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Two days before they were set to leave for Carp Tower, Wuxian woke up with a splitting headache. He had many things to prepare for the trip and today he had a meeting with Keeper Daozi. They need to go over the etiquettes that he needs to follow as the new Clan Treasure and soul-bond to his Excellency.
Keeper Daozi was reading from a long scroll all the rules and regulations while Wuxian was rubbing his pounding head. Keeper Daozi thought it was a sign of disapproval and tried to placate him: "Treasure Wei, I know that this all sounds overwhelming. As our Clan's most important figure, things are naturally going to be harder on you. Please bear with it. It's only for a week and you can come back with your head held high. I'm sure your new room will be ready by then. That's something to look forward to."
Wuxian took a deep breath and held his pain to look at the keeper: "I don't mind all the rules. Please forgive my tardiness, Keeper. I am just a little bit tired."
Keeper Daozi nods and continues: "I know you're not a big fan of our white robes but we have prepared your garments for this trip to match our clan's traditions. I am sorry Treasure Wei, but you have to adorn our sigil."
Wuxian sighs and nods: "I will wear whatever you wish for me to wear."
At this point, Wuxian just wanted to curl up and cry himself to sleep from the pain.
Keeper Daozi was confused with Wuxian's compliance. Normally at this point, the keeper has to call on some reinforcements, like Zewu Jun, to convince the Treasure to do something he doesn't wish to do.
Keeper Daozi gets up from across the table and sits next to Wuxian to take a better look at him: "Treasure Wei, do you not wish to go?"
Wuxian smiles at him and taps his shoulder: "I do. I just don't want to make your job harder. I know you work hard to keep Cloud Recesses up and running and I don't wish to be a thorn in your side. Besides, it's just a few rules and white garments for a week. I can do that."
Keeper Daozi nods and with a bow leaves the room. Wuxian lays his head on the table for a minute before Wen Ning goes in to take him to the Orchid Room. He's supposed to attend a lecture given by another senior cultivator from outside the clan. Apparently he was a big fan of Wuxian and would only teach the young disciples in his presence.
Wuxian walked slowly towards the teaching hall, cursing the sun for being too bright. He stumbles a few times and Wen Ning stops him a few paces from their destination. He looked up to ask why and saw the look of concern on Ning's face: "You look pale."
Wuxian huffs: "I think that's my new natural color."
He tries to pass Ning when he's grabbed by the arm. He turns to glare at Ning, but the fast movement only resulted in him almost face planting on the ground. Wen Ning caught him and sat him on the ground. He was so dizzy. Something warm made its way to his lips and when he wiped it and looked at his hand, he saw blood.
Wuxian whispers in frustration: "This cannot be happening again!"
Wen Ning takes out a piece of cloth and holds it to his nose to stop the bleeding: "Master Wei, do you feel faint? Should I call the healer?"
Wuxian grabs Ning by the collar and angrily says: "WE are going to this lecture. WE are going to finish the list of things I have to do today. I am tired of this illness ruining my life. If it cannot be fixed then I need to learn to power through it. Now.. help me up!"
Wen Ning looked like he was debating whether to listen to him or not, so Wuxian pulled him close and whispered threateningly: "Help me up or I will tell the girl in the spice shop that you have a crush on her!"
That got a fast reaction and soon they were in the lecture hall, listening to a talk about protection charms and whatnot. After a few hours of doing this and that, a few more nose bleeds and dizzy spells, Wuxian was ready to drop. At this point, he's having problems taking a deep breath and that's not helping the agonizing headache he had. He had one more thing to attend to and he should be free to go lay down and sleep for days. He had a meeting with Zewu Jun and the clan treasurer to see which item they're going to present the new Laling Jin Sect Leader as a gift.
He had to lean on Ning to reach the door then compose himself a few seconds before putting on a smile and going in. Apparently, Zewu Jun was not easily fooled. He got up to hold Wuxian's arm: "What's wrong? You look very pale."
Wuxian chuckles and passes him to sit at the meeting table: "Brother, I will be fine. Let's sit and finish the task in hand then you can fuss all you want."
After an hour filled with shiny ornaments and old looking precious things, they finally reached an agreement and picked an old book binder that has magical properties: when used, it will only open the pages the reader seeks which shortens any research time.
The clan treasurer excused himself and Zewu Jun sat next to Wuxian, who was leaning on the table to stay upright: "Why are you here if you're ill?"
Wuxian doesn't answer and tries with no success to take a deep breath.
Zewu Jun tried again: "Brother Wei, you have a trip planned in two days. You need to keep your strength up to complete the journey."
Wuxian looked at him to answer but his breath was caught in a cough. He couldn't stop and when he sensed a metallic taste in his mouth, he looked into his hand to see it covered in blood.
Things started to move fast from there. He can hear people shouting and things moving around him, but he was busy trying to take a decent breath but ending up with more blood on his hands from coughing. All of a sudden, he's leaning on something warm and looking into the eyes of a very concerned Wangji: "Wei Ying! Just breathe! Everything will be alright.. just breathe!"
Wuxian tried to reply but couldn't take enough breath to form a sentence and looked tiredly at Wangji: ".. hurts.. to.. breathe.."
Wangji strokes his cheek and nods: "I know.. I know.. Just try your best, alright? The healer is transferring energy right now and soon you will feel better."
Wuxian nods and sees the hand around his waist had black veins: "Ning.."
The body behind him shushes him and he touches one of the hands embracing him: "You're.. so.. warm.." He can feel Ning's embrace tightens a little. He closes his eyes to concentrate on breathing and falls into unconsciousness.
Wangji was in a state of high panic. He was in a meeting when he felt like he couldn't breathe. That lasted for a minute but the moment it was gone, he was out the door running around looking for Wuxian. He found him with an equally panicked Zewu Jun, coughing an alarming amount of blood. Wuxian was in so much pain he didn't seem to notice anything happening around him. When the healer transferred energy and instructed some of his disciples to go fetch and prepare medicines, his shortness of breath and bloody cough subsided enough for him to notice Wangji trying to calm him down. After Wuxian passed out, they didn't want to move him until he's breathing was better, so they all stayed on the ground looking at a pale Wuxian with half his face covered in blood, leaning on a freaking out Wen Ning.
Zewu Jun has someone bring in a warm bowl of water and use a cloth to wipe some of the blood from Wuxian's hands and face. Wangji was still in shock. All he can do is silently shed tears grabbing Wuxian's hand while taking his weak pulse. This cannot be happening. He was losing his composure until Zewu Jun spoke up: "Collect yourself brother! He's alive and will be well cared for. He needs you to be strong so he doesn't feel like a burden when he leans on you."
The healer checks Wuxian's breathing after an hour and declares him stable enough to move. Wen Ning carries him back to the Quiet Room where he was treated with strong incense and potions to strengthen his lungs and rejuvenate his blood supply.
Wangji hasn't said a single word since Wuxian passed out. He stayed by his soul-bond's bedside, holding his hand and looking for any sign of pain or deterioration.
Wuxian moaned a few hours later, and opened his eyes to look at a tearful Wangji. He smiles at him but doesn't receive a smile back. He whispers: "Are you mad at me?"
Wangji closes his eyes and lets out an agonizing sob: "I'm scared."
Wuxian weakly squeezes the hand grabbing his: "Of what?"
Wangji sheds a few more tears: "Of losing you like this."
Wuxian sighs: "I will be fine."
Wangji opens his eyes and looks angrily: "You couldn't breath! You were coughing blood! How can you be so casual about this?"
Wuxian smiles at him and with confidence says: "I believe in Grandmaster Qiren. He will fix me so I can stay with you until you're bored of me."
Wangji chuckles: "I don't think anything about you will ever be boring. I almost died of panic today."
Wuxian hums: "Admit it, I make life more interesting!"
Wangji smiles: "Indeed."
Wuxian closes his eyes and whispers: "Lay with me. I'm cold."
Wangji complies and snuggles the smaller man until he's content that today is not his last day.
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