Backlash Part 1

Chapter 115: Xuanwu Sword

Wei Wuxian could not have told you the last time he took any pain medication. It certainly wasn't available on the streets. When he was taken into Lotus Pier, Wei Wuxian had been afraid of using too much bath water, let alone using expensive pain medication. He often concealed injuries, something he got increasingly good at over the years. Turns out if you make a big deal out of completely innocuous injuries, it makes it real easy to hide bigger ones.

Then of course the war happened. Wei Wuxian had lost his golden core. He couldn't risk being treated by any of the doctors in camp. They'd discover his lack of a golden core easily. Which then held true for any injury or illness right up until he left the YunmengJiang sect and lived in the Burial Mounds. While Wen Qing made sure he got medical treatment, the reality was that their ability to get medicine of any sort was extremely limited.

Technically Wei Wuxian had opportunities to use pain medication. It wouldn't have been hard to get some pain medication along with some of the common ointments he kept in his quarters. Except that pain medication had in some ways become more terrifying than pain. Wei Wuxian lived in a constant state of alert for so long. Not trusting that someone or something wouldn't attack him. Not trusting that he might not lash out if he had a nightmare.

The few times Wei Wuxian remembered being given pain medicine, when he failed to hide a serious injury, it had made him drowsy and unfocused. To Wei Wuxian that meant being vulnerable.  Something he hadn't been able to afford to be. The concept of allowing it still brought a fresh rush of anxiety. So when Lan Wangji wanted him to take it Wei Wuxian had automatically tried to refuse.

It had taken that look of concern and hurt in Lan Wangji's eyes. That and the reminder that Lan Wangji wasn't going to leave him alone. Lan Wangji would not leave him vulnerable and alone. Lan Wangji would make sure he was safe.

The pain medicine had been very effective. It made getting the injuries treated much more pleasant. It also made him feel calmer. Wei Wuxian couldn't say how much of that was the medicine and how much of it was Lan Wangji's presence. It was hard to tell, especially when Lan Wangji was holding him in a warm embrace while running his fingers through Wei Wuxian's hair. Wei Wuxian practically melted under Lan Wangji's hands. He vaguely felt something soft and warm brush against his temple before his mind disappeared into a fog of sleep.

Wei Wuxian didn't wake until the following day. Technically it was only a guess that it was the following day, but by the accuracy of Lan Wangji's internal clock Wei Wuxian could assume his guess was probably correct. Lan Wangji insisted on checking Wei Wuxian's wounds twice a day. He had medicine to reapply, fresh bandages to change, and he insisted Wei Wuxian at least take medicine in the evening so that Wei Wuxian could rest properly. Wei Wuxian found it very endearing. He would have found it adorable, except that he saw the deep flash of pain in Lan Wangji's eyes every time he looked at Wei Wuxian's wounds. Wei Wuxian hated seeing Lan Wangji in pain.

"What injuries did you suffer when we killed the Xuanwu of Slaughter in your last life?" Lan Wangji inquired. It had become commonplace for them to refer to the future Wei Wuxian lived through as Wei Wuxian's first life, or previous life. It was not perhaps perfectly accurate in terminology, but it served its purpose well enough.

"Mn?" Wei Wuxian inquired in confusion. Lan Wangji was currently redressing Wei Wuxian's puncture wound.

"This creature is not the divine beast, Xuanwu, but it is powerful. A demi-Xuanwu." Lan Wangji spoke slowly as he organized his thoughts carefully. "The only record of such a creature is four hundred years old. It slaughtered countless people before going into hibernation. What injuries did you sustain?" Lan Wangji repeated his original question. Wei Wuxian's eyes widened with understanding.