Brother, hm?

"We can't travel by boat. I have only the direction and it does not align with the river and lakes!", Wei Wuxian was irritated but Jiang Cheng did not really pay attention. He would prefer that they could take the boat, as he wanted to grant another few days of respite to his brother.

"And you're called a genius!", he commented furiously, "We won't go on foot. It will take too much time, especially as we don't know where we're going"

"We can fly on swords", his brother said swiftly.

"Can we?!", he asked bitterly.

If you hadn't been a self-sacrificing idiot…

"Yeah, we can. As I'll be flying with Lan Zhan, if he agrees?" the feared Yiling Patriarch cast a pleading, seductive glance toward his betrothed, only to receive "mm" as an answer. It was a secret for the Yunmeng sect leader, how Wei Wuxian was able to distinguish different responses in those identical sounds.

Wait a moment, why is he asking Lan Wangji if he agrees? Have I seen uncertainty in his eyes? What's going on? Is it my imagination? I've always seen the Second Jade defending him, taking his side, so why is he hesitant?

He cast a glance at his brother and cursed internally when he saw how he caressed a strand of Hanguang-Jun's hair.

Will I have to survive with that couple the next week or two? Really?! We definitely need to solve the problem quickly or I'll kill them myself.

The idea to fly on the swords suddenly seemed a very good one.

Wei Ying leaned against Lan Zhan's frame. He felt safe though still the fly was waking in him memories of being tossed into Burial Mounds. How often did he regret not dying then. So many people would be alive and happy. Obviously, he knew that he made a change and helped to win the war but was it a true change for better? His beloved sister was dead. Her happiness with her sweetheart lasted so short… She never was able to watch her son grow and to love him… She was created to love and to be loved. The wind was drying the tears on his cheeks.

"Wei Ying?", Lan Zhan whispered directly in his ear.

"Lan Zhan! You're so warm and so mindful not to drop the poor man!", he summoned his best smile even if Lan Wangji could not see it, "It's amazing to fly and to feel safe! I think we should do it more often!"

"Mm"

"We should head more to the right", Wei Wuxian consulted his compass and he was relieved that he could concentrate on navigation.

"Can you say how far it is?!", Jiang Cheng screamed through the wind.

"Quite far away. When we're truly close, I'll know it", Wei Wuxian replied as he took care that his compass worked this way.

He could swear his brother was disappointed as he could not comment on his skills. This time.

What should I think about you? Why are you willing to help me? You've saved my life, you've given me a shelter… Is there any chance for us? Why am I sounding so desperate? I am definitely too emotional now.

Wei Wuxian let himself relax in Lan Zhan's arms.

"Lan Wangji, I'll call it a day. We need an inn before this idiot falls asleep."

"I'm fine!", Wei Wuxian protested, but he knew that he had lost.

They found a place for night, its owner bowing deeply before "noble cultivators", however Wei Wuxian could sense duplicity in the man's courtesy. There was fear and disgust.

"Are there any other cultivators here?", he asked curiously.

"No, Master. They were not interested in the ghost haunting our village. We did not meet their financial expectation" - there was bitterness in the man's voice when he obviously quoted the words he heard.

"Tell me about them, good man.", Wei Wuxian was aware of Jiang Cheng's scowl.

"Why should I bother you?"

"Maybe you want some help or the ghost needs it", the Yiling Patriarch grinned.

"We don't have time", Jiang Wanyin protested.

"We're here to spend the night, aren't we? Maybe we'll manage to deal with the problem tonight. These people clearly need our help."

"Wei Wuxian! We're tracking criminals!"

"Nah, we're tracking a stolen object and our revenge can wait a night."

"We're not seeking revenge but justice", Lan Wangji reminded solemnly.

"We cannot leave these people without help, can we, Lan Zhan?"

Jiang Cheng knew they could not leave the ghost's affair the moment he saw Wei Ying's pleading gaze searching the Chief Cultivator's eyes.

"Mm", the Second Jade nodded.

"So what's going on? Where can we meet this ghost? Is it dangerous?"

"She cries every night at the riverside. She sounds like a young girl. Sometimes people see blood on the bridge. Few times she left bloody handprints on bypassers clothes. She did not harm anyone but she's clearly in distress…"

"You think you know her", Wei Wuxian said slowly.

The inn owner paled and nodded.

Is Wei Wuxian reading the man's mind? How has he guessed it?! It looks like we should deal with it tonight and even gain some sleep. He's too good… or maybe does he want to delay the confrontation with his tormentors?! No. This idiot always wanted to help. And it has already cost his life. Well, it's not my problem anymore. He's the Chief Cultivator's problem! So why am I here with him prosecuting those men?! Because they hurt my stupid brother! I wish I could stop to think about you as my brother…

I wish… you were my brother once again!

"So, are we going with us on this little trip?", Wie Wuxian asked. He sounded like he was repeating this question.

Jiang Cheng hesitated. Maybe these two wanted to spend their night hunt solely together. However he did not want to lose Wei Wuxian from his sight. Not yet, when every night in his dreams, he witnessed his brother's death.

"I'll go with you", he decided.

The river was quite close.

"Pity, we're not sure who exactly turned them down", Wei Wuxian murmured, "It may be some poor line of Jin Sect if anything like this exists."

"Mm"

"Or any rogue cultivator just passing by", Wei Ying continued, "Rogue cultivators usually are not expensive. During my travels I acted like one. Took any job even for a free dinner. No. It was someone who was too proud or someone who could not spare any time and did not like questions."

"We're not here to investigate who's the rude cultivator", Jiang Cheng sighed.

"Nah, however…", Wei Wuxian did not finish his sentence as a sob was heard.

The street leading to the stony bridge seemed to be completely deserted though someone was crying silently. It did not sound like a cry for help rather like despair mingled with grief.

"Hello? Who's there?", Wei Wuxian asked, "Is it you, Qiu?"

How does he know the ghost's name?!

A smear of blood appeared on the cobblestone forming the word "yes".

Lan Wangji summoned his guqin and started to play a sad melody. He stopped after a moment. Someone stroke the strings in answer.

"She was brutally murdered."

"Why? She was only a simple waitress... Ask her who killed her and why!", Wei Wuxian demanded and to Jiang Cheng's surprise the Chief Cultivator translated these questions into music.

There were many sounds in reply and it reminded too much of the similar conversation the Yunmeng sect leader witnessed. The conversation between his nearly dead brother and Lan Wangji… This memory still hurt.

"She was returning home after the evening shift. She saw two strangers talking. She may have stopped for a moment intrigued as she knew all inhabitants and all guests staying in the only inn in the village. Then she continued her way but she never reached her house. She regained consciousness in the forest, bound. They used her blood to draw something and hurt her and in the end cut her throat. She asks for justice.", Lan Wangji related.

"Can she describe her murders?"

An exchange of guqin sounds.

"She saw them but her description is useless.", the Second Jade sighed.

"I'll perform Empathy for her!", Wei Wuxian already sat in the meditation pose and extended his hands.

"No! It's risky!", Jiang Cheng protested, "It may affect you badly! You idiot!", he cast a desperate look asking Lan Wangji for help, but the other man simply sat near Wei Ying, the guqin in front of him.

Jiang Cheng cursed.

And cursed only uglier when after a while Wei Wuxian went deathly pale. His whole frame was shaking.

Wei Ying!

Lan Wangji hated to watch his soulmate in pain. All he wanted was to interrupt the Empathy but he knew that it was not a good solution. The ghost was harmless and gentle. To experience someone violent death was usually distressful. His first instinct had been to act according to Jiang Cheng's silent plea and to deter Wei Ying. However, he had vowed not to treat Wei Wuxian differently, so he let him act. Obviously, the logic was also on his side - if the girl's blood was used to create resentful energy talismans, the Yiling Patriarch was the right person to investigate them. Furthermore, Wei Wuxian truly mastered Empathy.

However, everything in Lan Zhan cried to defend his betrothed, to ease his pain. Lan Wangji started to feed him with a steady flow of his own spiritual energy.

Should I play Clarity? It may disrupt the ritual. Should I give him more time?

He was aware that Jiang Cheng was cursing. Even after taking part in a war, many of his words were foreign to Second Jade.

Suddenly guqin came to life.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I did not want to hurt him! You're so kind to me… I'm sorry…"

"What have you shown him?"

"What he has asked for… What they did to me… I'm sorry…", the strings wailed her grief.

"Not your fault, young Lady", Wei Wuxian replied instead of Lan Wangji's music.

The Twin Jade immediately looked at his betrothed who was breathing too fast, his eyes wild and full of fear.

"One of those men… the leader. The other one I don't know. They played with her… they harmed her just for fun… they needed her blood for talismans… but they did not need to… torture and kill her! The created talismans were used to deny me access to resentful energy!", Wei Ying was searching Lan Zhan eyes conveying with his gaze much more than in his words.

You saw how they used her as a tool… how they abused her and killed her in the end…

"Rest assured young Lady, your death will be avenged", the Chief Cultivator vowed solemnly.

"Thank you", the guqin strings whispered and the presence started to fade slowly with the sounds of Cleansing.

Wei Wuxian was still shivering. The girl's torment entangled with his own. He wanted to scream, he wanted to kill her murderers, his rage was suffocating. It was struggling against the music. In another life Yiling Patriarch would have been a tool for resentful energy gathered in him. But in this life there was Lan Zhan's energy coursing through his body and strengthening his golden core. Instead of fleeing in frenzy, Wei Ying leaned against his beloved and hid his face in his hair breathing in the smell of sandalwood.

Wei Wuxian warily allowed the guqin melody to clear his mind and relax his body.

"Wei Ying?", Lan Zhan gently touched his wet cheek.

His beloved turned his head to gently kiss his knuckles.

"Should I carry you?", Lan Wangji asked softly.

"Nah, I am good. Just help me up", he did not want to lose his soulmate's touch. It was anchoring him.

"Glad you're alive", Jiang Cheng commented dryly, "You still don't know what a self-preservation instinct means!"

"Thank you, brother", Wei Ying mumbled before he could think, he froze waiting for Jiang Cheng's reaction. The sect leader stayed motionless, his face directed to the river, away from Wei Wuxian. He took a breath as if he wanted to speak but remained silent.

Wei Ying was about to start his apologies but Lan Zhan's fingers on his lips silenced him.

It was a nice sensation.

"Brother, hm?", Jiang Cheng asked, his voice trembling, "I guess, yeah. You definitely cost me too much not to be my brother! I'll break your legs to grant me some peace! You know I prefer dinner to some talk with a ghost?! I'm tired after a day of travel. You know, you're much younger now! You should pay some respect to your OLDER… brother!"

Wei Wuxian felt so light while listening to this tirade. He disentangled from Lan Zhan to hug Jiang Cheng, who froze at first but then awkwardly did his arms encircle the Yiling Patriarch.

"Well, enough of this cheap drama!" he murmured and patted Wei Ying's arm.

Wei Ying smiled against his shoulder and withdrew. Joy was bubbling in his heart. He could even feel Yanli's charmful smile. She would be so happy that finally their brotherhood finally was given a chance. Obviously it was only the beginning of their road but they had reached it. Finally.

Wei Wuxian felt light-headed as if he had drunk too much wine. The anger and pain he had experienced a few minutes ago with all their intensity seemed to be a vague memory now.

They reached the inn. The owner bowed to them, clearly distressed.

"A guest has arrived. He insists on talking to you, Masters. He invites - the man paled greatly - The Chief Cultivator and his companions to his room."

Wei Wuxian smirked, he was quite sure that Lan Zhan had not been recognized before by the poor owner.

"Please, forgive me, Excellency I would never assume that such a formidable person can come to my poor inn…", the owner threw himself on his knees, his forehead touching the floor.

"Mm", was the only Lan Zhan's answer.

Wei Ying rolled his eyes in exasperation and knelt in front of the man. He manhandled him to an upright position.

"Enough! If Lan Wangji wanted to be treated according to his title, he would make sure his identity is not mistaken. We're leading an investigation and we do not need to focus too much attention on us. So rest assured, you've done nothing wrong. More, you've done a good thing - you told us about the murdered girl. Her death is connected to our investigation so we're grateful for the important hint. Her soul should find peace now, we've promised to avenge her.", Wei Ying's words soothed the poor men.

They got up to their feets and Wei Wuxian took his place at Lan Zhan's side.

"Does the person who invites us have a name?"

"No, Master, he hasn't revealed it!"

The man led them upstairs and showed them the doors.

Wei Wuxian thanked him, cast another blinding smile and knocked to the doors. Without waiting for an invitation he opened them. A person hid his face behind the fan and did his best to look offended and frustrated. The room smelled like a wine house.

"What are you doing here?", Wei Ying suddenly felt very uncomfortable.

My emotions are really tiring me.

"Drinking. Care to join me?", three other cups and sealed bottles appeared on the low table.

A/N My gratitude to my Beta - Legate_of_Apples!