Wraith

5|The Determination

"What..."

"Yes."

"No, I am fine. I do not want it" Jiang Cheng removed the robe on his shoulders. It slid right to his fingers, like a waxy and soft feeling.

"I insist, please" Lan Xichen placed the robe on Jiang Cheng's shoulders, like gluing it in place.

He shoved Lan Xichen a few steps away from him, his face turning bitter and all the things gruesome in this world combined, his mouth parting slightly as he felt himself shaken.

Lan Xichen composed himself letting out a sigh. He picked the thrown robe from the ground and tidied himself. "I do apologize for the forceful behavior, I assumed it would make you feel better."

"But it did not" Jiang Cheng replied with a snarky tone, "It made me feel uncomfortable, do not try that again." His words struck more than his footsteps as he walked away. Like an arrow through the heart.

"You wound me." Lan Xichen whispered to himself.

***

The sampan easily glides at the foot of the mountain. It was eerily quiet; no birds chirping despite arriving at dawn and no land critters roaming the forest. Just the two cultivators, their determination and a lingering aroma.

"Do you smell that?" Jiang Cheng broke the ice, as Lan Xichen trailed behind him.

"I bathed"

"Not you" Jiang Cheng replied, "There's this sweet smell in the air, whatever that is." His eyes were searching all over the place, desperate to find answers. He looked up, his skin jumping from his body in shock.

"That corpse can climb?!" Jiang Cheng shouted as he prepared Zidian for battle, completely baffled.

The corpse began to jump from tree to tree; from branch to branch. Its arms easily swing left and right like a pendulum. It's quick and swift almost like wind. Finally after showing off, it struck its feet on the ground. Hitting the soil with a thump, launching towards them, growling as it leaped.

"I suppose you have seen countless corpses flying and tossing, how is this any different?" Lan Xichen calmly replies, taking Liebing to his lips and blowing the flute, striking each cord like a melancholic hymn. The corpse was immediately tied in this white light.

Jiang Cheng swayed Zidian as it returned to its dormant state. "You're getting on my nerves."

Lan Xichen grinned, "You're too straightforward, Sect Leader Jiang."

The corpse wriggled like a worm in salt. Its screams are like whistles that are too unbearable, excruciating and agonizing. Jiang Cheng would rather listen to Wei Wuxian's whining to Lan Wangji than this, it's bearable enough. He thinks.

Lan Xichen inspects the corpse, taking in it's disheveled appearance; unruly hair, rotting flesh and disgusting teeth -which is normal for a corpse, of course. But what caught Lan Xichen's attention is not the physical aspects of the corpse, rather the aroma that eminates from it; a sweet smell.

"What does this smell remind you of?" Lan Xichen asked as the corpse is face down on the ground.

Jiang Cheng thinks for a while and walks close to the corpse. Trying to distinguish this familiar scent. "Perhaps Ylang-ylang?"

Lan Xichen raised an eyebrow, "Ylang-ylang? Essential oil?"

"I'm not certain."

Lan Xichen gave him a light nod and continued to inspect the corpse. "This is not the corpse we're looking for. The juniors said it will only attack a specific target."

"Lan juniors..." Jiang Cheng pondered.

Lan Xichen gave him a short nod before looking at the top of the mountain. "Yes, we will know if it is the one we're looking for; it may be dressed in purple and will not attack. We will certainly reach the top in two days at least."

"Yes," Jiang Cheng's expression shifted, both males are serious now. "We will find that corpse."

Author's note:
I'm so thankful for all of you that have read my fanfiction. I know I haven't updated in a while and this chapter is kinda short, y'all can punch me if you want lol but I promise to give a longer one on the next chapter.
Lots of love,
Skyvity