Moonlit Hearts

Chapter 75: A Chance

The golden butterfly glowed faintly in Wangji's palm, its wings trembling as though alive. Then, with a flicker, it dissolved into light, and a voice filled the still air.

"Wangji. Wei Ying." Vali's tone was solemn, yet threaded with restrained hope. "I have news. After long searching, I believe I have found a way to give Xuanyu a body of his own. The path will not be simple, nor without risk. But if you are willing, come to me. I will explain when you arrive."

The light winked out, leaving only silence.

Wei Ying blinked once, then twice, as if replaying the words in his head. He turned quickly toward Wangji. "Did he just—? Lan Zhan, did he say what I think he said?"

Wangji's hand closed on air now empty of light. His voice was steady, but something deep stirred in his eyes. "Yes."

Wei Ying let out a breath, half-laugh, half-sob. "Well. That's... that's it then. He's found a way." He raked a hand through his hair, restless. "So what do we do? Start packing? Leave now?"

Wangji shook his head slightly. "It is night. We need to prepare and tell Uncle,  we can leave at dawn tomorrow."

For a moment Wei Ying stood frozen, caught between urgency and the calm weight of those words. Then he huffed a crooked laugh. "You're right. If we run off in the dark, I'll forget Chenqing or half our talismans. And you'll forget nothing, which is even worse."

That earned him the smallest quirk of Wangji's mouth.

They moved quietly through the Jingshi, setting out what they would take come morning. Wei Ying's hands were busy — straightening travel robes, muttering about food rations — but his gaze kept drifting back to Wangji.

Finally he spoke, softer. "Lan Zhan... what if it really works? What if Xuanyu finally gets to walk in his own skin again?"

"Then he will be free," Wangji said simply.

Wei Ying nodded, throat tight. "And you—you'll finally have your body to yourself again. No more sharing. Doesn't that scare you? Just a little?"

Wangji looked at him, calm as the night sky beyond their window. "It does not. It is what should be."

Something in Wei Ying eased at that. He stepped close, tugging lightly at Wangji's sleeve. "Good thing you're steady. I'm not. Balance, eh?"

"Balance," Wangji echoed.

***

By dawn the next day, they were ready. Clouds clung low to the mountains as they set out, the juniors seeing them off with quiet bows. Sizhui stood a little closer than the rest, his gaze lingering on Wangji as though leaving him in Xuanyu's care — or perhaps leaving Xuanyu in his.

Wei Ying waved dramatically to the group. "Don't cause trouble while we're gone! And if you do, make sure it's the fun kind."

The path led them down through pine-shadowed slopes, past the wards of the Cloud Recesses, and into the wider world. Their destination lay far to the north, where Vali now ruled in the halls once left in ruins.

Wangji's stride was steady, his face unreadable. Wei Ying walked beside him with Chenqing slung at his hip, restless energy bubbling just beneath his easy grin. For a while, silence stretched between them — only the crunch of boots on frost and the wind stirring the trees.

At last Wangji spoke, voice low but certain.
"We are going to bring Xuanyu home."

Wei Ying's hand brushed his. He smiled, soft and sure. "Yes we are! Together."

The road wound on, cutting through valleys and along rivers that mirrored the pale sky. Wei Ying tugged at Wangji's sleeve now and then, his thoughts spilling aloud.