Mo Dao Zu Shi: Astray

Ashes, Part One

Pan Wukun asked for Pan Heng's remains. But Wen Ruohan simply laughed at her. "Isn't his sword enough?"

It felt wrong to hold Weifeng.

Wen Ruohan wanted her to keep Weifeng as a reminder of her failure and who she lost.

Wen Ruohan didn't think she was enough of a threat to keep her spiritual meridians sealed. He just tossed her into his sect's army without giving her a second glance. She was a one-handed swordswoman now.

Pan Wukun understood perfectly. She was cannon fodder.

Wen Ruohan and Wen Zhuliu didn't say anything about her continuing to dress in male clothing. What did it matter since she was as good as dead anyway?

While Pan Wukun gathered with the other Wen troops, she noticed Wen Zhuliu standing nearby, watching her. She charged up to him. "Why didn't you do anything to save Pan Heng?"

Wen Zhuliu's expression was stoic as he simply said, "He made his choice. Do not waste his sacrifice."

Pan Wukun wanted to grab Wen Zhuliu's collar and scream into his face, "Don't you feel anything? Don't you feel anything about the death of your best friend and former lover?" But she needed to avoid making a scene and getting unwanted attention.

Pan Wukun scowled at Wen Zhuliu. Once the order was given for the troops to exit the Nightless City, she left.

Unbeknownst to Pan Wukun, Wen Zhuliu was actually mournful. If only Pan Heng and Pan Wukun knew to stay out of the QishanWen sect's affairs, none of this would have happened.

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The other Wen cultivators gave Pan Wukun a hard time. They made sure she wasn't placed on the battlefield so she couldn't go running back to the resistance. So she was only sent out with a group of surveyors after the battles ended.

One day, she was sent out again after the other Wen cultivators fought a particularly fierce battle against the resistance.

Pan Wukun looked inside the wreckage of a house. In the corner, she noticed a person crouching and holding a sword.

It was Lan Wangji!

Their eyes widened at each other.

Pan Wukun couldn't say anything. If the other Wen cultivators spotted her talking, they would definitely know their enemy was hiding here!

Lan Wangji was outnumbered. They would easily kill him here.

If Pan Wukun was caught trying to help Lan Wangji flee, they would both be killed.

"Hey, you! You find anyone over there?" one of the Wen cultivators shouted to Pan Wukun.

Lan Wangji froze. His hand tightened on Bichen.

Pan Wukun turned her head away from Lan Wangji and shouted, "Nope! Nothing here!"

She couldn't look back at Lan Wangji. That would just give him away.

She had to act natural.

Pan Wukun calmly started walking back to the other Wen cultivators.

Lan Wangji reached his arm out towards Pan Wukun. He only managed to brush his fingers against her robe sleeve.

Pain flared up in his chest and shoulder.

Lan Wangji winced. His injuries were too severe for him to move and fight any longer.

Even now, when Pan Wukun was right in front of him, Lan Wangji couldn't reach her.

Lan Wangji's consciousness faded.