Returns To Innocent

Chapter 14: The Echo of Secrets

The days after Lan Zhan’s recovery seemed to slip into a new routine, blending moments of joy with the looming weight of the curse that still haunted them. Wei Wuxian spent his mornings in Lan Xichen’s study, scouring old scrolls and texts, while his afternoons were devoted to Lan Zhan. Though the younger version of Lan Zhan seemed carefree, there were times when his eyes flickered with a kind of sadness, as if some part of him remembered the weight of what had happened.

One evening, after a day of particularly arduous research, Wei Wuxian leaned back in his chair with a frustrated sigh. His fingers rubbed his temples, the endless stream of cryptic texts and ancient symbols blurring together in his mind. He had always been a fast learner, always quick to grasp complex cultivation techniques, but the curse afflicting Lan Zhan was an entirely different beast. It resisted all conventional solutions, as if it thrived on ambiguity.

Lan Xichen, sitting across the table, placed a hand on his chin, his serene expression hiding his own exhaustion. The two of them had poured over every scrap of knowledge the Lan clan possessed, but none of it seemed to hold the key to reversing the curse.

“Wei Wuxian,” Lan Xichen said softly, “perhaps we’re approaching this from the wrong angle.”

Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow, though the weariness in his face made him look older than usual. “What do you mean?”

Lan Xichen leaned forward, pulling a particularly old manuscript toward them. “We’ve been focusing on trying to reverse the curse by finding the exact method that was used to cast it. But what if we tried something different? Instead of looking for how to undo it, maybe we should focus on neutralizing its effects.”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “Neutralizing…? You mean like cutting off its source of power?”

Lan Xichen nodded. “Exactly. The curse has been feeding off Lan Zhan’s spiritual energy for months now, slowly weakening him. But if we could find a way to block the connection, we might be able to stop the curse from progressing further.”

Wei Wuxian sat up straight, his mind racing. “That makes sense! But to cut off its power, we’d need to know what it’s tied to. The curse wasn’t random—it was placed on him with a purpose. If we can identify the origin of its strength, we might be able to sever the connection.”

Lan Xichen smiled softly, sensing the familiar spark of Wei Wuxian’s genius beginning to ignite. “I believe so. There are ancient methods of sealing curses by creating spiritual barriers—similar to how you use your talismans. If we can find the right technique, it might be enough to give us time to find a permanent solution.”

Wei Wuxian grabbed a blank sheet of paper and began sketching out ideas, his hand moving quickly as he jotted down various symbols and diagrams. “We’ll need to map out the curse’s energy flow—see where it’s pulling from. Once we know that, I can craft a barrier strong enough to cut off its supply. It won’t cure him, but it’ll buy us time.”

Lan Xichen nodded in agreement. “I’ll look for any references to spiritual energy redirection in the texts. If we can find something that complements your techniques, we’ll have a solid foundation to work from.”

They spent the next few hours locked in quiet concentration, working side by side. The candles burned low, casting flickering shadows across the walls. Wei Wuxian’s determination was palpable, the focused intensity that had once driven him to master demonic cultivation now turned toward saving Lan Zhan.

As the night stretched on, a soft knock on the door broke their concentration. Wei Wuxian looked up, surprised to see Lan Zhan standing in the doorway, rubbing his eyes sleepily.