The docks were chilly this morning.
Pan Wukun leaned against the wall, mindlessly chewing on a piece of straw grass. She was waiting for Meng Xingyao to find them a boat that was free to provide them passage on the river.
This town was bustling with crowds of people doing mercantile business, traveling, or sightseeing.
So it was going to take a while for Meng Xingyao to find a free boat person while Pan Wukun rested.
A tingling sensation nagged at Pan Wukun.
Someone was watching her.
Pan Wukun didn't move, not wanting to reveal that she noticed anything. Her eyes trailed over to the left, onto the town street adjacent to the docks.
A little boy?
The boy was dressed in lavish robes. So a noble's kid then.
The boy was fixated on Pan Wukun, his mouth hanging wide open.
Why was this kid looking at her like that? Did he think that her straw grass was candy?
Wait. Where were his parents?!
A noble boy left alone was asking for a kidnapping!
The boy's eyes lit up and he squealed as he ran across the street towards Pan Wukun.
Pan Wukun leaped away from the wall.
Shit! That carriage was going to run over that kid!
"Kid! Look out!" Pan Wukun shouted.
The boy turned his head, finally noticing the carriage rolling down the street and the horses about to trample him. His eyes widened with fear and he screamed.
Pan Wukun caught the boy in her arms and she rolled across the street to safety.
Pan Wukun panted. "Whew. That was a close one. Are you all right, kid?"
The boy trembled in Pan Wukun's arms, clinging to her tightly as he wailed loudly.
"A-Yu!" A noblewoman rushed over to Pan Wukun and the boy.
"Mother!" the boy cried.
Pan Wukun let the boy go so he could run into his mother's arms.
"A-Yu! I've warned you not to run off across the street like that! If that young man hadn't saved you, you would've gotten…" Fear filled the young woman's eyes. She tightened her hug around A-Yu. "You would've gotten seriously injured!"
The boy sniffled. "But Mother, I really wanted to see his sword!"
"A-Yu!" the mother scolded. "You shouldn't trouble this cultivator so much!" She bowed to Pan Wukun. "Apologies, esteemed cultivator. How can I repay you?"
"No need," Pan Wukun said. "Xiao-Yu is safe and that is what matters."
The carriage driver calmed his horses and rushed over to A-Yu. "Is the little boy all right? I apologize!"
Pan Wukun looked upon the carriage driver, thinking, He only stopped because he almost hit a noble's child. He would not have done the same for a street kid.
After A-Yu's mother assured the carriage driver that he was not at fault for her son's naivety, he quickly left with his horses and carriage in relief.
Pan Wukun removed Yuyun from her sash belt. She left the scabbard on so A-Yu didn't cut himself. She held it out to A-Yu. "You can't hold it since it's too big and heavy for you, but you may touch it."
A-Yu made grabby hands for Yuyun. "Lemme see! I wanna see!"
A-Yu's mother shook her head fondly. She hoped her son learned to be more careful. But he was still a child. It would be good for the cultivator's sword to get his mind off his near-death experience.
A-Yu "oohed" and "aahed" as he rubbed his hands all over Yuyun's scabbard.
Despite Pan Wukun's words, A-Yu tried to yank Yuyun out of its scabbard. He pouted. "Why won't the sword come out?"
Good Yuyun. Kids and sharp objects were not a good combination.
"The thing is, xiao-Yu, the sword isn't safe for you to use right now. If you hurt yourself using it, we could get into a lot of trouble," Pan Wukun explained.
"Oh." A-Yu stopped pulling on Yuyun's hilt. He moved his hand to trace his fingers over the carved characters on Yuyun's scabbard. "Yu…yun." He giggled. "Yuyun! Yuyun!"
"Yes! That's my sword's name! Now, xiao-Yu, I need you to step back so I can show you Yuyun out of its scabbard."
A-Yu stepped back and squealed as Pan Wukun unsheathed Yuyun. She held it up high, with the tip of the blade pointing towards the sky.
A-Yu and everyone in Yuyun's vicinity looked upon the sword in awe.
"So shiny!" A-Yu remarked. He turned to his mother. "Mother! I want a sword!"
A-Yu's mother sighed. "A wooden one, for now, A-Yu. You can have a real one when you're old enough."
"Aw." A-Yu puffed his cheeks in disappointment.
Pan Wukun twirled Yuyun around a few times, cheering A-Yu up. He cheered and clapped.
A-Yu looked up at Pan Wukun, eyes sparkling. "What's your name?" he asked.
Pan Wukun sheathed Yuyun. "Pan Chun, courtesy name: Wukun. A rogue cultivator. Please call me Pan-xiushi."
"A rogue cultivator is a cultivator who is not from any of the sects, A-Yu. They wander around the world at their own whims," A-Yu's mother explained.
"Mother! He's just like those wandering heroes in the storybooks!" A-Yu exclaimed.
Pan Wukun blinked. Did she really look that heroic? With her travel gear, straw hat, and farmer's coat, she looked more scroungy than heroic.
A-Yu's mother tugged on his hand. "A-Yu. We must get going now."
Pan Wukun tipped her straw hat to A-Yu and his mother. "Be more careful when crossing the street, ok, xiao-Yu?"
"Ok!" As A-Yu walked away with his mother, he waved at Pan Wukun. "Bye-bye, Pan-xiushi!"
Pan Wukun smiled and waved back. Ah, kids…She may not want any but they were sure still adorable.
"Wukun-ge!" Meng Xingyao ran up to Pan Wukun and pointed at the docks. "I've found someone who's free to give us a ride!"
"Great work, Xingyao-di!"
A boat woman waved to Meng Xingyao and Pan Wukun. "Hey there! I'm Qi Ting! So where are you two cultivators off to?"
"We just need to get to the other side of this river, that's all." Pan Wukun handed some coins to Qi Ting.
Meng Xingyao and Pan Wukun set their belongings down in the sampan.
Qi Ting used a pole to push the sampan away from shore. She used a paddle to row the sampan and off they went.
Far from the town, the river was quite peaceful. The water gently rocked the sampan. The birds chirped and the frogs croaked.
Pan Wukun lay down and shut her eyes, using her pack as a pillow.
"About to take a nap?" Qi Ting asked.
Still keeping her eyes closed, Pan Wukun answered, "Yes. The boat passage is so smooth that I can't help but relax. Your boating skills are unparalleled."
Qi Ting laughed. "Many thanks! I had plenty of practice growing up in Caiyi Town!"
Pan Wukun's eyes shot open.
"Ah…is that so?" Pan Wukun no longer felt like taking a nap.
"Yes! Quite so!" Qi Ting smiled with pride.
"Speaking of Caiyi Town, I've received word of strange happenings there lately. Over the past few months, people have been falling into the water and cargo ships have been randomly sinking in the riverway leading up to Biling Lake…" Qi Ting paused. "Pan-xiushi. Meng-xiushi. I ask for your help."
Oh no. - Pan Wukun's lips became set into a tight line. "I'm afraid Meng Yao and I cannot assist with whatever's happening in Caiyi Town."
Meng Xingyao stared at Pan Wukun in shock. She had never refused a job request before!
"What?! 'No' already?! Aren't you going to at least hear me out first?" Qi Ting asked with chagrin. She clasped her hands together. "Please! My sister lives in Caiyi Town! I don't know if she's safe or not!"
"Caiyi Town is situated near GusuLan sect. Meng Xingyao and I are rogue cultivators. The GusuLan cultivators are better equipped and more qualified than us. Our presence there would just be a nuisance to them," Pan Wukun explained.
"What does that matter? All the more reason for you to be there! Wouldn't you want to make friends with cultivators of the Great Sects and bolster your reputation?" Qi Ting said.
"The people in Caiyi Town will be fine. Just focus on doing your job," Pan Wukun said in irritation.
Qi Ting pointed an accusing finger at Pan Wukun. "Many people pass through my boat routes. I'll tell everyone I meet about your refusal to help. People from far and wide! All shall know of your cowardice!"
If word spread of Pan Wukun and Meng Xingyao ditching the Caiyi Town incident, both of them would be out of luck in future cultivation jobs.
Not to mention the dent that would be put into their earnings. They'd be driven out of villages, eliminating their best means of shelter. They rarely stayed at inns since they couldn't afford it most of the time.
A bad reputation among the locals would do them no good.
"You have rightfully admonished me. I shall go to Caiyi Town." Pan Wukun hoped she sounded genuinely apologetic enough to appease Qi Ting. Bad idea to show her true feelings and let her irritation slip through again.
Qi Ting gave Pan Wukun a satisfied smile. "I thought you might say that." She adjusted the boat paddle, changing course. "Now, to Caiyi Town!"
Pan Wukun tightly clutched Yuyun and prayed.
Please let us arrive in Caiyi Town after everything's over. Please.
People in white robes roamed around Caiyi Town. And yes, they wore white ribbons on their foreheads.
Ah. The GusuLan cultivators were still here.
Pan Wukun's prayers had been completely ignored.
Pan Wukun and Meng Xingyao's swords remained tied to their sash belts, just in case any water ghosts attacked Qi Ting's boat.
Luckily, no GusuLan cultivators had spotted them yet.
Upon entering the market within Caiyi Town, Qi Ting waved at a passing loquat seller. "A-jie!"
The loquat seller, Qi Xin gasped. "What are you doing back home, A-mei? You know the waters around here have been dangerous lately!"
Qi Ting hugged Qi Xin. "Don't worry! Don't worry! I made sure to take a safe route here. And I have two cultivators with me for protection!"
Qi Xin bowed to Pan Wukun and Meng Xingyao. "Thank you for keeping my sister safe!" She passed a basket of loquats to Pan Wukun. "Here! Have these loquats as a gift!
Pan Wukun waved her hands in protest. "Oh no, it's all right! No need to-" She accepted the basket of loquats and didn't say more, not wanting to be rude. Qi Xin was also very insistent.
As Pan Wukun respectfully acknowledged Qi Xin's gratitude, she couldn't help but wonder, Wait. Is this the same loquat seller who gave loquats to Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji? - Ok. Ok. It's ok. No problem. Wei Wuxian isn't here at this very moment. So everything is fi-
"Pan-xiushi!"
…Fuck.
In her peripheral vision, Pan Wukun spotted Wei Wuxian waving from a nearby boat, a wide smile on his face.
Pan Wukun did not dare turn to face him. She lowered her head and tilted her straw hat down to cover her face. As long as she did not acknowledge Wei Wuxian's call, he would simply realize that he had mistaken her identity.
Yes, a foolproof plan.
"Pan-xiushi! Pan-xiushi!" Wei Wuxian called again.
Pan Wukun sank further down her seat, covering her face with her knees. - Cái thằng này![1] Why are you coming closer?! Take a hint!
Pan Wukun couldn't just jump out of the boat and run off. That would be such a dead giveaway and Wei Wuxian would definitely give chase.
"Wukun-ge. That guy is calling out to you."
"Shush, Xingyao-di."
A whine came from the side. "Pan-xiushi. Why are you ignoring me?"
Damn it. Judging by how close his voice was, Wei Wuxian had rowed his sampan right next to theirs.
Wait. Why had their sampan stopped? Did Qi Ting just stop rowing?!
"Hey, Pan-xiushi," Qi Ting said.
Wei Wuxian let out a triumphant shout. "So it is Pan-xiushi! I knew it!"
Pan Wukun groaned. - Damn it, Qi Ting.
"Is this guy an old friend of yours?" Qi Ting asked. "Doesn't look like he's going to leave anytime soon."
Meng Xingyao nudged Pan Wukun. She had to accept defeat.
Pan Wukun sighed and lifted her head up.
Wei Wuxian grinned. "Hey, Pan-xiushi! I didn't expect to see you here!"
Pan Wukun forced a smile onto her face as she turned to look at the embodiment of her doom. "Ah…Wei-gongzi, what a pleasant surprise."
It had been a while since Pan Wukun's encounter with Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng when they helped her fight off those minor sect disciples.
So how did Wei Wuxian even remember her name and face? - Oi! Wei Wuxian! Aren't you supposed to have a notoriously bad memory about people who are insignificant to you and the main plot?! What the fuck?!
A white-robed boy approached Wei Wuxian from another sampan. "Wei-gongzi, you know this person?"
Wei Wuxian nodded. "That's right! I met Pan-xiushi not too long ago, Zewu-jun!"
Considering the friendly smile on the white-robed boy's face, this must be Lan Xichen. That meant the identical stone-faced boy in white robes next to him was Lan Wangji.
"Wei Wuxian! Don't just go rushing off like that!" Jiang Cheng scolded. He turned to Pan Wukun. "Apologies for his rash behavior, Pan-xiushi. It's good to see you again."
Pan Wukun inwardly groaned. The canon trap had closed in on her!
Everyone introduced themselves as per common courtesy. Then Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng explained how they met Pan Wukun.
Meng Xingyao now realized that Pan Wukun had help that night she fought off those minor sect cultivators. He wondered why she was so uncomfortable around Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng though.
Pan Wukun stood silently with a neutral expression, begging for the whole ordeal to be over already.
Wei Wuxian's eyes locked onto the basket of loquats Pan Wukun held. "An entire basket of loquats, Pan-xiushi? Do you have that big of an appetite or are you planning to present it to a beautiful maiden?" he teased.
"None of those things! I gifted those loquats to him! Pan-xiushi and Meng-xiushi helped escort my sister here from the town down the river," Qi Xin explained.
Wei Wuxian grinned. "Jiejie has a generous heart!"
Qi Xin giggled.
"They may have done the escorting, but I'm the one who rowed us by boat all the way here." Qi Ting flexed her arm and twirled her boat paddle.
"Whoa! You're from that far away?" Wei Wuxian exclaimed. "And you're a boat person? You must get to have adventures in many different places!"
"True! I'm a well-traveled sailor!" Qi Ting chuckled. "Your friend's quite the charmer, Pan-xiushi."
"He's not my friend!" Pan Wukun hissed.
Wei Wuxian pouted. "So cold, Pan-xiushi!" Then his lips quirked. Something gleamed in his eyes as if he was met with a new entertaining challenge.
Jiang Cheng noticed the expression on Wei Wuxian's face and could feel a headache coming on. He jabbed Wei Wuxian's arm, whispering, "Don't bother Pan-xiushi like you are doing to Lan Wangji!"
Wei Wuxian blinked innocently. "Bother? I'm not doing any such thing. It's just playing around, Jiang Cheng."
Jiang Cheng crossed his arms. - Hmph! "Playing around," he says!
Wei Wuxian hung his arm over Jiang Cheng's shoulder with a grin like he always did.
Meanwhile, Lan Xichen and Meng Xingyao were having a pleasant conversation.
"Meng-xiushi, you say you and Pan-xiushi are rogue cultivators?" Lan Xichen asked.
"Yes, Zewu-jun. Wukun-ge and I have been traveling and going on night-hunts together for over two years now," Meng Xingyao said.
Lan Xichen chuckled. "You two must be very close." He turned to Lan Wangji. "We should go out on a night-hunt together sometime, Wangji."
"Yes, that would be wonderful, xiongzhang," Lan Wangji said, keeping his eyes focused on Wei Wuxian talking to Pan Wukun.
Lan Xichen smiled. "Wangji, did you want to go make friends with Pan-xiushi along with Wei-gongzi?"
Lan Wangji jerked his head away from Pan Wukun and Wei Wuxian. "No, xiongzhang. I must focus on exorcising the water ghosts."
Lan Xichen knew not to be pushy with his brother. "All right then." He faced Meng Xingyao again. "Meng-xiushi, would you and Pan-xiushi happen to be in Caiyi Town to handle the water ghosts as well?"
"Not exactly. We were asked by Qi Ting to escort her here. We are on our way to the next town over. The water ghosts are a surprise to us," Meng Xingyao explained.
"I see," Lan Xichen said. It wasn't strange for the rogue cultivators to not know about the water ghosts infesting the area. Sect problems were sect problems. So the cultivation sects received information about each other's troubles. Rogue cultivators did not have such quick direct access to this information network.
Pan Wukun moved away from Wei Wuxian to stand on the edge of Qi Ting's sampan, saluting Lan Xichen and the others. "As pleasant as it has been meeting you all, I'm afraid Meng Xingyao and I must be leaving now."
Qi Ting frowned. "Hey, Pan-xiushi, did you forget our talk earlier?"
Pan Wukun calmly answered, "No, I haven't forgotten. But now that the GusuLan cultivators are present, they can judge whether or not Meng Xingyao and I will ultimately be a benefit or a hindrance to their investigation."
Pan Wukun gave Lan Xichen an amiable smile. "Meng Xingyao and I are merely rogue cultivators. Surely, we would just be getting in the way, Zewu-jun."
Lan Xichen warmly smiled back. "Nonsense. No need to look down on your own capabilities. We welcome whatever assistance fellow cultivators can offer."
Lan Xichen really was too kind for his own good while also destroying Pan Wukun's last hope.
Now Pan Wukun couldn't refuse without appearing rude to the heir of the GusuLan sect.
Pan Wukun saluted Lan Xichen. "Very well, Meng Xingyao and I shall do whatever we can to help deal with the water ghosts."
Pan Wukun, Meng Xingyao, and the GusuLan sect disciples subdued the water ghosts without trouble.
Wei Wuxian found the water ghosts under Lan Wangji's sampan. Then he explained how Suibian was named, infuriating Lan Wangji.
Great. Everything was going according to canon so far.
Then Wei Wuxian waved Suibian in Pan Wukun's direction. "What do you think, Pan-xiushi?"
Pan Wukun shrugged. "Well, it's...whatever, I guess?"
Wei Wuxian paused for a moment. Then he burst out laughing. "Ha ha ha ha! That's a good one!"
Pan Wukun scolded herself. - Shit. Did I just make a pun by accident? Damn it! How do I say things that don't endear me to Wei Wuxian?
Pan Wukun's eyes flicked over to Lan Wangji. He was looking at her, stone-faced as ever.
Pan Wukun wondered…was he irritated at her? Oh, Wei Wuxian was laughing at her unintentional wordplay. Lan Wangji was most definitely irritated! - How do I say things without incurring the wrath of Lan Wangji having too much vinegar?!
A long black shadow passed below the sampans.
"There! Another water ghost!" Everyone rushed to their nets. But when the nets surfaced, they were empty.
The cultivators didn't know what to make of this, but Pan Wukun did.
The water ghosts were the least of their problems here.
Now came the Waterborne Abyss.
Su She watched as Lan Wangji sent Bichen into the water.
Bichen resurfaced and returned to Lan Wangji's grip.
Since Lan Wangji used his sword to scout out the enemy, surely Su She could too! He could finally show off his capabilities as a cultivator!
Su She made the sword hand seal, determined. Now was his chance!
A hand wrapped around Su She's wrist. "I would strongly advise against that, gongzi."
What? - Su She turned. The cultivator holding onto his wrist was not wearing anything with sect emblems. It was one of the rogue cultivators that Lan Xichen brought along, Meng Xingyao.
Anger flared within Su She. How dare this no-name cultivator doubt his abilities!
"Neither of our cultivation levels is high enough to do that," Meng Xingyao pointed out. "If we tried, our swords will be lost in the river."
Su She was about to retort until he noticed Meng Xingyao keeping a tight grip on his own sword. Meng Xingyao meant what he said.
The commotion between Meng Xingyao and Su She caught the attention of nearby GusuLan sect disciples.
"He's right, Su She. Sending your sword into the water while the enemy is still unknown would have been foolish," one of the older GusuLan sect disciples said.
"But er-gongzi…" Su She's voice trailed off as his fellow disciples sent him admonishing looks.
It was then that Su She understood.
None of Su She's fellow disciples had followed Lan Wangji's lead and sent their swords flying into the water.
Lan Wangji had done it, but only because he was solely capable of doing so.
"...I see." Su She's head hung low.
Meng Xingyao released Su She's wrist. "Come, Su-gongzi. We still have more water ghosts to fight. You cannot waste your sword talents."
Su She lifted his head up.
Meng Xingyao's hand wrapped around Fanhua. He gave Su She a determined nod.
Su She's hand moved to his sword. "Right!"
Pan Wukun carefully surveyed the lake. They hadn't reached the heart of Biling Lake yet. And Lan Wangji had already sent Bichen into the water…Now was the time. "Everyone, stop their boats right now!" she shouted.
Everyone's boats jerked to a halt. Some of the cultivators stumbled, crying out in surprise.
"What do you think you're doing, just yelling out of nowhere like that?" A GusuLan sect disciple waved his boat paddle in the air at Pan Wukun. "You're disrupting the exorcism!"
"Wait!" Lan Xichen said. "Let's listen to what Pan-xiushi has to say!"
"Thank you, Zewu-jun." Pan Wukun hopped onto the roof of her sampan. "I've encountered many entities on my travels as a rogue cultivator. So I'm quite familiar with what we're up against right now. We are no longer dealing with water ghosts, but a much more powerful threat. Black shadows in the water that cannot be caught? All leading us in the same direction? The creature is merely using a black robe to lure us to the heart of the lake. These are the signs of a Waterborne Abyss."
Pan Wukun was lying about meeting a Waterborne Abyss in the past. But no one could refute what she had or hadn't seen on her travels before meeting Meng Xingyao.
A black shadow flashed by the boats again.
Lan Wangji speared the shadow with Bichen, recovering a single black robe.
The GusuLan cultivators gasped. "He's right! It really is a black robe!"
"We don't have the means to deal with the Waterborne Abyss. We must return to Caiyi Town!" Lan Xichen ordered.
Pan Wukun sighed in relief as she rowed her boat alongside the others. Everything was working out just fine.
Wait…Something was-
Pan Wukun whipped Yuyun out, slashing through black tendrils in the water that nearly grabbed her from behind. - That was a close one.
"Pan-xiushi! Look out!"
Pan Wukun felt a shove on her back.
Pan Wukun turned her head just as black tendrils wrapped around Wei Wuxian's body.
While Pan Wukun's attention was on one set of black tendrils, another set had tried to sneak attack her from her blind spot!
"Wei Wuxian!" Pan Wukun, Jiang Cheng, and Lan Wangji all screamed.
Pan Wukun rushed to grab Wei Wuxian's hand.
But it was too late. Before Pan Wukun could reach him, Wei Wuxian was viciously dragged underwater.
"Damn it!" Pan Wukun mounted Yuyun to chase after Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng followed after her with their swords.
"Wangji!" Lan Xichen called. He leaped onto his sword. He pointed to a group of GusuLan sect disciples. "You disciples over there! Head back to Caiyi Town and await our return! Be ready to inform the sect elders of what's happened here! The rest of you, follow me!"
"Yes, Zewu-jun!"
As Pan Wukun flew after the Waterborne Abyss's black tendrils, she thought about what had changed. She had warned everyone about the Waterborne Abyss. So the Waterborne Abyss had to change tactics. Since it couldn't lure them away with the black robe, it had to capture someone as bait and force them to come!
Damn Waterborne Abyss was persistent.
The dark green water below Pan Wukun steadily grew darker, almost becoming black. - Shit! She couldn't spot Wei Wuxian anymore!
"Pan-xiushi!" Jiang Cheng called.
Pan Wukun saw Jiang Cheng and most of the other cultivators flying behind her. "Everyone! We need to split up! Wei Wuxian could be anywhere underneath the lake right now!"
Everyone scattered throughout the lake.
Pan Wukun searched the water carefully. - Come on, Wei Wuxian. Where are you? Couldn't you come up with some ingenious escape plan by now?
She looked over at the others.
Jiang Cheng hadn't found Wei Wuxian yet. Neither did Meng Xingyao or Lan Xichen.
But Lan Wangji would save Wei Wuxian, right? He had to!
Pan Wukun looked over at Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji was empty-handed. His shoulders were stiff as he searched the water fixedly.
How long had Wei Wuxian been submerged underwater? At this rate, he'll drown!
Pan Wukun stared into the dark depths of the water. - Looks like I have no choice.
"Wait. What is he-"
"Pan-xiushi, don't!"
Pan Wukun was never at her best element in the water. Never mind being underwater.
Where Wei Wuxian was dragged down wasn't in the vicinity of the Waterborne Abyss's maelstrom, thank goodness. But he was definitely being pulled towards there now.
The Waterborne Abyss pushed and pulled at Pan Wukun from all directions. She channeled spiritual power throughout her limbs to keep herself from getting thrown around by the harsh water currents.
Black tendrils tried to wrap around Pan Wukun. She sliced through them with Yuyun. - Fuck off! Fuck off!
She couldn't stay still for long. She had to keep moving.
She needed to get Wei Wuxian out of the water before he got sucked into the maelstrom.
Pumping bursts of spiritual power into her legs, Pan Wukun shot through the water like a bullet.
Where was Wei Wuxian? Where was he?
Pan Wukun's lungs burned.
Shit! She needed air!
Pan Wukun's head briefly resurfaced and then she dove back underwater.
She swam forward and swam deeper. Her ears were starting to hurt.
Red flashed in Pan Wukun's vision.
There! Wei Wuxian's red ribbon!
Pan Wukun rushed over to the flowing red ribbon.
Black tendrils were wrapping around Wei Wuxian like a cocoon. Only his head was visible.
Slicing through thick waves of black tendrils, Pan Wukun freed Wei Wuxian. She tightly held onto him with one arm.
As Pan Wukun hurried to reach the surface, black tendrils shot out from all directions.
Pan Wukun slashed her way through with Yuyun and kicked her legs as hard as she could.
Don't look back! Don't look back! Focus on reaching the surface!
Her lungs burned.
So close! So close!
Pan Wukun's hand shot above the water. She waved rapidly, trying to signal for help.
Something wrapped around Pan Wukun's ankle.
Pan Wukun nearly screamed.
She tried to attack with Yuyun, but more black tendrils wrapped around her sword and arm.
She was being pulled down! - No! No!
Even as Pan Wukun pumped spiritual power through her limbs, she wasn't getting any closer to the surface.
Black tendrils blocked out the sunlight.
Was this it?
Was she going to drown here? Fuck, that was one of the worst ways she didn't want to die.
Her lungs hurt.
Darkness was closing in.
...She was sorry her friends and family weren't going to see her again.
...She was sorry that Pan Heng's training was for nothing.
...She was sorry Wei Wuxian was going to die here with her too.
A sword shot through the water, cutting through the black tendrils that ensnared Pan Wukun and Wei Wuxian. It returned to the surface in a flash.
A hand grabbed Pan Wukun's arm, pulling her out of the water.
Pan Wukun coughed and heaved in big gulps of air.
Lan Wangji stood atop Bichen. He reached a hand towards Wei Wuxian. "I will carry him."
Pan Wukun let go of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji pulled him onto his back.
To Pan Wukun's surprise, Lan Wangji threw her onto his back too. Pan Wukun hung over one shoulder while Wei Wuxian hung over the other.
Pan Wukun marveled at Lan Wangji's strength. At this age, he was already strong enough to lift two grown teenagers onto his back?!
The Lan family's arm strength was no joke.
Jiang Cheng flew on his sword next to Pan Wukun's side. "Idiot! What were you thinking diving into the water!" Catching sight of Wei Wuxian though, he was visibly relieved.
The Waterborne Abyss was not so relieved and happy.
The skies turned grey and the waves crashed heavily underneath the cultivators.
Waterspouts erupted out of the Waterborne Abyss, whirling columns of air and water fast approaching!
Everyone dodged and twisted around the waterspouts.
Lan Wangji tightened his grip to keep Pan Wukun and Wei Wuxian secure on his back.
Pan Wukun tightly clung to Lan Wangji and squeezed her eyes shut. Her stomach rolled. - Ugh. This was not unlike the roller coasters back home.
Everyone managed to make it safely back to shore.
Pan Wukun rested her head against Lan Wangji's shoulder with a groan.
Meng Xingyao rushed over to Pan Wukun. "Wukun-ge? Are you all right?"
Pan Wukun groaned again but she put up a shaky thumbs-up.
Meng Xingyao sighed in relief.
Half a minute later, Pan Wukun's nausea faded enough that she felt ready to stand on her own. "Lan-er-gongzi, I'm fine. You can put me down now."
"Mn." Lan Wangji set Pan Wukun down and Meng Xingyao supported her on his shoulder.
"Thank you, Lan-er-gongzi. Thank you, Xingyao-di." Pan Wukun looked at Wei Wuxian.
Wei Wuxian was unconscious on Lan Wangji's back. He didn't look like he was in good shape.
Pan Wukun pointed at Wei Wuxian and then to the ground. "Wei Wuxian was underwater for some time. We should check his condition right away."
Lan Wangji gently laid Wei Wuxian down.
Meng Xingyao let Pan Wukun go so she could crouch down and hold her fingers to the side of Wei Wuxian's neck.
Pan Wukun also placed her ear next to Wei Wuxian's mouth and nose. Her eyes watched his chest. It lay still…
As for Wei Wuxian's pulse, he had none…
Jiang Cheng noticed the growing panic on Pan Wukun's face. "What is it? What's wrong with him?!"
"Wei Wuxian! He's not breathing!"
Glossary:
[1] Cái thằng này: "This guy" in Vietnamese. In this specific situation, Pan Wukun thinks of the phrase in a frustrated, scolding manner. It is only to be used with guys younger than you. Never, ever use this with your elders and guys older than you as that would be extremely rude.
A/N: Hi everyone. Sorry, I left you hanging the last update with Wei Wuxian just showing up for the first time.
I-uh-was dragged away by my muse to a new Naruto SI OC fanfic (Tales of a Scaredy Ninja, in which the female MC is reborn as Kuzumaki Haruto, a discount knockoff version of Naruto. The insulting part is that she's around even though Uzumaki Naruto still exists in the same world as her).
Whew. I had to reread the first half of the Cloud Recesses arc and the Caiyi Town section and rewatch the donghua's version of Caiyi Town for this chapter.
Hopefully, the 3 chapter update makes up for the wait. ^.^