Never Let You Go, Again

36: Splitting the Seal

Darkness, malevolence and regrets reveal

Thy inner core's rancour and demonic appeal:

Summon it together to break the Seal.

Hm. Sounds easy. I better put up a ward around our home in case I go out of control. Ah, but how will Xichen-ge come in? No, forget the ward. But then, what if A-Yuan and the rest come? No, can't let them get hurt either...

Wei Wuxian scratched his hair, then dug his fingers into his scalp and pulled his hair down, sulking. What the heck was he to do now?

"A-Ying needs help?"

Wei Wuxian looked up from the script on his crossed lap to see Lan Zhan approach the bed on which he sat. Wei Wuxian smiled at him and patted the space beside him. Lan Zhan climbed onto the bed and sat cross-legged beside his husband and looked at the script. "What is it?"

"A-Zhan... Shouldn't I put a ward tomorrow?"

"Why?"

"What if I lose control?"

"You won't."

"Lan Zhan, do you see these? These ingredients I need to accumulate, they're all raging emotions! With the memories I have, I don't think I'll be able to control my own self!"

Lan Zhan took his hand in his own and placed their intertwined hands on his lap, stroking Wei Ying's clasped one.

"If you do, I will calm you. No need of xiongzhang. I'll use Wangji."

"But Lan Zhan, what if someone gets hurt?"

"Nobody comes to the Jingshi–"

"A-Yuan? Yiyi? Little Rulan? I can't let them get hurt."

Lan Zhan blinked as he realised the extent of Wei Ying's fears. True, what if they come? Though he didn't expect things to turn that severe...

"Wei Ying, trust me. Nothing will happen. Wangji always calms you down, it will do so this time too," he said, stroking Wei Ying's head with the free hand to soothe his blazing brain. "Calm down. It'll be fine."

"Mn." Wei Ying sighed and snuggled up to his husband, burying himself in Lan Wangji's chest.

"A-Ying?"

"A-Zhan, ask."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"That you might go out of control and would need help? I asked you in the Library, you didn't say?"

Wei Ying's fingers rolled the other's headband's loose ends around his fingers. "I... You keep saying Wangji will calm me... You'll see after tomorrow."

Lan Zhan raised his brow but spoke no further. The two sat there, hugging each other, not uttering a word. Lan Zhan waited for almost an hour that way before being pleased to hear Wei Ying's soft snores. He smiled and gently laid Wei Ying down on his pillow, then blew out the candlelight.

The Yiling Laozu's script and Stygian Tiger Seal, both capable of destroying the world but even more capable of changing the two sleepers' lives forever, lay on the Jingshi's table, deceivingly dormant.

**********

The first day of a fateful two weeks dawned.

Following an early bath and a morning chat with Lan Xichen, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji seated themselves in the Jingshi, side by side, knees touching. Once comfortable in the lotus position, Lan Wangji turned to look at his husband.