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Summary: Wei Wuxian has changed.
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Lan Zhan and the Jiangs watched with their breath held and hearts in their throats as Wei Ying tortured these Wen. He made Wen Chao self-cannibalize, screaming as he ate his own limbs, and Wen Zhuliu was forced to his knees, shouting his throat sore in pain as he crushed his own core.
When only a defenceless Wen Zhuliu was left, Wei Ying giggled, the sound echoing insanity, and tucked his flute away. Kneeling to the floor, Wei Ying smiled softly as if feeling pity as he began to stroke Wen Zhuliu's hair.
Jiang Cheng frowned, voice shaky and petrified, "What the fuck..."
Lan Zhan felt like saying the same.
"I don't hate you, y'know." Wei Ying began, running his real fingers through Wen Zhuliu's hair, "You were a weapon, so I don't hate you, only those who wield you, but I must admit I'm confused, Wen Zhuliu."
Wen Zhuliu grunted, writhing in pain, "You are a powerful- sorry, were a powerful cultivator, you were core-melting-hand, you were amazing up until a few seconds ago, so why bow down and kiss Wen Chao's feet?"
Wen Zhuliu didn't answer, tears leaking from his bloodshot eyes.
Wei Ying 'awwed' tutting and pouting, "Too bad, perhaps I would've shown mercy." He sighed before pulling his flute from his belt once more, and playing a few notes.
A ghost child appeared, one that was badly beaten, bruises covering their small body. From one empty eye-socket, blood poured, and from it's split, small lips, a harrowing grin formed.
Wei Ying smiled softly, "He's all yours, little one." He spoke sounding like the wind, a soft, content look on his face one would mistake for beautiful if it weren't for the situation.
Leaving Wen Zhuliu to the child, Wei Ying stood and watched from afar with a small smile as it ripped off Wen Zhuliu's ears with its teeth, his nose next, and then a chunk from his cheek.
And then he played a few tunes and the ghost child left leaving Wen Zhuliu's body.
Humming, Wei Ying unphased from the horrific sight, twirled his flute with his shadow-hand, and turned to walk away.
Lan Zhan gasped, all three finally shaken from their shock, they broke the roof and jumped down.
Wei Ying flinched, spinning toward the noise, he froze.
It had been three months since he saw these people, and to his luck, they found him when he'd just brutally murdered two people.
He was aware of what he had looked like while doing so.
Wei Ying gulped.
Jiang Fengman sighed in relief to finally see him, "A-Xian..." He murmured.
Wei Ying gulped, shifting from foot to foot, he slowly looked at the three, only to see them staring at his fake hand.
Wei Ying flinched, hiding the shadowy thing behind his back, "Clan-Leader-Jiang." He greeted coldy, "Young-Master-Jiang."
Wei Ying turned to Lan Zhan as Jiang Cheng whimpered, "...Hanguang-Jun."
Lan Zhan's heart shattered, "Wei Ying..." He whispered, the sound dripping with honey-like affection.
Wei Ying shivered, opening his mouth as if to say something, but snapped it shut again.
Jiang Fengman took this opportunity to speak, "A-Xian... I'm so sorry about what happened... come back to Lotus Pier A-Xia-"
"I told you he's not going back there." Lan Zhan growled, glaring, "Wei Ying... return to Gusu with me."
At that, Wei Ying's face darkened, "Why? So you can lock me up?" Lan Zhan flinched, "So you can scold me for my cultivation?!"
Lan Zhan shook his head, "No. I want to protect you." A step forward, "I want to help you." A step forward, "I want to... I want... to court you."
Wei Ying gasped, hands falling limp revealing his fake once more, "What?" He whispered, his red eyes glossing over.
Lan Zhan smiled, softly, taking Wei Ying's hands, he flinched momentarily at how cold and... heavy the shadows felt, "I want to protect you, help you, court you, Wei Ying... if you'll allow me, I'd like to marry you."
Wei Ying's breath hitched, a vulnerable look taking his features making Lan Zhan's heart thaw, "You m-mean it?"
Lan Zhan nodded, pulling Wei Ying in for a hug, "My intentions are only to love you, I will never hurt you, I will stand against my sect, my family for you, if you're with me, nothing will ever hurt you again and I'll accept you and love you no matter what happens."
To their surprise, Wei Ying began to cry, loud, devastating cries as he burrowed into Lan Zhan's arms and hid there, "I-I'll marry you!" He whimpered, shocked Lan Zhan still wanted him.
Lan Zhan smiled softly, turning back to give the Jiangs one last glare before picking Wei Ying up carefully by his waist and carrying him out, not letting him go as they flew back on Bichen.
Wei Ying sniffed, "Y-You'll really p-protect me?" He whimpered, "F-From even your s-sect?"
Lan Zhan's heart shattered, "I promise I will. And I'll try to be what you deserve, Wei Ying, you deserve the best."
Wei Ying sobbed again, hiding in Lan Zhan's chest, "Y-You'll protect me from dogs?"
Lan Zhan nodded, "Mn."
"A-And you'll never let me fall? F-From anywhere?"
"Never."
Wei Ying sobbed, "O-Okay..." He sniffed, hiding further in Lan Zhan's arms, he relished in the warm, secure embrace.
***
When they arrived in Qinghe, Lan Zhan guided Wei Ying to his room immediately and lay him down, "Wei Ying..." He whispered, a smile on his face, "I missed you."
Wei Ying scrunched his nose, sniffing, "I-I missed you too." He whimpered, breath hitching.
Lan Zhan grinned, cupping Wei Ying's face, "You should sleep," He murmured, reaching for Wei Ying's robes, "May I?"
Wei Ying's heart skipped a few beats before he nodded, letting Lan Zhan oh so carefully remove his outer robes, fingers skimming against his skin making his breath tremble.
Lan Zhan bit back a smirk, folding the black robes, he took Wei Ying's shadow hand with such care the resentful energy didn't even stir, "This hand..." He began, "You don't have to... but would you like to talk?"
Wei Ying blinked tiredly, sniffing once more, "Tomorrow?"
Lan Zhan smiled and nodded, "Tomorrow."
Wei Ying hummed, "Okay... fiance? join me?" He teased, revealing that somewhere, buried under trauma and fear and cautious, but somewhere, his Wei Ying still breathed.
Lan Zhan smiled, removing his headpiece, forehead ribbon, and outer robes, he lay beside his soulmate and pulled him close, "I'll protect you, love." He reassured.
Wei Ying giggled happily, snuggling close, he curled into a tiny ball making Lan Zhan's heart ache at how cute he was, "I trust you."
