Wei Ying POV
Present
His movements are not hesitant; they seem precise, fast and steady, yet his eyes tell me a different story. While Lan Zhan drives us to his office, I call the station. "Wen Ning Hello. Is Mo Xuanyu with you?"
"No. Someone paid his bail, and Mo Xuanyu left an hour ago," said Wen Ning.
"Huaisang?" I ask.
"He picked him up", Wen Ning replies.
"Had we been had?" asks Sizhui.
"Maybe, maybe not," says Lan Zhan before turning to the right in the next corner. We lose a bit of the equilibrium.
"Let's think this through", I reply, "Mo Xuanyu left many breadcrumbs to find out who killed Nie Mingjue and to find Meng Yao. It seems like he knew where Meng Yao was for a while, so I am still wondering why he created such an elaborate ruse".
"Well, the first time we saw him during this investigation, he looked inside the vault," says my husband.
"Some stuff he says doesn't add up," I say, "his relationship with Xue Yang, for example, the first Mo Xuanyu said he hadn't seen him, but we know he did."
"They are both in the same trade", Sizhui added.
"Has been all of this a diversion?" asks Lan Zhan. He doesn't sound hurt but rather amused.
"What are you thinking?" I ask.
Lan Zhan furrows his brows and says, "Mo Xuanyu is very capable. The last time he found you, he got our new identifications done. He also got a hand in your timely healing and recuperation, knows us all too well".
Meaning he also knows who is Yiling Laozu, Wei Wuxian. It was printed in the envelope to capture our attention towards the past. And maybe throw out some certain expectations? How he knows about our past selves is a mystery to me.
The line of conversation stops when in the next corner, we see smoke coming from a building. I ask, "Is that your office?".
Lan Zhan doesn't answer. He smashes the throttle.
The moment we arrived we found the office already smashed and the windows were broken, but no one was inside. We head to Lan Zhan's office. Everything is a mess. I look out the window and see a couple of smashed vehicles below and trashed garbage cans in an alley. "Shall we follow the path of destruction?".
Lan Zhan takes out his phone and shows it. "No need. I have this in place just in case," and starts to run outside.
"A tracker? for what?" asks Sizhui following him.
"Wen Ruohan's wedding gift," I said agitatedly while running behind too. They seem to forget that I have been out of the hospital for just a few days. I need a couple of seconds to recuperate my breath.
"Ohh, I thought you put a tracker's device on Mrs Ling's phone. But, of course, that would be creepy", says Sizhui.
"No need. She will merrily pursue anyone after the statue," says Lan Zhan sprinting towards the alley.
A thought started to form in my head, but I dismissed it immediately since the clattering sounds made it clear we would see a sword's duel in the next corner.
Three people are already covered with blood and minor cuts. Wen Zhuliu and two identical women are fighting.
I muttered, "I thought she left the country to live a happy life".
Lan Zhan shakes his head. "You should already know that the most important thing for Wen Qing is her family".
With a look at each other, we also entered the fright.
I am so happy to finally put my hands on Wen Zhuliu that I forgot to control the resentful energy for a split second, making the guy crash against a wall, breaking a couple of bones, and throwing away his prizes.
I receive "the look" from my husband and the two ladies. Super scary.
"Sorry?" I said.
Sanren is not amused. "My flight took three hours! It was super expensive!! All in case we have a real shot at catching this guy and getting revenge finally!".
I can almost see her transforming into a dragon instantly ", and you just come in all superpowered and ruin the fun!".
As I said, super scary.
Lan Zhan sighs, "I don't think he will escape again. His bones are quite broken".
"Sizhui, you should make the arrest", I say, and they nod.
The boy advances and takes off the handcuffs. "Wen Zhuliu, you are under arrest for multiple charges, including my parents' death, drug trafficking, and art theft".
A voice is heard in the dark parts of the alley "Don't forget killing Mo Ziyuan".
He has to be boisterous, has he?.
Mo Xuanyu is wearing a black leather jacket, black t-shirt, black pants and black boots. Also, he had the two dragon statues in his hands.
"So you planned to get the documents and steal the statue while we were busy?" says Wen Qing.
"Of course not. The plan was to give you the documents, that my cousin gets your statue, and we will be rich while you guys go ahead with the research creating diversions in places that I wanted to inspect properly. But, sadly, Wen Zhuliu was tailing me, and my cousin got killed".
"The evidence in the restaurant was inconsistent", points out Sizhui.
I grab Wen Zhuliu and show him a bit of resentful energy. He freights in terror and screeches, "I am a chemical engineer. I created different ways to convey drugs for Wen Ruohan. I can certainly kill a man with arsenic to leave insufficient evidence behind".
Sadly, the first man to arrive at the scene was no other than Lan Sizhui. My baby.
"So what now?" asks Mo Xuanyu retreating a bit, muscles tensed, ready to fight.
I glance at my husband, I know how he feels about Mo Xuanyu even if I am the one he loves. He deserved the world and his existence in this timeline is a miracle by itself.
"I guess you can have them," I say, smiling.
"For real?" asks again, and Lan Zhan nods.
Mo Xuanyu's face beams. "Great. Well, guys, it has been lovely to see you, but an adventure awaits me. Bye!!".
He runs through the darkness laughing. He is as over the top as usual. Then, I sigh and look at my other half.
"Is it over?" I ask.
He shakes his head and points out at the handcuffed Wen Zhuliu.
Right. Duty is never over. We head back to the station as the ladies explain what happened during my absence. The family didn't tell them I was in a comma right away. But as soon as they learned about it, Wen Qing hired herself as Ling Wen, Lan Zhan's assistant, to keep an eye on Sizhui, my husband and me.
Also, to get revenge.
Lan Zhan and I were always suspicious about Wen Ruohan's gift. A thought was formed when so many parties insisted not all his possessions were recovered. The idea leads to the decision to become baits until capturing everyone. Or at least getting Wen Zhuliu arrested.
There is just one question I can't get around my head "Why now? after all this time?" I ask.
Wen Zhuliu is not in the mood to answer for a while. When we arrive at the station and see Wen Ning, he finally gives up, "Wen Chao audience will be soon, what better way to impress the committee if not with a few gifts".
Well, Wen Chao certainly will receive some gifts now.
That's it for today. Rather short, actually.
if any doubts left
Ling Wen is a character of Heaven's official blessing
Mo Xuanyu learns a thing or two in ch31. It is hinted at but not fully exploited.
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Always by your side
FanfictionWei Ying and Lan Zhan promised never to separate again. However, they did, many times in fact. Only to reunite again and repeat. After Wei Ying wakes up from a coma, he tries to rekindle his relationship with his loved ones. While they try to uncove...
