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Chapter Text

Wei Ying had long stopped struggling against the hands that dragged him up the mountain. His body was battered and bruised, his limbs felt like led, and their was an empty void in his chest where his golden core once was. He was beyond exhausted, yet it was clear that rest was a luxury that he could no longer afford as their surroundings quickly changed.

The sky was dark and clouded. There was nothing but rocks, dirt and the dead husk of trees all around. The caws of a murder of crows rung in his ears as they flew above, waiting for their next meal. The air was so thick with resentful energy it was almost visible. Wei Ying had a sinking feeling that he knew exactly where they were and could only hope that Jiang Chen never finds out.

Once they reached the edge of a cliff, he was unceremoniously tossed to the ground at Wen Chao's feet. He could barely find the strength to use his arms to hold up his kneeling form.

"Wei Ying, do you know what this place is?" without even giving him a second to catch his breath, Wen Chao answered his own question. "That's right. The Burial Mounds. The ancient battlefield," he waved a hand as if presenting a wonder to behold, "Look around. There are bodies everywhere."

Wei Ying grimaced at the sight before he was kicked back down to the floor. Wen Chao ground his face into the dirt with his foot feeling smug.

"Wei Ying, can you smell that resentment? Many cultivators have tried to remove it, but none have ever succeeded. Anyone who enters this place never returns," Wen Chao removed his foot only to grab a fist full of Wei Ying's hair and yanked him up to his feet, closer to the edge. "Now you will stay here forever," A manic grin spread across Wen Chao face as he tossed him into the dark abyss bellow.

Wei Ying's eyes widened in fear and anger as Wen Chao's form quickly shrunk at the increasing distance. His limbs flailed about in a desperate attempt to prevent the inevitable, but it was already far too late. Without his core, he was no different than an ordinary human, and no human could survive a fall from that height. He suddenly saw his life flash before his eyes.

Playing in the Lotus Pier with Jiang Chen.

Eating Jiang Yanli's lotus root and pork rib soup.

Meeting Lan Zhan while trying to sneak in Emperor's Smile.

He was about to lose everything. No, the Wens were taking it from him just like they took Lotus Pier. Those bastards wouldn't be satisfied with just this. They would continue to take from everyone he cared about until there was nothing left.

THOSE DAMNED WENS!

With that final thought, Wei Ying gasped uselessly as his body was impaled by a large stalagmite. It stabbed right through his heart, leaving his body twitching before slumping. His mind quickly slipped into oblivion. However, the resentful energy was quick to dart for it's new prey. Such a fresh soul full of resentment, ripe for the taking. 

The foul energy gathered around the corpse, clawing at it, desperate to stake it's claim. Soon it would be part of the collective, forever drowning in misery along with the rest of them. Moans of pain and despair echoed throughout the valley as if to celebrate it's new captive. Just as it was preparing to yank the soul out of the corpse to begin the feast, there was a sudden shift in the air. Rather than the resentment getting to tear the soul apart, it began to fight back with an intense ferocity. 

No matter how hard it tugged, the soul refused to separate from the lifeless body. Instead, it was as if it was pulling the resentful energy in. The energy screeched in horror and terror as it was dragged into the corpse by the soul's sheer force of will. The Burial Mounds has never encountered such a powerful soul before, and now the resentful energy was being manipulated into obeying.

The corpse's eyes flew open revealing only white. It's skin rapidly lost color, it's veins bulged, and it's limb spasmed. Claws extended from it's fingers, and the red ribbon that once held it's hair snapped, letting the wild locks swing wildly along with the resentful energy. A horrid growl reverberated from the corpse as it dug it's newly formed claws into the rock that held it's body in place, crushing it to dust. 

Now free from its bonds, the corpse stood up and swayed on its feet. Resentful energy continued to poor into its body, until it radiated an ominous aura. Its mouth hung open, letting out a low moan. It turned its head letting its blank eyes roam around as if scanning the surroundings. Then, it took a shaking step forward. Then another and another.

It moved forward without a clear destination. Its mind was completely void of thoughts, now moving only on instinct. Its soul was screaming for something, but what was it? It had a purpose, that much was clear, but what had its soul wanted so bad that it turned itself into this thing. 

As the corpse moved about, it continued to passively absorb resentful energy. Yes, maybe with enough energy it could remember its purpose. Then there would be something it could sink its teeth into. Something it could rip apart until its hunger was satisfied. Maybe then, the hole in its chest could once more be filled.

Time passed as the corpse slowly walked through the baren land. It was now strong enough to remove obstacles in it's way. Good, it couldn't have anything obstructing it from its purpose, revenge. It would have its revenge. It would kill them all. . . As soon as it could remember who it was that it needed to kill. It was still too weak. It needed more power if it wanted to get its revenge. However, its body could no longer accommodate anymore resentful energy. 

Maybe he didn't need to absorb the energy. What if he controlled it instead? There was a sudden spark of excitement at the thought. It was strange, he didn't know that he could feel anything but the burning anger and need for revenge.

No, it wasn't important. Right now it just needed to figure out how to gather more power.

As it learned to manipulate external energy, another problem was revealed. It couldn't leave this place. Something was keeping it trapped inside with no way of escape. If only it were stronger. Then, it could just break through, but it was alone in this endeavor.

Or was he?

The fierce corpse waved its hand gently allowing the resentful energy to gather and swirl into its palm. It brought it up to its face and exhaled as if to command it. The energy left its hand and dove into the ground. Immediately, a skeletal figure sprung out of the ground and a decaying corpse clawed its way out of its own grave. It stood unnaturally before its new master, waiting for the next command.

Interesting, this new corpse was far too weak to be of any help, but what if there were more. A lot more. Just how much resentful energy could he control at once? He would need to experiment.

Another thrill of excitement made its skin buzz pleasantly before its chest throbbed in pain. Its hand instinctively reached up to the gaping hole in its chest. That's right, it couldn't let itself be distracted. It had a purpose to fulfill. Revenge should be his only focus. This was just meant to be a means to an end.

The fierce corpse went about single mindedly amassing an army of corpses. Soon it could break free of this prison. Soon it would have its revenge on those damned Wens. That's right, it was those bastards that deserved its hatred. It would tare them all limb from limb and be sure to prolong their suffering. 

Twang~

The fierce corpse stilled. It was only for a brief moment but it could've sworn it had heard the sound of a guqin. The sound had resonated with its soul, calling for it. Asking for it to answer. Who was calling it? In that moment, its eyes were no longer pure white, and there was almost a feeling of recognition. 

What was he doing again?

Wei Ying could suddenly think clearly. His awareness was back even though it was still sluggish. He blinked as if in a daze, and he looked around him. He was startled to see a massive army of corpses that looked just about ready to rampage. His eyes widened in realization. He did this. He had raised the dead, and he was planning on letting them loose into the world.

He felt nauseated. He quickly covered his mouth only to look down in horror at the sight of his cold dead hand. Oh that's right, he had died and became a fierce corpse. If he could breath, he was sure he'd be hyperventilating, but now he didn't even have a heart thumping in his chest.

He looked down at himself only to come face to face with the damning evidence of his demise. He really didn't have a heart anymore, but then why could he think? Why was he suddenly conscious? His mind spiraled in confusion. None of this should be possible and yet here he was. 

"After I die, I'll turn into a vengeful ghost, and hunt you dogs forever."

Oh that's right, he did say that, didn't he. Well, he's still surprised that things turned out this way. With a hand pressed against his forehead, he glanced back at the army he had amassed and grimaced. He really had been planning to just brute force his way out of here. If he had unleashed this kind of army, there was no telling how many innocents he would've killed in his rampage to get to the Wens.

He frowned in thought. There was still a suffocating sense of hatred at the thought of the Wens. He still felt compelled to kill them all, and having an undead army at his back would be useful, but what about Wen Ning and Wen Qing? He owed them a debt that could never be repaid. It's not like he could command the corpses to not target specific people. Unless.

There were techniques used to communicate with the dead. What if he did something similar but used resentful energy to control them? Yes, he could still have his revenge. Once he figures out how to fully control them, he'll make those Wen dogs pay.

Chapter Text

A Wen Clan messenger groveled on the floor as Wen Chao's fist came down to slam onto the table.

"You still haven't found the rest of those rebels? You're all so useless. Even Wen Xu got his head cut off by Nie Mingjue. Such a disgrace to the Wen Clan!" Wen Chao growled in contempt.

They had already lost the Jiangling, Mianyang and Jingling supervisory offices, and yet they still haven't found the culprits. The situation is only getting more embarrassing as traitors began springing up amongst the cowardly civilians. They've even started spreading baseless rumors that the Wen Clan has been cursed by demons! They're lucky Wen Chao was merciful enough to grant them swift deaths. Such nonsense is never to be tolerated in his Wen Clan.

Wen Chao was already beyond irritated when he noticed the tea had been spilled by that damned whore. "You stupid woman! What's gotten into you?" he barked as he swiftly moved away from the quickly spreading liquid. Wang Lingjiao was once so pleasing to have around, but now she only brought about more headaches than she was worth.

"Master Chao," her voice shook as she clung to his arm. "You don't think it was all Wei Wuxian's doing? The supervisory offices- all those bodies- Could he be taking revenge?" He voice trembled in fear. She had heard the dreadful rumor that had spread about the massacres. Bodies strewn about in mangles pieces like the were ripped apart by wild animals.

"Huh? Haven't I already told you that it's impossible for Wei Wuxian to escape the Burial Mounds? So what are you still howling about?" Wen Chao scoffed irritably before yanking his arm out of her grasp.

"But what if he really turned into a vengeful ghost?" Wang Lingjiao pleaded. It was as if he could still hear him cursing them in pure hatred.

"Impossible, his spirit is forever trapped in the Burial Mounds,. He can never escape," Wen Chao was seriously questioning why he bothers to keep her around anymore. Even her assets have long since bored him.

"But-"

"Enough! You're really starting to anger me," he cut off anymore room for argument.

"Lord, a signal flare has just been spotted. We've found the rebels!" another Wen messenger burst through the door, finally announcing some good news.

"Where are they? We'll head out to kill every last one of them," Wen Chao barked as he began storming out of the room. At least now he could relieve some of his pent up stress. "You stay here and be done with such foolish thoughts," he sent Wang Lingjiao a glare before slamming the door shut behind him.

He's had quite enough of people looking down on the Wen Clan. This will serve as an opportunity to trample on any remaining doubts about his clan's greatness. He'll make sure to seamlessly defeat those rebel scum.

Wang Lingjiao was taken aback by his harsh tone. Sure she didn't want to follow him into another bloody battlefield, but her anxiety and paranoia had quickly amplified with Master Chao's absence. She had hoped that attaching herself to a powerful young master would guarantee her a life of luxury, but now she was second guessing her choice.

Even if those rumors had been exaggerated, there must still be a grain of truth. After all, 3 supervisory offices don't just disappear without reason. She trembled in fear as her thoughts began to spiral and the lanterns did little to keep the shadows at bay. The quiet atmosphere was so ominous and suffocating, she was practically jumping out of her skin at any little noise.

She'd had enough of this place, she wanted out. If the Wen's were truly cursed by demons, she definitely wanted no part in this. She stood up and dashed out of the room. Her gaze darted around, but strangely, she couldn't find a single guard. Even stranger, the lanterns barely gave off any light, leaving her fumbling about like a blind person.

She hurriedly made her way towards the exit only to notice the strange puddles she kept passing by. Some of it began to cling to her shoes and robe, but she had no time to investigate. She wanted out now!

She burst through the doors to reach the courtyard with her heart hammering in her chest. Her brief sense of relief was quickly overshadowed with dawning horror at the sight before her. Mangled corpses where scattered everywhere with not a single one fully intact. Even worse than what the rumors told, it was more life a hurricane of blade had crashed through the courtyard.

Gasping in fear, her hand flew to cover her mouth as she began to gag at the stench of death. She quickly averted her eyes only to see own state. Her shoes and robes were covered in blood. With a look back down the now visible hall, she could now see that the puddles were all made of blood with severed limbs as their source. She had seen the many horrors of war, but this was just too much.

Suddenly, Wang Lingjiao heard footsteps behind her. She quickly turned to she someone slowly approaching her from across the yard. He was completely covered from head to toe in black and red robes, and his face was obscured by a large bamboo hat with a thick black veil cascading down to the floor.

"Wei Wuxian," her voice shook as she stepped away from the stranger. Even with the lack of light, she could still tell that the darker patches on his black robes was blood. She was going to die, that much she knew. However, if this was truly Wei Ying, then maybe redirecting his anger could give her a chance to escape. "It was Wen Chao that pushed you into the Burial Mounds, not me. If you want revenge, then go find him!" she desperately tried to persuade them.

The stranger paused his steps at her words before tilting their head in amusement. Then the sound of deathly groans came from them, a haunting sound that chilled her to the bone. In an instant, she was dangled in the air by a clawed hand around her throat. Her eyes widened in horror at the sight of the corpse white arm. She was going to die, the ghost of Wei Wuxian was going to kill her. She uselessly clawed at the arm to get the monster to release her.

"Let me go! It wasn't me! I didn't kill you! I'll tell you where to find Wen Chao, just let me go!" Wang Lingjiao pleaded almost chocking at her words.

Resentful energy permeated off of the monster as if to show how it's anger spiked. The grip around her throat tightened , and she was slammed onto the floor. All the air in her lungs was forced out at the painful impact. Before she could even catch her breath, she screamed as her legs were snapped in two by a stomp of the monster's foot. It grabbed a fist full of her hair and began dragging her into the forest.

"Wei Wuxian, I'm sorry! Please let me go! Mercy! Mercy" Wang Lingjiao sobbed and begged, but no one could hear her cries.

Wen Chao couldn't help but chuckle darkly and his men dragged a beaten and battered Jiang Chen to kneel before him. It was funny that these rebels really thought they could do anything but squirm under his feet.

"Bring him. I'll put an end to this farce," Wen Chao motioned for them to follow as he made his way over to the remaining sounds of fighting.

There an exhausted Lan Wangji remained with a few of the scattered rebels. Truly a wonderful sight to see the pristine white jade of Gusu rolling around in the mud. He could hardly wait to see the celebrations that would be dedicated in his honor after the war was over.

"Lan Zhan," Wen Chao attracted his attention with a mocking smirk, "Stop resisting already. After all, Wei Ying has been waiting a long time for the two of you. After I kill you, I'm sure you'll get to see him in hell."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jiang Chen growled and he struggled against his captors.

"It's funny. I heard you guys were still looking for him," Wen Chao couldn't help but laugh, "You should really stop wasting your time. You'll never find him."

"Where is Wei Ying?" Lan Wanji gritted his teeth with a glare.

"I threw him into the Burial Mounds ages ago, even his bones would be gone by now," Wen Chao gloated with another mocking laugh. If nothing else, the look of utter despair of the once prominent cultivators made it all worth it. "Well, I've had my fun. Kill them," he ordered.

Wen Zhuliu, who had been standing guard next to Wen Chao stepped forward when he suddenly stopped in his tracks. He felt his hairs stand on end as his instincts screamed of danger. He quickly turned to the source to see a lone figure standing not to far away. Their appearance was completely obscured by the black veil of their bamboo hat. When did they get there? How did they get so close without him noticing.

"Huh? What are you so freaked out about? It's just one man," Wen Chao scoffed at Wen Zhuliu's behavior. This man didn't seem to have any weapons and he didn't even wear a sect uniform. Clearly he was a fool that didn't know to not stick his nose where it doesn't belong. "You lot, take care of him. I don't have time to waste on a suicidal fool," he huffed in irritation as he waved dismissively at the Wen cultivators.

Wen Zhuliu still didn't move to kill Jiang Chen and Lan Zhan who were both too exhausted to be much of a threat for now. However, he still had a terrible feeling about this person. They were dangerous and he could sense a lot of resentful energy coming from them.

The Wen cultivators had quickly moved to obey the order and surrounded the stranger. One moment, they were all poised to strike the next, their heads were rolling on the ground with their bodies crumbling to the floor.

"Stand back Young Master, it's a powerful fierce corpse," Wen Zhuliu warned as he placed himself between Wen Chao and the demonic being.

"Then get rid of it! Keep it away!" Wen Chao demanded as he coward behind his guard.

Jiang Chen and Lan Zhan watched in dread as the creature turned towards them. The single visible arm that was now sticking out from behind the veil was dripping with fresh blood from its victims. It was a sickly pale color with veins protruding like a show of strength. Jiang Chen swallowed in trepidation. Neither of them were in any condition to run from something that fast and powerful. With any luck, the Core Melting Hand would be enough to take it down.

"Sandu Shengshou! Hanguang Jun!"

Jiang Chen turned to see a group of Jiang and Lan cultivators approach them. It was both a relief and source of concern. How did they get here without drawing the attention of all of the other Wens? He was sure that they were still swarming the place.

"What are you guys doing here? You need to escape now while they're distracted," Jiang Chen barked in anger as the Jiang surrounded him.

"It's alright, at least for now," one of them assured.

"What do you mean?" Jiang Chen frowned. Strangely, all of them seemed to disregard the presence of the frighteningly strong fierce corpse that was currently engaged with Wen Zhuliu.

"The fierce corpse has only been attacking Wen cultivators," another explained as he helped Jiang Chen to his feet.

"To think those Wen dogs were actually cursed by demons. Serves them right," there was a chorus of agreements among the disciples.

Jiang Chen turned to look towards the creature that was clearly starting to overpower Wen Zhuliu. Had the Wens truly been cursed? He couldn't help but smirk in satisfaction. Truly the heavens had favored them by sending this creature to take out the trash. However, there still left the question of whether or not it would stop once it was finished with the Wens. Jiang Chen couldn't help but feel wary.

He turned to look at Lan Zhan who was also surrounded by disciples of his clan. Should they just escape now that they had the chance? However just as the thought crossed his mind, there was a resounding snap that drew their attention. Jiang Chen looked back only to see the fierce corpse release Wen Zhuliu's neck and his body crumpled to the floor.

The sweet satisfaction that he would have felt from such a display was soon overshadowed by the dawning realization. Only Wen Chao remained, and if Wen Zhuliu couldn't kill that creature, then who could?

"Stay back! Stay back! Don't come any closer!" Wen Chao quickly turned to run away only for the creature to block his path. He stumbled backwards and trembled in fear. "Go away! Help me!" Wen Chao screamed as he scrambled to escape.

The fierce corpse lifted its foot before stomping it down on the helpless man. Another sickening snap could be heard which was quickly followed by Wen Chao's cries of agony. The creature didn't stop there. It began snapping his other limbs leaving him a broken mess of sobs and begging. There was a sudden deafening silence that left the cultivators frozen in silence.

They all took defensive stances as the corpse just turned towards them. Most of it was still obscured by the veil, but the sections that had torn during his battle with Wen Zhuliu revealed the clawed hands that were hidden underneath. With the silence came the deep groans of the fierce corpse.

They all stood still with their weapons ready for when it attacked. It took an unsteady step towards them. Jiang Chen reflexively stepped back causing a soft ring to resound from the clarity bell that hung from his sash. The fierce corpse froze at the sound. They all held their breaths waiting for the creature to make its move.

Suddenly, its posture straightened and it lifted its hand to make a steady waving motion. Resentful energy gathered before dispersing. They had never seen this kind of behavior from a demonic being before. What could possibly be doing?

There was now something stirring behind the creature. Was one of the bodies moving?! They watched in horror as the corpse of Wen Zhuliu rose in unnatural movements. How could this be possible?! A corpse controlling another corpse?!

"Sandu Shenshou, what should we do?" Jiang Chen didn't know how to respond. They were completely out of their depth here. Nothing could’ve prepared him for this kind of situation.

"Stand your ground," he commanded through gritted teeth. What else could they possibly do?

Then another pair of corpses came out of the rubble. They were dragging something behind them and Wen Zhuliu had also begun dragging something closer to them. Jiang Chen watched warily as he took in exactly what was happening. Wen Zhuliu was dragging the corpse of Wen Chao while the other two were dragging Wang Lingjiao. What was going on?

Wen Chao and Wang Lingjiao were spread across the floor as if to display them. Taking another look, though the two looked dead, they were in fact still breathing. Jiang Chen felt a pang in his heart as he looked at the two who had destroyed his home and killed his family. He was boiling in anger. Was this demon mocking him?

He looked up at the fierce corpse with a glare only to recoil in surprise. It was now bowing? To him? Jiang Chen now understood. This creature wasn't mocking him. It was giving him a chance to take revenge. The corpses moved away as if to give Jiang Chen the space to dole out justice.

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but laugh boisterously, "Can I really take this as a gesture of good will? I never thought I'd find an ally among corpses."

He took the opportunity for what it was and grabbed a discarded sword from the ground. He carefully made his way over and looked down at the loathsome couple that ruined his life. Without hesitation he raised the sword and cut off their heads in a satisfying slice. He soaked in the gratification before falling into a fit of laughter. He'd done it. He finally got his revenge, but somehow he still felt empty. It was probably because Wen Ruohan was still breathing. Yes, that had to be it.

He swallowed back the lump in his throat at the thought of a particularly annoying smile that he'd likely never get to see again. He looked back up at the fierce corpse that only silently stood there, still bowing. Whoever they had been, they must still have vague impressions of their life before death.

Wait- No. It couldn't be.

Jiang Chen took a step forward turning his head as if that could help his get a glimpse past the veil. There were wary calls from behind him, but his hesitant steps quickly became frantic as he made his way over to the fierce corpse.

It couldn't be.

He swiped the bamboo hat off of the creature's head to reveal the face underneath. His eyes widened in surprise as the hat fell to the floor in a clatter.

No.

"Wei Wuxian?"

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan narrowed his eyes cautiously at the fierce corpse that had quickly overwhelming Wen Zhuliu. It appears to be an ally, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a demonic being. The rules have always been clear. There are three ways to deal with a vengeful ghost. First, liberate. Endeavor to fulfill their dying wish to absolve them of their obsession and ensure they are released. If this tactic proves futile, then suppress them decisively with force. If their crimes prove to be too abhorrent, then they are to be eradicated. As cultivators, there is no room for error.

This fierce corpse has such strong resentment, it's almost suffocating to be so close to it. For it to single mindedly attack the Wens, it's clear that whoever they were had suffered greatly at their hands. Despite being able to understand it's hatred, it cannot be allowed to exist. Resent spirits have little regard for casualties and collateral damage. It would likely bring more harm than good. If they don't stop it, there is nothing to guarantee that the victims will remain as those among the Wens.

If it were possible to grant it's final wish, it would be ideal. However, this is likely to slaughter the Wen Clan which currently isn't feasible. Even if it were something simple like laying his family to rest, Lan Zhan currently lacks spiritual energy to attain this information from it, not to mention that his guqin was heavily damaged. Additionally, there was no one else among them that had mastered inquiry.

Their only option was to suppress the creature, but with how heavily wounded and exhausted they all were, the chances of success against such a powerful opponent would be near zero. It was a grim situation, but as cultivators, they couldn't just stand aside and do nothing. Lan Zhan was not one to leave such a thing unaddressed, but he was also not foolish enough to forfeit their lives against a creature that had just snapped the Core Melting Hand's neck.

However, the resentful spirit had bowed to Sandu Shenshou and even presented both Wen Chao and Wang Lingjiao alive. It's hatred was so palpable and yet it had restrained itself from killing the two? How was this possible?

As Jiang Wanyin stepped towards the creature despite his clansmen's protests, Lan Zhan swiftly moved with his sword in hand, ready to defend his fellow cultivator. However, he instantly froze at the sight of the fierce corpse who no longer wore black veil. His heart dropped to his stomach in dawning horror.

"Wei Wuxian?" Jiang Wanyin's voice was quiet, almost fragile, yet it still confirmed Lan Zhan's worst fear.

His head remained bowed with unblinking eyes staring at the floor. There was no indication of any of the previous rage that had brought destruction to the Wens, nor was there any sign of the teasing smile and bright laughter that was seared into his memories like a brand. Lan Zhan took hesitant steps towards the pair as Jiang Wanyin grasped onto the shoulders of who had once been Wei Ying.

"Wei Wuxian, Is that truly you? How did this happen?!" Jiang Chen's tightened his grip, but he received in return was a slight turn of Wei Wuxian's head and an empty gaze to the floor. Jiang Chen gritted his teeth and began to shake what had once been his brother in all but blood. "Answer me, Wei Wuxian!"

There was another tense silence that lingered as Jiang Chen began to seethe in anger. Had Wen Chao been truthful about what he had done to Wei Wuxian at the Burial Mounds? Had his death been so miserable that he forcefully kept himself here knowing it would turn him into this? How long did it take for him to die in that place? He had thought that such a miracle was a blessing of the heavens, but who could've thought that it was just the world's way of playing a cruel joke on him.

"How could this be?" Jiang Chen's voice trembled. No matter the strength of such an ally, it wasn't worth his brother's life.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan whispered sorrowfully.

The corpse slowly turned his head towards Lan Wangji with a tilt. It gave Jiang Chen momentary pause. The damned idiot was still so fucking drawn to Hanguang Jun it was embarrassing. He could practically head Wei Wuxian annoyingly loud voice calling out nonsense just to mess with him. Jiang Chen let out a bitter laugh as his grip laxed in defeat. His brother was gone, how much more could he lose until the world was satisfied. Jiang Chen felt a sudden surge of anger as he turned towards the pair of motionless corpses on the floor.

"Damn it all! I let those fuckers off to lightly! I should it made them suffer till the end of their days!" Jiang Chen viciously kicked them in an attempt to appease his anger, but it only grew worse as the grief morphed to fuel his anger instead.

"Sandu Shenshou," an all too brave disciple spoke up, drawing his sect leader's ire. "What should we do about Young Master Wei?"

"Huh?" Jiang Chen growled, "What the fuck do you mean by that?! That's my brother! Are you saying we should just cast him aside like trash?!" Despite the fact that his qi had been exhausted completely, Zidian was still able to crackle with sparks.

"With all due respect, he's dangerous," a Lan disciple defended like the self righteous bastards that they were.

"Try anything and I'll break your legs!" Jiang Chen spat as he glared at the group. 

"Sandu Shenshou, we understand this is hard for you, but think about what Young Master Wei would want. Do you really think he would be okay with being left like this?" a Jiang disciple reasoned.

"He is docile for now, but what is preventing that from changing later?" another added.

"If we don't act now, we may not get another chance like this. Sect Leader is no fool, he must have seen just how powerful he is. There is no telling how many would be sacrificed to contain him," the argument was sound.

Jiang Chen understood all this, but did he really have no other choice than to kill his own brother? Was fate so cruel as to burden him with such a task?

"If it is really too much, then you can leave the task to Hanguang Jun."

Jiang Chen tightened his fist to the point that he drew blood. He was sure that the Jiang disciples would listen to his orders, but the same couldn't be said for the Lans, especially if Hanguang Jun decided against it. Knowing the strict man and his devotion to the rules of his sect, it was unlikely that he would just let this go. There was also the fact that he hated Wei Wuxian back when they were in the Cloud Recesses, so there was little hope to gain his sympathy. The most he could do was buy time.

"I'll discuss this with him," he frowned. If he could somehow get Wei Wuxian to flee while he served as a distraction- His thoughts were suddenly cut off by the sound of a flute.

~

Wei Ying internally cringed at his predicament. He knew he would have to face reality eventually, but he hadn't thought that Jiang Chen would just snatch the bamboo hat. The entire purpose of it was to keep it a secret as long as possible! At least his anger had been satiated enough to have a clear mind.

It was getting a bit difficult to keep the resentful energy under his control. Luckily it hadn't ruined his plan to give Jiang Chen his deserved chance at revenge. It would of made this whole encounter a lot less peaceful. 

"Wei Wuxian, Is that truly you? How did this happen?!"

Sure, Jiang Chen was yelling in his ear, but that was just his way of expressing his concern. Wei Ying looked away in an attempt to avoid his brother's anger. He understood this wasn't exactly ideal, but hey, he made it back didn't he? 

"Answer me, Wei Wuxian!"

How was he supposed to answer that?  Jiang Chen had already lost too much because of him. Even giving him his golden core was far from enough to repay him for everything. No, there was no way he was leaving Jiang Chen alone to face those damned Wen dogs, not when he had found a way to even the odds.

"How could this be?" 

Wei Ying felt his chest tighten, but it only reminded him of the heart that he had lost. Resentment flooded to hole as if that would fix anything. Instead, he felt the anger towards the Wen begin to fester once more. They were responsible for Jiang Chen's distress, and they will pay for it ten fold! 

"Wei Ying," a soft sorrowful voice broke him out of his spiral. 

It was a familiar voice, yet he had only ever heard it sound like this before. He turned to see Lan Zhan standing there with a slight furrow of his brows. How long had he been there? His once pristine clothes were dirty and ragged. Ah, these two should really go and get themselves treated. 

Lan Zhan, ah Lan Zhan, how could you stand to be so dirty? 

"Damn it all! I let those fuckers off to lightly! I should it made them suffer till the end of their days!"

It was probably for the best to just leave Jiang Chen to stew in his anger for a while until he simmered down. Luckily, Lan Zhan would serve as an excellent distraction until then. Wei Ying took a step towards him with a tilt of his head.

Why does Lan Zhan look so down anyways? What upset him so much? Wei Ying thought it over only to realize that he did just finish going on a rampage. He had brutally killed many of the Wens and even a few of the bodies were still around. He was likely also still covered in their fresh blood. It was clearly too much for Lan Zhan's sensibilities. 

Ah Lan Zhan, don't you know that it was completely justified. It may have been more brutal that explicitly necessary, but they're Wen dogs!

"Try anything and I'll break your legs!" 

Wow, Jiang Chen was seriously angry.  Hopefully he didn't need to step in for those new Jiang disciples. He was about to return to Jiang Chen's side but was abruptly stopped.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan grasped onto the sleeve oof his torn robes.

Wei Ying looked down at the hand in surprise. It was clearly dirty and bloody yet, the esteemed Hanguang Jun was holding onto it so tightly like he was really afraid to see him go. Wei Ying felt the familiar urge to tease the stone faced man. He stepped closer to him and tilted his head from side to side with a slight quirk of his lips that formed a smile.

Lan Zhan, ah Lan Zhan, did you miss me?

The man's face looked taken aback with his eyes widening for just a fraction. Wei Ying actually succeeded in getting a reaction. How funny that only getting close could garner such a reaction. Usually it would just get him annoyed looks! Ah but, Wei Ying was currently a walking corpse. Was this actually not a surprised face but one of terror? He quickly took a step back at the realization. However, Lan Zhan had followed after him.

Ah wait! Mercy! I'm not a threat! 

Wei Ying raised a hand to block any incoming attack only for Lan Zhan to tightly grasp onto his wrist.

"Wei Ying?" he asked breathlessly.

Huh?

"Still Wei Ying?" Lan Zhan stepped even closer refusing to let go of his hand. He scanned his face as if looking for something, anything.

Wei Ying blinked in surprise at the question. What could Lan Zhan be asking about? Did, did they not realize it was him the whole time? Sure he looked a bit grotesque now as could be expected of the undead, but wasn't it obvious? However, the more Wei Ying thought about it, there more he realized he hadn't actually spoken a word. Sure he was acting strangely compared to other resentful spirits, but what was to say that there wasn't just some other explanation for it.

He opened his mouth to respond only for a gargled mess to come out. Had his vocal cords been damaged? He frowned in frustration as words refused to form properly. What if this would be the final straw to condemn him as something to be exorcised? He would need to escape and find Jiang Chen again later, or maybe he could just aid them from the shadows?

The problem was Lan Zhan's strong grip on his wrist. He could hardly pull it away without using force. He didn't want to hurt him. Lan Zhan may hate him, but he had never felt that way in return. All he ever wanted was to get close to him. He might have gone the wrong way about it, but that doesn't change the fact that it was because he had interested him from the very beginning. How can he show that it was still him?

A memory suddenly surfaced. A soft melody that he had carefully tucked away in his memories thinking it would be the last thing ha would ever listen to. A memory of two young men, trapped in cave with little time left. 

With his free hand, he reached into his side to take out a dizi had hand crafted in a crude attempt at making his own music cultivation method based on the Lan technique. It was decidedly more difficult when he no longer had any need to breath, but carefully timed and measured breaths had made it possible. He positioned the dizi in his hands despite the grip on his wrist and began to play. Lan Zhan had a look of confusion before it morphed into one of recognition. 

Lan Zhan felt a waive of relief in recognition. Wei Ying wasn't gone. He could not answer, but he still found a way. It was their song he was playing and Lan Zhan never though that his heart could feel so full. However, his clan rules were clear. Liberate, suppress, eradicate, but he never thought that he would one day use this against Wei Ying. How could he?

He heard foot steps and instinctively placed Wei Ying behind himself protectively. He came face to face with Jiang Wanyin who had a look of utter surprise and wariness. He had a deep frown and glanced down at the hand that still held onto Wei Ying's wrist.

"What do you think you're doing, Hanguang Jun," Jiang Chen glared debating on how to get to his brother incase of the worst.

Lan Zhan debated with himself before resolutely sating, "Requesting Sandu Shenshou's permission to take Wei Ying to Cloud Recesses."

"YOU DARE!" Jiang Chen howled in anger, "You think I'll let you take my brother to be eradicated?!"

"Not eradication. Still Wei Ying," Lan Zhan corrected. He would not allow anymore harm to come to Wei Ying.

"What do you mean?" Jiang Chen questioned feeling a bubble of hope rise. He didn't hear wrong, did he?

"This one suspects Wei Ying is still conscious yet unable to speak," Lan Zhan elaborated, holding firm.

Jiang Chen swallowed hard trying to not be overwhelmed by the rush of hope. "You know your clan's stance on resentful spirits. Even if he is conscious, they will not tolerate his existence."

"Will protect Wei Ying, and inquiry may aid with communication. It is not a technique taught to outsiders," Lan Zhan reasoned. He knew that Wei Ying would be endanger regardless of where he would go which was why he would rather have him close enough to where he could protect him.

Jiang Chen debated his words. If he was right in his assessment and Wei Wuxian was truly conscious, then that means he hadn't lost his brother. Given enough time, Wei Wuxian may even devise a way to bring himself back. He had always embodied the Jiang Sect motto after all, 'Attempt the impossible'. His current existence was proof of his success.

"Wei Wuxian is my Sect's responsibility, and the Lan Clan is no place for a resentful spirit. There is no telling how such an environment would affect Wei Wuxian. Instead, once we take back Lotus Pier, I will formally invite you to perform inquiry as an honored guest. Until then, I will request that you return my brother to me," Jiang Chen proposed. It had been unthinkable for Lan Wang Ji to defend the existence of a fierce corpse yet it was happening right before his eyes. He had barely hoped to gain Hanguang Jun's sympathy, yet he had received so much more.

Lan Zhan furrowed his brows in contemplation. He did not want to let Wei Ying go, yet had he any right to keep him? He didn't even know if Wei Ying would want to go with him. He had always been the one to pull away, but how could he stand to do so now that he had almost lost him for good. 

He was startled out of his thought as a light touch grazed over his hand. It was could yet he felt nothing but warmth. He turned to see a bright smile on Wei Ying's pale face. His moved to mouth words without sound. 

See you soon.

See you soon? Was Wei Ying telling him to follow Jian Wanyin's words and see him again in Lotus Pier? It left him feeling conflicted, yet he understood. Wei Ying did not want to go back to Gusu with him. His grip went slack and left it fall to his side. He gave a reluctant nod before turning back to Jiang Chen.

"Understood," he bowed in agreement before walking back towards his clansmen and began leading them away. His heart once more felt heavy.

Chapter Text

"Can you believe it? The Jiang clan actually took back Lotus Pier!" A young woman grinned despite her own disbelief, "The Wens were pushed all the way back to the north of the Qin Mountains!"

"The heavens are truly fair to have cursed the Wens. To think they would send such a ferocious corpse to dule out punishment," a older man laughed before taking a huge swig of his drink.

"But it's scary isn't it," a meek man frowned as he fiddled with his cup, "That thing has killed powerful cultivators as if it were a one man army. Shouldn't they have gotten rid of it by now?"

"Ha! What do you think they're doing? Letting it kill freely?" the older man scoffed, "Of course it's Sandu Shenshou who has been keeping a tight leash on the thing. Thanks to him, it has only killed those damned Wen."

"To think the Jiang Clan would once again rise from the ashes after such devastation. Sandu Shenshou is incredible!" the young woman praised.

"Yeah, but it how is he controlling it? Could he be using demonic cultivation?" he voiced his concerns.

"Don't you know anything? He wields the legendary weapon Zidian that wards off such evil. To corrupt his cultivation with such a vile method would've rendered it useless," the older man huffed indignantly, "Besides, I heard he's always at the forefront of all his battles. It would've been obvious if he used such an unorthodox method."

"Personally, I don't mind a resentful ghost that only attacks the Wens. I bet it used to be a cultivator that was tortured to death by them. This is the heavens granting the poor man a chance at justice," the young woman added her own bit of gossip.

"But to let such a vile thing run loose like that? What if it grows too powerful and begins killing indiscriminately?" the man protested with a trembling voice.

"You think those cultivators haven't planned for that? Surely you don't think they are all brainless. You should have faith that people like the righteous Twin Jades of Lan would never just leave it be," the older man scolded.

"I guess you're right," the man muttered feeling a bit more assured.

~

Jiang Yanli's eyes scanned the charred remains of what once was her home. A lump formed in the back of her throat as she remembered how magnificent the structure once was when she was last there. She hadn't even known that her home would be ruined and her parents would be killed with only ashes remaining. Even now, tears threatened to spill as her grip tightened on the meal tray that only held two bowls of her lotus root and pork rib soup.

Jiang Yanli sucked in a steadying breath and recomposed herself. She had no right to feel sorry for herself when she was never in any danger. She hadn't suffered like the cultivators that continuously through themselves into battle to fight against the Wen. The least she could do was care for the injured and provide them with warm meals. At least that way, she wouldn't be completely useless. She forced a gentle smile onto her features and proceeded to open the door.

"The lotus root soup is ready. Won't you join me for a meal?" she asked gaining the attention of the room's occupant.

"A-Jie," Jiang Chen turned to look at her in surprise before smiling indulgently, "Do you even need to ask?"

He set aside the documents he had been riffling through and moved to sit at the center table. Jiang Yanli quickly joins him and sets up the table.

"Where is A-Xian?" she asked as she glanced around the room in confusion.

Jiang Chen stiffened at her question and hesitated to answer, "He's around."

She paused, contemplating the reason behind his response, "Does he not wish to see me?"

"Of course not," he quickly corrected, "He's just being stupid right now." He frowned deeply with a huff and upon closer inspection, his eyes seemed to avoid looking at a particular spot.

"Oh?" Jiang Yanli turned to look in that direction with a rueful smile. "Won't A-Xian let me see him?" she called out hopefully. However, there was no response.

"Stop hiding like a coward. You'll make A-Jie sad!" Jiang Chen demanded in annoyance. There was another moment of silence before a paperman floated across the room an landed on Jiang Yanli's lap. The paperman fidgeted nervously as if guilty.

She picked it up into her hand to bring it up to her face. She her a scoff from Jiang Chen who otherwise remained silent. Upon closer inspection, she could see a message written across the paperman's body. 'I don't want to scare Shijie,' it read.

"Oh A-Xian, how could I ever be scared of you. I heard about what happened and rather than feel scare of you, I'm scared for you. Scared of what it will all entail once everything is over, but for now, I just really miss my A-Xian. Won't you fulfill my selfish request?" She persuaded with her gaze fixed at the same spot she had made note of already.

This time a head peeked out from behind a privacy screen and a single expressionless eye was now visible. Despite it's vacancy, Jiang Yanli could still read the hesitation and worry in his actions. She smiled reassuringly as she beckoned him forward. After a bit more deliberation, he finally stepped out for her to see him in full.

He was wearing black robes from head to toe with with hair cascading freely down his back. His skin was a ghostly pale color as if it was drained of blood, black claws could be seen poking out of his sleeves, and his expressionless face made it undeniable that Wei Ying had become a fierce corpse. Jiang Yanli stood from her seat and walked over to him. She grasped onto his hand with her eyes never leaving his face.

"We have a lot of catching up to do, so sit," she gently pulled him towards the table, guiding him to his seat.

"I told you he was just being stupid. Worrying about the most ridiculous things as if he doesn't know you," Jiang Chen complained as he continued to eat his meal, "Next time I should just break his legs so he can't run away."

Jiang Yanli raised her sleeve to cover the signs of an incoming laugh. "There's no need for that. He did it out of concern for me," she reasoned despite knowing there was no real heat behind his words.

"'Concern' my ass. The fool should know better," Jiang Chen scoffed in disbelief.

The sound of rustling paper and writing drew their attention to Wei Wuxian. He was quickly noting something down before presenting the paper to his siblings. It read, 'Such cruel words. What if you break my maidenly heart?'

Jiang Chen recoiled in disgust, "Who cares about your heart?!" It was strange waiting for him to finish writing, but the words written was a reminder that his brother was very much still here.

'You already torture me with the fact that I can no longer taste Shijie's soup, but now you also have to cut me with words?'

Whether that was for better or for worse was debatable. "What's the point of you losing your voice if you're still going to annoy ME with words!?" Jiang Chen argued. He could practically hear Wei Wuxian's annoying voice.

Jiang Yanli chuckled lightly, still keeping to a socially acceptable volume, "It's strange that I have to read half of the conversation, but I can at least feel reassured that you two haven't changed at all." Jiang Chen huffed in response before crossing his arms and looking away like a cat who was stoked a little too ruffly.

'Jiang Chen should be nicer to this pitiable one. I can't even enjoy wine anymore! Truly this is a fate worse than death,' Wei Wuxian stretched across the table to angle the page into Jiang Chen's view.

"Pity, what pity! If you're going to complain like this, then maybe I should end you myself," Jiang Chen threatened with his hands slamming on the table.

Wei Wuxian quickly shuffled to hide behind Jiang Yanli. It painted quite the picture to see a terrifying fierce corpse hiding behind a comparatively small maiden.

"Don't act pathetic when you look like that! Your appearance alone would make a child cry," Jiang Chen gave him a look of disbelief. What was he, a giant baby?!

"Now, now, there is no need to bully A-Xian," Jiang Yanli playfully teased as she gave Wei Wuxian's hand a gentle pat.

"He's lucky I haven't erected a grave for him," Jiang Chen scoffed.

Jiang Yanli's smiled saddened a bit at his words knowing anger had always been his way of hiding his pain. She stepped around the table and knelt down to Jiang Chen's side. "And you won't have to. He's still here with us in whatever form that may be," she reassured him.

Jiang Chen didn't dare look at her as his frown deepened. He never could hide anything from her. He let her drag him into her warm embrace, and she didn't even mind the fact that he did not return it. His A-Jie was truly too good for this world.

He was snapped out of his daze when he felt Wei Wuxian drape himself over his back with another sheet of paper shoved into his face.

'Such a cute Shidi that can't live without this Shixion.'

"Who can't live without you?! I'll break your legs!" Jiang Chen threw him off before standing up and darting forward to strangle him. Wei Wuxian ran all around the room, evading the hands aiming for his neck. Under normal circumstances the room would be filled with sound of boisterous laughter, but that would just be another thing the war had taken from them and Jiang Chen would be damned if he let it take anything else.

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan placed the last of the necessary items into his bag and proceeded to sling it over his shoulder. Despite the lack of expression and the steadiness in his movements, his heart was beating unsteadily indication his true feelings of anxiousness and anticipation. He had finally received a missive from the Jiang Clan requesting for his presence. Up until this point, he could barely catch glimpses of Wei Ying among the soldiers as they fought on the frontline.

Lan Zhan had been patient all this time, keeping himself from pestering Sandu Shengshou with inquires about Wei Ying's well being. However, he was starting to feel the strain of uncertainty from not being able to confirming that it had truly been Wei Ying's consciousness that had recalled and played the song that Lan Zhan had created with the young man in mind. It was selfish of him to want to be by his side when he was the one to deny each and every time Wei Ying had said that they were close.

The only way to make up for his mistakes now was to help confirm Wei Ying's consciousness before the end of the war which was in fact the deadline, for his uncle had been clear on the matter.

~

"The elders believe that such a powerful fierce corpse cannot be allowed to roam free. Even the rules state that such an existence cannot be tolerated, and with the amount of resentful energy it has been able to manipulate and control, they fear that if let to fester, it will soon turn against the cultivation world," Lan Qiren disclosed with a slight furrow of his brow. He was not expecting to have this sort of discussion with his nephew. He had always believed Wangji to be as firm on this matter as he would with any other circumstance involving the rules, yet here they were.

"Wei Ying is conscious," Lan Wangji's tone was as calm and serene as ever, yet the argument was evident.

"Such a thing is unheard of, and there is no evidence suggesting that it is true except your word. Though I trust in your judgement, it will not be enough for the elders, let alone the rest of the cultivation world. So far, it has proved to be an asset against the Wen. However, they will likely seek to exterminate it before it proves to be a threat. Do you understand, nephew?" Lan Qiren's frown deepened in concern. If Wangji were to stay firm on this matter, at best, he'd be disillusioned by the supposed justice of the cultivation world.

"Understood, I will provide proof," He declared firmly as he ignored the fact that his uncle had been attempting to dissuade him.

"The rules are clear on what to do with resentful spirits. If you chose to pursue such a path, it will not be without consequences. Even I will not be able to deter the elders from taking action," he warned with a tone that conveyed the severity of the situation.

"Hn," Lan Zhan nodded in acknowledgement.

Lan Qiren couldn't help but sigh knowing just how stubborn his nephew could be. "You only have until the end of the war. Regardless of the outcome, the resentful spirit will face whatever judgement the victors deem fit. Keep that in mind as you will likely have very little time for your investigation. We are still needed on the frontline and all able bodies are to fight against the Wen. I'm not sure if you can be spared enough time for such an endeavor," Lan Qiren advised knowing there was nothing else he could say to convince him to change his mind. "It would seem that it was too much to hope that Wei Wuxian would behave in the afterlife," he couldn't help but grumble in annoyance.

"Many thanks for Shufu's counsel," Lan Zhan was grateful to be granted permission despite his uncle's clear animosity towards Wei Ying.

~

Now the time had come for Lan Zhan to depart for Lotus Pier after the Jiang clan had successfully reclaimed it from the Wen Sect. He swiftly made his way to the main compound and found a young woman clad in purple waiting alone for his arrival.

She smiled politely with a bow, "Esteemed Hanguang Jun, apologies that I am the only one here to greet you. However, all able bodies are either participating in the war or assisting in the rebuilding of Lotus Pier. As the Lady of the Jiang family, I do hope my company will be sufficient enough."

Lan Zhan immediately recognized her as Wei Ying's older adoptive sister, Jiang Yanli. He bowed respectfully and acknowledged her words, "More than sufficient."

"I'm glad to hear it," Jiang Guniang 's smile became pleased as she motioned for him to follow her, "They are waiting for you in the meeting hall. It's not too far, but I hoped you would indulge me in some light conversation."

"Hm," he agreed and began to walk beside her at a polite distance.

"I'm glad you found the time to visit despite everything. A-Ying has been anticipating your visit. He wrote quite a bit about you before A-Chen had confiscated his writing supplies," Jiang Guniang mentioned with a sleeve raised to cover her amused look.

Lan Zhan's hand twitched at the notion, but he didn't show how this information had affected him. Despite how they both faced forward to look down the hall, he still felt like she was observing him.

She lightly chuckled, "No need to worry. He is very fond of you, so only wrote good things."

"Jiang Guniang exaggerates," Lan Zhan had a hard time believing her words. He had never been kind to Wei Ying and had actively ignored him on many occasions.

"Not at all. A-Ying is a sincere person despite what his personality may suggest. He likes to use flowery words, yet he never intentionally miss leads people. I can tell that he truly thinks of you as someone dear to him, so I'm glad that it seems you care for him too. Why else would you be here despite knowing his current condition? Even I am aware of how strict the rules in the Lan Clan are in regards to resentful beings," she stopped at a pair of doors and turned to fully face him, "so I sincerely thank you for giving A-Ying this chance."

He was stunned into silence by her words. He could feel the tips of his ears burn at the thought that Wei Ying could possibly think of him like that, and the embarrassment was made worse at the realization that she had deduced his actions so precisely. He hoped she hadn't noticed anything else as she opened the door to allow him inside.

"I hope we have the chance to converse like this again," she bowed politely.

"Hm," he gave her a nod and made his way inside. He hoped it didn't look like he was running away.

Inside the room, Jiang Wanyin sat waiting for him with a seat prepared in front of him. Wei Ying stood at his side wearing the floor length black veil that concealed most of his appearance. It bothered Lan Zhan that he was unable to properly look at him. What if his condition had worsened since he had last seen him. Would anyone be able to help him if he were to start deteriorate?

"Hanguang Jun, take a seat," the young Jiang patriarch straightened, "Lets skip the formalities as we are both pressed for time. I need to know if you are truly willing to help us, help Wei Wuxian. If not, then it would be best for you to leave immediately." He narrowed his eyes at Lan Wangji as if searching for the answer on his face. However, it wasn't frustrating to see that it was the same calm, blank face he always wore even back in their disciple days.

Lan Zhan took in his appearance and noted that Jiang Wanyin was quite tense with a tight grip on his spiritual weapon, Zidian. After the quick assessment of the situation, Lan Zhan lowered himself onto the seat and held his gaze unwaveringly, "Will help."

"Good answer," Jiang Cheng eased his posture. "Now, let me explain a few things first. So far, Wei Wuxian has been able to communicate through writing, but you can probably already tell that it isn't a sustainable method with our limited supplies. It's also not ideal when communication is crucial during battle. We've been able to work together just fine, but that means he has no choice but to stay by my side during the war." Jiang Cheng picked up a stack of paper and set it in front of Lan Zhan. "We propose that you work together with Wei Wuxian to create a new form of communication. He's already worked out a few ideas of how it could work, and he believes that the key to figuring it out lies with the Lan Clan's technique, Inquiry. This does not require you to teach it to him. He is confident that merely communicating with you as you use the technique with him will suffice."

Lan Zhan remained silent as he contemplated his words. It's very clear to him that the clan elders wouldn't agree to pass on their methods to outsiders. However, he wouldn't be breaking any rules as long as he doesn't directly teach it. Wei Ying is incredibly smart and insightful from what he remembers from their time together at Cloud Recesses. Lan Zhan is confident it could work, so he nodded with a soft hum of agreement.

Jiang Cheng was stunned into silence. He had prepared quite extensively for this conversation yet there was no argument from the same man who had turned himself in to receive punishment for something that had been Wei Wuxian's fault. It was beyond suspicious especially when this required him to bend the rules of his sect.

"You have never gotten along with Wei Wuxian, and suddenly you are willing to spend an unspecified amount of time with him," Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes. "You can't blame me for being suspicious of your intentions-" his words were suddenly cut off by a sudden kick to his side. "Ow! What was that for?!" Jiang Chen glared up at the fierce corpse who stood behind him.

Wei Ying quickly looked away to feign innocence, but he had to nip this in the bud before Jiang Chen's mouth could ruin this for them. Usually Wei Ying would be the one to say or do something to dispel any lingering tension that may have been brought on by Jiang Chen's sharp words, but that currently wasn't an option especially when he didn't have his writing tools.

"All I'm saying is the two of you never got along before, yet here you are. I want to know why," Jiang Chen huffed with his arms crossed.

Lan Zhan felt a prickle of guilt as he recalled how he had previously acted, but he refused to let that shake his resolve. "Wei Ying is conscious. I will prove it," he stated with a tone of determination.

Jiang Chen couldn't help but feel taken aback at how the Jade of Lan had so suddenly used such a familiar way of address towards Wei Wuxian, but he didn't allow this to distract him. "Righteous even in this matter. Should I feel grateful?" Jiang Chen scoffed in disbelief. Truly, it couldn't be so simple. This earned him another swift kick to the side. "Wei Wuxian!" he stood in protest and grabbed him by the collar.

Expecting this reaction, Wei Ying brought up his hands in surrender and motioned for him to calm down despite the teasing look on his face. 'Hey, you can't be mad when you were the one to take away my writing tools! How else am I supposed to get your attention?' Wei Ying wanted to protest, but alas, he sorely lacked a voice to tease his shidi.

From one moment to the next, Lan Wangji had stood up and caught Jiang Chen's wrist. It left the other two practically gaping at the man's unexpected action. The Lan had placed himself between the two and despite the unchanging look on his face, Jiang Chen had the distinct feeling that he was being glared at.

"Let go," was the simple command.

What the fuck? The deep confusion Jiang Chen felt since the start of their conversation had him loosening his grip without much thought. Was this truly Hanguang Jun? Was he possessed or something?

Wei Ying was the first to shake himself out of his stupor and had begun tugging at Lan Zhan's other sleeve, careful not to touch him especially in his current state. Hopefully he would get the message that everything was fine. Wei Ying was seriously resenting the fact that he couldn't speak properly in this moment.

'Lan Zhan, ah Lan Zhan. Jiang Chen really didn't mean anything by it! Won't you please just let him off?' Wei Ying whined in his mind, but obviously Lan Zhan couldn't hear him. That's when the grip left Jiang Chen's wrist and Lan Wangji now stood a polite distance from them as if nothing had happened.

The stunned silence continued until Jiang Chen cleared his throat and regained his composure. "Why do I feel like I'm the one that's going to regret this?" He mutter with a confused frown as he looked between the two. "If you're ready to start, then go ahead. I have other business to attend to," he turned to leave the room, but paused for a moment. "Remember, this isn't the Lan Clan. Harm Wei Wuxian, and I'll break your legs," with that, he left the room.

Now that Jiang Chen could think properly, it was hard not to wonder about the meaning behind Lan Wangji's actions. They were baffling to say the least, but he was honorable enough to trust for now. However, with how long Wei Wuxian had gone without being able to speak a word, it would be even more surprising if the Lan's patience could last until the end of the day. He dreaded to think about how their little project would go.