Beyond Control

Chapter 24

In the morning, we were to depart for Gusu. Wangji went to gather up the disciples while I stayed beside Wei Wuxian outside of the inn. Wuxian was leaning against a pillar of the inn. He looked a bit tired. The events that took place and what happened, did a lot to him. I worried a bit for him. I gently reached out and placed the pack of my hand on his forehead.

"You're gaining a fever," I told him, "we need to her you back as soon as we can."

He nodded, "is it also because my body is trying to heal? I haven't used the cold spring in a few days," he said.

"Healing might be a big reason. Mending bones takes a lot of time. We gave you medicine but you need proper rest. And it might be the lack of the spring...I'm not a healer so I am making theories," I said.

"I know," he said.

"Wei Wuxian?" I heard his brother, Jiang Wanyin ask loudly.

"Hi Jiang Cheng," Wuxian said trying to perk up. He tried to seem like he was okay for his brother.

"You say you're injured, that stunt with the archery yesterday, makes me question...then you help by catching thirty percent of the prey? What are you playing at?" He asked.

"It wasn't me, I left early with Zewu Jun and Hanguang Jun. I am also injured. I just didn't want to stand by with those Wens like that," Wuxian said, "they are not cultivators. It's just because they are Wens, they are a target."

"It shouldn't matter if they are cultivators or not. If you are injured then act like it," Jiang Wanyin said.

"Jiang Cheng, do you hear yourself right now?" Wuxian asked, "a couple of those Wens were kind enough to help you when you were sick. Do I need to remind you of that? And as a sect leader, your first job should be concerns for the innocent and the weak. Even though they bare the name Wen, are they actually guilty of anything?"

"I am grateful to Wen Qing and her brother for help when they offered, but it is not my place to step in and anger a sect that is much larger then my own..as a head disciple you should know that," Jiang Wanyin said and hit Wei Wuxian's shoulder, "or are you spending too much time away and with your new friends in Gusu?"

Wei Wuxian hunched over in pain. I pushed Jiang Wanyin aside and grabbed Wei Wuxian to keep him steady, "I got you," I told him and looked at his brother, "he is, injured. And we will take care of him. As his brother, you should be concerned and cautious for your actions."

"A'Xian?!" His sister yelled as he came running over, "are you alright?"

"Jiang Wanyin doesn't believe he is injured because of his archery stunt yesterday," I explained, "he is getting a fever from his injuries. I don't need him getting pushed around and agitated."

"Jiang Cheng!" Young Maiden Jiang scolded, "he is hurt and you are shoving him around?"

"He didn't seem to be a moment ago!" Jiang Wanyin said.

"Because he is good at hiding his pain from you. You are so much like Mother and taken over with a temper that you can't see that A'Xian is not doing okay!" Young Maiden Jiang told him, "go back and take care of the disciples, as you are their leader. I will join you in a moment."

Jiang Wanyin scoffed and stormed off. I sighed, "I hope he understands one day."

"I'll speak to him more at home," Young Maiden Jiang said, "I wanted to give you this before I left with the Jiang disciples and A'Cheng."

She handed over a basket. Inside was a container that had a talisman to keep the food warm and fresh for a good few hours, "I put the recipe in there for you as well. It's A'Xian's favorite. Because lotuses are hard to come by in Gusu, I packed some there for you if you decide to try and make it...his Lotus Root and Pork Rib soup, by the way."

I saw Wuxian smile at her, "thank you, Shijie. You're the best," he said.

"Of course, anything for my XianXian. Since you are getting a fever, I need you to take it easy and take care of yourself," she said to him.

"I will," Wuxian said. Young Maiden Jiang then said her goodbyes before leaving us.

"Do you want this now or later?" I asked him.

He smiled, "a little later, as I just ate not long ago, I don't think I can eat anything more at the moment...as much as I really want it," he answered. I chuckled and handed it to a disciple. I told him to keep it nearby incase we are to need it and to be careful with it.

"Are you going to be alright?" I asked, "he shoved you pretty harshly."

"It actually still hurts, he hit my shoulder which was already a bit painful today. It was probably from shooting yesterday," he said.

"Wangji will be here in a moment," I said, "we will head out when he does."

Wuxian nodded, "I am also feeling tired again."

"I know, try holding on a bit longer," I told him.

He nodded. I couldn't help but let him lean onto me. When Wangji returned he gathered Wuxian in his arms and took off on Bichen. The other disciples and I followed back to Gusu. Wangji took Wuxian to his room back in the Hanshi and laid him down. Before he was to fall asleep, I gave him the soup his sister made along with a new dose of medicine. He fell asleep shortly after.

Once he was asleep, I wrote down the tune I heard the masked man play and handed it to Wangji. I asked him to ask Shufu about it and if there is any way we can find out the source so we can read about it. We need to know just exactly what the tune was about. I felt Shufu might know. Since it involved Wuxian's safety, Wangji was more then okay with looking into it.