The townspeople of Gusu City were able to evacuate on their own, allowing Pan Wukun to rush to the Cloud Recesses with Lan Wangji.

With cultivation abilities, Lan Wangji was able to quickly change back into his GusuLan sect robes.

"Why, Lan Zhan? You could sneak past the QishanWen sect cultivators as a peasant," Pan Wukun said.

Lan Wangji shook his head and said firmly, "I will fight the Wens and defend my home as a Lan!"

By the time they reached the Cloud Recesses on their swords, they were too late.

The QishanWen sect had already set it ablaze.

Lan Wangji's body shook with anger.

"We need to get to the Library Pavilion! Stay close!" Lan Wangji told Pan Wukun.

"Lan-er-gongzi!" Lan cultivators appeared.

Lan Wangji confirmed with them that they had already evacuated the rabbits' nest.

Good. Little Carrot, Snowball, and Dusk were safe.

"What of Meng Xingyao?" Pan Wukun asked.

"Last we saw of him, he was helping Zewu-jun and Su Minshan save books from the Library Pavilion."

Shit, Pan Wukun thought. It wasn't confirmed if Meng Xingyao had escaped with Lan Xichen and Su She yet.

"Wangji! Pan Wukun!" Lan Qiren appeared. He frowned and asked, "You were outside of the Cloud Recesses. Why didn't you go away to safety, Wangji?"

Lan Wangji's face was determined. "I would not have just left everyone to fend for themselves. Pan Wukun helped me return safely."

Lan Qiren feared for Lan Wangji's life but he was also proud of him. He nodded at Pan Wukun in thanks. He turned back to Lan Wangji. "Wangji. I must go assist your father."

"Be careful, shufu!"

Lan Qiren nodded at Lan Wangji. Then he gazed intensely into Pan Wukun's eyes. "Protect Lan Wangji with your life."

Lan Qiren rushed off to reach Lan Qizheng.

The way to the Library Pavilion was littered with corpses, both Wen and Lan.

At the sight of his dead fellow sect disciples, Lan Wangji's face turned into a mix of righteous fury and sorrow.

A pang of grief shot through Pan Wukun. She recognized some of them as several of the healers she worked with. Even if she had left that warning note for the GusuLan sect, they still ended up dying.

"More enemies over here!"

Wen cultivators appeared and charged at Pan Wukun and Lan Wangji.

The adrenaline pumped through Pan Wukun as she swung her sword.

Pan Wukun and Lan Wangji fought back-to-back.

Pan Wukun's arms moved through the motions automatically, just like the usual slicing through undead corpses.

Yet she was not faced with the rotting face of an undead corpse, but a human being.

Something warm splattered onto Pan Wukun's face.

She wiped her cheek and her fingers came away coated in red.

So this was human blood. Someone else's blood.

Pan Wukun had no time to dwell on what she had just done.

More Wen cultivators attacked her.

This was a fight to the death.

Lan Wangji's white robes became smeared with blood.

More Wen cultivators fell to Pan Wukun and Lan Wangji's blades.

When it was over, Pan Wukun and Lan Wangji stood amongst a pile of Wen corpses.

Pan Wukun looked into Lan Wangji's eyes, seeing the flames of the burning Cloud Recesses reflected in them. He was enraged at the Wens and avenged his fellow disciples' deaths. His anger subsided once he saw the horror in Pan Wukun's expression.

Pan Wukun's hands shook. "I've…I've never killed before."

"Pan Chun," Lan Wangji said softly.

To Pan Wukun's surprise, Lan Wangji gently took her hands in his. "You were defending yourself. You brought justice to my fellow sect disciples' deaths."

Pan Wukun gazed intently at Lan Wangji, trying to steady her hands and breathing.

Lan Wangji was the only thing keeping her anchored.

They were okay. They were both still alive. Lan Wangji was still alive.

His hands were still warm...

Pan Wukun slowly released Lan Wangji's hands. "I'm fine now. Let's go."

They reached the Library Pavilion, finding it aflame.

"No!" Lan Wangji cried. He looked around frantically. "Xiongzhang! Xiongzhang!"

Pan Wukun tried to calm Lan Wangji down. "Lan Zhan! Zewu-jun must've already fled to safety with the Library Pavilion's books!"

If Lan Xichen was dead, they would have found his corpse here along with Meng Xingyao's and Su She's.

Lan Wangji nodded shakily. "Right! That is what xiongzhang would do!"

"Well, well, well. Isn't this touching?"

Wen Xu walked up to the Library Pavilion with some of his cultivators following close behind. "It's an honor, Lan-er-gongzi. Pity I missed Zewu-jun."

"Wen Xu!" Lan Wangji growled.

Wen Xu chuckled and sneered at Lan Wangji. "I wonder. What would the GusuLan sect be without its Library Pavilion? Especially with its books burnt to ashes?"

Wen Xu turned to Pan Wukun. "And you, rogue cultivator, should've known better than to interfere. You should've run when you had the chance. Now you'll die for your insolence!"

Lan Wangji moved to stand in front of Pan Wukun protectively.

"Wen-gongzi!" A Wen cultivator appeared and saluted Wen Xu. "The GusuLan sect cultivators had already left with all the books in the Library Pavilion before the building burned!"

Wen Xu was furious. "What? So you're saying none of the books burned?"

"Unfortunately yes, Wen-gongzi."

Wen Xu gritted his teeth. He pointed his sword at Lan Wangji. If he couldn't get the Library Pavilion's books and Lan Xichen, he could take his anger and frustration out on Lan Wangji. He smiled sadistically. "Go and break his leg."

"Yes, Wen-gongzi!" The Wen cultivators charged.

Lan Wangji and Pan Wukun moved together in sync and managed to cut them down.

Wen Xu growled. "Do I have to do everything myself?" He lunged forward to attack.

Pan Wukun and Lan Wangji readied themselves.

Pan Wukun had to choose her next moves carefully. Wen Xu was a more skilled opponent than any of the Wen lackeys they faced so far. What other techniques did she have to counter him?

She remembered the second set of sword moves Pan Heng taught her back in Xuhou. He had warned her, "These new sword forms are only to be used as a last resort, understand? Be certain that no other cultivators witness you using these forms."

Pan Wukun adjusted her sword arm and shifted her body. - Sorry, A-ge! But I have no choice!

Pan Wukun charged at Wen Xu, changing her sword forms.

Wen Xu's eyes widened in shock.

"Stay away from Lan Wangji!" Pan Wukun snarled.

Wen Xu and Pan Wukun swung their swords at each other.

Wen Xu leaped away, barely escaping with a slash instead of being impaled by Yuyun.

The same happened to Pan Wukun.

"Pan Chun!" Lan Wangji rushed over to Pan Wukun and held her, letting her lean on his shoulder for support.

Pan Wukun winced. The slash in her side hurt and bled. But it wasn't fatal.

Pan Wukun and Lan Wangji looked over at Wen Xu, who was clutching a hand to the bloody slash in his side.

Wen Xu's eyes filled with fury. "You!" He pointed his sword at Pan Wukun. "Tell me how you know Wen sect techniques!"

Pan Wukun froze. "What?"

She said nothing else, not knowing how to respond, too shocked and processing what she had just heard.

"Well? Answer me!" Wen Xu roared.

Before Wen Xu could do anything else, GusuLan sect and QingheNie sect cultivators appeared.

Wen Xu was shocked. "The QingheNie sect has arrived with reinforcements?!" He cursed. "We can't fend them all off!" He shot a signal flare to retreat into the sky. As he ran off, he glared at Pan Wukun and Lan Wangji, promising retribution.

Pan Wukun sagged against Lan Wangji's shoulder.

"Pan Chun!" Lan Wangji cried out in worry.

"Wangji!" someone called.

Pan Wukun looked to see a GusuLan sect cultivator dressed in an outfit similar to what Lan Xichen wore as an adult. The man looked a lot like the older adult version of Lan Wangji during the time of Wei Wuxian's resurrection.

Lan Wangji's eyes filled with relief. "Father!"

Pan Wukun looked upon Lan Wangji's father with amazement.

So this was the GusuLan sect leader. Lan Qiren's older brother. The father of Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji. Lan Qizheng. Qingheng-Jun.

Without warning, Lan Qizheng shoved Pan Wukun away from Lan Wangji.

Some GusuLan cultivators restrained Pan Wukun and held her down.

"Father, no!" Lan Wangji cried in alarm. He tried to get to Pan Wukun but Lan Qizheng stopped him.

"Stay back, Wangji!" Lan Qizheng glared at Pan Wukun. "We heard everything Wen Xu said about him! It's his fault that Lan Qiren is dead!"

A/N: If it makes anyone feel any better, Lan Qiren is absolutely thriving in Tomodachi Life.

I was only doing frequent updates for summer vacation over the past few months. So the next update will take some time (at least 3 months or longer). This fanfic's also returning to infrequent/sporadic updates. I just got a new temp job so I'm going to be busy for a while. Stay tuned!