Rosa: A Wangxian Reincarnation Story

Lan Point of View

At the moment that Meng Yao placed the knife against Yenay's neck, Lan XiChen locked eye with his most complex nemesis. Sad boy, sworn brother, equal, betrayer. He saw brown eyes, suddenly strong and fearless, that would not look away and asked for one last moment of trust.

 XiChen had never before seen that look. He was used to hurt, deference, slyness, and remorseless compulsion from Meng Yao's eyes. It made XiChen pause, He had listened to his heart in regard to this man, too many times in the distant past. He then listened to only his head while suppressing his soul as the battle of wills was held between himself and Meng Shi. Both had failed him in his first youth.

Now, he opened only his core and listened. Without hesitation, it told him to wait.

Nie Huaisang spoke softly. 'I have a head shot."

Xi Chen drew a steady breath and replied, "Hold."

"Are you sure."

"Yes."

Across the gap, XiChen saw Meng Yao's lids close in relief for a split second as he back slowly toward Xue Yang. He saw Meng Yao whisper something to Yenay and his heart sank. Had he made the wrong decision, after all of this? Yao continued to drag her closer to the lusting creature she feared the most.

He heard Qinyang scream in horror at him. "WHY? Do something!"

"Fire, now."

"Not clear. He is using her head to protect his own."

The moment had escaped him, Yao edged closer to Xue Yang and XiChen felt a sinking sense of failure. Not again. Not again.

And in one sudden, blinding second, Yao had released Yenay, who ran for the line of forest, and the knife was now at Xue Yang' throat, holding steady at his larynx. Yao screamed at Yenay to protect David as she vanished. Meng Yao looked once more at XiChen and gave a brief nod. XiChen, stunned and reeling from the swift switch to Xue Yang and compelled again by his core, bowed deeply to his old enemy, and a tiny, grateful smile, not seen in thousands of years, flickered across the smaller man's face. 

The Lans watched as Meng and Xue Yang exchange quiet words. Their stomach tightened however, as Yang let a .38 caliber pistol slide down his sleeve, aimed it behind him towards Meng Yao's left side and pulled the trigger.  A guttural cry ripped through the air and Yao collapsed. To their horror, Xue Yang fell on the helpless man, his knee jamming into the bleeding side, and he knelt, applying his full weight into him. He screamed in fury.

"Where did she go? Tell me where to find her? Did she go to your lover? Where can I find them?"

 Yao writhed in agony, refusing to speak and it was then that XiChen  ordered Qinyang and Lan Zhan to head to aid Mingjue, while he unleashed his sword and made for Xue Yang. Wen Chao called out a warning to Xue who leapt to his feet to answer the challenge with his saber and the two met, head-to-head with metal clashing, crisp and deadly. With a precise twist of the blade, Lan XiChen knocked Xue Yang's sword to the ground and his face stood inches away, and the point of the sword lingered under Xue Yang's chin. 

The Sect Master barked at Nie. "Does Meng Yao still live?"

"Not sure."

"Spare nothing. Save his life. We owe him...much. He is one of us now."

Ming led Nie towards the motionless Yao, her automatic blasting at the minions hiding behind cars. 

"Get to him, Nie. Do what you can."

Nie obeyed. Ripping his sweatshirt from his body to press against Yao's stomach, he was concerned at how quickly it was becoming a sodden mess. He felt desperately for a pulse, surprised when he felt a thready one at the jugular.,