WangXian - I am always with you

9: Summoner

Wei Wuxian was skipping down the mountain in jubilation, full of energy. Lan Wangji and the other three were trailing behind, happy to see their Wei Gongzi back on his feet. Wei Wuxian felt boundless energy flowing through him, almost like before he lost his core. He was so happy he almost missed it. A young Jin disciple holding his leg behind some bushes, bleeding profusely.

"Hey, who are you?" Wei Wuxian asked, approaching the boy. The golden clad youth looked up, relief in his eyes.

"I'm Jin Fang'an. I was on my way to find you, Master Wei, when a monster attacked! It bit my leg rather badly."

"Uh huh. And why did you need to find me?" Wei Wuxian asked skeptically, cautiously grabbing a hold of Chengqing.

"Sect Leader Lan and Sect Leader Jiang went missing, I flew here to tell you," the disciple said earnestly. By now, the rest of Wei Wuxian's group had caught up, and Lan Wangji had a hand on the hilt of Bichen.

"Take us there," Wei Wuxian demanded. " But let me see you wound first."

He reached out and pulled away the shredded white cloth, revealing... no wound. The disciple was not wounded. The light of a summoning circle illuminated their small band, and Wei Wuxian only had time to think, I thought so, before they were all gone.

Lan Xichen could see that Jiang Cheng was livid. To be fair, Lan Xichen was pretty pissed himself, not that he'd tell anyone that. Two sect leaders had just been captured, and by a young disciple no less! Well, captured was a strong word for it. More like, Jin Fang'an had taken Zidian, Shuoyue and Sandu away. Fortunately, the disciple had not noticed Liebing stored away in Lan Xichen's sleeve (because the Lan sleeves are endless). But Xichen refused to leave, and had convinced a reluctant Wanyin to stay too. This would be their best chance at subduing this young Jin, and besides, they didn't know what other spells Jin Fang'an might have from Jin Guangyao.

"Is he even coming back?" Jiang Cheng muttered, shifting against the wall.

Jin Fang'an hadn't been totally incompetent: he'd chained their hands to the wall. It was mighty annoying, but Lan Xichen could deal with it. Turns out Jiang Cheng could not. As soon as Jin Fang'an had left, Jiang Cheng had ripped the chains right out of the wall. Lan Xichen had held back from doing the same.

"Yes, Wanyin. But maybe you should consider at least pretending to still be tied up?" Lan Xichen suggested, dark gold eyes staring into purple ones. Jiang Cheng sighed. Unfortunately, they didn't have time to do anything else before a summoning circle lit up on the floor, and suddenly six people were transported into the old Jin treasury.

Wei Wuxian was not at all surprised to be back here, though he wished it could've been anywhere else. This place held some bad memories. Though he had more pressing matters to worry about right now, such as the blade currently held to his throat.

Well, doesn't this feel familiar, he sighed. Out loud, he said, "Jin Fang'an, you better have a good explanation for all of this."

"Wangji?!" Lan Xichen exclaimed. Wei Wuxian noted that the two supposedly missing Sect Leaders were right there.

"Shut up, all of you!" Fang'an yelled, pressing the blade tighter.

"This is like the temple all over again," he remarked.

"You killed my brother!" Jin Fang'an yelled. "A - Yao only wanted the best for us!"

Lan Xichen had a sad look on his face, while the rest looked incredulous. Lan Wangji only had eyes for Wei Ying, and the terribly familiar situation they were in.

"Young Jin, I don't believe-," Lan Xichen began.

"It's true!"

Jin Fang'an obviously wouldn't listen.

"Did you summon the Zhuque?" Lan Wangji asked quietly, causing the rest to look at him in surprise. He rarely spoke up. Jin Fang'an snorted.

"Yeah, and it took a bloody lot of spiritual power, but A - Yao had figured out a way! I promised him I would summon it if his plan failed," he snarled. The knife tightened again. Wei Wuxian could feel the edge cutting into his neck, and decided enough was enough. He looked at Lan Zhan, who understood immediately. Since they'd been talking, Lan Wangji had been secretly manipulating Bichen, which he had slipped out of it's sheath just before the transfer. Right now, it was behind Jin Fang'an, ready to strike. And strike it did, stabbing him and giving Wei Wuxian the opportunity to twist free. Lan Sizhui had already pulled out his own blade, ready to fight, with Jin Ling and Lan Jingyi backing him up. Jiang Cheng just stood up, not being connected to the wall anyway. Jin Fang'an howled in pain, blood actually rushing down his leg now, from a real wound. As the disciple straightened up, he saw the cultivators in front of him, and knew that he was done.

"Long live Jin Guangyao," he said. Wei Wuxian realised what he was about to do, but was too late to stop Jin Fang'an as he slid the knife across his throat.