The news of his son's demise struck Wen Ruohan like a thunderbolt. His face contorted with anger, the veins on his temple throbbing with fury. Wen Xu, his flesh and blood, his heir, had been cut down by the hands of the Gusu Lan Sect. Even his trusted guard, Wen Zhuliu, had also fallen.
Wen Ruohan roared furiously, lifting the messenger by his collar and hoisted him in the air. "What did you just say?! Wen Xu and Wen Zhuliu are both dead?!!"
The man was terrified beyond reason, his voice quivering as he squirmed and struggled against Wen's iron grasp. "The entire troop... was defeated, Your Excellency."
His words only served to fuel Wen Ruohan's rage even more. He flung the man onto the ground so hard that it made a dent in the floorboards of the palace courtyard.Defeat. An indelible stain on the honor of the Wen clan, was an unforgivable offense that demanded retribution.
The courier lay there, gasping and shuddering violently for a long moment before he scrambled into a kneeling position. He looked up at Wen Ruohan with pleading eyes, which were full of unbridled fear and horror. "Y...Your Excellency... They knew that the ambush was coming...It was a trap."
"Fools!" Wen Ruohan stood over him and kicked him squarely in the chest with the sole of his boot, knocking the wind out of him again. The courier coughed weakly. "How dare they act against me?!" He snapped. "They've been a thorn in my side for too long! I will make sure the entire Gusu Lan sect is wiped off the map once and for all!"
"Your excellency..." The soldier resumed his report with shaky voice, "It is said that Wei Wuxian was there too."
"Wei Wuxian?" Wen Ruohan scoffed derisively. "That arrogant brat?! What's with him?"
"Apparently he was the one who killed Wen Zhuliu and wiped out the his ones under him." The soldier continued hesitantly, trying to keep eye contact while still speaking respectfully.
Wen Ruohan clenched his fists tightly, knuckles going white. He didn't expect that the teen would be strong enough to go againsts almost a hundred. He barked, "I shall kill that impudent boy myself!!"
"... there is more...." The soldier took in another breath, steeling himself as he delivered another news. "Yunmeng Jiang and Qinghe Nie sect have been providing assistance to Gusu Lan sect as well. The three sects seem to have formed an alliance."
At those words, Wen Ruohan's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Who do these treacherous bastards think they are?!" He bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls. "Prepare for war! We will take revenge for Wen Xu and Zhuliu and wipe those traitors from the face of the Earth. They will rue the day they crossed the Wen clan! Also, warn other sects! If they support any of the three sects, they will pay the same price! I will exterminate all of them and their ilk if they dare to defy me."
"Yes, Your Excellency!" The soldiers in the room answered immediately and promptly in unison. His orders were obeyed quickly.
In a frenzy of pure, unadulterated hatred, Wen Ruohan strode through the palace, fueled entirely by the burning desire to wreak vengeance. He found himself looking forward to the upcoming battle. He wanted to see those rebels burn in the flames of revenge. They would pay dearly for their audacity, for daring to challenge the supremacy of the Wen clan.
At the same time...
As the midnight sky blanketed the area in an eerie darkness, two figures emerged behind an alley as if emerging stealthily from the shadows. Their movements were purposeful and deliberate. No one noticed them as they moved with quick steps among the shadows, heading towards a division of Wen Sect.
The black cladded figure strode stealthily to a hidden corner of the compound, his hand was placed on the invisible barrier that protecting the building and a dark energy seeped out his palm and began to flow, corrupting the wall made of pure spiritual energy and causing it to slowly begin crumbling away.
"Arise." The command slipped effortlessly from his lips. In the next moment, dozens of fierce corpses appeared. Their movements were inhumanly fast and they surged into the compound with brutal efficiency; wounding and incapacitating each Wen soldier that stood guard on its perimeter. Under the moon's pale light, the flickering torches cast long, distorted shadows on the ground and heavy clunk of swords and spears striking against rotten flesh made a harsh music, like a symphony in the night.
The once orderly basecamp was now reduced to chaos as the undead army continued to advance towards the center of the premise, where a Wen Commander-in-charge and his team of elite fighters stood in defensive formation. As the horde approached him, he quickly raised his hands above his head and began to chant words in a language known only to the Wen themselves. His incantations were accompanied by powerful waves of spiritual energy that pulsed outwards from his sword in a massive wave, striking the mass of zombies in front of him, shattering them into shards of decaying flesh which flew everywhere, disintegrating upon impact.
It was then the sound of flute music pierced through the commotion accompanied by flashes of red lightning and the ground started to crack, letting more of the dead that were buried underneath to crawl back into life, swarming around the group once again.
The Commander's eyes widened as he saw this, but he quickly regained his composure and resumed his chanting, drawing on years of practice and using his power to counterattack against the tide of fierce corpse. The Wen army closed ranks tried their best to hold off the approaching wicked creatures that kept spawning like hydras. They were strong enough to stand off their own men, but not to fight hundreds at once. The corpses kept coming from every possible source, seemingly endless despite the fact that the commander had managed to hold off a fair share of attacks by himself. It was a losing battle at best, but they had no choice. They just had to hold out for long enough until reinforcements could arrive.
From somewhere within the dark sky, a brilliant blue sword glare shot forward, slashing into the crowd. Several of the soldiers flew backwards from the force of the blast, but none remained unscathed as their blood splashed across the ground. Someone clad in a white emerged from the darkness, landing smoothly amidst the chaos. The newcomer drew the attention of the Commander, who stared at him, stunned. He knew that face.
"Lan Wangji!" The commander shouted angrily. "How dare you attack us?!"
Lan Wangji's face was expressionless as he answered, "Why would I not dare?"
This annoyed the general more. "You are courting death! You'll pay for this!" he yelled furiously, pointing his sword directly at Lan Wangji. He didn't wait for any reply as he lunged toward him.
Lan Wangji's sword gleaming in the dim light as he moved with a grace that seemed otherworldly to deflect the attack. Each swing of his blade was precise and powerful. His opponent seemed to have some skill as he managed to hold on against him despite being pushed into a corner.
The commander struggled to block the heavy handed strikes that were raining down on him and Lan Wangji did not give him any opening to counter his attack. His subordinates were currently fighting valiantly for their lives as the relentless tide of fierce corpse poured from the surrounding buildings. Hence, he was on his own on one-to-one fight with a highly skilled younger cultivator.
Just when things had become quite desperate, luck sided him for a second as one of his comrade suddenly barged into the fight and attempted to sneak an attack from behind the Second Jade of Gusu Lan. However, his attempts to stab Lan Wangji were thwarted. Lan Wangji reacted fast and struck the man across his shoulder with a powerful downward blow of his sword.
At the very moment, the commander saw an opening and took the opportunity to advance an assault. As he charged towards Lan Wangji, vines of black tendrils emerged from Lan Wangji's back, ensnaring him in seconds and entangling his legs; forcing him onto his knees as he fell onto the ground. It also wrapped around his arms and pinned them tightly together, causing his sword to fall on the ground.
Xiao Zhan stepped forward; his eyes burned in crimson fury as he watched the commander fought to get away from the deadly vines that kept him prisoner. With a single gesture, the vines tightened around the general's body and immobilized him completely.
"You! You are Wei Wuxian, aren't you?!" the Commander growled loudly.
"What gave it away?" Xiao Zhan replied sarcastically, smirking slightly. Of course, he knew the answer to that.
"Wei Wuxian! What kind of sorcery is this?" The commander spat at Xiao Zhan with venomous hatred. "We are part of Wen sect! You can't afford to offend us! Let me go right now or else...!"
Xiao Zhan slowly walked over until he was only a meter away from the man and looked down at him coldly. "Or else what?"
The commander yelled spitefully, "Once this news reach His Excellency, your entire sect will be annihilated! We will kill everyone in your clan!"
"That's rather a gruesome threat. But it has the opposite effect." Xiao Zhan merely tilted his head as he spoke, "So, I guess you can try to do that from hell."
"Bastard! This is not over! I will tear it from your body piece by piece!" the Commander roared, gritting his teeth as he glared fiercely at Xiao Zhan's icy gaze while he attempted to gather his spiritual energy to burn the dark shackles that bound him.
"It is over." Lan Wangji said indifferently, raising his sword and plunging it into the chest of the commander.
Xiao Zhan turned away and closed his eyes, waiting for the sound of the blade meeting flesh. He still not used to the fact that Lan Wangji could be merciless when he needed to be, despite the many times he fought alongside him. He shook off the thought; it was a necessary sacrifice for greater good. It was what they chose to do, whether they liked it or not. As far as he was concerned, these people were Wen Ruohan's loyal followers and they had the same mentality as the oppressive tyrant. This was only one way for the situation to be resolved; the deaths were inevitable. He had accepted that much. If they could save even few thousands of innocent lives by purging the bad ones, then so be it. This was war and this is the way war works.
After a few moments of quietude, Xiao Zhan opened his eyes. The commander's body was still trapped inside the thicket of black tendrils that covered him. He snapped his fingers to dismiss the vines; his expression blank.
Xiao Zhan's red eyes glowed in the light of the moon as he scanned the perimeter. His summons had successfully subdued the remaining forces and all was now quiet. The last stragglers lay crumpled on the ground, lifelessly awaiting judgement and the sight bothered him more than it should've.
"We are done here." Lan Wangji said quietly from behind him as he watched the red eyed man carefully move forward, surveying their surroundings.
"Yeah." He looked away from the scene and dismissed the vicious spirits under his command.
"Brother's team managed to take over the divisions at the south." Lan Wangji informed.
"Good." Xiao Zhan responded curtly, his voice barely a whisper. He looked back over his shoulder. "Are you ready to go to the next one?"
Lan Wangji hesitated briefly. "Wei Ying, you said this would be the last one and you'll take a break,"he reminded Xiao Zhan sternly. "You promised me."
"I know but..." Xiao Zhan sighed, pausing for effect. His voice dropped to a quiet murmur. "We can't afford any break-"
"You can afford to take a few hours off," Lan Wangji interrupted him sharply.
Xiao Zhan argued back stubbornly. "If I stop now, we might lose the next fight. And I don't want that to happen. We need the element of surprise."
"Wei Ying ," Lan Wangji spoke slowly, emphasizing the man's name. "Listen to me. You are my priority. You know I do not ask much of you. You have always been strong and capable. But you are still human. You need to rest." He looked at Wei Ying, his eyes imploring him to comply.
Xiao Zhan looked at the ground and remained silent. His fingers twitched, fidgeting with the hilt of the flute at his side. When he finally raised his head, he nodded reluctantly. "Fine, fine... I will listen to what you say." He looked back toward the compound. "I'll notify the reinforcement team to take over this place." He said as he took out a communication talisman. The enchanted paper flashed after he was done writing out his message.
This was the second Wen base that they had ambushed tonight and in this part of the Wen territory, this place was one of the bigger branch which also happen to be among the many armory storages that Wen clan owned. Taking over this place would benefit them greatly.
While waiting for the team to arrive, Lan Wangji took the initiative to play 'Song of Clarity' for Xiao Zhan in an attempt to cleanse the excess negative energy from his body.
Xiao Zhan listened quietly to the melody and closed his eyes; allowing the soothing sounds of the gentle melody to wash over him and hoping that it would help with his current mental state. Although his body was physically fine except for the fatigue that plagued him, he felt like his mind was clouded with the intrusion of the voices of the resentful dead around him and they haunted him every second. Under the mask of calmness on his face, he was actually struggling to keep his emotions under control.
Lan Wangji noticed that the song did not do much to help but that was the only thing he could do for Xiao Zhan at the moment. He only hoped that it would bring Xiao Zhan temporary relief even if it is a little bit.
About twenty minutes later, there was the sound of heavy footsteps pounding against the ground.
"Third Young Master Nie, Second Young Master Lan, we're here." Nie Zhonghui's voice echoed out across the quiet field; accompanied by a group of men wearing armored emerald suit. They quickly joined hands and bowed respectfully towards the couple.
"Third Young Master Nie," Nie Zhonghui continued, "It's time you returned to the sect headquarters. Sect Leader Nie had asked that you go directly to the clinic."
Xiao Zhan sighed, "Father asked you to tell me this?"
Nie Zhonghui inclined his head, "Yes and he won't take no for answer. Please oblige or we'll be punished."
Xiao Zhan frowned, "Why would Father punish you guys if I don't go?"
"Because he knows that you are stubborn." Lan Wangji answered simply.
Xiao Zhan scowled in response, "That's rich coming from you, Lan Zhan. Your stubbornness is far exceeding mine, I'm sure you've heard that before." he muttered under his breath.
"..."
Nie Zhonghui turned to Lan Wangji and politely requested, "Second Young Master Lan, may I ask for your favor to escort Third Young Master Nie to Impure Realm? We will handle the rest."
"Yes." Lan Wangji nodded in agreement before taking Xiao Zhan by the arm and leading him away, "Let's go now. You don't look too good." He whispered, concern evident in his voice as he observed him closely.
Xiao Zhan smiled wryly, "Okay." he agreed, and started walking along with Lan Wangji in silence.
As they walked passed bloody ground, the sight of destruction and death weighed heavily on Xiao Zhan's heart. The victory they had achieved came at a great cost, both in lives lost and the toll it took on his own soul. The guilt of taking away someone's life was almost overwhelming. He just couldn't get used to this necessary evil. And he knew that this was only the beginning of a long and arduous journey. He felt his chest tighten painfully, feeling like there was something stuck on his throat; something unpleasant. The sensation left him disoriented; his breathing became uneven as he focused hard on slowing down his breaths, willing himself to calm down. He forced his vision to focus on Lan Wangji, determined not to allow his emotions to consume him and to keep him from going mad. He halted his steps and suggested, "Let's just use transportation talisman."
"Will you really be okay if we use that talisman?" Lan Wangji asked worriedly.
"I'll manage. It's the fastest form of travel and I don't want to waste time." Xiao Zhan reasoned. He popped the anti emetic pill Wen Qing formulated to his mouth as prevention measure, hoping it would lessen the side effect. "Let's go."
Lan Wangji hesitated for a moment, before sighing and nodding, "Alright." He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a deep blue talisman. He held tightly onto Xiao Zhan's waist as he activated the talisman.
They disappeared through thin air with the faint popping sound of the portal activating. For a moment, Xiao Zhan felt like his body was being sucked through a blackhole and the world turned upside down. He closed his eyes, hoping for a quick return to reality. When he opened them again, he was once again greeted with the scenery of the familiar courtyard.
"How do you feel?" Lan Wangji asked.
"Good enough to stand." Xiao Zhan replied. As soon as he spoken, his head began to hurt, causing him to grimace with pain. "But my headache has started reappearing," Xiao Zhan said with a groan and rubbed his temples with his fingertips. The nausea came along although it wasn't as severe.
"Let's get you to the clinic." Lan Wangji reached out his hand to help support Xiao Zhan's weight.
Wen Qing walked towards them with Wen Ning trailing closely behind, greeting them.
"We're sorry for your loss, Second Young Master Lan." They both said to Lan Wangji, bowing deeply.
Lan Wangji nodded his head in acknowledgement before he brought the attention back to Xiao Zhan, laying him down on one of the bed.
"Wow you look like death warmed over!" Wen Qing commented as she began her examination without further ado, her brow furrowed in concern. "Your core is completely unstable. It's even worse than the last time I checked it." She declared as she took his pulse while frowning. "You really went overboard, didn't you?"
"Sorry." Xiao Zhan murmured, closing his eyes as she continued to conduct her assessment.
"Did you try to force your spiritual energy out?"
"...Yes..." Xiao Zhan mumbled an answer.
Wen Qing's brows furrowed, "I specifically told you not to do that. You're lucky it didn't explode!"
"It was an unanticipated circumstance, " Xiao Zhan replied defensively, "There wasn't any other choice."
Wen Qing sighed. "How did you manage to push all that energy past your limit anyway?"
"With difficulty," Xiao Zhan replied sheepishly.
"Are you experiencing any kind of discomfort? Dizziness?" Wen Qing pushed, "Any headaches or fatigue?"
"No... Well... maybe a headache and some nausea but that's about it," Xiao Zhan responded uncertainly. He knew how much he had hurt himself when pushing beyond the breaking point, especially when he had been under such intense mental stress from the pressure exerted by the resentful energy that constantly invaded his mind. He also knew he wouldn't be able to keep doing that indefinitely. He couldn't afford any additional complications during this critical juncture. He added, confessing about the auditory disturbance that was affecting his emotional state and sanity at the very minute.
Lan Wangji frowned deeply when he heard the admittance. His worry was proven real. His gaze fell upon Xiao Zhan's trembling hands which were clenched tightly together, giving the impression of him being on edge. He placed his hands on top of Xiao Zhan's shoulder gently in hopes of offering some comfort.
Xiao Zhan looked up and saw the concern in Lan Wangji's golden orbs; his heart softened immediately. He smiled, "It's okay."
Wen Qing's brows knitted in thought. She then instructed to Wen Ning to prepare some sort of herbal concoction before she deduced, "Yin energy is accumulating in your meridians which allows resentful energy to enter freely and clogs the pathways." She then warned with serious face, "That being said, if you continue using it too much, those energy will eventually reach critical mass, which means that sooner rather than later and there will be serious problems."
"I know..." Xiao Zhan said quietly. He glanced at Lan Wangji, who stood silently beside him. The man who always appeared calm and collected, was visibly struggling under the weight of anxiety. It was evident that he was worried sick about Xiao Zhan 's wellbeing.
"You need to balance it soon before it worse." Wen Qing stated, her tone firm as she stared right into Xiao Zhan's eyes. "You know the fastest way to stop it, right?"
"Yeah..." Xiao Zhan whispered softly , "...but..."
Lan Wangji was still in grieving period and he couldn't bring himself to be selfish like that.
"There is no but." Wen Qing stated firmly. "With your current state of mind, you will lose control of yourself if you don't deal with it soon."
Xiao Zhan bowed his head in defeat. He could fathom the gravity of Wen Qing's words. Initially, he thought that he would have better mental fortitude than the 'original' Wei Wuxian but he was mistaken. In his past life, he lived in a sheltered and comfortable environment, surrounded by loving parents and close friends. He never have to deal with this kind of situation before. He didn't even realize how mentally vulnerable he was before the nightmares started and they appeared frequent enough to torture him. He had grown more emotional and sensitive as time passed, his inner conflictions getting stronger with each passing day. He could see how strong the real protagonist and how he must've had it even worse than him; it must be difficult to maintain normalcy with the constant intrusive thoughts. If he were to live in the same situation, he would probably go insane too.
Wen Qing turned to Lan Wangji, requesting solemnly, "He needs a steady supply of Yang energy for as long as his core is sealed. Can you please help him later, Second Young Master Lan?"
"Mn," Lan Wangji agreed, not wanting Xiao Zhan to endure any longer.
Xiao Zhan was taken aback at how casually this woman was asking Lan Wangji to 'help' him. Although it was not the first time he heard this kind of medical advice but it still caused him to blush furiously. Lan Wangji didn't appear to be bothered about that at all.
Wen Qing asked suddenly, "Can you sit up for a moment?"
Xiao Zhan complied with her request, pushing himself up. Lan Wangji, by his side, supported his back. Before he could say anything, Wen Qing gave him a rather strong slap on the left side of his chest, causing him to cough up a mouthful of purple-black blood.
Xiao Zhan almost cursed at her sudden action, but refrained himself when he felt the suffocating pain in his chest earlier receding.
"You had some pent-up qi in your chest," Wen Qing informed as she pressed on acupressure points near his collar bone.
"You could've warned me first..." Xiao Zhan grumbled slightly.
Wen Qing simply shrugged, "You don't even listen to my warning before so what's the point of warning you."
Xiao Zhan blinked at her sarcastic remark before sighing resignedly, "Okay, okay. I will listen to your warning next time, Qing-jie."
"As you should." Wen Qing smirked and handed him a handkerchief to wipe away the blood.
Just in time, Wen Ning came back with two bowls of dark looking tea which smell bitter as hell. He handed one to Xiao Zhan and the other to Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji raised his brow as he accepted the bowl while Xiao Zhan crinkled his nose as the strong herbal scent assaulted his nostrils. "What's this?"
"Just drink up. This will help to restore your energy for now." Wen Qing urged both of them.
"Ugh... That was disgusting," Xiao Zhan frowned, trying to rid himself of the taste after finishing his bowl.
Lan Wangji, however, seemed unfazed by its taste. It's not really a surprise since he grew up eating bland and bitter food.
"Stop complaining. You are the one who need that the most." Wen Qing chastised.
"Right. Sorry." Xiao Zhan nodded contritely.
"Wei-xiong, Second Young Master Lan. You can have these." Wen Ning said as handed both of them plum candies.
"Oh, thanks, Wen Ning." Xiao Zhan smiled at him before popping the candy in his mouth. The sweet helped to erase the lingering bitterness in his mouth.
Lan Wangji thanked him silently too but he didn't eat it. Instead, he gave it to Xiao Zhan, "You can have mine too."
Xiao Zhan's eyes brightened at the offer, "Really?"
"Mn. Have it." Lan Wangji confirmed.
Xiao Zhan smiled at him gratefully as he popped the candy in his mouth. The candy tasted even sweeter this time.
Their exchange made Wen Qing roll her eyes. "We're still here, you two." She reminded us dryly.
"Sorry." Xiao Zhan immediately apologized and Lan Wangji followed shortly after.
"Okay, it's time for acupuncture." Wen Qing announced.
Xiao Zhan froze momentarily, "Acupuncture?"
Wen Qing nodded, "Yep!"
" Uh... " Xiao Zhan scratched the nape of his neck awkwardly. "Is that really necessary?"
A smile broke out on Wen Qing's lips, "Of course it's necessary. You should've known by now that I love doing acupuncture." She said cheerfully.
"Oh well..." Xiao Zhan muttered with a reluctant expression.
"Take off your top and lay on your stomach." Wen Qing instructed.
Lan Wangji's brow twitched when Xiao Zhan took off his top for the needling session. He knew it was for treatment but he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable that his lover's back was exposed to someone else's gaze. He ended up meditating on the next empty bed to calm himself down while letting Wen Qing proceeded with the treatment on his lover.
Halfway through, Xiao Zhan found out that he really dislikes needles. "Qing-jie, I think you used all your needles on me already." He protested.
"Don't exaggerate, you big baby." Wen Qing waved him off dismissively as she pricked another point with a silver needle.
Xiao Zhan winced slightly as the needle pierced his skin. "How many more to go?" he asked.
"A few more." Wen Qing replied as she moved around him with practiced movements.
"I think you already pierced every single acupuncture point on my back, Qing-jie. I will turn into a porcupine if you put more at this point." Xiao Zhan whined impatiently.
She laughed aloud "Oh, please. You are supposed to be the strongest cultivator of our generation. Don't be a coward."
Xiao Zhan groaned inwardly and glanced at Lan Wangji who seemed very engrossed into his meditation. But Xiao Zhan knew his beloved's micro expression like the back of his hand and he knew exactly what Lan Wangji was thinking about. That man and his jealousy are best friends.
"Ack!" Xiao Zhan yelped as he felt a sharp pain pricking his scalp.
"Stop moving!" Wen Qing said as she pushed down the needle deeper. "This is for your headache."
Xiao Zhan couldn't say anything anymore and just resigned to his fate.
"Okay I'm done. The cracks on your golden core are all mended but it is still fragile. So, don't even think of using it for another two weeks." Wen Qing said.
"Two more weeks?" Xiao Zhan frowned.
"Well, if you didn't do what you did, it wouldn't come to that, would it?" Wen Qing replied.
"Fine." Xiao Zhan rubbed his face in resignation.
Wen Qing gave him a pat on the shoulder, "Just lie down here for another thirty minutes and wait for the effect to take place. You should feel better after this since I infused healing Qi directly into your meridian pathways. So, it should help with your lack of spiritual energy and help you absorb Yang energy more efficiently later."
Great..." Xiao Zhan heaved a sigh of relief. His headache was slowly subsiding by the minute. The acupuncture session had started working wonders on clearing his head and restoring his energy. However, the annoying voices in his mind was still screaming at him nonstop albeit it was now slightly more faint. But he knew the solution of this was to expel the excessive Yin energy by getting Yang energy from Lan Wangji later.
After the time was up, Wen Qing removed the needles swiftly.
"So, what's next?" Xiao Zhan asked, stretching his muscles as he sat up.
"Next, go back to your room and do whatever you have to do to balance out-"
"Okay, I got it, Qing-jie." Xiao Zhan interrupted her, still not used to how open minded the healer was.
Lan Wangji stopped his meditation as he noticed that their session was over. He stood up and went beside Xiao Zhan, "I'll take care of him, Maiden Wen. Rest assured."
"Right... You two should get going now then." Wen Qing said bluntly.
"Oh I forgot to give you something." She paused, turning around to retrieve something from a box on the shelf behind her and handed Xiao Zhan an ornated container.
"What is this?" Xiao Zhan asked, eyeing the object skeptically.
Wen Qing smirked, "Something that will help you two."
Xiao Zhan was baffled by Wen Qing's cryptic statement before he could figure out how to respond, "Uh... Thanks, I guess."
The last thing Xiao Zhan needed was Wen Qing making things difficult for him by teasing him. He knew it would only serve to encourage Lan Wangji's unyielding determination to help him out. So decided not to comment on anything that Wen Qing had said. Instead, he simply tucked the item into sleeves.
When they finally left the clinic and reached their shared room, Lan Wangji pulled his lover into his arms, his arms wrapping securely around Xiao Zhan's waist. He planted soft kisses along Xiao Zhan's forehead, temples and tip of his nose.
"Lan Zhan..." Xiao Zhan chuckled softly, trying to stop Lan Wangji's constant onslaught of affection from overwhelming him. "Can we at least shower first? We're filthy."
"Mn." Lan Wangji hummed simply, still peppering small kiss on Xiao Zhan's jawline.
"Stop it. I am really sweaty." Xiao Zhan.
"Mn." Lan Wangji just hummed again as he continued moving towards his neck, enjoying Xiao Zhan's reactions.
"Okay. Stop." Xiao Zhan said after enduring for a minute, pushing Lan Wangji away slightly . "Can we please shower? I feel so gross right now, Lan Zhan."
Lan Wangji reluctantly let Xiao Zhan go, "Alright."
Xiao Zhan sighed in relief and stepped outside the room for a moment to ask the servants to prepare the bath tub.
When it's ready, Lan Wangji took the privilege to undress Xiao Zhan. "Does your back still hurt, Wei Ying?" He asked as he took off Xiao Zhan's clothes.
"Hmm?" Xiao Zhan blinked at him owlishly.
"The acupuncture points." Lan Wangji clarified.
"Oh... No. Not anymore." Xiao Zhan shook his head, allowing Lan Wangji to remove his inner clothes as well.
The item that Wen Qing gave fell from the sleeve of his robes and thanks to Lan Wangji's quick reflex, he managed to catch it. "What is this?" he inquired and checked it out. Inside was filled with some fragrant viscous liquid as if there were some sort of aromatic oil mixed within the contents. It smelled good.
"I think you know what it is." Xiao Zhan answered, giving Lan Wangji a cheeky grin. It was obvious what it was.
"..." Lan Wangji stared at Xiao Zhan, blinking slowly.
"A massage lotion." Xiao Zhan stated matter-of-factly as if this wasn't a surprise at all.
"..."
"What did you think it is, Lan Zhan?" Xiao Zhan chuckled.
"..."
"Ah, you must've be thinking of something else ." Xiao Zhan grinned mischievously and pecked Lan Wangji's nose lightly, "What a dirty mind you have sometimes."
"Let's just shower," Lan Wangji replied dryly, urging Xiao Zhan to go into the tub before he joined in. Giggles entered his ears.
After they were both clean and washed up, they got into bed after drying themselves up.
Lan Wangji stroke Xiao Zhan bare back, gently massaging his waist.
"Mm... That feels good." Xiao Zhan murmured and closed his eyes. The sensation of warm, the kneading sent a tingle throughout his body. A floral scent entered his nose and he realized that Lan Wangji was using the lotion.
"Uh... Lan Zhan..."
"Mn?"
"I was only kidding about this massage lotion." Xiao Zhan's voice trembled with the pleasant feeling he got. It was obvious that it wasn't just a lotion that meant for just a massage.
"Mn." Lan Wangji hummed, his tone indicating that he understood. "I still want to give you a massage." He said as he kissed Xiao Zhan's shoulders gently, rubbing his hand in circular motion. The scent coming from the thick liquid was also incredibly potent and intoxicating. It didn't help that Wangji's fingers were gliding gently against his skin, teasing him.
"You're doing this on purpose... aren't you? Trying to torture me." Xiao Zhan breathed out.
"Mn." Lan Wangji agreed.
"Lan Zhan!" Xiao Zhan exclaimed.
"Why do you think it is torture, Wei Ying?" Lan Wangji asked innocently, "It's just a massage."
"Because!" Xiao Zhan grumbled, "I don't need a massage at this moment."
"But I want to do it anyway." Lan Wangji whispered huskily near his ear, his hands moving downwards until they met with Xiao Zhan's inner thighs, squeezing them lightly. "I intend to give you a massage here too."
Xiao Zhan gasped out as his entire body thrumming with anticipation. His heart was beating erratically and he could feel his face growing hotter than normal by now. "Lan Zhan... You... Who taught you to speak like this?"
"Hm..." Lan Wangji leaned forward and bit onto Xiao Zhan's earlobe.
Xiao Zhan groaned and shifted closer to him. He could feel every movement Lan Wangji made in between his thigh. It felt like he was on fire. Something about the 'lotion' seemed to be affecting him more than usual. "Make love to me." He whispered hoarsely, "Now."
Lan Wangji moved back and gazed deeply into Xiao Zhan's eyes for a few seconds before complying. Their lips collided passionately as they kissed each other feverishly. As Xiao Zhan felt Lan Wangji enter him, the feeling of pleasure overwhelmed him. Their bodies joined in, moving as one in a dance of passion and healing, their lovemaking was not just a physical act but a profound merging of their souls. It was an intoxicating mix, both invigorating and overwhelming. They both were lost in their passionate haze.
Xiao Zhan felt the weight of the resentful energy seeped out from his body, replaced by a comforting warmth that spread from his core to the tips of his fingers and toes. When the climax of their union finally came, it was like a supernova exploding within Xiao Zhan's body. He arched his back, a cry of release escaping his lips as waves of pleasure and energy coursed through him. After multiple rounds, Lan Wangji finished filling him completely with his essence and Xiao Zhan could feel his sealed golden core vibrated, repairing itself as it absorb the excess positive energy.
Lan Wangji pulled Xiao Zhan closer to him and wrapped his arms protectively around his beloved. With a gentle kiss on Xiao Zhan's forehead, he whispered, "Rest now."
In Lan Wangji's embrace, Xiao Zhan found solace and strength, a beacon of hope in a world filled with darkness. He snuggled closer and murmured, "I love you."
Lan Wangji tightened his hold on him, "Me too, Wei Ying. Me too."
As much as they want to spend more time with each other, they couldn't afford to stay there for long because they had no choice but to return back to the battle once the sun risen few hours later. Xiao Zhan looked far better now, his complexion was back to its rosy tone and his bright eyes had regained their usual sparkles. They parted from each other reluctantly before setting out to join the others in the front line, setting their sights on the next phase of their plan.
The war against the Wen clan had only just begun, and they would stop at nothing to achieve victory for.