He recognized the face

Lan Wangji was listening to the information collected by Nie cultivators. He agreed that they ought to act quickly.

"We should go tomorrow as it's already quite late and we don't want to risk the night there", Wei Ying summarized the reports.

"You're wounded! You're going nowhere!", Jiang Cheng protested.

"You need me there! It's my spiritual weapon there as a bait! I won't be waiting!"

"Maybe you should have thought about it when you allowed an enemy to put an arrow in your chest!", the Yunmeng sect leader grumbled.

"Enough! Tomorrow at dawn.", Lan Wangji decided. They would not further waste the time. Even Wei Ying seemed confused by this declaration, "Leave us alone and don't disturb", he added.

The other sect leaders watched him anxiously but obediently left.

Lan Zhan sat in front of Wei Ying on the bed in a meditation pose. He gestured towards his friend to do the same, then he took his hands into his own.

"I've read about a method to heal someone. Usually it's used as a part of dual cultivation. I'm going to give you some spiritual energy and you'll try to heal yourself with it."

"Won't it weaken you?", Wei Wuxian immediately asked. It filled Lan Zhan with tender warmth.

This man has never thought about himself…

"No. Trust me."

Wei Wuxian smiled brightly and the smile reached his eyes.

"I do trust you, Lan Zhan!", he stated.

Lan Wangji felt immensely grateful for these simple words.

He started to transfer his energy and was surprised how easily Wei Wuxian picked it up to strengthen his core and heal his body. It felt like they had done it many times before.

Sharing energy was an intimate feeling. It was far much more than simply being given the energy or being healed. Wei Wuxian could feel the access to Lan Wangji's energy which was granted for him. He was invited to take from this vibrant glazing core. He risked a glance at Lan Zhan, who was deeply concentrated, his eyes closed, his face smooth in meditative trance. He was so beautiful.

What have I done to be betrothed to such an amazing man? Dual cultivation… Will I ever be able to practice that?

Lan Zhan must have felt the change in energy because he opened his eyes and watched Wei Ying questioningly. Wei Wuxian remembered their shared dream, he slowly cut the distance between them and his lips ghosted Lan Zhan's. The Second Jade focused gaze became so tender and gentle while his body froze, letting Wei Ying summon all his courage and touch for the moment Lan Wangji's mouth in a chaste kiss. He wanted so much to lengthen the kiss, to taste it but in the meantime felt like a corned rabbit. He withdrew abruptly.

"I…", Wei Ying had no idea what he wanted to say. Was he afraid? Was he fascinated? Emotions were making him shiver.

"Wei Ying doesn't need to do things he doesn't want to", Lan Zhan stated solemnly.

Wei Wuxian shook his head vigorously.

"I… I want to be good for you", he whispered, not really sure what exactly was hiding in his words.

"Wei Ying is the best for me.", Lan Zhan replied gently touching his hair, wordlessly asking for permission. The Yiling Patriarch leaned into his palm.

They were sitting like this for a long time until Lan Zhan announced that they should go to sleep. Obviously Wei Ying fell asleep in his arms. Everytime it happened it was a bliss but also a surprise that he had ever been able to sleep alone before.

The Nie healer was unhappy but remained a silent companion as cultivators were approaching the cave. It looked exactly as it was described by their scouts - an old entrance partially hidden by bushes, partially ruined. The benevolence inscription on the remaining sculptured portal.

The fresh grass was disturbed though no other traces were visible. Wei Wuxian could feel Chenqing. The flute was singing to him. He cast a few talismans which burned detecting the spiritual traps set in the cave. Wei Ying slowly entered, Lan Zhan by his side, ready to protect him. There was a statue standing in the back of the cave. Resentful energy was buzzing around it. It was radiating pain and despair.

Chenqing was lying on the devastated stone altar, surrounded by paper talismans which were dancing on the non-existing wind. This construction was not the real trap. Nearly too late Wei Wuxian saw the stones falling from the collapsing ceiling. He heard himself crying a warning, he heard Bichen dealing with the rocks, but all he could see was his beloved sister dying in their brother's arms. The sister who was giving her life for his. The despair and hatred were choking him. Shije's blood on his hands, Jiang Cheng's anger ripping his heart. He could not breathe anymore as the air transformed into dark liquid energy which was drowning him.

Lan Zhan destroyed the last falling rock shards and leapt towards Wei Ying who was curled into himself on the ground. The blackness was coiling around him.

"Wei Ying!", he reached to him, sensing the raging ocean of pain and despair. The resentful energy was blinding and suffocating. The Second Jade summoned guqin and hit its strings in the first tones of Cleansing only to disperse a bit the energy around his betrothed. Then he reached towards Wei Wuxian's golden core creating a connection between them. The resentful energy ran towards like a tidal wave and crashed when met his inner light. Lan Wangji felt the wave withdrawing and he was ready to bear the next attack but it never came. The energy was suddenly stopped, called by the man who had mastered it.

"Lan Zhan?", Wei Wuxian's voice was weak but his influence on their spiritual connection strong.

"Wei Ying…", he breathed out the name like a prayer.

He was supporting the other man when he was vomiting blood. Wei Wuxian stilled for a moment, clearly disgusted. Then he squeezed Lan Wangi's arm and got up.

Two strides and Wei Wuxian was at the stone altar. He burned the talismans surrounding his spiritual tool and felt the coolness of Chenqing under his fingers. He played a few tones to subdue the energy in the cave. The dark smoke gathered in him, clearly awaiting his orders.

"Wei Wuxian?! Are you still alive?", Jiang Cheng's voice reached them.

"Sorry to disappoint you!", the Yiling Patriarch called back and slowly approached the lonely statue. He created some light with the talisman and froze when the fade glaze reached the statue's head. He gasped when he recognized the face caught in agonizing pain…

It was impossible!

He slowly touched the stony skin. He was not surprised when he felt the awareness in this immobilized body. However the cruelty of that hit him hard.

A/N

Legate_of_Apples, thank you for betaing