Because of You

32

With the plans set in motion, Wangji, Wuxian, Xichen, and Yanli are all doing to go gather the yin iron fragments. Because it was going to be the most difficult, they wanted to get the sword from Xuanwu first. The four had just entered and made their way to where Wei Wuxian got pushed by Wen Chao.

"I remember all to well what happened here," Wuxian said as he pouted out his bottom lip, "I got pushed here."

"It won't happen again this time," Wangji said, "I almost ripped Wen Chao's head off."

Wei Wuxian looked at him, "I'm guessing you had mixed feelings for me at that time, but you still worried."

"I...knew my feelings a little," Wangji admitted.

Xichen smiled, "at least there are no misunderstandings this time around."

"That is true...though, my memory is a bit blurred, I remember Lan Zhan biting me but I don't remember why," Wuxian said.

"Because you kept talking about MianMian and her remembering you for taking that branding Iron for you," Wangji said, "I bit you to leave a mark so you would remember me."

Wei Wuxian laughed, "you already left a mark here in my heart, why a bite mark?" He asked.

Lan Wangji stared at Wuxian. Wei Wuxian smiled and placed a kiss on Wangji's cheek, "I know, I love you too," he said, "now let's go take care of Xuanwu."

Wangji nodded and then they jumped down to where the pool was. They saw Xuanwu's large shell sticking out like it did before.

"How did it get lured out before?" Xichen asked.

"Well, with Wen Chao, he wanted to use blood to lure it out, but I made a mess of things and...wait didn't you see the memories? Lan Zhan and I had our moment here," Wuxian said.

"I know I'm just trying to remember," Xichen said.

"Blood right?" Yanli asked.

"Well, last time I went inside the shell. After finding the sword, Xuanwu was woken up," Wuxian said, "I almost want to sneak in again."

"You will let me come with you this time," Wangji said, "as my leg is not broken or injured."

"It doesn't smell that great," Wuxian said.

"I am sure I does not," Wangji said and looked at Xichen, "did you two want to get ready?"

"I know that you might have some issues but why not Wangji and Xichen stay out as you can use chord assassination together. I can enter with A'Xian, with our whips, we can get the sword this time without touching it. I trust A'Xian would not let me get hurt but you guys must remember I can fight now. I am not weak," Yanli said.

Wuxian sighed, "I kind of agree with her," he said, "you and Xichen-Ge have incredible Lan strength and with the chord assassination, it will be better. Plus Jie and I are great swimmers as we are from Yunmeng...not saying that you guys are not."

Wangji nodded in agreement,"alright."

Just then, Wangji placed a communication link between him and Wuxian, "that way I can speak with you."

Xichen did the same with Yanli, "okay," Xichen said, "We will want some sort of signal but please be careful."

Wuxian and Yanli nodded and then carefully walked into the water, "you could have warned me it was cold," Yanli whispered.

"Sorry, I forgot...I got sick after fighting Xuanwu," Wuxian said.

"Oh, well let's get to it," Yanli said. Yanli and Wuxian swam and snuck into Xuanwu's shell. She was told it smelled bad but not this bad, "it's smells like death and sewage."

"I told you," Wuxian said.

Xichen and Wangji looked at each other, "gross," Xichen said.

"Mnn," Wangji nodded, "should we set up a fire while we wait for a signal? They might need the warmth after."

Xichen nodded as they saw some branches nearby and made a fire. It was away into a place where Xuanwu can't get to in case they need to get away.

Wei Wuxian went straight to where he remembered the sword to be, and it was, indeed there. He could already hear the screams and crying from the resentful energy pouring out of it. Wuxian let out his whip Jingwei and wrapped it around the sword. Jingwei was a whip that collects resentment from other objects and replaces it with spiritual energy. It's a type of cleansing. The resentment is then used as an energy source for its next use, for example, striking an enemy with it, and the resentment makes the pain ten times worse then a whip from a discipline whip.

Wei Wuxian then grabbed the hilt of the sword once it was completely cleansed and took it. That was when Xuanwu started to move. Xichen and Wangji started to prepare themselves as they knew Xuanwu was waking. Before Xuanwu could look around in his shell, Wuxian and Yanli managed to get out safely. Wuxian then dropped the sword.

"What happened to it?" Xichen asked.

"My whip Jingwei...I forgot that it can cleanse object and replace the resentful energy with spiritual energy. The resentful energy is waiting to be used. After it lashes out, the pain of it is ten times more painful then a whip from the discipline whip," Wuxian said, "so, now it's no longer a yin iron sword. It is full of positive energy."

"Like the way it should be," Wangji said.

"I know that this is a big ask, but can I have it? To look into to see what it can do now? Maybe it can still be of use but in a positive way," Wuxian asked.

"Sure," Xichen said.

Wuxian then placed it in his Qiankun ring, "now, Xuanwu is fully aware something is here so, should we just leave it or kill it? The sword was really all we needed," Wuxian said.

"What if we left it, that way it will be as if we never came," Wangji suggested, "leave less suspicions for the Wens."

"I agree," Xichen said, "we should leave then."

"I know we have others to get, but I need to rest and meditate...plus A'Jie and I need dry robes," Wuxian said.

"Let's go find an inn," Wangji said. They then left the cave leaving Xuanwu be.

Once at the inn, they ordered two rooms, and Wuxian stayed in a room with Yanli, that was shared with another that had Xichen and Wangji. They just needed to open the door between the two rooms. Yanli and Wuxian bathed and got into fresh robes, and they ate something too. Wei Wuxian spent some time to meditate.

"It's interesting," Wangji said.

"What?" Xichen asked.

"In our past lives, Wei Ying had such a hard time with meditation. Now he can meditate with no issues," Wangji said.

"My mother taught him how to sit still better so he could meditate," Yanli said, "I was impressed with how well it worked. Since then, he has been researching every now and then in our library for meditation methods he could try."

"You should help him with that, Didi," Xichen said.

Wangji nodded and took out his guqin, "how about something to calm the room," he said. Wangji then started playing some soul calming music.