There's nothing we can do

Lan Zhan suddenly found himself kneeling on the floor, his arms full of bleeding Wei Ying. He did not know what had happened. His beloved had ordered Nie Huiasang and Jiang Cheng to withdraw from the statue so he had sensed that something had been wrong but what exactly? Lan Zhan spared a glance at his companions. Their dreadful surprise told him that they had no idea what was going on.

Wen Qing was lying on the floor unmoving.

Jiang Cheng was calling healers.

And Wei Ying was fighting to breathe…

No. It's a nightmare. It's not real. I cannot lose you!

There was too much blood. It was pouring from Wei Ying's mouth, but it was also soaking through his clothes. Lan Zhan was desperately giving his energy, but he knew it was not enough. He reluctantly allowed the Jiang and Nie healers to approach the wounded man. The healers checked on Wei Ying and exchanged glances, one of them looked at Lan Zhan and slowly shook his head.

"The damage is too extensive. I am sorry, Hanguang-jun", the healer bowed deeply.

"Do you intend to let him die?", Lan Zhan asked or he tried to ask.

"There is nothing we can do."

"No!", someone screamed desperately. Maybe it was him.

"Save him!", someone ordered.

And this time it was definitely not him.

Lan Zhan ignored the healers who probably were trying to stop the bleeding. He focused on the energy. There had to be a method to save Wei Ying! Lan Zhan would not accept the reality without such a method. He would not accept the world without Wei Ying!

"It's impossible, Sect Leader.", the healer whispered, avoiding Jiang Cheng's gaze, "I am…"

"Don't be sorry, just keep him alive! We need time to save him and you will give us this time", Nie Huaisang's voice was cold, "I'll send a message to Lan Xichen, maybe he'll be able to help. We will stay here", he decided, "so take care of him and make him comfortable"

Jiang Cheng glanced shocked at his friend. It seemed like the man had a plan. Was there still any hope for his brother?

Nie Huaisang had proven to be full of surprises. His profound knowledge about rituals and spells was amazing. After Jin Guangyao's fall it became obvious that the Nie sect leader had misled them all. The timid boy whom he had met during Gusu lectures turned up to be a spy master. Had he changed after his brother's death or had he been playing a role all his life? Were the shy smiles and the awkward face always hiding such a dangerous mind? The last few weeks showed clearly what a wonderful ally Nie Huaisang was, but all that time he seemed to be not so self-confident. And now… he had simply taken over the situation when neither Jiang Cheng nor Lan Wangji were able to think straight.

"Lan Wangji, the talisman brother Wei drew to keep you alive… I think you should use it. Brother Wei showed me a slightly modified version which allowed to divide the burden of keeping alive between two persons. While we keep him alive the healers may try to heal his wounds."

"I'll do it", Jiang Cheng declared immediately.

"Only with me", Lan Wangji whispered.

"Good. I'll take care of this whole mess.", the Nie sect leader declared, "How is Wen Qing?", he asked Wen Ning who was holding his sister in his arms mirroring the way Lan Wangji stuck to Wei Wuxian.

"She's in a coma, but stable. Never worked on such a case but I guess she needs time.", came the answer of a healer.

Jiang Cheng bit his lips. They had five healers here, it had to be enough.

However…

When he looked at Wei Wuxian's greyish face he lost his hope.

Nie Huaisang drew the symbols on Wei Wuxian forehead and then ordered both men to activate them. Immediately, Jiang Cheng felt a pull of energy so strong that he went on his knees. Lan Wangji seemed like a statue, far less affected though the blue torrent of the energy he was passing to Wei Wuxian became a whole river.

Lan Xichen was not exactly in the seclusion. He was trying to remain there limiting his contact with the sect but it happened quite often that Lan Qiren needed his assistance. However after having completed his duty he used to withdraw. He still did not have any lectures even if that fact displeased his uncle.

Lan Xichen was going back to his place when a paper appeared just in front of his face. He knew that it was a way of emergency contacts between sects. Lan Wangji had established it during his first conference as the Chief Cultivator. To be honest Lan Xichen, hoped never to receive such a message.

The one which materialized in front of his face was even worse than he suspected.

"We desperately need the best healers you have.

Nie Huaisang"

The spiritual signature and the short map to a… cave?

Dread froze him for a moment. The person who should have sent this ominous letter was his brother. If Nie Huaisang had to do it, it meant that probably Lan Wangji was the one needing healers. The indicated region was far closer to Yunmeng or Qishan than Gusu Lan. So the situation was really dire if Jiang or Nie healers were not enough.

Lan Xichen had never had enough time to become the truly accomplished healer, though his knowledge and the power of his golden core made him one of the best. He would take Lan Mei with him. They had worked together on many occasions and they were perceived as the most powerful healers. Though never had they had the medical knowledge of Wen sect which was lost with the members of that line.

Is Lan Wangi dying? Is Wei Wuxian dying? Will my brother be able to survive his soulmate's death once again?

Those questions were still in his mind when he summoned Lan Mei and left a quick message to Lan Qiren. They gathered their supplies and left.

Lan Wangji wanted so much to take Wei Ying in his arms, to protect him, to heal him but the wounded man was not to be moved, so Lan Wangji could only bowed kneeling to be closed to him.

He sensed Wei Ying golden core, his qi running in havoc. The wounds were not only physical. It was a blast of energy who hit Wei Ying causing spiritual and body injuries. If the wounds had been caused by a physical object they would still be a fighting chance as the qi disarray would take time to occur. Lan Wangi reached Wei Ying's golden core the way he did when they were meditating together. He focused on the panicky flickering golden core. He stopped simply giving energy but focused on using it to stabilize. Lan Wangji sensed a weak resistance. Usually Wei Ying gave his consent to dual cultivation.

Let me in, please

The resistance faded and Lan Wangji wanted to believe that it was the answer to his plea and not another stage of dying.

He allowed his energy to cradle Wei Ying's golden core which was slowly beginning to calm down. He was softly humming their song adding the notes of Clarity. Carefully, he extended his energy and gently combed the disarrayed qi. It succumbed to his will.

Too easily

Though Lan Wangji had never been interested in healing. Probably he should have, considering how often Wei Ying got hurt.

He was soothing the energy, trying to maintain it proper flow. He had no idea how it was looking for the healers but there was no way for him to withdraw now. Lan Wangji could sense he was holding his bethroted's life in his hands.

He lost the sense of time focused on golden lines of energy.

Suddenly, Lan Wangji realized he was kneeling on the meadow, holding Wei Ying in his arms.

Have I lost consciousness?

"Wei Ying?", he whispered gently, stroking his hair and froze - when he saw crimson on his fingers.

"Wei Ying?!", he gently laid him down to check on him.

He found the source of blood, or rather sources - three terrible wounds on his chest and abdomen.

No, you're not supposed to be injured here!

Lan Wangji tore his robes to tame the blood. He soaked it with his energy in hope it would help. Then he gently cradled Wei Ying. Lan Wangji's lips were caressing his beloved's hair. The energy flux was steady.

"Lan Zhan?", a hoarse whisper.

"Mm?"

"What? Where?", Wei Ying tried to sit but Lan Wangji gently held him down.

"You've shielded us during the ritual to free Wen Qing. You're seriously wounded."

"Wen Qing?"

"She's alive."

"Nie Huaisang? Jiang Cheng? You?"

"You've protected us all. Though… your wounds…"

"Lan Zhan! You cannot stay here if I'm dying!", his Wei Ying was always too clever.

"Wei Ying cannot die", Lan Wangji replied, "Why are you wounded here?"

"Spiritual injuries. It was energy, nothing else, which hit me. I am not good at healing… I don't feel pain now."

No… Please no…

"That's good Lan Zhan. We both know what it means, but believe me, it's better this way. I am an expert in it, afterall!", he chuckled.

Lan Zhan froze waiting for the laugh to change in a bloody cough but nothing like that happened.

"You have to leave me", Wei Ying's trembling hand reached Lan Wangi's face and caressed it.

It was too much, Lan Wangji repositioned Wei Ying the way he was able to kiss him. He realized he had forgotten to ask for his consent but his kiss was reciprocated enthusiastically, even if the angle was quite awkward.

A/N

Thanks to my Beta - Legate_of_Apples!