around, first regarding Xue Yang with disbelief, but then seems to acknowledge the resemblance between the two siblings.
"Alright. Take me with you," he says tiredly, and starts to move back into their direction. After just a few steps, his legs give out under him.
Xingchen hurries toward his friend, catching him before he can fall.