Chapter Text
“Lan Zhan…” Wei Ying's voice was a hoarse, painful sound as he could not tear his gaze away from the crimson that stained his beloved husband's white robes. Lan wangji… the great and powerful cultivator, the pride of Gusu, the second Jade… lay motionless on the ground. Not a hint of reaction from the sound of his name coming from his beloved Wei Ying.
Wei Wuxian was no fool. He had been through war and seen death many times. Had died himself. It was an old friend at this point… Yet seeing Lan Wangji… his zhiji in such a state.. he couldn’t come to grasps with it. Memories of a familiar scene… when Jiang Yanli had been in a similar state. This wasn’t how this was supposed to go… it was just a regular night hunt. At least… that is what it had originally appeared to be… “Lan Zhan… please… look at me… Lan Zhan…”
Wei Ying crawled, blood staining his fingers as he felt the remaining of his strength leave him, he had to get to his husband. Lan Zhan couldn’t be dead. There was no way the illustrious second jade could die. Not like this. Never like this… not him… anyone but him…
With shaky hands Wei Ying cupped his husband's face as he finally was able to kneel beside him. A broken smile appeared on his lips as he saw the light glint in those golden eyes. “Wei.. Wei ying..”
Wei Ying let out a breathless sob at the weak voice of his husband, filling with a quiet relief at his appearance beside him. “Your… unharmed… good.” How… how could this happen? It was all his fault. All this fault thinking that once the truth was free, the cultivation world would have let him go. That the crimes he had committed would be pardoned after the truth had been revealed. That his cultivation would be accepted as long as he did not take it too far. As long as he had his husband, the chief cultivator by his side.
He had been a fool. Such a blind fool. Sinking into the warmth and comfort Lan Zhan had given him. Believing they could live happily with their son and the other disciples of Gusu Lan. Their son… Sizhui… there little radish. What would Wei Ying tell him… that he had once more lost his father… his a-die instead of his baba. What would he tell Zewu-jun, and Lan Qiren of their brother and nephew's death.
“You… you fuddy duddy…!” He cried the term of endearment now one of scorn. His mind replayed the actions his husband had taken. Pushing him out of harm's way, yet unable to avoid the strike himself. Seeing Lan Zhan fall… hearing the choked sound that had ripped from his chest as the blade had pierced through his flesh. The blood that had bloomed so quickly on his white robes. This couldn't be real…
Again someone he had loved had taken a fatal blow meant for him…
Wei Ying did not hesitate, and had called upon his cultivation… had raised fierce corpses to his side like all those years ago. Commanded them, bent the dead to his will as the men who had ambushed them were torn apart in terrified screams. They had believed him to be weak. That he would not have the same power as he did when he was the Yiling Laozu. How wrong they had been…
“Couldn’t.. couldn’t let Wei Ying…” Lan Zhan choked as more blood dripped from his mouth.
“So you decided to take the blow for me! It was meant for me Lan Zhan! Why… why!” It was a foolish question as he searched his beloved eyes. Much like when his shijie had fallen…
So resolute, not a hint of regret to be found. Lan Zhan would not allow his Wei Ying to be harmed. Not again. Not when he had the power to stop it.
“Could not… lose you.”
A bitter and haunting chuckle left the grandmaster then as the fierce corpses he had yet to release from his control let out growls and snarls. The air became harder to breathe as black mist snaked its way across the ground.
“And what made you think I could bear to lose you Lan Wangji!” The Yiling patriarch snarled, the once glowing orbs of brilliant sliver, now a tainted blood thirsty red. Voices whispered in his ears, familar… the call of an old friend. “Do not leave me Lan Zhan… I will bring ruin to the Jianghu… I will raise an army of corpses they so fear! I will raze the sects to the ground! I will be the monster they claim me to be! So don’t you dare… don’t you dare leave me!” He ordered, his finger now clawing at the blood soaked robes as he fought back the bitter tears, his head bowing at the grief he couldn’t contain. No word he said would be a lie, he knew this in his dying heart. If Lan Zhan breathed his last… then it would be the world who would pay.
Who were they to stop him… who could? If their precious light-bearing lord was to die no one would be able to stop the Yiling Laozu’s path of vengeance. After all… any who fell would quickly rise again to join his army.
Had the men who had come to take his life not realized this? Had those who had sent them? Or had they been so confident as to think they would succeed in taking his life so easily.
His thoughts of revenge were then cut short as a familiar melody sung through the air. Broken and weak as it was, its owner's strength fading ever further. XianYun the song Lan Zhan had composed for him.
Wei Ying felt the tears stain his face as his anger faded, the call for revenge lessening. He lifted his head meeting his soulmate's eyes once more.
“Love… Wei Ying…” A soft breath. The gold tarnished. Fading. Dim.
“Lan Zhan… hey… no… no no! Lan Zhan!!” Wei Ying’s voice screamed into the air as his world fell away, only able to focus on the man he loved. “Look at me! Please! Hanguang-Jun!! Lan-er gege… please… please… I love you… please… don’t… don’t leave me…”
Is this what Lan Zhan had felt when he heard of his death… when he was bedridden from the punishment he had received after hurting the elders of his clan all to protect and save Wei Ying’s life.
How had Lan Zhan managed… how had he waited those 13 long years… no… that was wrong. Lan Zhan had not waited for Wei Ying’s return… he had no idea that his beloved would ever return… yet still.. all those years mourning his love… just existing… raising a-yuan … going through the motions… had he wished for death like this… to join Wei Ying…
Now Wei Ying understood. Yet he knew he did not have the same strength his husband had. He felt as if he was dying all over again. As if he had once more had his fierce corpses tearing through his flesh and bone till nothing was left but blood stains and tattered clothes. His mind shattered, his soul broken…nothing mattered anymore…
Wei Ying crumbled. Like a puppet with strings cut, his body sagged, his silver eyes dimming, sightless before closing. A breath passed. Another… another. He breathed.
Then the world exploded. The earth shook as resentment surged to life. Crimson eyes opened. Standing on shaking legs, he lifted his beloved's corpse in his arm, the ghost began his solemn march into the trees as corpses rose and followed their master.
Wei Wuxian… Died that day. In his place… rose the monster of old. The one the clans feared. The man who had turned the tide during the sun-shot campaign. Who had killed Wen Chao. Who tore apart the core melting hand. Who slaughtered thousands at nightless city…
The Yiling Laozu… Had returned and this time… there was no one alive who could stop him.
