Between the Lines: Mo Dao Zu Shi Story Collections

Blessings

Summary: Wei Ying always had to rely on Lan Zhan in entering and exiting the Cloud Recesses, as he had no Jade pendant personally bestowed upon him yet. One day, he forgets about this after leaving the mountains, and alert the new disciples on guard duty, ready to strike him down. With Lan Zhan gone, night hunting with the juniors and Wen Ning, and Lan Xichen over in Qinghe for a conference, who can save him now?

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The night is quite chilly during this time of the year. Wei Ying cannot help but shiver, as his new body is more susceptible to the cold. Despite a layer of a fox pelt over him, it was not enough.

He makes his way up the steps, and as soon as he does, a blaring sound of chimes can be heard. Those chimes meant one thing: intruder.

Wei Wuxian curses as he tries to rush to the Jingshi. Once he sets foot on its threshold, the alarms will naturally stop. He makes his way into the Cloud Recesses, and carefully jumps from one tree to the next.

In his haste, he misses his footing and lands on the ground hard.

"Over here," calls an unfamiliar voice. "Get him! Get the intruder!"

A sword swings at him, and Wei Wuxian avoids it with grace. Another comes from behind and the man manages to redirect it. One shoots an arrow in his direction and he dodges with expertise.

Out of all the days, he had to forget Chenqing in the Jingshi, it just had to be the day that Lan Zhan was out of town with his Jade pass.

As he delved into his mind, thinking about all the wrong things that just had to happen today, a disciple manages to hit him on the shoulder, piercing through flesh. The young guard pins him to the floor, digging the sword in even further. Wei Wuxian howls in pain, alerting the other disciples nearby. Many of them just so happen to know who he is, as he often joins them on night hunts with the Ghost General. Others simply know him as the Yiling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji's spouse.

"What is going on here?"

Lan Qiren hastily approaches the commotion from his quarters, his eyes wide at the state that his nephew's partner is in. "What are you doing?" he says angrily and Wei Ying flinches. "I'm sorry, Master Lan. I had just arrived from Caiyi—I forgot that I needed a Jade pendant of the Lan Sect to safely pass," Wei Ying says as the man that stabbed him is still pinning him on the ground as he bleeds. "Not you—You!" Wei Ying's eyes are wide in surprise as he points to the disciple with his sword embedded into its victims shoulder. "What are you doing, stabbing the Second Master's partner like that?" Lan Qiren says angrily as the pride shining in the boy's eyes turn into fear at the realization.

"Master Lan," the disciple stutters, looking between his victim and his teacher. "I-I didn't know! I, I swear, I didn't know!"

"Call the doctor!" the elder says and the other disciples run to get the physician. The disciple draws his sword, making Wei Ying groan in agony before he draws a calming breath. He applies pressure on his wound as the other disciples help him up. Several women gather around him to treat him with first aid as they await the physician.

"Whether or not you knew, you shouldn't just stab people out of nowhere," Wei Ying grimaces as one elderly lady ties his wound with a cloth. "What if I was a mere civilian lost in the mountains, stumbling upon the sect to seek help?"

The disciples stay silent, and Lan Qiren huffs at them. "All of you, kneel outside the study hall," he says angrily before telling one of the older disciples to take away their swords for the next two days.

"Master Lan," Wei Ying bows his head at the old man, sighing. "I apologize for the commotion and disturbing the peace in the sect tonight. I tried not to, so that Lan Zhan doesn't lose face. I failed him and you tonight. Forgive me."