Notes:

I have to admit, I was terrified of posting on novaltoon because as a friend put it, they eat their young...but I'm being brave and I hope you like it.

This story starts around four months after the events of the Guanyin temple and Wei Ying and Lan Zhan have already parted. Lan XiChen's seclusion ends and our boys can take the necessary steps to meet.

Lan Zhan watched rainbow droplets cascade over the cold and wet boulders, sighing quietly to himself.

Moments like these were few and precious, given his duties as Chief Cultivator, and yet he couldn't help but wonder where a certain someone was.

What could he be doing now? Was he well? Did he think about him, at all?

It was at times like this, he wondered if he had made a mistake in leaving Wei Ying to go his own way. But so many things had happened in their lives, and there were too many responsibilities to consider, so it was not simply a matter of casting everything aside just to pursue his own happiness.

Uncle Qiren had decided to enter meditation in solitude in the last few days, and his brother had already spent six months doing the same. Lessons had to go on, night hunts continued, and throughout it all, the fragile relationship between all the clans must be maintained. There simply wasn't the time to dwell on what may have been.

A polite cough brought him out of his thoughts. Turning, he saw his brother.

"I hope I'm not interrupting you," Zewu-Jun said quietly.

Lan Zhan shook his head, a faint smile appeared before vanishing just as quickly. It would have gone unnoticed to those who didn't know him well, but his brother was waiting for it.

"It is good to see you, Brother."

"Wangji, I thought I would find you here. I wanted to speak to you first." Zewu-Jun gestured towards the path that lead to the great hall.Lan Zhan raised an eyebrow.

"I missed you." He smiled at the younger one fondly. "I think it's time I stopped my seclusion. It's not really helping, and perhaps, if I can find something else to occupy my mind, it will get better."

Lan Zhan was surprised but happier to hear this. His brother looked a little less pale although he had lost some weight. There was a sadness behind his eyes that wasn't there before, a resignation to things that had happened beyond his control and the effort to try and come to terms with a heart breaking betrayal.

But at the same time, a twinkle of humor shined, leading him to believe that his brother had something else to say.

"I think it's time for you to find him."

Lan Zhan stopped walking.

It was a simple sentence, and yet filled with so much feeling. A tiny blossom of hope grew in his heart as he turned to face his brother.I'm sorry it has taken me so long to come to you, but I sincerely hope it's not too late?" He placed a warm hand on Lan Zhan’s shoulder.

"Does brother mean...?" Lan Zhan found it difficult to believe what he was hearing.

"Yes, Wangji. If he is willing, please bring him back. You have my blessings."

Lan Zhan could not help the smile that transformed his face.

He was finally able to go, to find the one person that meant everything to him.

****The sun was just setting over the mountains when they left Cloud Recesses. A village just outside of Gusu had complained of a strange monster invading their local forest, and the young cultivators were thought capable of handling the matter.

Lan Zhan would accompany them to the place and leave after it was dealt with.

He rarely allowed himself to feel excited, but the promise of what was to come after the job at hand was completed, made him uncharacteristically flushed, a nervous energy to propel him forward. A hurry to reach their destination.

His feelings bled outwards, contagiously affecting the youngsters who were excited anyway at the thought of facing an unknown challenge.

"How big do you think it is?" Lan JingYi asked, brow furrowed.

"I'm sure we'll be okay," Lan SiZhui replied, trying to comfort the easily shaken one. "Besides, we have Hanguang-Jun."

There were murmurs of agreement from the three other disciples following behind.

They mounted swords and reached Meiling village in no time. The elders were waiting for them.

"Welcome, Hanguang-Jun. We were not expecting you. Thank you for coming."

Lan Zhan nodded and let Lan SiZhui speak.

"What is the trouble, sir?"

"For many weeks now, our forest has been unsafe to travel. As it is the only way in and out of our village, people try to come and go during daylight. Of course, it is sometimes unavoidable that they have to go at night. But those that left didn't come back, and we are worried about their safety."

"Bandits?"

"If only it were so!" The elder exclaimed. "We found body parts strewn all along the forest floor. And a strange sticky web, so hard to break free all around the undergrowth and tree trunks."Very well, let us go and see." Lan SiZhui reassured him and they left.

The moment they entered the edge of the forest, they knew something was wrong. A sharp rotting smell invaded their senses, and a thick mist enveloped them.

Lan Zhan unsheathed Bichen so they could follow it's blue light.

"Stay together."

The natural sounds of wildlife were missing, not even a breeze to disturb the leaves and a heaviness seemed to fill their minds. The younger ones were affected more and struggled to keep calm, but Lan Zhan kept them moving forward. At last they came to a clearing.

Without warning, a shrill piercing screaming filled their ears and a huge body landed in front of them.

Chapter Summary

Lan Zhan has to fight with the juniors in what was supposed to be a normal night hunt,

but soon escalates into something worse.

Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

It landed with a crash, it's huge body taking up all the space in the now too small clearing. Its eight

eyes gleaming red with malice appraised their group with growing hunger, ready for such easy

prey. Its legs as many as eyes had claws and pincers opening and closing with speedy accuracy, and

how could they ignore that scorpion tail ready to strike? Its many rows of sharp teeth clenching,

sticky saliva dripped from its jaws as it hungrily waited.

They unsheathed their swords and attacked but it was surprisingly agile, vicious and cunning.

Sparks flew on impact with their metal upon contact with its steel like legs and the multiple sharp

weapons of the creature became harder to avoid.

"Aim for the belly," Lan Zhan said, abandoning Bichen and summoning Wangji, his guqin.

Blue rays of suppression engulfed the beast and for a split second, it seemed subdued...but then it

sprang into action. It increased its speed to attack more ferociously, biting and stinging, it's tail

whip lashing haphazardly in all directions. It caught one of the disciples and flung him far away

after piercing him with it's tail.

Just when they thought it was impossible to beat, a melody drifted towards them through the trees.

What a welcome sound! Lan Zhan's heart beat faster at the familiar sound and he redoubled his

efforts, his instrument sounding beats with no space in the gaps.

And then he appeared.

Wei Ying looked... amazing. His black robes fluttered around him as he walked forward, a cheeky

brow raised in his direction, a swagger in his steps and a mischievous shine in his eyes. More

Beautiful than he remembered, magical and real.

But as welcome as he was, this brief, momentary distraction proved to be a serious mistake. The

young ones, so glad to see him, took their eyes off the beast for a single second and the creature

took its advantage. It grabbed Lan SiZhui in a claw and was about to strike, when Wei Ying

propelled himself in between, and with a sharp knife, managed to blind the beast completely. But

not before it struck his back and let go of both warriors.

It screamed in pain and they held their hands over their ears. It flopped onto it's back in pain,

exposing it's soft, vulnerable underside and Lan Zhan let Bichen finish it off.

Lan SiZhui had minor injuries but to his horror, Wei Ying lay on the ground, unmoving.

Lan Zhan rushed to him, and Wei Ying smiled faintly, with obvious difficulty breathing.

"SiZhui?" He gasped, trying to keep his eyes open.

"I'm here, Senior Wei!" Lan SiZhui slowly came forward, his face grimacing in pain.

"Wei Ying!" Lan Zhan, unable to keep the worry out of his voice.

"I'm alright, Lan Zhan, don't worry." He said, but he was too pale, beads of sweat covering his

face. And when he tried to get up, he simply had no strength.

"I have you." Lan Zhan gently picked him up and mounted his sword. "Let's go back to Cloud

Recesses."

Chapter End Notes

This was my first ever second chapter in a book and I did not even have a plot until the

twentieth chapter. Hopefully it reads well...please let me know what you think...

Chapter Summary

Wei Ying has been found but he is injured. Lan Zhan is relieved but worried...

Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

The journey back for Lan Zhan was intense. He felt so much, joy at finding Wei Ying, but now

fear and panic clawed his throat. It did not help that the person in question drifted in and out of

consciousness.

The others followed behind, having retrieved the injured disciple, and SiZhui shared a sword with

JingYi, too weak to ride by himself.

They flew straight to the Healing quarters and sent for the medics. Lan Zhan waited next to Wei

Ying, holding his hand and trying to keep calm.

Zewu-Jun came soon after, a worried look in his eyes.

"They told me what happened. How is Master Wei?"

Lan Zhan shook his head.

"He is strong. He will be fine," he tried to reassure him.

The medics came then and ushered them out but Lan Zhan refused to leave. He explained in few

words what the creature looked like and what happened, helping them turn his body over.

A single puncture wound stood out on the pale back amongst older scars, red around the edges.

Black veins of poisonous blood streaked out, spreading across his back. His skin was clammy with

sweat. The medics sucked out as much of the venom as they could, using tubes and a pump. Finally

they let Lan Zhan take him to the Jingshi.

****

Lan Zhan stayed awake, watching Wei Ying sleeping. He could not stop touching him, holding his

hand, caressing his face. Such a precious person and he was here. It seemed hardly believable, that

after months of not seeing his face, that finally, finally he could look to his heart's content. Of

course, better circumstances would have been much preferred, and yet he could not stop a feeling

of elation.

There were a few changes, perhaps not noticeable to ordinary people, but Lan Zhan had spent the

better half of his life memorizing the curve of his cheeks, the plump, full lips and the cocky arch of

eyebrow. His long lashes rested softly, eyes moving behind the lids. He hoped whatever Wei Ying

was seeing, that it was at least a pleasant dream.

He stirred then, not quite awake but not fully asleep. And then he smiled, radiant and bright,

stopping the elder from breathing.

"Lan Zhan! Come to bed. Let's sleep!" Weakly pulling him forward and then draping himself over

him and falling straight back into slumber.

Lan Zhan pulled the cover over them and submitted to sleep, exhausted by the events of that night,

and too happy to think of why.

****

That happiness did not last long. In the morning, after the medic examined Wei Ying, he asked to

speak to Lan Zhan outside the Jingshi.

"He is not getting better?" Lan Zhan somehow knowing.

"I think we need to make an anti venom. I've never seen anything like this particular wound

though, and it might be wise to keep an eye on it."

Lan Zhan nodded. But the medic seemed to want to say more so he waited.

"We will need live specimens in order to do so, perhaps a mix of the two different venoms?"

"And?" Lan Zhan prodded, wishing the man would get to the point.

"Spiders and scorpions are not readily available here. We should send word to Lotus Pier." He

replied nervously.

Oh.

Oh. That meant dealing with Jiang Cheng. And only his brother, Zewu-Jun had the patience to do

that.

****

"Where's my BROTHER?"

The noise was becoming louder and louder as Zewu-Jun approached hurriedly, a few days later.

"Sect Leader Jiang, welcome." He smiled at the angry man, hoping to calm him down.

The relief in his eyes was brief but also reflected in his own eyes as he escorted Jiang Cheng to the

Jingshi, explaining as they walked.

"My brother is SUCH an idiot. Why is he always throwing himself into danger?" He fumed,

Growling.

The door opened as they arrived, blocked by a white wall of jade.

"Wei Ying is resting. No noise."

Jiang Cheng scowled. "I want to see my brother!"

The wall was unmoved.

"Sect Leader Jiang will keep his voice down, Wangji. Please let him see Wei Ying." Zewu-Jun put

in, wanting to avoid a confrontation. He knew that Lan Zhan only tolerated the Angry Lotus

because of Wei Ying; there was no love lost between them.

Lan Zhan reluctantly moved aside, and then resumed his position next to his beloved.

"Thank you for bringing what we asked you for. As you can see, the matter was quite urgent."

Zewu-Jun added, knowing that his brother would not speak voluntarily.

"It was the least I could do." Jiang Cheng bit out.

The uncomfortable silence dragged on and Zewu-Jun decided to leave them to it, having other

duties to attend to.

"Do you mind if I stay with him for a while?"

Lan Zhan looked at him then. His face was drawn, anxiety around the edges of his eyes, a frown

marring his otherwise handsome features. Finally, he nodded, not wishing to leave him there alone.

So instead, he focused his full attention on the person lying in the bed, still not awake, fast asleep.

"I know you don't like me." Lan Zhan heard him say softly. "I know I failed him many times. But

surely, it is never too late to change?"

Lan Zhan thought of many things he could have said then, like 'he was your brother. You discarded

him.' or he could have mentioned the golden core, or the fact that he had never defended Wei Ying

from his mother and her Zidian, but when he looked at Jiang Cheng, he realized that these thoughts

Were probably on a loop in his head anyway. The depth of suffering in his eyes quelled any

retaliation he might have wished for and he remained silent.

"You may stay." He replied quietly instead.

Chapter End Notes

I hope you guys like it so far, on my end, I'm shitting bricks as they say...love to hear

what you think...