Love: tormentum

Chapter 5

( I wanted to write about what was happening in the dream and real life alternately and was wondering about how to differentiate them, so I came up with an idea. From now on whatever Wei Wuxian is seeing will have the title In the dream and the real life sequence will have the title Outside the dream. Hope I don't confuse you guys.😀😀 )

In the dream

Wei Wuxian could never have prepared himself over a thousand years for what was about to happen. He could have died and reborn a million times but it would not have helped him through the pain that coursed through him when the first whip found it's way to his beloved's back.
At that moment Wei Wuxian didn't care if anyone could hear him or not. He shouted at the top of his voice in heart-wrenching agony," Lan Zhan".

But Lan Wangji was unfazed with the whip falling on his elegant back. He was rather interested in questioning Lan Qiren on various rules he had earlier taken to his heart without question.

"I dare ask uncle – What's Good and What's Evil?"
"What's Black and What's White?"

"How do we decide whether a person is right or wrong?"

"How do we conclude the mentality of a person justly with a few set of rules."

Lan Wangji, the model student and cultivator, was questioning the thousands of sacred Lan clan rules that he had recited without any doubt and dispute. With each strike the serene white clothing was getting redder and redder and Wangji clenched his hands into a tight fist.

Each whip felt like a hammer stroke to Wei Wuxian, a hammer driving countless nails into his chest, constricting his heart and lungs painfully. Tears were now freely running down his cheeks as he sobbed, "Please, stop this. Don't hurt him."

Wei Wuxian couldn't control himself anymore as he saw Wangji spitting blood. He got up and ran to sit behind Wangji and hug him in a hope to block the whip. But this was in vain, as the whip passed through him and coloured his husband's back bright crimson. Wei Wuxian could see that the blood covered underclothes were torn, and the whip was now mercilessly marring his lover's once smooth, beautiful skin.

How much more Lan Zhan, how much more pain will you take in my name? How many countless scars have I given you for life?

Wei Wuxian completely broke down seeing how powerless he was. He was back at the nightless city, his shijie in front of him with a sword through her heart. He was helpless then, he was helpless now unable to protect the ones he loved more than himself. He suddenly wished for a chasm to throw himself into, to escape this never ending pain. 

How much more, how much more pain should he suffer for some respite? How many hells should he confront to finally have a glimpse of tranquility. Would this suffering ever end?

He was on his knees, weeping uncontrollably, his entire being trembling. 

As the whipping continued, Lan Wangji seemed like in a trance. He slowly reached his hand forward as if caressing someone in front of him and whispered softly,"Wei Ying".

Wei Wuxian realised his husband was hallucinating and said with a whimper, "Lan Zhan, I am here. I am beside you. I will always be beside you."

Lan Wangji had started to slightly tremble as the whipping continued. Even though the whip was falling with practiced precision Lan Quing himself was trembling. Wei Wuxian felt the thirty third whip fall with a resounding hit and Lan Wangji fell forward.

Wuxian reflexively reached for his husband, but he fell forward through his hands. Lan Xichen had also reached forward for his brother at the same time and caught him before he hit the ground. Wangji was bleeding profusely, both from his wounds as well as from his mouth.

Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Qiren vexed. The elder Lan still looked furious and said, "Carry him back to the Jingshi. No one is allowed to enter the Jingshi or see him other than Xichen. This should be a lesson for all rule breakers. No one is allowed to slander the name of Lan clan and violate the rules."

Wei Wuxian felt murderous rage toward Qiren and seeing the closed stiff look on Xichen's face he was sure he wasn't alone. But Xichen being the ever calm man asked Quing and Fang to bring a stretcher. The two disciples clambered away for the stretcher.

Lan Xichen took a handkerchief from his robes and slowly started wiping away the blood from Wangji's face. Even through the horrendous ordeal not a single tear had dropped from his eyes. Wuxian marveled at the resilience of the man. The sheer will, patience and love his man embodied. Even in his state of physical distress, he was a man to behold.

The disciples had arrived with the stretcher and the two of them along with Xichen carefully lifted Wangji and placed him on his stomach on the stretcher, heedful as not to touch his wounds. Wangji slightly grunted and became quiet again. 

The two disciples lifted the stretcher and started walking towards the Jingshi along with Lan Xichen. Wei Wuxian clambered up from where he was kneeling and followed the group stifling his sobs that threatened to break out.

(This is a small chapter compared to the previous ones. Hope you guys forgive me.😥😥 My pea sized brain couldn't squirt much this week.😔😔 Writer's block I guess.)