Way too untamed, way too wild

A siege?

Lan Wangji was standing next to a frozen Wei Ying, trying to understand what was what seemed like half of the Gusu Lan sect and a few disciples of other sects, the only specks of colour in a sea of white, doing there. His uncle and brother were in the very front, looking just as surprised as he himself was feeling.

At once, he remembered that he had all but forgotten to give his report for over a week, not only that but he has not even contacted his brother or uncle until now regarding everything he had found out. This one went directly to him, he should have been more diligent. To his defence, he could say that he had been completely occupied with the matter of saving the inhabitants of the Burial Mounds, however, he would not lie to himself. Writing one letter was not such a time consuming task that he had not been able to do it. He had forgotten, it was that simple.

And now his family was standing in front of him with their swords drawn, probably fearing for his safety judging by the way they were eyeing Wei Ying. He could imagine what they were all thinking right now. They must have heard rumours about a demonic cultivator residing in the Burial Mounds, no matter if those were about Wei Ying or about Xue Yang, and flew here as quickly as possible when he did not report back to them regularly, fearing the worst had come to pass. After all, they all saw the state the Yunmeng Jiang sect's disciples had returned in from the battle.

They must have been greatly confused to find Lan Wangji safe and sound, in a presence of a child instead of injured or taken hostage by a demonic cultivator.

Before he could explain anything, Lan Qiren's angry, albeit Lan Wangji could clearly see worries mixed in his expression, voice sounded urgently. "Wangji, come here at once! Whoever that is," he gestured towards Wei Ying who was still frozen and was clutching his flute in his hand so tightly Lan Wangji was afraid he would break it, "is dangerous. We heard what he had done from the town's people. He is just deceiving you, he must be the demonic cultivator who had orchestrated all of this mess to lure us out."

Lan Wangji was now getting somewhat angry himself. Upon hearing his uncle's words, Wei Ying finally moved, taking one step to the side and hiding behind the Second Jade's back. The boy must have been terrified. How could have Lan Qiren said something like that? Could he not see that Wei Ying is just a child and in no way dangerous?

And then it hit him. His uncle said they were here to capture a demonic cultivator; they must have known about Xue Yang. And they also must have assumed the same as him, Xue Yang had to be dealt with immediately. The only problem was that they had apparently taken Wei Ying for the other and were now ready to exterminate him.

He reached his hand behind himself, found the boy's ice cold wrist and squeezed it lightly to reassure him. He could feel Wei Ying trembling, be it from the shock of seeing so many cultivators ready to siege his home or from the fatigue of using so much of his forces to keep the children safe while they had been descending the mountains. The only good point in all of this was that the boy did not yet attack, fortunately, it seemed he still believed Lan Wangji to take him to safety. And the Second Jade would not betray that trust.

"Wei Ying is not Xue Yang," he explained, glaring at the people in front of him and daring them to approach and hurt the boy.

At the mention of the demonic cultivator's name, everyone stilled and gasped. After a second or two of general surprise, everyone's gazes shifted towards Wei Ying, observing him and judging if he indeed is not Xue Yang. Even after clearly seeing that the boy was still a child, at least according to his small and frail frame caused by live-long starvation, the cultivators did not lower their weapons.

Suddenly, Lan Wangji felt cold emanating from Wei Ying and when he chanced a glance back, he saw that the boy was now summoning the resentful energy to protect himself. Lan Wangji panicked; it was no good, how was he supposed to convince the cultivators that the boy was harmless when they clearly saw him manipulating the resentful energy?

He squeezed Wei Ying's wrist a little bit more, earning himself a startled sharp intake of air. Scowling at the cultivators in front of him again, he whispered reassuringly: "It is alright, Wei Ying, I will not let them hurt you. They are my family, they had just been worried about me and came to check on me. I will explain everything to them, please be patient for a moment, I assure you they will not attack you."

The boy must have believed him because the next moment, Lan Wangji could feel the cold disappearing and the sunlight was again warming his skin. He relaxed slightly but continued staring at the cultivators, his body shielding the smaller figure behind him.

No one seemed to have put their guards down, only Lan Xichen looked somewhat pensive, although the sword in his hand was still very much aimed at him and Wei Ying. Lan Wangji turned his eyes towards his brother, silently begging him for help. He was hoping that by now, Lan Xichen had realized that a child could not do them any harm and that instead, Wei Ying needed help.

The First Jade, bless him for always being ready to listen to Lan Wangji, slowly put his sword down. Lan Qiren immediately turned towards him and stared at him in utter disbelief: "Xichen, what are you doing?"

Lan Xichen put one of his hands on his uncle's forearm, probably trying to get him to lower his weapon as well. "Uncle, it is just a child. We should first determine if he is not just a victim in all of this. I believe Wangji is trying to protect him, that should be speaking in itself."

Lan Wangji let out the breath he did not realized he had been holding when Lan Qiren lowered his sword, as did the rest of the Gusu Lan sect cultivators. Some disciples and sect leaders from other sects remained vigilant, their weapons still ready to attack, but most of the danger was gone. He felt Wei Ying behind him stop trembling and he was glad for that.

His uncle turned towards him now and asked, his voice wary but open for discussion: "Wangji, who is the boy behind you?"

Before Lan Wangji could explain anything and assure the cultivators that Wei Ying, although in fact a demonic cultivator, was not dangerous in the slightest, there was a sudden laughter. Everyone startled and looked for the source.

Then a voice sounded on the field, making everyone shudder: "Well, well, well, what do we have here? I did not even have to try and you are all here. What do you say, should we have some fun together?"

Lan Wangji stilled completely, he remembered where he had last heard this mocking and maniacal voice. He slowly lifted his head and looked up at the sky. Sure enough, a familiar figure was suspended on a sword above their heads, just emerging from the barrier.