Chapter Text
They were drinking together, which in in of itself was a monumental feat. Wei Ying was actually enjoying himself while in Jiang Cheng’s presents. His cherished brother was beaming at their nephew as he was explaining some of the new sect reforms that he had put in place. It was almost perfect, Jin Ling and Lan SiZhui in between them, it felt similar to family mealtimes in Uncle Jiang’s household. He had to grin at his husband next to him as Lan Zhan looked over. His own reserved smile was a wonder Wei Ying would never be tired of seeing. There was an extra sparkle in his eyes when he glanced in his own brother’s direction. Yes, it took a year in seclusion and there were still shadows in Lan Xichen’s eyes at times, but eldest brother was beginning to return as the gentle soul he has always been. All they needed was their last junior who happened to be running late. He suppressed the urge to giggle, that one took way too much after him.
All in all, this summit was the first successful and relatively calm one they’d had in the last two years since the whole fiasco with Jin GuangYao transpired. So many secrets had come to light in the last few years and a lot of painful truths were uncovered. It was difficult to say who was right or wrong in the end everyone just agreed that the revenge and pain needed to stop. Obviously, it was easier said then done but the next generation was promising indeed. If only the old farts would get out of the way.
There was a heavy metallic sound as a sphere dropped down from the ceiling and Wei Ying only had a moment to respond. Wei Ying jumped up and grabbed both youths by the neck pulling them in close. He shields them as best he could given how slim Mo XuanYu’s frame was. Wei Ying saw Jiang Cheng and Lan Zhan rushing towards him and the boys as well. He felt their arms finish the circuit he had started two hands on the back of his head and another two blocking the boy’s faces. As the explosion went off behind him Wei Ying felt a sharp sting along his back and arms, but it faded quickly.
There were two thumps, one on either side of him but he only had eyes for the boys right now. His ears were ringing, and they looked terrified eyes passing from him to the ground. A-Ling was trying to say something but there was no sound above the ringing. He shook his head and pushed himself off the youths. “Are you ok?” They didn’t look like they understood him. It made sense they were in shock it happened on the battlefields sometimes during the Campaign. “Did you get hurt?!” There was blood on the two of them, his movements were so slow as he attempted to pat them down for injuries.
Good it wasn’t their blood. He sluggishly turned towards the door seeing Lan Xichen slumped in young JingYi’s arms as he was being lowered to the ground in the doorway. The younger man was looking over at them in disbelief and dawning horror, blood pouring from a laceration on the side of his head and left arm. Why was he looking so worriedly at Wei Ying when he had the first jade of Gusu bleeding in his arms? Wei Ying’s legs chose then to give out, no matter how much he fought to keep standing he still plunged downwards.
Oh that sharp pain was back.
Both Jin Ling and Lan Yuan were crying as they helped guide him to the ground and that's when he saw...
Jiang Cheng, his Shidi, a piece of the puzzle that made up his whole world… he wasn’t moving and there were metal spikes… metal fucking spikes sticking out from his head and his arm, oh gods, even his back. There was so much blood. It was like history was repeating itself. The arm that shielded his head had protected him from the shrapnel. Why? Why do this? A-Cheng knew better than anyone that he… why?
There was a near inhuman sound coming from his throat as he remembered there were two arms, two reverberations on the ground and he knew without even turning his head what he would find. But it was like a landslide after the rains he had to look, had to see because otherwise he would never believe it.
The normally pristine white robes were covered in blotches of red and Lan Zhan’s eyes were open, gazing at nothing. His throat was… he wasn’t breathing.
Neither of them were breathing.
Wei Ying reached out and tenderly closed his husband’s eyes. He was holding on by a hair, the only thing keeping him from frothing at the mouth and screaming his head off was the fact the juniors needed him. He was a broken doll there was nothing left but the crumbling pieces. That impossibly bright light that was his love was gone from this world. Wei Ying couldn’t even sense his spiritual energy…
His body was numb and distantly he heard others coming. Wen Ning had rushed into the room with Nie Huiasang and Lan QiRen. He attempted to turn fully around but it was like all the strings moving his body had been cut when he finally managed to roll over. He heard A-Ling and A-Yuan inhale sharply one of them even whimpered. “Bomb, from the ceiling.” Wen Ning nodded and didn’t need anymore than that to jump up and begin the search for the culprit, a heavy weight was removed from Wei Ying’s chest.
Then he looked to the old man. Uncle looked every bit his age and the agony wafting off him felt like a Qi disruption. “Uncle…” Was it just him or was the world getting darker? “The juniors… get them safe.” That sentence didn’t feel right… but when he glanced up he saw understanding and resolve in Nie Huiasang’s gaze. Yeah, A-Sang would set things right, he would help the old man. His eyes were drawn to his lover once more and he noted the red was blossoming even more over the last white of his robes. But the red seemed to be coming from him, “Oh, in the end I guess I really did dirty Lan Zhan.”
The old man stumbled like he’d been stabbed. “You!” The geezer made his way over to them and for a second Wei Ying seriously thought he would pull his nephew out of his reach instead he caught Wei Ying by the shoulders. “You didn’t dirty him. He…” he shook his head and tears were forming in the elder’s eyes. “We need to get you treated. I will stop the bleeding.”
“Master…” Lan SiZhui’s voice was trembling and the tingling that was in his back has gotten stronger.
He shook his head and grabbed both the youth’s hands on his shoulders. They had been transferring Qi to him. “Silly. Don’t waste it.” The boys sniveled and moved closer to him holding him up more securely. Wei Ying let himself relax back into them he let go of their hands and reached down for the battered arms of his lover and his brother.
The idiots.
Dying sucked but if he had to admit it… it hurt a lot less this time around. He was so happy the boys were safe. “Thank you and I’m sorry.” The offered strength began to leave his body.
“You can’t! You can’t you and Uncle are all I have!”
“Xian-gege please!”
Wei Ying tried to say something more he really did but the darkness swallowed him whole. I’m coming Lan Zhan.