Wei Ying can't die
The redness of lava was almost visible on the grassy cliff, grey in the predawn light.
Nightless City and an unnamed place in Meishan came together in these split seconds as Lan Wangji was seeing his beloved fall.
Again.
Wind hit the Chief Cultivator face as he dived on his sword to catch Wei Ying. His mind was screaming that he was about to commit suicide, but he could not care less. He reached for his love and his hand encircled Wei Wuxian's wrist.
If the cliff had been higher he would have the time to stop their fall, but the rocks were too close. Lan Zhan knew he would not manage to slow down enough to make their landing safe. He hoped to lead them towards the water and avoid hidden rocks. He could not trust Wei Ying's life to his hope, so he did the only thing he could think of. To flip the Yiling Patriarch so that Lan Wangi's body would take the whole impact of the fall. What he forgot about was the arrow...
The ground was definitely too close. He did not even feel the pain when the darkness took him.
Jiang Wanyin hated the sobering talismans. He hated to use them on himself. But what he hated even more was that the scene playing out in front of his eyes was not an effect of delirium or some other hallucination.
He was watching his brother falling to his death. The scene had been burned in his mind since Nightless City. Then, however, he detested his brother, drowned in grief after Yanli's death. But now, now…
Yesterday I started to hope that our reconciliation was possible. And today I am watching you die…
Jiang Cheng saw a lightning of white and understood that Lan Wangi followed his beloved in death. He understood that choice. He understood that the Second Jade could not survive grieving the same person twice.
Wei Wuxian… you idiot! You've left me! Again!
But he could not find any anger in himself.
Jiang Wanyin reacted on pure instinct and deflected the blade aimed at him. It was then he realized there was a battle raging around him. They were cultivators on both sides but a few of them were using large sabres which the Yunmeng leader immediately recognized. Nie Huaisang's men.
Obviously, the Nie sect leader was not taking unnecessary risk. He stayed in the inn but sent his cultivators after Wei Ying and Lan Wangji. Too late…
Jiang Cheng finally reached the cliff. He discerned a white robe, below in the river. He took his sword and slowly descended there, careful to fly not to fall. There was a shred of Lan Wangi's robes hooked on the rock. Some blood which was not reached by roaring water.
No!
No! You're not dead on the bottom of that river! Do you hear me, Wei Wuxian?!
Jiang Cheng started to fly along the river, watching carefully its dark waters. His heart was beating madly.
Please, you must be alive, please…
Pain consumed his world. Wei Wuxian desperately tried to fight for air, but he could not be sure if it was blood or water he was choking on. He clinged to Lan Zhan who seemed to be unconscious weight curled against his chest. He could not tell if his betrothed was still breathing. He was not even sure if his face was above the water surface.
Suddenly the river current tossed them against rocks. Pain exploded when the arrow moved, slicing his flesh, but Wei Ying managed to catch something and stop their journey. He hauled Lan Zhan up enough to be sure that his face was above water. All he could do now was to desperately hold to the rock. He knew he would not last long.
There was no way he could take them to the safety of the shore as it meant to lose his grip and to swim towards the shore. The only thing he could think of was to wake Lan Zhan, provided he was alive.
Wei Wuxian carefully adjusted his grip on the slippy rock and then dipped his fingers into his chest wound. He hastily drew the bloody symbol on the rock binding them to it. Now they were safer…
Wei Wuxian felt that little energy was left in him but he did not hesitate when he created another symbol on Lan Zhan's face and activated it. It was so completely wrong to stain his skin with blood.
"Lan Zhan!", he cried desperately but the symbol did not work as it should have. His beautiful betrothed remained unresponsive. Wei Ying approached his shaking hand towards Lan Wangi's lips. And he froze. There was no soft exhale on his skin. Despair clawed into his heart.
"Lan Zhan!", he cried while focusing on his spiritual energy to use it to make his soulmate breathe. Fresh tears were falling down the Yiling Patriarch's face and mixing with water dripping from his hair and blood - from his mouth.
Lan Wangji's body responded to his desperate efforts but Wei Ying could not find courage to withdraw his energy as long as Lan Zhan was unconscious.
The Yiling Patriarch knew he would not last long. So he created another talisman, grateful for all the medical tricks Wen Qing had taught him. Obviously, he had modified this charm a bit.
Jiang Cheng finally saw another point of whitnesess on the rock. So close to the water. He maneuvered carefully and now he could discern blackness of his brother's robes. Both men seemed lifeless but the Yunmeng's sect leader recognized the blue thin rope which was bonding them to the rock.
So you were conscious enough to do that!
Fortunately, two Nie cultivators had followed Jiang Cheng and now he could order them to catch both men after he undid the Yiling Patriarch talisman's. He was immensely relieved that Wei Wuxian had cast an easier version of this charm as he had never truly mastered the art of talismans.
I need to check on my brother!
No, I have to let them take him to safety and not start a fight with allies while we're balancing on the swords with the lives of Chief Cultivator and MY BROTHER in our hands!
The peaceful shore was really close and Jiang Cheng's patience and common sense were not too strongly tested.
He dropped to his knees at his brother's side. The broken arrow was still sticking from his chest. The wound around it was far bigger than it should be and its edges were jagged. It was still bleeding sluggishly. The blood was also flowing from his lips, the crimson contrasting with the horrible paleness of Wei Wuxian's face.
"He needs a healer!", he choked on despair and fury.
One of the Nie cultivators used a flare in response.
"He's barely breathing!", the Yunmeng sect leader cursed with panic. He focused on the energy only to discover a tiny but stable flow from Wei Wuxian to Lan Wangji. He tried to cut the connection but he could not even touch it with his energy.
You stupid, self-sacrificing morron! You idiot! You…! I'll kill you! I'll break your legs and hands and neck! Please, don't die! I cannot lose you...please…
"May I check on them, Sect Leader?", a polite question cut the stream of curses.
"Just do your job!", Jiang Cheng growled but the healer ignored his tantrum and briefly focused on two unconscious men. He carefully put a rag encirling the arrow with it and ordered Jiang Cheng to put pressure on the wound while at the same time avoiding to jostle the arrow.
"First I have to stabilize the Chief Cultivator, then I'll treat Master Wei.", he announced.
"What?! How dare you?! My brother is bleeding out!"
"If you keep the pressure in the right way, he'll not bleed extensively. However he's also bleeding out his energy. I cannot help him before I treat Huang-Jun. He's passing his energy to him. I am not able to cut the connection", came the calm answer and the man focused on Lan Wangji.
Jiang Cheng was barely holding his anger and fear when he was dutifully trying to stop the bleeding. He was giving his energy to Wei Wuxian and was observing how quickly it was being passed to Lan Wangji.
You're truly a genius! A self-sacrificing genius! An idiot! Wei Wuxian, do you really know how stupid you are?!
Don't die… Brother, please!
"You're overreacting", a nearly inaudible voice whispered. Jiang Cheng recognized the amusement and pain in these words.
"You're an idiot!", he stated and then froze, "Was I thinking aloud?", he asked with trepidation.
Wei Wuxian sent him a triumphant bloody smile and then closed his eyes. His brother's worry warmed his heart. He needed that much more than he was ready to admit.
Wei Ying focused farther on Lan Zhan. His soulmate was breathing on his own. The energy flow between them had been still existing but it was more balanced now.
It worked! You're alive!
"Mm", the reply astonished Wei Wuxian. He realized that he was sitting in front of Lan Zhan who looked at him with exasperation and worry.
"What?! Where?!", Wei Wuxian looked around surprised. They were on the meadow, rabbits were hopping around them.
"It was your talisman.", Lan Zhan answered with a tiny nearly invisible smile.
"I am so glad, you're alive. It was so stupid to jump after me, Lan Zhan! What were you thinking?!"
"That I cannot live without you", came the simple response.
Wei Wuxian wanted to reply but he remained wordless. Lan Zhan's affection was still a wonderful surprise for him.
"You should take pity on…", he trailed off when his beloved took his hand and gently kissed his fingers.
'"You can't die because of me!", he pleaded finally.
Lan Zhan looked at him solemnly. He cut the distance between them, his lips nearly touching Wei Ying's, when he whispered - "Wei Ying can't die".
A/N
I'am sorry fot the delay.
Legate of Apples thank you for betaing! :)