Backlash Part 1

Chapter 72: A New Compass

Wei Wuxian embraced Wen Qing and Wen Qionglin in a tight hug at the threshold of the courtyard. Wei Wuxian held them for a long time before he finally broke the embrace and abruptly fled to the Jingshi. Wen Qing smiled sadly before looking at Lan Wangji. Lan Wangji had already bid farewell to Wei Wuxian's siblings earlier. He nodded his head in acknowledgement of her silent request. She didn't need to ask him to look after Wei Wuxian, but Lan Wangji understood Wei Wuxian was not the only one worried about the separation. Lan Wangji turned and followed behind Wei Wuxian.

As soon as Lan Wangji closed the door of the Jingshi behind him he felt a force crash into his chest. Wei Wuxian gripped Lan Wangji's robes and buried his face into his Betrothed's chest. Lan Wangji wrapped his arms around Wei Wuxian almost automatically. Lan Wangji brought one of his hands up to cradle the back of Wei Wuxian's head as Lan Wangji held him close. Wei Wuxian began to shake as the first sob escaped his throat.

Wei Wuxian had been getting increasingly anxious over the last few weeks. Anxious because he knew today was coming. The end of guest lectures at Cloud Recesses. Wen Qing and Wen Qionglin would leave, and Wei Wuxian wouldn't be able to even get a glimpse of them for an entire month. This was the end of having them next to him where he could know they were okay. As this day had drawn closer, Lan Wangji had increasingly woken to find Wei Wuxian had gotten up during the night to resume working.

Among the notes about barrier modifications, piles of complete and incomplete talismans, and notes about possible evacuation routes Lan Wangji also found an increasing number of small objects that looked like varying attempts at making some sort of magical tassel. There were scribbles of notes and many small carvings of birds, some of them detailed enough that Lan Wangji could recognize them as carvings of Jingwei. Lan Wangji didn't know what Wei Wuxian was trying so desperately to make, but Lan Wangji had to admit there was some similarity between Wei Wuxian and Jingwei.

'My Wei Ying also perseveres against impossible odds.' Lan Wangji thought with a mixture of sadness and pride. Whatever that invention was, it remained currently unfinished. The notes and prototypes scattered about Wei Wuxian's work space. Lan Wangji lifted the quietly crying Wei Wuxian in his arms and brought both of them to the bed. He sat down and settled Wei Wuxian onto his lap, holding Wei Wuxian as his grief and anxiety poured out of him in tears.

Lan Wangji didn't say anything. There was nothing for him to say. They had known Wen Qing and Wen Qionglin would be leaving. Lan Wangji had been present for a few emotionally charged discussions about trying to get Wei Wuxian's siblings and the rest of their family out and away to somewhere safe before the war started. They had gone through pros and cons of every option, and ran through countless scenarios.

Evacuating them before the war started wasn't impossible, but it was dangerous. Wen Rouhan used Wen Qing's family for leverage, which meant he kept a relatively close eye on the DafanWen's. The odds of getting them out without Wen Rouhan knowing was non-existent. Even if he didn't notice immediately, it wouldn't take long. One Wen Rouhan knew they were gone, he would look for them. To have an entire branch family leave his sect would be too much of an insult for Wen Rouhan to swallow.

So wherever they went would have to be protected enough to withstand Wen Rouhan's retaliation. Which would be where? The best chance would be if another major sect sheltered them, but doing so would be inviting war. Even though war was inevitable, no sect was fully ready to admit that yet. Even though Lan Xichen believed them, it would take more than him to accept the DafanWen's into the protection of the GusuLan sect. Burial Mounds would be the only option, but without Wei Wuxian there to manage the resentful energy it would be suicide to send them there.

Their best hope was to try and earn the favour of the other sects during the war. This meant Wen Qing distinguishing herself by providing valuable information. Such a feat had earned Meng Yao a title, two sworn brothers who were sect leaders, and absolution for the ocean of innocent blood on his hands. Wen Qing had never killed anyone, and didn't expect to start. Surely if she could provide information it would be enough to buy the safety of her family.