Phoenix

Part 39

                 Lan Wangji had been waiting patiently since their sister had asked for help with the array. He had made sure to send his husband to interact with his people. They had long known of the spies that were dwelling in  Nightless City, watching their every move. This time, they would be used for their own benefit. While Wei Wuxian was in the city going shopping with his grandmother Lan Wangji would take care of anything messy. He was surprised that no one had realized about his new status as a vampire. It had even been mentioned in front of all the sect leaders. They were all really dumb.

               The call for help came suddenly with the information of a boy reeking of resentment. He assured Wei Wuxian and Lan Xichen that he would take care of things with Nie Huasang. When he teleported in, he was glad he had used the shadows to conceal him. Jin Guangshan was an even bigger pig than he had ever thought. Lan Wangji did not like Jin Zixuan after getting to know Jiang Yanli because of the Jin heir's treatment of his sister. Still, at that moment, he felt pity. That was a horrible way to find out what a horrible human your father was.

               Jin Guangshan was talking about how he would have to kill his son, but Lan Wangji drew the line when the pig mentioned incriminating his husband. That was unforgivable. Before he was even conscious of it, his sword hand had moved. He inwardly cringed at his impulsiveness. The plan was to make him publicly pay for his crimes, but he had reacted before he could think about it. Jiang Yanli was looking at him reassuringly. Nie Huasang just nodded, letting him breathe a sigh of relief. They would help him take care of the fallout. At least he had used his sword and not torn the man's throat open.

                 He focused on the young man, who exuded resentment like an overflowing river tainting everything around him. The boy was barely 13 years old. He was a young vampire orphan. The idea caused a pang in his chest, remembering how his husband was forced to live on the streets. He at least had his Phoenix side to help him, but this child had nothing. He had great potential if he had gotten so far with no instruction. 

                Pity that his eyes only showed insanity. There would be no redemption for the child. He was glad he was the one here instead of Wei Wuxian. The man had a soft spot for kids and would have tried to give the child a chance just to be stabbed in the back. Strengthening his resolve, he told Yanli to go on to free the prisoners. He watched Nie Huasang set himself up against Jin Guangyao, ready to provide cover for their sister.

              Lan Wangji was the first to react as Xue Yang tried to follow after Yanli, using the shadows to push him. The young boy seemed surprised when his sword was blocked by Bichen. Xue Yang tried to use the shadows to grab Lan Wangji, but the man just gave him an unimpressed look. Lan Wangji's eyes flashed red, and then the shadows retreated as if scared. Xue Yang laughed maniacally. "You are like me! I thought only Wei Wuxian was like me. Teach me!"

               Xue Yang was not expecting the tired sigh from the stoic man in front of him. " I refuse. You have had a hard life, but you take pleasure in the pain of the innocent. What did any of those women do to you?" The boy looked startled, as if realizing that if he hadn't worked for the Jins, he would have been taken in by the Wei couple. 

            His swordwork got sloppy before rage took over. His sword strikes, becoming more forceful. "Lies! You are looking down on me because I grew up on the streets, aren't you? Why are all of you sect bastards the same?" Lan Wangji dodged a strike to his leg before kicking Xue Yang across the room."I am not. Wei Ying spent years on the streets. If anything, it would have given us more reason to take you in." He had to dodge a killer string that came from behind him. 

         It was a last-ditch effort from Jin Guangyao, who was wrapped in Nie Huasang's bladed whip. Without any more thought, Nie Huasang pulled the whip, shredding the man to bloody pieces before apologizing sheepishly to Lan Wangji. He just nodded, realizing he was taking too long. Realizing he had been unconsciously stalling to find some redemption for the boy his brain had already given up on. The truth was, the boy reminded him of his husband. 

           Xue Yang lifted himself off the floor, his eyes blood red, and his face contorted in rage. All the shadows of the room seemed to come alive, evil spirits started circling them menacingly. This was the scene Jin Zixuan and his guards walked in on. Nie Huasang skillfully dodged the shadows while striking down the spirits with energy from his fan. Jin Zixuan was as stunned as his guards. Lan Wangji's eyes bled red, and everything in the room came to a stop. The shadows turned into spikes and impaled Xue Yang from all angles. The boy died with surprise on his face. 

           Lan Wangji spoke sternly to Jin Zixuan and his disciples. "Give them their rites then burn their bodies. Nothing of what happened here will be spoken of. Understood?!" His eyes were blazing red as he glared at them. Nie Huasang told him to leave everything to him. With a nod he left to join his husband having complete trust that Nie Huasang will handle the situation.

            Wei Wuxian knew something was wrong with his husband as soon as the man returned. No one in the market was able to tell the difference, but he could feel something was wrong in every fiber of his being. He quickly excused himself from his grandmother and grabbed Lan Wangji's hand leading them to an inn. He quickly paid for a room and made his way up dragging his husband behind him. As soon as the door closed he put a silencing talisman on the door and wrapped his beloved husband in his arms. "What's wrong A-Zhan?"

           Lan Wangji buried his face into his husband's shoulder taking in his scent to calm his raging emotions. "The boy was like you. I-I killed him. He was barely thirteen years." Wei Wuxian ran his finger through his husband's hair comfortingly. He could not get mad. Lan Wangji was the most righteous person he had ever met. If he had killed the boy it was probably something unavoidable, yet he could not undermine his husband's regret. " A-Zhan tell me about him." 

           With a soft voice Lan Wangji explained everything that had happened. He explained what he saw in the boy's eyes. The pain and hatred that the child had so ingrained in his being that he didn't realize the resentment was eating him alive. Wei Wuxian shed silent tears for Xue Yang wondering if he would have ended up like that if the Jiangs hadn't found him and forced him to rely only on his phoinix side. As a full vampire the child would have needed to feed at least once a week. That must have been so scary to a poor orphan who just wanted someone to care about him.

              There was nothing to be done. Wei Wuxian tightened his hold on Lan Wangji. "A-Zhan you did good. You freed his soul. Hopefully his next rebirth will be kinder to him. Now go sit on the bed let your dear husband cheer you up. The children would worry if you come to see them like this. We rarely get time away from either work or the kids these days, so let's enjoy it. Don't worry we will be quick so we can get everything ready for the arrival of the people our sister saved." With a mischievous smirk he got down on his knees pulling his husbands pants down with him.