The Rise of the Divine Oracle

Chapter 52 - The Return

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It will take them 7 days to reach Cloud Recesses and so far the road has been smooth sailing. They avoided staying in crowded cities and opted to sleep outdoors. No matter what they did, Wuxian's new appearance attracts attention like a moth to flames.

The bone-tired feeling Wuxian felt after leaving Nightless city didn't diminish one bit. If anything, it kept intensifying to the point where he's having a hard time forming a complete thought. He just wants to rest but seeing how he's the one causing problems and delaying their trip because of all the detours, he didn't want to complain.

On the third day of their travel, he started having trouble following conversations. For some reason, Da Ziran seems to share his exhaustion by lagging behind. Wuxian was gripping the reins, focusing on staying upright and breathing. Zewu Jun, who was riding beside him and laughing at something Jingyi was saying, turned to look at Wuxian and his happy expression dropped.

He asked for a break and when they stopped, approached Wuxian and gently tapped his leg: "Wei Ying, we're resting for a bit. Come down."

Wuxian blinks at him for a few seconds then nods lethargically.

Zewu Jun helps him down and guides him to where everyone was sitting and sharing water.

He pulls his brother to the side to whisper: "Wangji, something is wrong with your soul-bond."

Wangji frowns and turns to look at Wuxian who seems to be spacing out.

Zewu Jun: "He is struggling."

Wangji nods and goes to sit next to Wuxian. He turns to look at him critically and when Wuxian doesn't acknowledge his presence after a few minutes, he touches his arm: "Wei Ying?"

Wuxian jumps a little at the contact then turns to smile tiredly at him: "W..what?"

Wangji: "Are you ill?"

Wuxian sighs: "No. I'm fine."

Wangji takes his wrist to measure his pulse: "Your hand is freezing."

Wuxian pulls his hand back: "I'm getting used to this new body temperature. Let it be."

Wangji turns to share a worried look with Zewu Jun, then addresses the disciples: "We will camp here for now."

At any other circumstances Wuxian would've argued with him. There is still a few more hours of daylight they can use to travel but honestly.. he's too drained to even protest.

He found a clean spot on the ground and laid down to rest his eyes. He felt heavy and his body ached. The snake returned to its original form and slithered on top of him to sleep.

He felt someone drape something warm on top of him but couldn't bother to open his eyes to see who it was.

Cheng looked at his resting brother and sighs: "The sun is still up. Are you planning to sleep early?"

Wuxian hums. Cheng: "At least eat something before you sleep. You cannot afford to skip meals."

Wuxian curls up, grabbing the cape on top of him to wrap it around himself more tightly.

Cheng lets out a long breath: "So childish." He gets up to join the others.

When the sun set and everyone started to set up camp, Wangji approached the sleeping smaller man and lay beside him. He notices his rapid, shallow breathing and pulls the cape covering him to see if he's well. Wuxian's whole body was trembling and he was covered in cold sweat. The snake was moving sluggishly and colder than usual to the touch.

Wangji yelled: "Wen Ning!"

Ning showed up a second later.

Wangji: "Take the snake and bring Zewu Jun please."

Zewu Jun showed up a few seconds later: "Wangji, what's wrong?"

Wangji looks desperately at him then at his soul-bond. Zewu Jun grabs Wuxian's wrist to check his brother-in-bond and frowns: "The trip is taking a toll on him. He needs to rest and be under the care of a healer."

Wangji looks pained and whispers to his brother: "What should we do?"

Zewu Jun: "I can transport him to Cloud Recesses but I don't have the power to transport anyone else. Will you trust me with him?"

Wangji looks down at his quivering soul-bond who inched closer to him for warmth and swallows hard: "I have no other choice. Take him."

Zewu Jung kneels and picks up Wuxian and with one last nod towards Wangji disappears with a swish of blue energy.

Wangji kept staring at the spot where his soul-bond and brother were and felt an endless dark pit swallow his heart. The only thing keeping him sane is the fact that he will feel something if Wuxian was in danger. Four days. Four days without his soul-bond. He hasn't left Wuxian's side since he found him after his reincarnation. He swallows hard and closes his eyes in sorrow: 'Wei Ying, I'll be there soon. Rest and heal for when I come, nothing else in the world will do us apart.'

Zewu Jun appears at his room and hurriedly carries an unconscious Wuxian to the Quiet Room. He summons all the available healers to come examine Wuxian. While watching them transfer energy and use needles to calm the ailing man, a disciple steps near Zewu Jun: "Grandmaster Qiren has sent a message. He said that he found what he was looking for and will be back within a week."

Zewu Jun turns to the disciple: "Send a message back urging him to make his way back faster if possible."

After a day and a half filled with potions, acupuncture, incenses and energy transference.. Wuxian finally woke up. He looked around and saw Zewu Jun holding his hand while seemingly meditating. Wuxian whispers: "B.. Brother.. We made it back?"

Zewu Jun opens his eyes and smiles warmly at him: "Just you and I."

Wuxian starts to panic: "What happened to the others?"

Zewu Jun starts to rub the cold hand in both his: "They're fine. They'll be back in a few days."

Wuxian frowns in confusion so Zewu Jun elaborates: "I teleported you back in haste when you fell unconscious with illness. I can only transport myself and one other. The rest are still traveling on land."

Wuxian blinks slowly as he digests what his brother is saying: "Lan Zhan let you take me?"

Zewu Jun chuckles: "He wasn't happy but we had no other choice."

Wuxian closes his eyes and whispers: "Why do I feel so tired?"

Zewu Jun: "The healers still don't know what's the cause but they reassured me that you will be fine after a few days of rest. Grandmaster found someone and he's on his way back. Hopefully, this will be all over soon."

Wuxian nods and sits up with the help of Zewu Jun. He looks around then asks: "Where is Da Ziran?"

Zewu Jun: "Wangji gave your snake to Wen Ning."

Wuxian nods and after a few minutes sighs: "It's so quiet."

Zewu Jun: "Give it a few days and all the kids will fill up this emptiness for you." He pushes Wuxian down: "Now rest so you can entertain them when they arrive."

Wuxian pouts at him: "You're no fun."

Zewu Jun winks at him: "Tell you what.. If you rest today I will show you a place you've never seen here in Cloud Recesses tomorrow."

Wuxian's eyes sparkle and after a few minutes drifts back into slumber. What could Zewu Jun show him that he hasn't already seen?

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