In the Shadows

Chapter 14

In the distance, the fierce battle between Wen Qing and Liu Haikuan raged on, their clashing forces intensifying with each passing moment. Zhan's weakened state grew more desperate under the relentless rays of the sun, and the unyielding chains continued to bind him. Wen Ning, forced by his cursed restraints, stood there not understanding the gravity of the situation.

Meanwhile, Wang Yibo, despite his pale complexion, pushed forward with unwavering determination, slowly bridging the distance between himself and Xiao Zhan. Each step was a testament to his enduring love and unwavering loyalty. With the last vestiges of his strength, Yibo managed to remove the chains that kept Zhan imprisoned, bringing him under the shelter of a nearby tree where the sun's harsh rays were softened.

Zhan held Yibo tightly, tears streaming down his face as he witnessed the toll this ordeal had taken on his beloved. With gentle caresses, he etched the contours of Yibo's face into his memory, cherishing every precious detail. The man before him was breathtakingly beautiful, despite his current state. "What can I do to help you?" he whispered, his voice filled with both desperation and determination.

Yibo sighed, his breaths ragged. "Zhan... my Wei Ying..," he caressed his face. "I wish this wasn't the moment you finally got to see me." His words carried a sense of regret, a longing for their circumstances to be different. Zhan's tears continued to fall as he held Yibo close, their love a beacon of strength amidst the darkness that surrounded them.

Desperation filled Zhan's voice as he pleaded, "What do we do? I need to get you out of here, but I don't think I have the strength. Where are the wolves?" Hope flickered within him, clinging to the idea of assistance from the wolves they had known and trusted.

Yibo's reply carried a note of sadness. "She poisoned them all. Haikuan is the only one left, and that's because of what you taught him. He was able to stop the poison in his body. By the time he realized, it was already too late for the rest of the pack." As their words hung heavy in the air, a sudden yelp echoed through the surrounding silence, followed by the pained cries of a wolf.

Wen Qing emerged once more, her presence commanding attention. Her arms and face bore the scratches from her encounter with Haikuan. She forcefully separated Zhan from Yibo, hurling him backward several yards. Taking a dagger from her sleeve, she pressed it against Yibo's chest, his weakened state leaving him unable to resist. Hatred filled her voice as she addressed Zhan, using his true name, "Wei Wuxian! Release my brother, or I will plunge this dagger into your precious Lan Wangji. I will not hesitate to kill everyone you hold dear, one by one. Your sister, your father—no one will be spared. Just like I didn't spare your brother!"

Zhan's fear gripped him, his heart pounding in his chest. He pleaded with Wen Qing, his voice trembling with desperation. "Please, Wen Qing, you must understand. I have no recollection of my past since you turned me. I beg you, do not harm him. Together, we can find a way to resolve this. Please," he implored, hoping to appeal to her reason. "If you kill him now, then there's no hope for me to figure this out."

Wen Qing's resolve wavered for a moment, the conflict within her visible. "No," she retorted, her voice filled with determination. "I have waited too long for this."

Caught in the grip of uncertainty and peril, Zhan and Yibo faced a harrowing choice that could alter the course of their lives forever. In the depths of despair and desperation, Wen Qing's anger and frustration consumed her. "Do it!" she screamed, forcefully driving the dagger an inch into Yibo's chest. Zhan's heart-wrenching cries pleaded for Wen Qing to stop, his every fiber yearning to reach his beloved. But his pleas fell on deaf ears, and in her despair, Wen Qing relinquished all hope and thrust the dagger deeper into Yibo's chest puncturing his 400 year old heart.