WangXian Untamed - One Shots

A World Without Wei Ying - Part 2 - Starting Over

A sword under poor control flew erratically and entered the precincts of Cloud Recesses. No ordinary intruder would be able to trespass the wards that protected the Gusu Lan sect and enclave. Barely remaining in flight, the sparkling, near transparent blade came to a rocky stop at the entrance to the Hanshi. Lan XiChen had just stepped out his door and he drew back in shock at the sudden apparition. A battered and unkempt man fell from the sword and landed at Lan XiChen's feet, sheltering a small child in his arms as he crashed to the ground. Gold eyes sought Lan XiChen's own dark amber and a barely audible plea, "save him, XiongZhang!" was heard before the intruder collapsed in a dead faint.

Lan XiChen was frozen in shock only a moment, before calling for assistance, and kneeling to turn the unconscious body over. He was horrified to realize this shattered piece of humanity on his doorstep was his own younger brother. WangJi! he cried in his heart. How? He knew his brother was still bed-bound, seldom opening his eyes even momentarily. Even the Healers refused to say when or if he would awaken. How can this be you? Lan WangJi lay a dirty, tangled mess before him, with a strange toddler cradled in his arms, desperately ill. Faced with the impossible and the unexpected, Lan XiChen did what he did best. He organized.

Within minutes, Lan WangJi was carried carefully to the Jingshi, and the boy swiftly taken to the Healing Hall. Healers were called for both, clothes removed for washing, battered bodies cleaned and wounds dressed.

Lan XiChen had hovered over his younger brother while the Healers worked desperately, trying to keep life in a body tortured almost beyond enduring. He refused to leave the Jingshi for any reason until the Healers finally assured him that Lan WangJi would live. Lan WangJi had greatly overdrawn on his spiritual power to return to Cloud Recesses and his recovery had been set back significantly. He would probably live, however, and possibly eventually recover. With that scant reassurance, Lan XiChen looked at his brother, unconscious in his bed, paler than he had ever been. What drove you to leave in your condition? he wondered sadly. Xiong-di, where were you?

If not for the whispered "XiongZhang", he would never have believed the intruder to be his own brother. The immaculate HanGuang-Jun was unrecognizable. The robes removed from Lan WangJi had been irretrievable, liberally saturated in blood, grime and ash, all soaked into the fabric until it could never be removed. His hair had been a matted mess, well-dusted with the same dirt, as if he'd been sleeping on the ground or in a cave - a cave! Burial Mounds! Sudden insight struck Lan XiChen and he knew without a doubt where his brother had gone. Oh, Xiong-di, he mourned. There's nothing there. I'd have spared you that sight if I'd know you would go.

Lan XiChen grieved for his younger brother. He had not yet shown signs of awareness, nor left his bed, crippled as he was by the Discipline Whip, and yet the first time he roused to consciousness he had taken Bichen and gone to Burial Mounds. Lan XiChen bowed his head and thanked the gods for his brother's survival and left to see to the child.

In the Healing Hall the little boy was in good hands. Gentle fingers peeled clothes away from the tiny, hot body. Soothing, fragranced water cleaned and cooled. Healers checked his pulse and eyes. Diagnostics were done and tonics prepared.

"How is he?" asked Lan XiChen, when one Healer stepped back from the cot.

"He'll be fine," said the Healer. "He has a very high fever and an infection. It looks like exposure and possibly malnutrition. He may not have eaten, or eaten very little, for several days or longer. A good rest and good food, and he'll recover. Who is he?"

"I have no idea," answered Lan XiChen. "Was there anything in his clothes to identify him?"

"Only this." The Healer handed over a small folded butterfly and a long scarlet ribbon.