CH19 – Keep calm
Wei Ying turned to race out of the room. Jin Ling was fine now, he just needed sleep and Jiang Cheng would make sure he got that. Somewhere out there though his son was ill. They had assume SiZhui was safe, well as safe as he could be under the circumstances, at Gusu. What on earth was the boy doing travelling alone all the way over here. Yes he and Jin Ling had become friends over the years but that didn't mean he had to loose all his senses! He didn't have any idea where to start looking so just began shouting into the blank space in front him.
'Lan Zhan!…...Lan Zhan!'
As he scanned the rooms around the central square trying to think of where to look first, he shivered. The whole area had suddenly turned cold. An icy hand rested on his shoulder, normally he would have leant into that touch but right now he was too panicked. He spun around to face the man he trusted most in the world.
'Wei Ying what?'
Lan Zhan didn't often look flustered but the blind panic he had heard in Wei Ying's voice was enough to break any self control he might have. It was lucky everyone was unconscious because anyone trying to get in the way of him and his husband right then would have gotten seriously injured. Looking into the face of the smaller man he could see something was wrong. It took a lot to get Wei Ying to panic and right now those wide eyes staring into his own showed nothing but fear.
'SiZhui!' started speaking as he grabbed hold of Lan Zhan's sleeve. 'SiZhui, isn't in Gusu, he's here….he got ill before Jin Ling did! He's nearly an adult now Lan Zhan, almost into his full power….and no one has been looking after him!'
Lan Zhan's eyes had widened as he understood Wei Ying's concern. With nearly his full power at his disposal SiZhui would be nearly as badly hit with this illness as any adult. Doubled with that that he had become a very strong cultivator over the years under the tutelage of both his fathers, and this could be serious. Lan Zhan squeezed Wei Ying's hand with his own, more reassuringly than he felt at that moment.
'We will find him!'
Wei Ying nodded, not so frantic. His eyes seemed more normal, worried still but not fear. The two split up to search the rooms. After about ten minutes of searching nothing had been found and Wei Ying found the panic starting to rise in him again. Then he heard a loud shout echo across the silent area.
'Wei Ying he's over here!'
Wei Ying followed the sound of Lan Zhan's voice until he found them both in a small side room off one of the main wings. The room was small and dark, unlike Jin Ling's large and bright state room. The room was also not so easy to find and could be easily missed. Wei Ying made a mental note to himself to speak to his nephew about how exactly he treated friends and family members once this was over. The room was warm though, despite there being no fire, and it wasn't packed with other people. Lan Zhan got up from his place by the side of the small bed to light a candle while Wei Ying took Lan Zhan's previous place by the bed, resting his hand on his son's stomach lightly to delve inside and see what the damage was to his core.
By the time he awoke the room already looked bigger and brighter thanks to the candles lit around the walls. Lan Zhan had already knelt behind him obviously waiting for his findings. Wei Ying turned and tried to smile. Something Lan Zhan knew to well as his eyebrows furoughed in response.
'What's wrong?' Lan Zhan asked, the obvious concern in his voice.
'I don't know' Wei Ying answered honestly but unable to look his husband in the eye as he spoke 'There is something odd about it, and I don't mean odd in the same way everyone else's is. But I can figure it out later, right now we need to cure him' Wei Ying glanced around the room, his concern growing with each sweep. 'Lan Zhan!…...where's Suibian?'
Again Lan Zhan wasn't slow on picking up on the severity of Wei Ying's words. He himself had figured out they needed some kind of relationship to cure a person. Even though both himself and Wei Ying had raised SiZhui since he was a toddler they were not related by blood, this made the link Wei Ying and SiZhui had through Suibian much stronger and more reliable. However while he was moving around the room lighting the candles he had not seen even a shadow of the sword. Wei Ying had carried it enough years, fought with him enough times, that he would know it on sight. Yet for some reason it wasn't here.
'I havn't seen it' Was the only response he could give.
Wei Ying visibly deflated.
'Not here!….Lan Zhan without Suibian as the link how can we cure our son?' Then he turned to the still body on the bed and shouted in an angry panic 'How could you leave Suibian behind you foolish boy. When you wake up I'm going to make you wish it where you father scolding you for being so dumb!'
Lan Zhan could only keep his own worries in check for now and attempt to reassure Wei Ying who seemed to be on the verge of completely loosing the ability to function. Squeezing his husbands shoulder gently he spoke as levelly as he could manage.
'We use our link with him. Between us we have raised him since he was three years old. We are the only parents he has known. There is no stronger link than parent and child.
Wei Ying raised his head and nodded, Lan Zhan just believed he believed his own words half as much as Wei Ying seemed to. The main thing though was that Wei Ying would be doing the healing, Wei Ying needed to believe he could save SiZhui. He just needed to believe in Wei Ying! Slowly Wei Ying once again turned around and rested his hand on the still figure on the bed. Lan Zhan kept up his physical contact, allowing a small flow of spiritual energy to flow between them.
As Wei Ying went still Lan Zhan knew his spirit was already working to fix the harm on SiZhui's body. He could only concentrate on his own part, making sure the stream of energy remained steady, giving Wei Ying enough to use. Looking up at the ceiling Lan Zhan closed his eyes and prayed to whoever was listening please let this work, if it doesn't I might loose both of them.
After what seemed like hours to Lan Zhan, Wei Ying began to stir and awaken. Lan Zhan himself felt drained so he could only imagine the drain on Wei Ying. Removing his hand he sat back to allow Wei Ying to sit up properly.
'Well?' He asked a little cautiously.
Wei Ying looked a little dizzy almost as though he couldn't focus for a few minutes, before he spoke.
It took a lot of effort Lan Zhan but we managed to get most of it, however that strange bit I told you about hardly reacts at all to my energy. The darkness around it completely retreats but that barely moves. It's almost like it's more concentrated than the rest.'
Lan Zhan nodded and spoke up as if figuring out a puzzle.
'If it is more concentrated then logically it will need a more concentrated version of your power to destroy it.'
Wei Ying's eyes shot open, as if he had suddenly been given an injection of power himself, as he looked into Lan Zhan's eyes. Neither of them blinked but Wei Ying's eyes, that were a few moments ago so dull and full of fear where now bright with hope. He reached into his belt and pulled out Chengqing. The flute was always with him, just like Lan Zhan always kept Bichen at his side, even the possibility of its use was slim. Lan Zhan seemed to be confused at seeing Chengqing and then he recalled what he had said earlier, it will need a more concentrated version of your power to destroy it. Silently cursing himself for not learning by now to think before he speaks around this man, he opened his mouth to say something. But it was too late, Wei Ying had already raised the flute to his lips and began playing.
The melody was gentle and haunting, it slowly seemed to fill the room and change the atmosphere from healing room to something a lot more dangerous. Lan Zhan knew deep down in his heart that Wei Ying wouldn't hurt either him or SiZhui, he didn't feel any fear for either of them. He did however feel a deep fear for Wei Ying. He had no idea what Wei Ying was going to do and it had been years since he had last played Chengqing with the full force of his cultivation flowing through it. Whatever Wie Ying called or conjured, Lan Zhan just hoped he didn't harm himself in trying to control it.
Slowly the candles in the room flickered out one by one, until just the two by the bed remained. Wei Ying was now stood in a small ring of light, a dark silhouette playing a haunting melody. At this moment Lan Zhan could see why people had feared the YiLing Patriarch so many years ago, and yet he had never seen the picture in front of him the way others had. They had seen the dark shadow blocking out the sun, he had always seen the brightness illuminating the man in front. A movement caught his eye and made him turn. Another shadow was moving into the room, not really walking but limping towards Wei Ying who seemed to be ignoring its presence.
When the shadow reached Wei Ying it stopped, but the flute melody didn't it simply changed. The shadow stepped closer, into the small pool of light made by the candles. It's face was normal but Lan Zhan could easily see why it was limping. The foot of one leg was gone and it was walking only on the stump, also one hand was clearly missing while the other was missing some fingers. This was someone who had not had an easy death, a spirit Wei Ying had called back. The spirit seemed to understand the new tune and slowly inclined its head before moving past Wei Ying and to the head of the bed. Lan Zhan clenched his fists to make himself stand still, decades of training killing these types of creatures where warring with his trust in Wei Ying in his mind.
The spirit then seemed to dissolve itself into SiZhui. Chengqing's tempo changed again as SiZhui's body bucked partly off the bed. Lan Zhan did the only thing he could, he moved forwards and held down his son while looking up at his husband whose blank gaze was fixed on SiZhui's face, seeing something only he could see. Lan Zhan had never felt this helpless in his life, not even that day when Wei Ying had fallen from his grasp.
The melody softened and SiZhui's body relaxed enough for Lan Zhan to release him, which turned out to be good timing as just at that moment Chengqing dropped to the floor with a clang as Wei Ying collapsed in a heap on the ground. Lan Zhan looked at him concerned, his breathing was still deep and regular so hopefully no serious damage had been done. After a few minutes Wei Ying opened his eyes, they were clear just full of exhaustion.
'Well I didn't expect that!' Wei Ying said slowly, trying to bring his normal smile and laugh to his face.
'I don't if I should kiss you or kill you!' Lan Zhan ground out under his breath 'That was a stupid stunt you just did, you could have killed yourself.'
Wei Ying raised a shaky hand to Lan Zhan's cheek, rubbing it with his thumb.
'Every one always wants to kill me' he said with a more genuine smile 'but your the only one who ever wants to kiss me, so I will go with that. Anyway I didn't nearly kill myself, I'm just a bit tired thats all. If I wasn't so tired already id have been fine.'
Lan Zhan could never argue with Wei Ying, especially as what he had said was probably true. They had both had very little sleep and food for days, so the output of energy had probably just made Wei Ying pass out for a moment. Lan Zhan wrapped one of his hands around Wei Ying's then leant forwards to touch their lips together. As the pair kissed gently Lan Zhan broke contact just enough to whisper, 'Don't ever do that to me again!' before the kiss became deeper and unbreakable.
A slight rustle from the bed broke the two apart. SiZhui was now facing the opposite wall of the small room and had obviously woken while the two where involved with each other, decided he didn't want to interrupt his parents, or maybe even not want the image of such things stuck in his head. So he had turned away. Both men were stood up in a moment, Lan Zhan checking SiZhui's pulse and temperature while Wei Ying checked the core. It had been risky calling in a spirit full of resentful energy to come and cure his son but that was the only way to have enough dark energy concentrated in one place. Wei Ying couldn't help but sigh in relief when he found no trace of darkness anywhere. The two had cancelled each other out, killed each other off.
Wei Ying's consciousness finally emerged back into the room and he nodded at the expectant look on Lan Zhan's face.
'He needs sleep but he will be fine'