Love: tormentum

Chapter 1

Wei Wuxian woke up with a start and sat up abruptly. He looked around and could see only darkness around him. The last thing he could remember was standing in the library in cloud recess before being sucked in by the magical object. Wei Wuxian was slightly perturbed. Even though he has had a lot of adventures in his time he was not familiar with this. He slowly got up and thoroughly studied his surroundings. It was really dark in all directions. On looking closer Wei Wuxian saw a small ray of light coming from his right. He started walking towards the direction of the light. As he approached the light he could hear some slight murmur. He tightened his grip on chenqing not knowing what to expect.
Wei Wuxian reached a crack shaped hole that seemed to open into a larger space. The crack could somewhat allow him to slide out, Wei Wuxian thought. The other side somewhat looked like the inside of a cave. He could also hear the murmur getting a bit more louder. Wei Wuxian slid out through the crack into the cave and slowly turned to his right. The scene in front of him knocked the air out of him.
Lan Wangji was sitting on a low rock and in front of him was the Wei Wuxian before his first death looking extremely unhinged. Lan Wangji looked pale and haggard. He was transferring spiritual energy to the man in front of him and was whispering into his ears.
Suddenly the younger Wei Wuxian sitting on the rock whispered dangerously,"Get lost".
Lan Wangji looked shocked but continued speaking," Wei ying, look at me. Let me take you home to cloud recess. You will be safe there. I will protect you."
"Get lost", Wei ying said with fervour. (From now on we will be calling the younger Wei Wuxian as Wei ying)
"Wei ying, please" Lan Wangji pleaded," Let me protect you. At least this once let me protect you."
Wei Wuxian looked at the scene in front of him. He didn't really remember this, but then he couldn't remember much about that time. It was a really dreadful time and he was almost insane during the chaos that ensued after the bloodbath at the nightless city. He was not himself at all after the battle.
Wei Wuxian approached the two figures crouched in front of him. Lan Wangji looked like he was about to lose himself to tears. He held Wei ying's chin and whispered to him again," Wei ying please let's go to cloud recess. I will convince the elders. Let me take care of you this once. I cannot lose you one more time".
Wei ying showed no signs as to whether he was listening or not. He simply stared in front of him devoid of any expression.

Lan Wangji almost burst into tears. He held Wei ying by his shoulders and shook him,"Wei ying, are you hearing me? Look at me Wei ying."
"Get lost", Wei ying muttered again.
Tears started rolling down Wangji's eyes as he wailed out," Wei ying, I love you. I love you, please come with me. If you don't want to live at cloud recess we can go anywhere you want. We can run away from all this. Wei ying please look at me."

Wei Wuxian felt like a piece of glass has lodged itself in his heart. He didn't remember Hanguang-jun confessing to him during that time and nor could he bear his husband to be in such pain. He wanted to chid himself for being such a halfwit. He lowered himself near Wei ying and tried to shake him but realized that he couldn't touch him. He then tried to touch Wangji and failed.
Lan Wangji was sobbing slightly and calling Wei Ying's name very softly.
Wei Wuxian was getting vexed at the predicament and shouted at Wei ying," yah dummy get your act together. Can't you see how your Hanguang-jun is suffering right now. Answer him you dimwit."
His outburst produced little effect on Wangji or Wei ying. Wei Wuxian understood that they could neither see nor hear him. He was simply a spectator.
Wei Wuxian felt like strangling his younger self. He was carefully considering his options when he heard several people coming towards the cave. Lan wangji looked suddenly panicked and he frantically arranged Wei Ying's robes in an effort to make him look less like a madman and a bit presentable. The voices reached very near and Wei Wuxian looked up to see a very majestic Lan Qiren entering the cave with Lan Xichen and several other elderly cultivators. Lan Wangji suddenly got up from where he sat and stood at a protective stance in front of Wei ying.
Lan Qiren looked positively aghast at the situation whereas Xichen's expression was somewhat between fear and pain. Lan Qiren looked to and fro from Wangji to Wei ying a few times and said,"Wangji, what are you doing? Why are you associating with this troublemaker? He will soon be arrested and punished severely and you shouldn't be seen with such people."
Lan Wangji winced at every word his uncle spoke but he answered him with an even tone," uncle, Wei ying is innocent and terribly misunderstood. Please let me bring him back to cloud recess. We can clear everything once we get there".
Lan Xichen drew a deep breath and looked at his uncle. Qiren looked like he was about to explode. A vein popped dangerously on his head as he almost shouted at Wangji," Lan Wangji, have you lost your sensibilities? You want to bring a criminal back to cloud recess? Do you even know what other clans will say when they know you are harbouring a criminal that too a one who practices demonic cultivation?"
" He may have been using crafty tricks but he is not evil inside. He is simply misguided. We can bring him back from the dark realm. Please uncle let me bring him back."
Qiren looked utterly confused and glanced towards Xichen for some kind of explanation but Xichen was just looking at Wangji with a pained expression.
Qiren turned back to Wangji and said incredulously," Wangji I understand he was your peer for some time and that you may have developed some comradeship with him but you needn't do this for him. Think about yourself Wangji and think about the respect of our clan. Surely he is not important enough to tarnish the image of Lan clan".
Lan Wangji almost whimpered before answering in strong voice," He is not just anyone for me uncle."
"What do you mean Wangji" Qiren asked almost fearing his answer.
Wei Wuxian drew a labored breath near Wangji and was terrified at the answer he might give. "No, Lan Zhan don't say anything. Just forget everything and go home with them".
But Lan Wangji had other plans. He looked straight at his uncle and said determinedly,"Wei ying is my soulmate uncle and I love him. I cannot leave him this way."
Wei Wuxian could hear collective gasps coming from the elders. He himself felt like fainting at what Lan Zhan was telling his uncle. Bravery at wrong time Lan Zhan, Wei Wuxian mused.
Lan Qiren looked almost blind with anger. "Wangji, stop this nonsense right now and come with me. No good is going to come by associating yourself with the Yiling Lao-tzu."
" I can't uncle," Lan Wangji said and stood his ground.
"Fine", Qiren said fuming,"then you leave me no choice than to end this once and for all."
Qiren looked sideways towards the elders who drew their swords simultaneously.
Lan Wangji mirrored their action and unsheathed his Bichen. Lan Xichen said alarmed,"Wangji?"
Qiren was furious and hollered," Wangji are you seriously considering to disobey your clan elders for this puny being. Stop it this instant Wangji."
" I will protect Wei Ying from all dangers even if I have to lose my life for that. Forgive me for disobeying you, I will take my punishment for it later."
Wei Wuxian looked at him incredulously and was experiencing a whole lot of emotions. He was hit by a surge of love and affection for his husband as well as he was worried for him. The Lan clan was well known for his punishments throughout the realm and Wuxian was terrified about what was to happen for a defying the elders.
Wei Wuxian and Lan Xichen watched helplessly as Wangji started to fight with the elders. Hanguang-jun was winning the fight as there was no one to match his prowess in the realm let alone the Lan clan. Lan Qiren was getting completely miffed as the fighting progressed.
Wei Wuxian could see that Wangji was trying hard not to hurt any of his elders seriously. He again looked at Wei ying who was sitting unperturbed by the events happening in front of him.