A/N: This chapter will make more sense if you read the spin-off: Unbridled. In other words, do read it hehe ð
******
"What... What did you just say?" Xiao Zhan whispered hoarsely. There was no answer for a few moments before, "...Lan Zhan?" he tried again, this time with even more desperation in his tone. His question only prompted a soft sigh before Lan Wangji finally lifted his face from Xiao Zhan's shoulder. And, as soon the beautiful golden eyes met his own, Xiao Zhan knew he had heard correctly. "Yibo?" His voice trembled and his heart was beating so fast that he swore it could jump out from his chest any second.
"Yeah." Came the reply.
...This can't be.
"How... how are you here?" Xiao Zhan stuttered; his heart felt like it was about to burst at any moment.
"I don't know how it happened. I thought Wei Ying was in danger," The man answered, looking like he was stupefied as well. He explained, "So, I thought it would help if I transfer some spiritual energy into him. I didn't expect to end up here in this..." He trailed off, looking around, "...place."
Oh no... no. What happened to Lan Zhan then?
Xiao Zhan heaved a shaky breath as he struggled to control himself before pulling away from Wang Yibo. He began to pace slowly, biting his lip as his thoughts raced. "Okay, okay... so... You're here now..."
"Yeah, but..." Wang Yibo responded uncertainly, "ls this a dream?"
Xiao Zhan shook his head slowly, "I wish it is."
"Fuck!" He heard Wang Yibo cursed under his breath.
Okay, he is Wang Yibo, for sure.
"Then what should we do?" Wang Yibo asked helplessly. His golden eyes were brimming with nervousness. "What should I do?"
I swear the Gods are really testing me to my limits right now!
"I want to know the answer to that to." Xiao Zhan answered, let out a shuddering sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose, his brow furrowed in frustration. This unexpected turn of events had caught him off guard, and he needed to think clearly and rationally. He had to find a solution to this situation. He looked up at Wang Yibo, feeling his shoulders sag in exhaustion. "Let's get back to the room first and talk there." He mumbled. He felt drained after all the shocking revelations he had received that night. With that, he began walking briskly towards the direction of his bed chamber.
Wang Yibo nodded mutely, trying his best to keep calm despite the situation as he fell in step alongside Xiao Zhan, matching his stride perfectly. Xiao Zhan took a glance over his shoulder, noticing how the other moved gracefully like he always does.
Hm? He still walks like Lan Zhan though... I mean, he kind of still is Lan Zhan. But... he is Yibo... Ahhhh! This is all so fucking confusing!
Xiao Zhan came to a halt after the door was closed behind them, letting out a weary exhale and rubbing his temples in attempt to clear his mind.
What a mess! And not to mention, at the wrong time!! Gods or whoever entities out there who is messing with our lives! Really, WHAT THE FUCK!! Why are you doing this to us??
After a short while of cursing under his breath, Xiao Zhan turned to look at Wang Yibo, noticing that the other was watching him with wide, hopeful eyes. He sighed tiredly as his gaze softened, speaking in soft voice, "Lan Zhan..." he paused to correct himself, "Uh, no, Yibo... First thing first, I need to know how much do you know. About this world."
"I don't know much apart from what Wei Ying told me." Wang Yibo answered, fidgeting with the sword that was in his hand.
"Do you remember anything?" Xiao Zhan asked, "I mean, do you have... you know, uh... Lan Zhan's memory?"
Wang Yibo shook his head and mumbled, "No."
"Hahhh..." Xiao Zhan rubbed his forehead. It had been a long, stressful night and this was only getting worse by the minute. His mind working quickly to analyze the situation. "Is there anything you remember before you arrived here?" he asked, hoping for any clue that might shed light on this mystery.
Wang Yibo furrowed his brows, deep in thought. "I remember feeling a surge of spiritual energy, as if it was flowing out of me and surrounding Wei Ying's body," he said slowly. "And then everything went blank. The next thing I knew, I was here."
"A surge?"
Xiao Zhan mused quietly to himself. He pondered the idea for several minutes, trying to work out the significance of the phenomenon.
"Zhan Ge." Wang Yibo looked up to meet Xiao Zhan's gaze, before asking quietly, "You are... Wei Ying too, right?"
"Technically, yes." Xiao Zhan admitted with a nod.
Wang Yibo hummed in response, sounding like he was relieved by this fact. It wasn't like he did not believe it at the first place but having it confirmed by Xiao Zhan himself and in person gave him some sort of solace. "I'm glad." He said quietly.
"Me too." Said Xiao Zhan in agreement. "And you... you know who you are." He said, staring at the man before him.
Wang Yibo nodded in affirmation, his golden eyes meeting Xiao Zhan's gaze. "Mn," he confirmed.
Xiao Zhan took a deep breath. At this point, Wei Wuxian's memories that he received earlier kept surfacing and merging with his own, leaving him emotionally muddled. At this very minute, he could not find any difference between Lan Wangji and Wang Yibo. Their mannerisms, the little subconscious gestures and their composure were identical. In fact, they were more alike than anything.
Ugh... my brain is so jumbled up right now. What should I do to fix this?
"So, you are here through Empathy." Xiao Zhan stated, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I think the best way to figure this out is to do another session on you again." He suggested.
"Okay." Wang Yibo agreed easily. They both lay down onto Xiao Zhan's bed, making sure that they were comfortable.
"Close your eyes." Xiao Zhan instructed. He took a deep breath, steadying himself as he prepared to delve into the depths of Wang Yibo's consciousness. Closing his eyes, he focused all his energy on the task at hand. With his palm pressed against Wang Yibo's solar plexus, he could feel the heat radiating from the other man's body.
As soon as he started taking steps towards the recesses of Yibo's mind, their spiritual energies linked and merged. But it was as if a floodgate had been opened, and Xiao Zhan was caught in the torrent of energy. His breath hitched in his throat, and he nearly choked on the intensity of it all. This was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. The bond between Lan Wangji and himself had always been strong, but now it was magnified to an unimaginable level.
The sudden influx of spiritual power left him reeling, his body straining under its weight. All of his senses were saturated as he fought desperately to keep his balance. He could feel every fiber of his being protesting. The world around him blurred, his vision swimming as he fought to maintain his focus. The bond pulsed with such force that it made Xiao Zhan's ears ring, a deafening sound drowning out everything else. He struggled to find purchase on reality, resisting against what felt like the overwhelming force of gravity pulling him down in a free fall. With a sudden jerk, Xiao Zhan gasped as he pulled his hands away.
"Zhan ge!" He heard Wang Yibo's concerned voice echo in his head. He forced his eyelids open, and saw Wang Yibo hovering above him anxiously. His eyes shone with worry, and Xiao Zhan could see that he was trembling slightly as if he had just witnessed a particularly traumatic event. "Are you alright??"
Xiao Zhan's hand shook from the aftermath of the unexpected and intense spiritual contact. "Just a bit overwhelmed... I think I need to rest for a bit." He admitted weakly as he sat up and leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands as his forehead fell onto his hands. His hair cascaded down around his shoulders obscuring his face from view.
Ah, I'm dizzy. It's not possible to do Empathy again with this kind of surge. It's too strong. My core feels like it can explode. Maybe I should try again once I am fully rested.
Wang Yibo looked at Xiao Zhan concernedly as he propped himself up. He hesitated a little before carefully laying a hand on his back. "Don't push yourself." He murmured softly, understanding that what happened just then must have been very draining for Xiao Zhan. "Just rest for now."
Xiao Zhan lifted his head slowly, giving Wang Yibo a rueful smile, "I promise I'll fix this out soon."
The man smiled softly at him and gently squeezed his shoulder, "I know you will."
They stayed in silence for a good long while before Wang Yibo realized that Xiao Zhan had drifted to sleep in that position, passing out from the exhaustion and shock he received in a day. He let out a sigh before carefully shifted his position, supporting Xiao Zhan's back and shoulders as he slowly lay him down on the bed. Gently tucking the covers around him, he made sure Xiao Zhan was comfortable before taking a seat beside the bed. A fond smile stretched across Wang Yibo's lips subconsciously. Even though he was confused as fuck about his existence in this world, the sight of Xiao Zhan lying beside him, sleeping peacefully, almost relaxed him.
After several minutes of watching the steady rise and fall of Xiao Zhan's chest, he then took a good look on himself and what he was wearing. He removed the headpiece and untied his long hair, feeling his scalp breathe free for the first time since arriving in this dimension. He ran his fingers through the silky locks a couple of times to loosen the tight strands and let it flow freely down his back and shoulders. "Ah, this is how it feels to have a really long hair." He mumbled quietly to himself. As he stripped into his undergarments, his mind wandered. The events of the day replayed in his mind, the confusion and uncertainty still lingering.
****
(Wang Yibo's POV. His thought would be in italic.)
When Wang Yibo first opened his eyes after that fateful Empathy session, it took him his entire being not to get into a full-blown panic attack despite the internal freaking out. Perhaps it is was due to Lan Wangji's original disposition to remain calm and composed regardless the circumstances, or perhaps it was simply pure shock which rendered his system completely blank. It was like he was in a dream state and everything seemed so surreal.
What. The. Fuck... Is this for real? Or is this a dream? Am I really here?
"Lan Zhan?" He heard Xiao Zhan calling, causing him to snapped out his reverie. He focused his attention to the man who looked at him with those sparkly silvery eyes quizzically. He hummed a response instinctively, "Mn?"
Wei Ying... No... he is... Xiao Zhan?
"Okay, what is happening, Didi?" Someone else that he discerned as Nie Huaisang said. "You two were both asleep for hours. Is everything alright?"
"Both?" Xiao Zhan l repeated in confusion, his brows furrowing in expectation of an answer.
Um... What should I say? I don't even know where to start.
"I'll explain later." Was the only thing he could croak out since they were not alone and he could sense the heavy atmosphere in the room.
Xiao Zhan blinked owlishly at him before nodding and turned his attention towards a tall man, saying, "Father's saber. It might be the source."
Is that person... Nie Mingjue?
He pondered as he was taking in the sight of the stern looking man who stood before them. He looked at the others and he could recognize Nie Huaisang and Wen Qing. The one lying on the bed, however, was an unfamiliar face but he could discern that the older man must be Nie Mingjue's and Nie Huaisang's father. And apparently, Xiao Zhan's as well, judging by how he addressed the man in concern.
He didn't know the head or tail of their conversation, but judging from the intensity of Xiao Zhan's facial expressions, he gathered enough information that it was a serious matter indeed. Therefore, he held his confusion in as he glanced around through his side eyes, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. He felt numb throughout the entire ordeal. No emotions were able to affect him, even if he was experiencing all these strange and unusual experiences and circumstances that he had yet to understand.
When it suddenly grew quiet and he saw Xiao Zhan biting his lip, he could tell that whatever it was they were discussing, it was not going well. He found himself asking, "What is it?"
Not that he understood what it was about. But still, he listened to the words that Xiao Zhan put out albeit his mind was filled with so many questions. About what actually happened, why he ended up there and what he should do next. He was still trying to wrap his head around all this when Xiao Zhan asked him when they left the room and were finally alone, "What happened back then? Why did you fall asleep during the Empathy session?" His head tilted to the side questioningly.
That was when he somewhat the confusion that was weighing down on him made him lose the calm facade he was putting up. He pulled the other man into a tight embrace, holding him tightly and burying his face in his neck.
"Lan Zhan?" Xiao Zhan murmured concernedly in his ears, "What's wrong?"
Is that really you?
"Zhan Ge." He managed with his voice barely audible. He noticed how Xiao Zhan's body tensed up in his arms and he couldn't fault the other man for reacting that way. It must be a huge shock to the other after all.
*****
Back to the present, his gaze moved back to Xiao Zhan's peaceful features and he couldn't resist to get closer to the bed again, reaching out to brush away some stray strands of hair from his forehead. Looking at Xiao Zhan in this appearance, he couldn't help but to admire how beautiful the man is in this form.
The gesture caused Xiao Zhan to stir, shifting a bit in his sleep. "Lan Zhan... Come to bed. I can't sleep without you with me." He muttered sleepily.
Wang Yibo froze, momentarily unsure whether or not he should comply to Xiao Zhan's request.
"Lan Zhan..." Xiao Zhan whined again, "It's cold."
And with that, Wang Yibo couldn't deny his instinct any longer. Xiao Zhan looked so cute and vulnerable, his eyes half closed and mouth pouting adorably. A warm fuzzy feeling filling him from within and he swiftly climbed into bed with Xiao Zhan, wrapping an arm securely around him, pulling him close to his chest. He breathed a soft sigh as Xiao Zhan cuddled closer to him, burying his head beneath his chin, seeking warmth from the source of comfort out of habit. He held Xiao Zhan closer to him, enjoying the sensation of his slender frame curled against his chest; relishing in the heat radiating off Xiao Zhan's skin. It was a familiar sensation that he got when he was with Wei Wuxian and there was no doubt in his mind that Xiao Zhan is indeed the very same soulmate he knew. His Wei Ying. He nuzzled into Xiao Zhan's hair and inhaled his scent, taking in every moment of his presence. His eyes fluttered shut as his eyelids gradually grew heavier. The Gusu Lan sleeping schedule that embedded deep in his soul caught up to him.
"Goodnight, Wei Ying." He murmured sleepily
.....
Xiao Zhan stirred awake to see the dim light of dawn peeking into the window and a pair of strong arms tightly wrapped around him, shielding him from any harm. Everything from the previous night flooded his mind and he quickly sat up with a gasp. He looked down at the man sleeping next to him, whose hair spilled over his shoulders, framing his handsome face in all its glory. It took all of his willpower to hold himself still and not kiss those plush, pink lips like he usually did every morning when waking up next to his beloved.
"Wei Ying." The man said, opening his eyes and blinking as they adjusted to the light.
"Lan Zhan?" Xiao Zhan said the name with uncertainty tainting his tone, his heart beating wildly in his chest but he tried to keep his expression casual.
"..." The other stayed quiet for a moment before he sat up abruptly and stared at Xiao Zhan. His eyes darted around the room, taking in the details and then settling back at Xiao Zhan. "Zhan Ge." He started slowly "This is really not a dream, huh?"
Xiao Zhan sighed, feeling his shoulder sagged slightly out of weariness as he shook his head in reply, "I don't think it is." He then climbed out the bed, straightening his clothes.
Not this time.
Wang Yibo took a deep breath, running his fingers through his hair and exhaling heavily.
Xiao Zhan stared at him for a while as he tied up his hair with his ribbon. He knew exactly how Wang Yibo might be feeling at the moment since he experienced the same exact thing before.
"Zhan Ge." Wang Yibo called out to him.
"Yes. What is it?" Xiao Zhan replied curtly.
"I..." Wang Yibo paused, hesitating for a couple second before he finished his words in smaller voice, "I need to go to the toilet."
"..." Xiao Zhan blinked once, twice, three times before he burst into laughter.
"Stop laughing at me!" Wang Yibo said, crossing his arms with a pout and frowning at Xiao Zhan, "I really need to use the bathroom now. Can you please show me the way?"
Xiao Zhan wiped the tear from the corner of his eye. "Sorry, sorry. I'll bring you there." He said, grabbing his outer garments and donning it quickly. "Wear your tunic too." He instructed.
Wang Yibo picked up the clothes and wore it. He was struggling on tying his hair with the ribbon so Xiao Zhan got close to him and turned him around. "I'll help you tie your hair." He remarked, tying a neat knot expertly.
"There," Xiao Zhan said when he was done.
"Thank you." Wang Yibo said. "Okay, can we go now? I really need to go." He stated a little impatiently. He really needed to settle his business.
Xiao Zhan chuckled and nodded and led the way. "Here we are." Xiao Zhan stopped in front of a wooden door.
"Um..." Wang Yibo stammered uncertainly, looking at the room in front of him.
"What?" Xiao Zhan replied, turning around with a raised brow and a teasing smile.
"It's dark." Wang Yibo blurted out quickly, glancing about uneasily.
"Oh?" Xiao Zhan said in a playful tone. "Don't be afraid. There's no ghost around here." He smiled gently, placing one hand on his waist, the other on the wall beside him.
"..." Wang Yibo glared at him.
"Fine, fine. Here." Xiao Zhan said as he lit up an illumination talisman with ease and held it out towards Wang Yibo.
"Oh..." Wang Yibo accepted it, looking at it with awe. "Thank you."
"Just do your business. I will wait for you at the corridor." Xiao Zhan smiled kindly, he continued to stare at Wang Yibo for a couple more seconds before he went outside.
How cute.
Xiao Zhan leaned against the pillar as he waited for Wang Yibo.
If they really switched, Lan Zhan must be as confused as him too. I need to get him back here soon.
He sighed deeply and let his thoughts drift, trying his best to stay calm and collected despite the nerves that were currently going off inside of him like crazy.
"Let's try Empathy again." He said to Wang Yibo when the latter approached him moments later.
Wang Yibo nodded, "Mn.''
However, things did not go well. Xiao Zhan tried Empathy twice and each time the rebound was too much for him to handle and he wasn't able to maintain that state long.
"Enough. You should stop." Wang Yibo said, sitting up and shaking off Xiao Zhan's attempts for another go. "You're going to hurt yourself."
"But..." Xiao Zhan stared at Wang Yibo pleadingly. "I can't give up yet."
I need him back.
Wang Yibo shook his head firmly, "No, I won't let you do it again. You're hurt." He pointed out.
Xiao Zhan wiped away the streak of blood that stained the corner of his lips and let out a loud sigh in frustration, closing his eyes for a brief moment. It didn't help that there is another huge issue with his father's case that he had to face right now. He reopened his eyes and heaved out another heavy sigh before looking at Wang Yibo who already stood up from the bed and casually pulled Bichen out of its sheath, admiring the sword as it glowed slightly with bluish light.
Ah... He really is Lan Zhan's reincarnation.