Oh my god what if Lan Zhan got Wei Ying to go back to Gusu with him, but not because he agreed to it, oh no.
When Wei Ying fell from that cliff, Wangji was right after him, and managed to catch him and get them both on his sword in time. Wei Ying was barely breathing, his body finally giving in to all of the hardships it endured, and he lost consciousness the minute he let go of the cliff ledge. Lan Zhan held him close, heart pounding as he flew over the crowd, that had now stopped fighting in order to watch in horror as the righteous Hanguang Jun held the villainous Yiling Laozu protectively against his chest. Lan Qiren and the other Lan elders were roaring, demanding Wangji to stop and hang Wei Wuxian over, but Lan Zhan ignored them. Instead, he searched the crowd for his brother, and once they locked eyes he sent a look Lan Xichen’s way. Xichen, eyes tired and robes covered in blood, sent a grimace Wangji’s way, followed by a nod. He knew what his younger brother was about to do, and knew that as much as he would defend Lan Zhan’s actions, the younger was going to be punished severely for what he was about to do.
The entire way back to Gusu, Lan Zhan couldn’t bare to look at Wei Ying. Wangji was shaking with fear, and it felt as though Wei Ying was no longer breathing. He couldn’t look down at the frail man in his arms, as he feared he was no longer carrying his- Wei Ying, but a corpse. Once he landed outside Cloud Recesses, some disciples ran to help Hanguang Jun, but stopped abruptly when they saw that the Yiling Patriarch was in his arms. “Hanguang Jun- the blood-” one of them called in alarm, but he marched past them, in the direction of the Jingshi. He pushed the doors open with a little bit of difficulty and lay Wei Ying down, and only then did he dare look at the other man. He felt all the air leave his lungs when he saw how pale Wei Ying was, his face ashen and lips turning blue. It was only then he looked down at his robes and realized that the blood they were covered in wasn’t his own, but Wei Yings. His heart thudded in his chest as he stormed out of the Jingshi. The disciples, who had gathered close by, hoping to catch a glimpse of what was happening, jumped when they saw Hanguang Jun headed straight for them. “Get me a doctor. Immediately.” He said, voice low and full of power, but his words wavered slightly. As one disciple sprinted off to find a doctor, it dawned on everyone what was happening.
Hanguang Jun had brought Yiling Laozu here not to kill him, or keep him prisoner, but to save him.
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The doctor spent 5 days nursing Wei Ying as much as possible, and when he was not there, Lan Zhan stayed awake through the night, trying to transfer some of his own spiritual energy to Wei Ying. However, he was unsuccessful, which made him worry about the condition of Wei Ying’s golden core. He found himself losing hope on the fifth day as the doctor packed up his things with a sigh. “I believe he is stable, Hanguang Jun, but I cannot be sure. He is hanging on, but I don’t know if he shall progress from this state.” Wangji thanked the doctor and watched him leave, before turning back to look at Wei Ying. The man’s frame was thin, so thin you would think he’d break under the lightest touch. His skin was still almost grey, and Lan Zhan felt ill thinking about all of the scars that hid under his flimsy robe, which were revealed when the doctor undressed him when Lan Zhan first returned from the Nightless City. He turned away, unable to look at the once strong, boisterous man before him, and went to make himself some tea. As he sat at a small table not far from the bed, he raised his cup to his mouth, but stopped when he heard a groan from the bed. He didn’t dare move, didn’t dare breathe, but then turned his head ever so slightly to look at the bed. He watched in shock and relief as Wei Ying stirred, a groan falling from his lips. He rushed to the bed, and a soft, emotional “Wei Ying” slipped past his lips as he grabbed the other man’s hand. Suddenly, the other man’s eyes snapped open, and gold met silver. However before Lan Zhan could tell Wei Ying to be careful, Wei Ying ripped his hand from Wangji’s. His voice was hoarse, but his words pierced the air, filled with venom.
Lan Zhan sat back cautiously, as Wei Ying sat upright, clearly in shock as he didn’t seem to register any of the pain his body should’ve been in.
“Why am I here, Hanguang Jun.”
Lan Zhan felt a hand on his shoulder, and suddenly he’s falling backwards onto the floor, as Wei Ying clambered from the bed, crawling towards Wangji.
“You saved me.” Wei Ying spit the words.
Lan Zhan tried to answer him and say, yes, yes of course he did, he wasn’t going to let Wei Ying-
Wei Ying wailed, as he pulled himself along the floor, but he seemed to have lost all of the malice he had mere moments before. Instead, Lan Wangji realized that Wei Ying is sobbing, and his heart broke. He reached out to touch Wei Ying, but the other man pulled away harshly and screamed,
“DO NOT TOUCH ME, LAN WANGJI.”
And so Lan Zhan just looked at him, as Wei Ying continued to cry in anger.
“I WAS MEANT TO DIE THERE, WHY DIDN’T YOU LET ME DIE THERE,HANGUANG JUN?”
As he said this, he started to shake and his face grew even more pale, and so Wangji rushed to bundle Wei Ying into his arms.
Wei Ying was no longer crying as he shook violently and stared up at Wangji, eyes void of any emotions. With what little energy he had, he reached up and grabbed Hanguang Juns robes.
“L-Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying said softly, and it sounded so like the young boy Lan Zhan first met all those years ago that his heart ached. “A.. A-Yuan… he’s still in the Burial Mounds… he- he’ll die there, Lan Zhan…”
Wei Ying’s eyes started to close, so Lan Zhan held him tighter and whispered a promise. “I promise I’ll find him, Wei Ying. I’ll find him and I’ll bring him back here.” But his words landed on deaf ears, as Wei Ying fell back into unconsciousness.
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The Elders arrived back in Gusu a week after the battle, having stayed in the Nightless City to help the injured and count their dead. However, 1 week was not long enough, as the minute Lan Qiren discounted his sword, he began to roar, his body trembling with anger.
“WHERE IS MY NEPHEW? WHERE IS HANGUANG JUN?”
They soon realized he was nowhere to be found, and better still, the Jingshi had been sealed off by a strong protective ward. After many unsuccessful attempts to break the barrier, a doctor spoke up. “H-he is not in there, Master Lan,” he said, voice shaky, “Hanguang Jun said he shall return in 2 days time, and that for now, I am the only person with access to the Jingshi.”
Lan Qiren turned slowly, eyes blazing. “And why is that?”
“Be- because I am to take care of Wei Wuxian, sir. He is in an unstable condition, and so has been put to sleep by Hanguang Jun until his condition improves enough for him to be awoken.”
Lan Qiren stepped towards the doctor, and restrained himself from grabbing the man and shaking him. His nephew was going to send him to an early grave.
“Do you know where my nephew has gone, doctor?”
The doctor hesitated, averting his eyes. But then cleared his throat. His reply sent a wave of murmurs through the quickly gathering crowd.
“Hanguang Jun is in Yiling. At the Burial Mounds.”
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Wow this was a lot and really it just stemmed from the idea of Wei Ying screaming at Lan Zhan so yeah uuhhhh if you want a part 2 let me know??? I guess???
