.
Wangji woke up to an empty bed. He sits up, looking around for his soulmate only to find him a few paces away, sitting at their table. He stood up and went to see what got him out of bed so early, only to find his sword between Wuxian's hands.
His soul-bond was cleaning Bichen with such delicate care, sporting the most contented smile Wangji has ever seen. It made his heart so full. This man is about to go through a life altering procedure and instead of worrying about his future, he's sitting quietly.. cleaning someone else's sword.
Wangji sits behind him, sneaks his hands around Wuxian's waist and buries his nose in his neck to breathe him in: "Did you not sleep well?"
Wuxian continues to wipe Bichen: "I slept just fine. I never have nightmares when I'm with you."
Wangji: "Thank you for cleaning Bichen."
Wuxian chuckles: "It's the least I can do. Since I will not be able to protect you for a while, we will have to depend on this sword."
Wuxian puts it on the table then places his hands together to pray to it: "Bichen, please protect my soul-bond so he can live a happy long life."
Wangji smiles and plants a kiss under his ear.
After eating breakfast, they made their way towards the adjacent room designated for his healing sessions. They found Qiren, his disciples and Wen Ning waiting outside.
Qiren takes Wuxian's hands: "Son, are you ready?"
Wuxian smiles at him: "I am scared but I know that it's time for change to come."
Qiren nods then hugs him.
Sizhui and Jingyi both engulf him in a crushing hug. Sizhui: "Don't worry father. We will protect you."
Jingyi: "I hope you feel better after this."
Wuxian pats their backs until they let go and turns to address them and his disciples: "I will depend on you for a while. I hope you don't mind."
They all bowed and wished him good luck.
Wen Ning looks sadly at him. Wuxian steps closer to him, transferring Da Ziran and whispers into his ear: "Together forever." Ning smiles and replies: "Forever."
Wangji takes his hand and kisses it: "I won't be able to go in there with you. For just a few minutes.. I will wait for just a few minutes.."
Wuxian can sense Wangji's anxiety and cups his cheek: "Just a few minutes and I will be free of this pain.. free to love you.. free to be myself again.. free to do my duties. Just a few minutes, alright?"
Wangji nods and reluctantly lets go.
Healer Shi had everything ready. Zewu Jun and Yuxio were seated in their designated area based on the extensive markings all around what looks like a bed setup on the floor. Wuxian was told to remove his outer robes and lay down. Shi places 12 needles all around his body. He looked close at them as he waited for her to finish her preparations and recognized the patterns on the golden handles. She was using Wen Qing's needles. That somehow makes him feel more at ease.
When she was ready, Shi said: "Treasure Wei, this will only take around half an hour. You will sense a slow buildup of pressure in your chest and at the end you will feel fatigued. No matter what happens, do not move. Ready?"
Wuxian closes his eyes and takes a deep breath: "Ready."
Zewu Jun and Yuxio started transferring a small stream of energy via the markings underneath them, which led to the needles stuck on Wuxian's body. Healer Shi used her energy as a guide to slowly seal Wuxian's energy container to be fixed later on. Wuxian didn't feel any different for twenty minutes. After that, things started to change. Healer Shi underestimated how suffocating the pressure was going to be. Wuxian couldn't help letting out a loud groan when the pressure made it hard to draw in a breath. He felt every fiber in his body was fighting the change forced upon him. For a few seconds, all he heard was his own labored breathing and pain filled moans until something tickled his ear. A melody. Their song.
Someone was playing his and Wangji's song from afar. He felt it's tune wash over him, calming him beyond reason. Wangji heard his suffering and was offering his comfort the only way possible.
By the end of the 30 minutes, Healer Shi instructed the other two to slowly stop the energy transference. She stood up and went to examine a passed out Wuxian. After removing the needles, she stood up and opened the door to let the others in: "It was a success. His spiritual energy is now sealed and the healing process has begun."
Wangji: "How is he?"
Healer Shi: "He just passed out from exhaustion. He will be extremely lethargic when he wakes, so let him rest here for now."
She allowed one person at a time to sit with him, other than Wangji, so as to not disturb his slumber.
They planned an hourly visit and the rest left to fulfill their duties.
Wuxian felt consciousness wash over him in waves. He knows he's not really asleep, but for the first time in many moons, nothing was forcefully pulling him out of this comfortable haze.
He feels two people rubbing his hands and arms and hears them talking in hushed voices: "Healer Shi, since I didn't get a chance to read the book you made about his condition, can you explain to me why he returned with a.. smaller body?"
Healer Shi: "When I examined him upon arrival, the first thing I noticed was his soft hands and delicate wrists. Cultivators always have callus on their hands and developed muscles on their wrists from using swords and casting talismans. Treasure Wei's reputation as an accomplished cultivator couldn't be false so the only plausible explanation was that his body was regenerated to fit a specific criteria. According to Grandmaster Qiren, Wuxian had a burn mark on his chest which is now gone. That confirms my suspicion." She pauses to rub a specific cold area on Wuxian's forearm.
Zewu Jun was intrigued: "Suspicion..?"
Healer Shi smiles at his excitement: "To conserve energy. A smaller body means less energy consumption. It is also the right size to withstand his slow heartbeat and low temperature. I don't believe Mother Earth wanted him to fight when she returned him. From past records, Treasure Wei is now seven inches shorter and many pounds lighter since his reincarnation. His muscles are leaner and his bones are less dense. I am assuming his delicate features and unique look serves to mark how important he is more than aesthetics. It forces people to either feel wonder in his presence or a strong urge to protect him. "
They hear a hoarse voice whispering: "It's.. impolite to talk about someone.. behind their back."
Zewu Jun smiles at him while rubbing his cold hand: "You are right here, not absent."
Wuxian opens his eyes slightly and smiles back: "Semantics."
Healer Shi moves to check on him: "How do you feel?"
Wuxian looks around, instinctively looking for his soul-bond, only to find him meditating a few paces away. A few tears made their way out and with a broken voice he whispers: "Lan Zhan."
Wangji's eyes open when he hears his name and he rushes towards his soul-bond. He smiles down at him with relief and cups his cold cheek: "Wei Ying, you're awake."
Wuxian sobs tiredly: "I'm free."
Wangji nods his understanding: "We are free."
Wuxian tries to move his hand but his body refuses to cooperate. He frowns: "I can't move."
Healer Shi: "Don't worry. It's just muscle fatigue from the seal. It will improve with time and exercise."
A few more tears escape Wuxian's eyes as he slowly continues to sob. He looks at Healer Shi: "The pain.. It's gone.. I forgot what it feels like.. to be pain free."
Healer Shi continues to rub his arm, eyes watering with empathy: "Calm down, Treasure Wei. With time you will be stronger than ever, not just free of pain."
Zewu Jun moves a stray hair from his face and wipes a few tears: "Be still. We are almost done."
Wuxian sniffs: "What are you doing?"
Healer Shi: "Rubbing your extremities to help improve your circulation. It will warm you up."
Wuxian looks back at his soul-bond: "Lan Zhan.."
Wangji hums while playing with Wuxian's hair to comfort him. Wuxian: "I heard our song."
Wangji smiles at him. Wuxian closes his eyes when he feels he can't fight exhaustion any longer and whispers: "I love you too."
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