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Wangji made his way back the morning of the third day after the attack. He was greeted by angry glares, judgmental stares and sympathetic nods. He didn't care about what others thought of him. His mind was occupied with only one thought: 'Will Wei Ying recognize me?' He thought he meditated enough to handle whatever reaction that might come from his traumatized soul-bond but in reality he needs Wuxian to be ok with him. He needs it, just like he needs air and water to survive.
He walked past his brother, who was standing outside of their room, and bowed to him. Zewu Jun looked passively at him: "You came back."
Wangji: "How is he?"
Zewu Jun pursed his lips and shook his head. Wangji's heart felt like a stone that was about to sink in the depth of despair.
Wangji swallowed hard and slowly opened the door to their room.
Wuxian was laying on their bed, pale as snow and breathing harshly. Mianmian was gently spreading some type of cream over the fading bruise on his neck, Yuxio was fanning hot water steam towards Wuxian to help his breathing while Healer Shi was checking his broken hand.
Shi glared at the newcomer. When she saw Zewu Jun shake his head behind Wangji, she got up and gestured for the other women in the room to follow her as she made her way out.
Yuxio was the last and she stopped to whisper a threat to Wangji: "If you're not strong enough to protect him and be by his side then don't blame others for filling in your shortcomings. It's not our job to lie for your sake. Do this again and I will hurt you."
Wangji didn't react to her threat. His tunnel vision was focused on one thing: his Wei Ying. Wuxian was floating between sleep and consciousness. He felt people around him, touching him and whispering but he was too tired to open his eyes or hear what they're saying. All of a sudden everything changed. He felt like he was back home. His muddled brain was trying to put its finger on what triggered that feeling and his thoughts were interrupted by a gentle hand caressing his cheek. He opened his eyes and saw the love of his life before him.
Wangji was hesitant over touching Wuxian, but the moment he was near his soul-bond all inhibitions went out the window. He kept moving his thumb over Wuxian's cheekbone, just like he normally does every morning to wake him up. He didn't have to wait long and Wuxian opened his light brown and gold eyes and graced him with the most unrestrained joyous smile he's even seen. Wuxian reached up with his uninjured hand that's holding the headband and placed it over the hand on his cheek, whispering lovingly: "Lan Zhan."
The sound of his name, said with such tenderness and longing broke the taller man. Tears made their way down his eyes and he silently sobbed. He grabbed Wuxian's hand, took the headband from it and kissed every inch of skin from his palm to his wrist while whispering: "Thank you.. thank you.. thank you.."
Wuxian frowned at Wangji's odd behavior: "For what?"
Wangji moved to bury his head between Wuxian's collarbone and shoulder: "For recognizing me.. for waiting for me.. for not dying.."
Wuxian lets out a breathy laugh and strokes Wangji's hair: "You have such low standards."
Wangji couldn't stop his tears. He couldn't deny how terrified he was of being rejected like last time.
Wuxian could sense his soul-bond's distress and started humming their song. He struggled with his short breath and still aching throat but this is the only thing he can do to comfort Wangji at the moment.
Exhaustion pulled him back to sleep while Wangji stayed near him, relishing under his touch and comforting smell. A few hours later, the spell was broken by Zewu Jun and Healer Shi. Zewu Jun stood by the door: "Brother, come with me. We need to talk."
His tone was serious, so Wangji wiped his face and left to join his brother in his room.
Wangji sat for a few awkward minutes with his brother before he bowed: "I apologize for my earlier behavior."
Zewu Jun sighs: "It's fine. I saw what happened. Your reaction is understandable. Just promise me never to leave like that again. We all had to cover and lie for you. He deserves better than that."
Wangji nods so Zewu Jun starts their conversation over Wuxian's condition and treatment options. If Wangji felt relief a few minutes ago, worry washed it away instantly. He thought that fear made his heart ache but now he understood that the spell binding them was warning him of the danger Wuxian was in.
Wangji's eyes were wide: "He could die?"
Zewu Jun nods. Wangji: "There is no debate. He cannot die!"
Zewu Jun: "Then we prolong his healing session duration?"
Wangji rubs his forehead in clear sign of fatigue: "I would prefer to get his input before we decide."
Zewu Jun: "Healer Shi advised against it. She's been trying to keep him calm and relaxed to help speed up the healing process."
Wangji: "Healer Shi is not his soul-bond. I am. Wei Ying doesn't like to be forced or feel out of control."
Zewu Jun nods and looks down at the table, eyes filled with sadness. Wangji prods: "What is it?"
Zewu Jun: "I received mail while you were.. away. It contains good and bad news. The good news is, Liwei found and confirmed the location of Shenhua Clan Sect. He's now looking for the prophecy book and has promising leads. The bad news is our clan lost a few members while on a mission. Among them is Lan Ran's sister and brother-in-law. Their daughter was left alone and when we sent someone to look for her she was gone."
Wangji: "She's missing?"
Zewu Jun nods: "Lan Ran requested leave to go search for her and Uncle granted it. So far, we have not received any updates from her."
Wangji was silent for a few seconds then said: "That girl was in Wei Ying's vision."
Zewu Jun: "We changed history by freeing the boy from the well. I'm not sure if that outcome is still in the cards for us."
Wangji: "You think we made this happen because we interfered with the natural order of events?"
Zewu Jun sighs: "All I know is that we freed an innocent boy and saved countless ungrateful people in the process."
Wangji: "Ungrateful?"
Zewu Jun: "Don't get me started on the political shockwave we've created after what happened. Nie Sect Leader has been trying to soothe the city council for days now and we've been politely asked to leave."
Wangji raised an eyebrow: "They are aware that we saved them from certain death?"
Zewu Jun: "To them it's hearsay. All they care about is having a blessed well and getting the cursed lady out of town."
Wangji: "We will leave as soon as Wei Ying is up for travel. We didn't come for praise and gratitude."
Zewu Jun: "We certainly will not get any of that. Uncle requested that we move temporarily to Qinghe City for safety reasons and I agree with him."
Wangji: "After Wei Ying is feeling better. I will not risk his health to appease these people."
Wangji sat with his soul-bond for the next day. He was able to explain the situation to Wuxian and received his approval with the spiritual energy transference. It wasn't really a choice, more like a last viable solution but Wangji didn't want to do anything without Wuxian's consent. So on the day the healing session was to take place, Healer Shi unsealed his energy container and healed his internal bleeding instead and sealed it again. It created a minor setback but she doesn't regret offering that option. She made sure Wuxian was sleeping during the whole process to avoid any unnecessary pain. She smiled at Zewu Jun and Yuxio, who were once again helping her, when she checked afterwards and saw his side bruise had faded to green and yellow.
Wuxian woke up feeling better and was sitting with his soul-bond, trying to eat with his left hand. Wangji was staring at him the whole time, so Wuxian asked: "What?"
Wangji: "May I help you?"
Wuxian scoffs: "I'm a grown man. I can feed myself."
Wangji: "Your hand is broken."
Wuxian: "I have another hand to work with."
Wangji looks judgmentally at his failed attempts: "Clearly.."
Jingyi made his way in and whispered something to Wangji. Wangji gives him a warning look and excuses himself. The boy sits in his place and with a happy look, picks up the discarded chopsticks and tries to once again steal Wuxian's food. Wuxian: "Is stealing your new thing? You're a bad influence on others!"
Jingyi pouts at him: "It's not stealing if you saw it and did nothing!"
Wuxian raises his wrapped broken hand: "I'm supposed to stop you with this?"
Jingyi picks up a big bite and stuffs it in Wuxian's mouth: "You feed me and I bring you gossip. That was our deal."
Wuxian muffles while chewing: "Since when?"
Jingyi sighs: "You want to hear what I got or not?"
Wuxian nods timidly.
Jingyi scooched closer to him to whisper: "So.. Sizhui and I snuck into town early in the morning to get.. something. On our way.."
Wuxian cuts him off with a suspicious look: "Something?"
Jingyi ignores him and continues: "On our way, we saw Yuxio and Lady Lou going into a specialized clothing shop and we followed them."
Wuxian grumbled between bites: "Perverts."
Jingyi, who was now eating one bite and feeding Wuxian another, says: "They were acting suspiciously. We had to see what they were up to!"
Wuxian glares at him: "You followed two women into a clothing shop and my innocent son didn't think it was inappropriate. I blame you!"
Jingyi: "Do you want to know what we saw or not?"
Wuxian thinks about it for a second then nods. Jingyi smiles devilishly: "Lady Lou made Yuxio try a red wedding dress!"
Wuxian almost chokes on his food. Jingyi pours him a cup of water and pats his back.
Wuxian shivers: "The pervert was in a red dress?"
Jingyi nods. Wuxian tried to imagine it and somehow it frightened him: "Why?"
Jingyi sighs: "Your decent son wouldn't let me get close enough to eavesdrop on their conversation."
Wuxian: "I'm both thankful and disappointed."
Jingyi said while still feeding Wuxia and himself: "It was weird. Do you think the demon has a crush on someone?"
Wuxian: "I pray everyday to all the deities I know for that woman to find a husband and stop harassing me!"
Jingyi: "I'm betting it's Lan Ran. They've become very close since she joined us in Cloud Recesses."
Wuxian thinks about it for a few seconds: "I was hoping she would marry Jiang Cheng. They would have the loudest kids in the world."
Jingyi shudders: "With his temper and her perviness.. the horror!"
Wuxian smacks his arm while laughing. He turns to ask: "Where is Meili and the boy?"
Jingyi: "Nie sect leader sent them to Qinghe City. We will see them on our way back to Cloud Recesses."
Wuxian smiles with content. Even though things didn't go smoothly, he was able to change the future and save a few souls. Now, all he has left to do is figure out his next step and pray that next time he has better luck changing the future without losing something in return.
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