Backlash Part 1

Chapter 132: Jiang Cheng Gets Punched

Wei Wuxian wanted to tell Lan Wangji that he was okay, but that was a lie. Wei Wuxian was caught somewhere between what had just happened and what had happened in his last life. He wanted to burrow deeper in the warmth of Lan Wangji's arms and never leave. He couldn't do that. He was present enough to recognize that they needed to leave. He needed to get Jiang Wanyin out of here. The fighting wouldn't last much longer and Wei Wuxian was unsure how much time they had before someone would begin searching all of Lotus Pier for survivors.

Wei Wuxian took a few deep breaths. He wasn't okay. He had failed. Well... Not exactly failed. It... it had been discussed at length. There had been a good chance that he would not be able to talk Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan into evacuating. He had not even been able to convince Jiang Fengmian to let him modify the barrier. He had to do it in secret.

The chances that Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian would insist on going down with Lotus Pier were high. Wei Wuxian knew that. Logically he understood that it was their choice to refuse to evacuate. Unfortunately the logical part of Wei Wuxian's brain was very quiet right now and that was making everything harder. Wei Wuxian let himself take a few more breaths. They needed to leave. Before more soldiers came. If more came he might have to use demonic cultivation to get them out, and that would create more witnesses before he wanted them.

Wei Wuxian pulled back, looking at the bloody ruin he had made. All things considered it was not all that horrifying of a sight. He had created much more gruesome scenes than this. The part that was horrifying was the two bodies that he had not killed. Wei Wuxian wasn't certain exactly where Jiang Fengmian's corpse was. He knew it was here somewhere, but his eyes were focused on Yu Ziyuan. The powerful and terrifying Madam of Lotus Pier was a broken and crumpled body on the ground. Wei Wuxian had an urge to look away, but held himself back. It wouldn't help to not look. He already had the images seared into his brain, both from his last life and from this one.

"Lan Zhan. Sect Leader Jiang and Madam Yu... Can... Can we... Can you?" Wei Wuxian wanted to curse. Why couldn't he get the words out? 'Lan Zhan. Can we bring their bodies away? Can you collect their bodies? Can...' Wei Wuxian's throat was tight with tears. Wei Wuxian took several slow breaths to keep them from falling.

"I will retrieve them. Will you be alright for the moment?" Lan Wangji asked. The voice was filled with a warm concern that tugged on Wei Wuxian's heart. He wanted to throw himself into Lan Wangji's arms and never leave. Wei Wuxian took another steadying breath.

"Mn. I'll be alright. I need to get Jiang Cheng out of here. Talk to him." Wei Wuxian said quietly. Wei Wuxian could see the scowl on Lan Wangji's face. Wei Wuxian didn't bother trying to force a smile. Lan Wangji would see through it anyway. "We won't be going anywhere without you, and he isn't going to kill me. He might yell at me a bit. Don't worry about it. Just let him yell. He... he needs it, and I already know what he is going to say." Wei Wuxian said softly. Lan Wangji's scowl deepened.

"Please, Lan Zhan? I can bear what he is going to say, but I can't... I can't leave them here again. I can't touch their corpses. I can't bear that." Wei Wuxian shivered. It wasn't a lie. He could not possibly bring himself to leave Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan's remains behind. Yet, the idea of touching their corpses. Feeling their lifeless bodies was something that would haunt him forever.

"He has until I get back." Lan Wangji consented to Wei Wuxian's request, but it was clear in everything from Lan Wangji's tone to his posture that he hated it. Wei Wuxian managed a small grateful smile before sending Lan Wangji off. Yu Ziyuan's corpse was in eye shot. So Lan Wangji began searching for Jiang Fengmian's. Wei Wuxian had a good idea of what to expect, and Lan Wangji would not like it. It was better to get it over with before Lan Wangji came back.