Backlash Part 2

Chapter 235: Lanling - Lan Xichen

Lan Xichen scanned their surroundings quickly to assess the danger. There were no more corpses he could see or hear. That didn't mean there might not be more, but the area seemed safe for the moment. He turned his gaze to the nearby cultivators. Lan Xichen had seen many leaving the area earlier, taking the opportunity to escape that was provided to them. He wasn't certain what exactly Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had done, but Lan Xichen had no illusions that the way the fierce corpses focused only on targeting them was a coincidence.

Lan Xichen looked briefly to see Lan Wangji holding a bloody and unconscious Wei Wuxian in his arms. Correction, Wei Wuxian had done something to draw the corpses to him so that everyone else could flee. Lan Wangji would never risk Wei Wuxian like this, especially not now. Lan Xichen quickly sent for Wei Qing. He had left her in a sheltered section of woods with half a dozen disciples to protect her and Nuan-er. Lan Xichen did not regret this decision, all too aware that fierce corpses were not the only danger.

Lan Xichen looked over the cultivators again, relieved that he did not see the flash of gold and yellow robes among them. In fact, he realized that aside from the GusuLan disciples, most of the cultivators were QingheNie. Nie Mingjue stood tall, speaking with a cultivator Lan Xichen recognized as Nie Zonghui. Nie Zonghui nodded and began speaking to the other Qinghe Nie cultivators before turning to the other disciples. The few disciples who were not part of either sect appeared to be almost exclusively juniors of a variety of minor sects.

Wei Qing arrived in the company of the full escort Lan Xichen had left with her. It seemed they had also acquired two more disciples that had not been with them before. Lan Xichen remembered that the two disciples had gone off as a pair to participate in the hunt. Lan Xichen was glad to see they were alright, and grateful for the extra hands. Lan Hanqi was holding Nuan-er carefully in his arms, keeping his eyes trained on their surroundings. Lan Xichen assumed she must be asleep. The last he had seen Wei Qing had been examining her.

Wei Qing wasted no time getting to work. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had been in the very centre of the fight. Their robes were so soaked in blood that Lan Xichen could not tell how injured they were. Wei Qing was scowling, an expression that told him to step towards her immediately to see what he could do. By the time Lan Xichen reached her side she had ripped open Wei Wuxian's robes and placed needles.

"We need to get him somewhere where I can treat him properly." Wei Qing said once Lan Xichen was at her side. Lan Xichen's brow furrowed. Koi Tower would be closest. They would have a fully stocked infirmary at the ready. They also were the ones who had been holding Wei Wuxian and Nuan-er for months. Lan Xichen would do his utmost to protect them, but he would feel much better about that further away from the Jins.

"Is he stable enough that we can take him into Lanling and treat him at an inn, or do we need the facilities at Koi Tower?" Lan Xichen asked quietly. Wei Qing shot him a look.

"An inn will suffice." She said, rising to her feet.

"Wangji, do you need assistance?" Lan Xichen inquired. Lan Wangji did not even wait for Lan Xichen to finish his question before he lifted Wei Wuxian in his arms and stepped onto Bichen. Lan Xichen immediately turned to divide his cultivators. He did not want to, but some of their disciples were still unaccounted for. Lan Xichen needed someone here who could rendezvous with them. He also needed someone who could maintain a strong front before any accusations that might be directed towards the GusuLan sect in the meantime.

"Xichen, what's going on?" Nie Mingjue inquired. No doubt he had been alarmed to see Lan Wangji flying away, soaked in blood. Lan Xichen turned to the most senior disciple.