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Lan Qiren’s face radiated with smug pride, well as much as a Lan could get away with.
“Not a word amiss.”
A hand shot up into the air,
“I have a question Lan xiansheng!”
“…Speak.”
“To be honest, most of these steps never really work. Despite deliverance being the first step, it is usually impossible. And fulfilling his wish is much easier said than done.” Wei Wuxian’s eyes glinted with mischief and curiosity.
“What are you trying to say, Wei Wuxian.” Old man Lan’s face twisted in annoyance,
“I was thinking of a fourth option-“
The class simultaneously perked up, finally some entertainment
Eye’s turned to Lan Wangji, many wanting to see his reaction. “you could have a fierce cor-“
Lan Wangji, across from him suddenly stood up,
The class mentally nodded of course the Second Jade of Lan wouldn’t tolerate such a notion.
It wasn’t the type of outburst they were expecting…
The room watched on in shock as the bodies of the Second Jade and First disciple of Yunmeng Jiang shook violently.
Their bodies almost seemed like projections, both flickering between teen and young adult bodies,
Their future selves.
The Second Jade of Lan’s figure flickered between a blood-soaked back - with heartbreak in his eyes, to a young scared teen, his cold demeanor gone in place in pure and utter fear.
The First disciple of Yunmeng Jiang mirrored the Second Jade, flickering when he flicked, in place of the teenager stood a broken man, eyes bloodshot with the parlor of a corpse.
Each time the teens disappeared and their older selves replaced, the bloodied man slowly turned towards the corpse-like being with despair,
The corpse-like man in turn let his eyes well up,
Tears streaming down his face,
“Lan Zhan… you really should have let your elders take me.” A bitter smile followed.
“Wei Ying,” the room’s temperature dropped, as the cold Jade let a tear roll down his cheek, “ They will never take you, not from me….” The Jade let out a harsh cough, falling to his knees
A tormented croak filled the room “Lan Zhan-“ Tears welled in the Laozhu’s eyes, hands shaking, “You never should have bound us together-“
He collapsed.
Blood dripped from gashes all over his body, slowly dripping out of his sprawled figure.
“Wei Wuxian! What kind of prank is this?!”
A chorus of panicked voices followed.
Jiang Cheng couldn’t keep his eyes off his brother, his shi-xiong sprawled on the floor, blood soaking the wood below. He clenched his sword tightly, knuckles red and eyes wet his voice filled with terror-filled anger.
Except that wasn’t his brother. It couldn’t be. Could it?
No. It was him. Jiang Cheng knew it was him no matter how unrecognizable his brother looked.
He’d always know.
He quickly scrambled up from behind his desk, rushing towards his dying brother – Jiang Cheng had to choke back a sob just at the thought.
Jiang Cheng felt his fingers brush at the bottom of Wei Wuxian’s rough robes, it wasn’t the cheap silk Wuxian always bragged about buying Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but think, it was so coarse.
Jiang Cheng flinched back before he could realize what was happening,
At his neck laid Bichen.
The nearly translucent sword was stained with blood, despite it never having touched Jiang Cheng.
He looked down the blade to its holder - who winced with every breath, yet radiated every bit of aggression.
Jiang Cheng felt himself shutter and his fear spike. He suddenly wants to hide.
Lan Wangji had managed to make his way over to Wei Wuxian’s body, protecting him with every ounce of strength he had left.
One arm was outstretched protectively over Wei Wuxian’s limp frame, the other shakily held Bichen to Jiang Cheng’s neck.
“Wangji! What is the meaning of this?!” His Uncle took fast steps forward, barely contained rage brimming.
Bichen swung around, stopping Lan Qiren from continuing his path of rage. “WANGJI!”
Lan Wangji grit his teeth, “Do not come near us.” His head turned to look at the rest of the class, “None of you.” His eyes settled on Jiang Cheng’s still frozen form.
“LAN WANGJI! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY BROTHER!” Jiang Cheng suddenly snapped from his stupor, angry eyes staring down the Second Jade.
Lan Wangji scoffed, barely paying him any mind as sheathed his sword as he shakily stood up, bringing Wei Wuxian up with him.
The room was dead silent, the only sounds were Lan Wangji’s pained breaths paired with Jiang Cheng and Lan Qiren’s angry ones.
Standing at full height everyone could tell, This man may look like Lan Wangji, but he most definitely isn’t our Lan Wangji.
He was taller than the Lan Wangji that had stood in this room mere minutes before, his figure slim and worn, face hallow.
He looked malnourished.
His eyes were glassy and distant as if he was in some nightmare and not in his Sect’s classroom. He was bloodied beyond belief, a small pool of blood pooled around his feet, and it dripped down his pure white robes.
It was a haunting sight, and the state of “Wei Wuxian” wasn’t much better.
“Lan Wangji, what do you think you’re doing.” Lan Wangji gazed down at Lan Qiren’s figure, before turning away and stumbling towards the courtyard.
“LAN WANGJI! DON’T YOU DARE WALK AWAY FROM ME!” Lan Qiren unsheathed his sword, pointing it towards Lan Wangji’s back.
Gasps could be heard.
“Do not succumb to rage, Lan Xiansheng.”
Lan Qiren was stupefied, face frozen in anger and disbelief. He mumbled a quiet “Wangji…”
The appearance of new faces suddenly shifted everyone’s focus. Lan disciples lined the courtyard entrance, lured by the harsh sounds in such a serene place.
At the front stood Lan Xichen,
Absolutely horrified
A man stood before him. Beaten and bruised, blood-soaked back, a haunting look in his eyes, disheveled hair, and a corpse in his arms. Everything not Wangji. Yet the golden eyes, the clenched jaw, the way he stood tall, and firm despite everything,
was every bit Lan Wangji.
And yet?
The man that stood before him now was not the boy he sent off to class in the morning. Not the boy with chub still left on his cheeks, and honey eyes, and every winter would suspiciously show up at his door for tea.
He was hardened. Hollowed cheeks, piercing eyes, dripping with hate and desperation.
What happened?
What happened?
What-
”Wangji! What- What happened? Your back! Is- is that Wei Gongzi? How- ? What- ?” The words fell out of his mouth, tumbling with no end.
“Lan Zongzhu.”
hurt
hurt
hurt
“Wangji…?”
“Please step aside.”
For the first time in Lan Xichen’s young life he understood the intimidating view cultivators and village people alike had viewed his brother.
Lan Wangji’s eyes pierced him, through him. His little brother.
His little baby brother
Was scaring him.
“What- ? What happened to your back? Wangji please, talk to me.” Desperation dripped off his words, everyone could feel the tension rise higher than ever thought possible.
“The Precepts happened. You happened. Lan Xiansheng happened.”
“You don’t mean to say we did that to you?! We would never! We didn’t! What are you talking about?”
A sickly pale hand reached up, lightly cupping Lan Wangji’s cheek. “Lan- Lan Zhan, we- we must hurry. I don’t think *cough* I don’t think I can la- last much longer…”
Lan Wangji gazed down at the figure in his arms, hair falling over his face,
“Wei Ying,” his gaze shifted, landing on his brother in front of him, gaze hardening.
“Lan Zongzhu. Step aside.”
From behind the class of young up-and-coming cultivators and their instructor stumbled out of the classroom.
“Lan Wangji! How dare you speak to your brother in that way!” ah, his bark was back
Lan Wangji slightly turned; he was surrounded.
He was surrounded by his kinsmen, holding his lover in his arms,
His lover who was dying
His lover who was on the brink of death
Just like last time.
“Step. Aside.”
“Wangji please…”
He would not accept this as their fate
“STEP ASIDE” His voice, raspy and cracked bellowed throughout the courtyard. Throughout the entire Recess.
“Didi…”
“STEP ASIDE OR I WILL MAKE YOU” the stoic Second Jade was gone, and in his place was a broken HanguangJun.
A desperate Hanguang Jun.
A dangerous Hanguang Jun.
In place of the pure, prized jade, was a chipped dull jewel, that no longer held his valued polish.
This was a man who fought battle after battle, who led his fellow clansmen, and his sect members to die.
This was a man who chased his lover across the heavens, foregoing the barriers of life and death.
He would not accept this as their fate
A path cleared,
And just like that
He was gone.
A trail of blood followed him.
Dripping.
Lan Xichen stood in shock, his brother had just- ?
Jiang Cheng collapsed in desperation his brother-
Oh, his brother-
Oh.
Their brothers.