Chapter Text
When Wen Chao arrived back at the Nightless City, Wen Zhuliu was standing beside Wen Ruohan.
It took much deliberation to reach that point. Wen Chao didn’t want to go back to the Nightless City; dreaded it, in fact. But as he stood there staring at the live burial where his sect members undoubtedly met their ends to the Tortoise, he realised that there was no escaping this. There was no escaping Wen Ruohan.
Every other person apparently thought the same. As their actions came back to them, they buried their faces in their hands, stared lifelessly at the blocked up hole, glanced around as if they could find a solution to their problems and whatever else that came to them in that moment. “It’ll be okay,” One brave person said, their voice shaky and holding disbelief at their own words, “it was self-defense.” It was unanimously agreed that that did not matter to Wen Ruohan.
Some terrified souls turned the blame onto Wen Chao. “This is meant to be your training camp. Why couldn’t you control your own sect members?” A Jin disciple said. Anger ignited in Wen Chao’s chest at his own helplessness. The other sect disciples seemed to think he held all the power over his own sect members. What was he supposed to do when he had no allies within sight, when none of his own sect members even thought him capable, when his own father was threatening the love of his life? They should be grateful that he even helped them!
“Hey!” Wei Wuxian shouted at them. “Wen Chao has done nothing but defend us from the very beginning. If it weren’t for him, we would probably be the ones beneath these rocks stuck with the monster!”
“Just because you’re a Wen-dog sympathiser. You deserve to be stuck in there with them!”
“What did you just say about my brother!?” Jiang Cheng shouted, hand on sword threateningly. Wen Chao stared coldly at the Jin member, who was quickly becoming smaller in the face of both his and Jiang Cheng’s anger. He had mastered his brother’s infamous icy stare, capable of making people wish they were six feet under (having practiced secretly in the mirror).
“We need to go back home and tell our Sect Leaders what happened.” Wei Wuxian took control of the situation, ignoring the Jin disciple’s disrespective remark. “They’ll know what to do. We have some time before Wen Ruohan can organise anything, but not much. It’s better to travel in groups; stick close until you're forced to separate, and try to take only brief rests.” Wen Chao almost sighed smittenly at Wei Wuxian’s authoritative tone, despite the crisis they were facing. Inappropriate , his inner Wen Qing scolded.
Wei Wuxian turned to him with soft eyes. “ChaoChao, what’re…” Wen Chao glanced at the hole once again, wondering if some of his sect members were still alive there, or if they had all died already, swallowed up for the monster’s dinner.
“I need to go back.” He stated.
“But-” Wei Wuxian argued before stopping himself. He mouthed some words, apparently stuck on what to say, desperately attempting to reach some form of argument without directly insulting Wen Chao’s family. “You can stay with me,” He rested on, his voice weak. “You can try my shijie’s Lotus Pork Rib soup.” It sounded like a dream come true. He desperately wanted to meet Wei Wuxian’s family who he had talked about so often. He also wanted to approach Jiang FengMian with a marriage proposal.
“Marriage proposal?” Wei Wuxian squeaked. Belatedly, Wen Chao realised he said that out loud. He thanked the gods that Jiang Cheng was out of hearing range. So much deliberation for nothing…
“Sorry, sorry, sorry. Ignore me. And...Next time, I promise, for the soup I mean.” Wen Chao said. “He’s my father; he won’t kill me.” He made his voice sound certain and strong, although he was unsure of the words he was spouting. Wen Ruohan was undoubtedly ruthless enough to kill his own son. He wasn’t even sure Wen Ruohan understood the concept of love. He had never been involved in either of his or his brother’s lives, like an unreachable immortal secluded on a mountain, unaware of such worldly emotions.
Jiang Cheng had to keep hold of Wei Wuxian to stop him from either preventing or accompanying Wen Chao, arms tight around Wei Wuxian’s waist as he pulled on his hold. Each step away from Wei Wuxian and towards the Nightless City accumulated the dread building up in his gut, the fear making his head dizzy and his feet slow. Each step was like he was walking on broken glass, weakening him slowly.
And that was how he ended up before Wen Ruohan, Wen Zhuliu at his father’s side. Briefly, he wondered where Wen Xu was. Surely he deserved to know the result of his efforts to bring down Wen Chao’s love for Wei Wuxian. (It would never, ever work). Alas, he was alone when standing to face punishment.
“Wen Chao,” His father greeted. “Wen Zhuliu has just offered me the most fascinating tale. It was about how you willingly defended other sects, and how you trapped your own sect members in with the Tortoise of Slaughter.” With each word, Wen Ruohan’s voice got louder until he was shouting in the vast hall, his words echoing off the walls. “Now, what did I tell you to do?” He said with startling quietness.
“You told me to entertain the other sects with the creature, Father.”
“Exactly. Why, then, is no one from the sects dead, or lost their core, or stuck in that cave with that creature? Why is it our own sect members are there instead? Why is it that Wen Zhuliu is reporting of treachery from my own son?”
His heart thudded in his chest as he kept his eyes glued to the floor. He felt like he was still a child, being told off after he was caught sneaking sweets out from the kitchen, his nanny huffing at his misbehaviour. Only this time, it was fatal. He hesitantly answered. “I don’t know, Father.” He jumped when there was a loud bang of Wen Ruohan’s fist meeting his armrest.
“You don’t know? You don’t know? ” Wen Ruohan hissed. There was a moment’s pause, as Wen Chao’s mind went wild wondering what his fate would be. His fingers fiddled with the material of his robe, as he glanced up at Wen Ruohan’s molten eyes, staring, staring, staring. “I have raised a stupid, pitiable, pathetic coward of a son.”
Wen Chao wanted to snap you have raised no one, I am the making of myself, and you are just the fool who gave the seed. But Wen Ruohan’s word were correct; he was a coward, in the end.
“Ten strikes with the Discipline Whip.” Wen Ruohan ordered. “And confinement to your room. I’ll think of what to do with you later.”
“Father-“ Wen Chao began.
“No, Wen Chao.”
And that was the end of the matter.
The lashes were easy enough to get through. Wen Chao had never been good with pain, and while the Discipline Whip was the weapon every disciple feared, Wen Chao sat through the punishment numb. He could feel the whip stroking his back, shredding skin and revealing blood, but he found that the thought of Wei Wuxian being the one trapped in that cave made the pain inconsequential.
In reality, ten strikes of the Discipline Whip was not a lot considering the acts he had committed. Treason, and practically killing his own sect members. Perhaps it was the lingering sentiment of a father for his son, or more likely, a foreshadowing of something to come. Wen Chao did not believe for one second that that was his punishment over and done with.
He had never released how bare his room was. Bedrooms were meant to be places of comfort, something personal. He remembered Wei Wuxian telling him about how he had carved little drawings into his bedroom walls, of jokes and things he wanted to remember and anything that came upon his mind. Even Wen Xu’s room, the few times he had been allowed inside it, was scattered with his favourite books (which Wen Xu had stolen from the library under the watchful librarian’s nose, Wen Chao having promised never to tell).
Wen Chao’s bedroom had nothing. There were no special drawings or his favourite books. There was just a little box hidden under his bed, full of Wei Wuxian’s letters, and a stern portrait of his long-forgotten mother.
Needless to say, Wen Chao spent his confinement awfully bored. Most of his time he spent wondering if everyone was alright, if they had escaped from Wen Ruohan’s grasp, and successfully vanished off to their sects without any trouble. Having no information was driving him progressively mad.
He got his answer a few days into his confinement. He could see it even before it arrived: that delicate piece of paper, flapping with tiny wings across the sky, having might as well been a soaring eagle with all its magnificence.
Dear ChaoChao , the letter began, something warm curling in his stomach at the title no matter how many times it was said. All his questions were summarised promptly: as far as Wei Wuxian knew, everyone had gotten home safe. However, Wen Ruohan continued his assault on small sects, and everyone was still afraid to act. Nie Mingjue was roaring to go, Wei Wuxian explained, but knew not to act when he had little support from other sects. The Jiang Sect was still pondering over the dilemma of Wen Ruohan.
Faintly, Wen Chao wondered about the significance of this letter, so casually explaining rebellion against his own father. If he was caught with this letter, it would not only be the end of himself, but the end of Wei Wuxian and every other person he included in it. How much trust did Wei Wuxian have in Wen Chao? He could so easily hand the letter away and get away without any harm on his part. Wei Wuxian knew that, and yet...all his words were so casual. Wei Wuxian was not speaking to the son of the enemy; he was speaking to his friend.
Wen Chao squinted his eyes at the last words of the letter.
Let's speak more about the marriage proposal when we meet again!
He furrowed his brows at the words. Rubbed at his eyes, seeing if the words had changed any. They hadn’t. He traced the ink to see if it was actually soaked into the paper and not just some hallucinations floating in his field of sight. They weren’t. They were actual words Wei Wuxian had written at the bottom of the letter.
Uhh, what??
Suddenly, he remembered his mumblings of the marriage proposal. He buried his head into his arms, feeling as if his face was about to melt off. He was too stressed about the situation at the time that he merely glanced over it and told Wei Wuxian to forget about it, but that was his chance!
Wait... The situation caught up to him.
Wei Wuxian wanted to marry him.
Wei Wuxian wanted to marry him!!!
Well, not quite… But he certainly wanted to speak of it! That was as much affirmation as Wen Chao needed! He was just about ready to simply jump out the window on his sword, capture Wei Wuxian from Lotus Pier, and then elope off into the sunset.
Fuck you, Wen Xu!
A steady knock on the door reminded him of the current situation he was stuck in. He hurriedly shoved the letter beneath blank papers on his desk, promising himself that it’ll delicately be put into his sacred box later on. With a calm voice, he responded. “Come in.” The door opened.
“Second Young Master Wen,” Wen Qing greeted, sending him a harsh glare when he opened his mouth to enthusiastically greet her, having not seen a friendly face in forever. She nodded apathetically to the guards outside the door, their sharp gazes surveying for any misconduct. They were probably personally chosen by Wen Ruohan. When the door closed, she quickly dropped the tray of food she brought with her on the bed and stuck a silencing talisman to the door.
“You idiot!” Without any hesitation at all, she smacked Wen Chao over the head. “What do you think you’re doing openly going against the sect leader! Are you stupid? Did your brain melt after spending too much time with Wei Wuxian? Who do you think you are making everyone worry and wasting good medicine?” Despite the harsh words, Wen Qing only gently smacked him, carefully avoiding his back. Wen Chao’s chest warmed, his heart feeling light.
Wen Qing was truly a good friend. Wen Chao was lucky to have befriended her and Wen Ning at the Cloud Recesses, all of that thanks to Wei Wuxian.
Seeing his smile, Wen Qing sent him a disgusted look. “Are you a masochist?” She wiped her hands on her robes as if they were dirty.
“Wen Qing, I’m so glad to see you.”
“I’d think so! Do you know how hard it was to be able to come here?” Her shoulders slumped, her stern expression going soft with relief. It was gone in a second. “And what were you thinking at the cave? I’m surprised Wen Ruohan hasn’t killed you.”
“It..it’s not my fault.” Even when saying the words himself, they sounded false. He was part of the Wen Sect, and it was all the Wen Sect members that died. What is the possibility of one Wen Sect member surviving when all others had died, without being horribly guilty? “I didn’t think they’d have… I thought other sects were different.” He looked Wen Qing in the eyes. “I thought that if we reached the hole first, then we could threaten the other Wens to comply. If the Wens reached it first, they would have blocked the hole up no question. But it was the other sects that blocked it up...I thought they were better.”
“Wen Chao, I think there’s more to it than the Wens as the bad guys and the others as the good guys.” Wen Qing said dryly. “If I were there, I would have stayed in the cave.”
“With the monster?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, with the monster, was there another cave? You had the best of the generation with you, not to mention Wei Wuxian. He’s stupid, but he’s smart. You would have made it through somehow.” Wen Chao stared at her, remarkably sure the words she had said were contradictory, but unwilling to say it to her face. “Anyway, I have news.” Her face became grim.
Fear settled in Wen Chao’s stomach, heavy and oppressive. He already had enough of the bad news, he didn’t want anymore.
“Wen Ruohan is targeting Lotus Pier.” Wen Chao gaped, but she didn’t let him get a word in. “He’s planning to leave in the morning, but this is the earliest I could get to you. Wen Ning and I have already been allowed to go, as much as I dislike it, but I’ll see what I can do to make sure Wei Wuxian and his family are safe. Understand my actions are limited, Wen Chao; Wen Ning will always be my priority.” Wen Chao faintly nodded, all the information swirling in his brain.
(He wondered if Wen Xu would have the same thoughts about him.)
There was a bang on the door, a faint growl from the guards. Wen Qing stared at him as if that was the last time she was going to see him. “I have to go,” She said. “I was only meant to give you your meal and check your wounds. Speaking of, what are you doing out of bed, you idiot?” She fussily pushed him back to bed, giving him a harsh glare whenever he moved to protest.
He wanted to argue, to beg her to take him with her. For her to help him to hide, or disguise himself, or come up with some trick, or something that will allow him to go to Lotus Pier, to help Wei Wuxian. But the truth of the matter was that Wen Chao was imprisoned in his room, guards blocking the door and several floors up with no sword to aid him. Wen Qign was not a fighter; she was a doctor, and no matter how much he protested there was no escape for him. Besides, if Wen Qing was caught helping him, both her and Wen Ning would end up dead.
He could not endanger his friends like that.
Immediately after Wen Qing left the room, he rose up from bed, ignoring the painful pull of his wounds. It felt as if ice water was being poured directly onto his back, but he ignored the bone-deep pain until he arrived back at his desk. Wen Qing can shout at him later. There were more important things to be done, even if he was doing it alone.
Wei Wuxian’s bird letters will definitely arrive at Lotus Pier before the army does. The bird letters were neither particularly fast nor particularly slow, but the journey to Yunmeng took about two days, and the bird did not need to sleep or eat. While the Wens would use their fastest transport, Yunmeng Jiang would have at least a day of preparation. Wen Chao knew from both Wei Wuxian’s character and his words of the Jiang family that they would refuse to escape and give up Lotus Pier. This, at least, would allow them to prepare to fight and help the young and old hide, rather than a surprise attack dropping on them like a thunderstorm.
This was not enough to satisfy Wen Chao’s worry. He wanted to be there, to help Wei Wuxian fight against any enemies, even if it meant cutting down his own clansmen. (How terrifying, for that thought to come so easily).
He wondered who was leading them. The Yunmeng Jiang clan was not some small sect that they could send someone random; they were a powerhouse, one of the great five sects. Wen Ruohan himself would never go, as he hardly ever leaves the Nightless City, or Qishan itself. Wen Zhuliu, maybe, but he was always better at taking orders rather than serving them. But...Wen Xu. Would he invade the sect he knew to be Wen Chao’s loved one’s home? Only weeks ago the answer would have certainly been no, yet now Wen Chao was unsure of the answer. Wen Xu seemed like an entirely different person than Wen Chao knew.
Would Wen Chao be able to face off against his own brother?
There was no need to think of such things now. Firstly, he needed to write the letter for Wei Wuxian and his family. Only after would he think of a way to escape.
He quickly ground some ink, his back stinging at the rough movements, and dipped his brush into the pot. He hesitated over the page, instinct pushing him to quickly warn Wei Wuxian of the dangers; after all, every second counted. Yet, last time, his rushed words did nothing to help him explain his lack of involvement in the destruction of Gusu Lan (which he still hasn’t had the chance to explain).
Breathing in, he forced himself to relax, to write cautiously. Of Wen Ruohan’s invasion, of Wen Qing’s and Wen Ning’s help, of Wen Xu’s possible involvement. (Please don’t hurt him, A-Ying, he’s the only person I have.) He even included assurances that he’ll be right there, despite having little to no plan. Right as he was finishing his well-wishes of stay safe, don’t get hurt, I love you, and about that marriage proposal - there was a knock at the door.
He tensed, spinning around to face the door. Wen Chao couldn’t remember a time when he got so many visitors in one day, especially so when he’s supposed to be in seclusion . Perhaps he needed to go into seclusion more often if he ever needed some company. Nevertheless, with Wen Qing’s visit gone and past, the person behind the door can never be someone good.
Sure enough, it was Wen Xu that walked into the room, a mildly grumpy expression on his face, only noticeable for the sheer fact that he was normally expressionless. Subtlety, Wen Chao slipped the letter beneath other pages, right where Wei Wuxian’s was hidden, probably smearing the half-dried ink. He should have been more cautious; he was lucky Wen Xu didn’t walk right into his room, actually bothering to knock. Wen Chao’s imaginative mind dreamed up that it was Wen Xu feeling somewhat apologetic, before he banished that impossible thought entirely.
“Wen Xu,” Wen Chao hesitantly greeted. He didn’t know what to expect; maybe cursing and snide remarks and a possible murder attempt. Their last conversation flashed in his mind, of angry words and the satisfying crunch of Wen Xu’s nose from his fist. It felt like a lifetime ago, now. Wen Xu’s nose had certainly healed as if it was a past life.
Wen Xu stared and stared and stared at him, his feet still stuck by the door, before saying: “You look as if I’ve just caught you masturbating.” Wen Chao froze in his seat, his eyes wide. Wen Xu stared at him, at his defensive posture, and said somewhat judgmentally “Are you masturbating?”
“No!” Wen Chao denied, his face beet red. Wen Xu didn’t seem to believe him, though he approached reluctantly, taking care not to touch anything. “I’m not!” He said, the words falling on deaf ears.
He stood up, feeling his wounds pull and stretch at every movement, the pain digging into his very soul. He blocked Wen Xu’s path to the desk, meeting him halfway. “Do you need anything?” He asked.
Wen Xu raised a brow at him. “Should you be up right now?” He looked pointedly to Wen Chao’s back.
Wen Chao, who had been attempting to ignore the pain, gritted his teeth. “Yes.”
“Hm.” Wen Xu continued to look unimpressed. Slowly, he backed Wen Chao towards the bed, and with one final push, Wen Chao bounced on the comforts of his sheets, only narrowly missing lying on his injured back. Wen Xu paid no heed to his various protests, staring at him with those cold eyes of his. The words seemingly dispersed from his mind under Wen Xu’s gaze, he could do nothing but shuffle on the bed. He was reduced to a misbehaving child under Wen Xu’s steely eyes.
“Wen Chao,” With his name, Wen Xu’s emotionless expression melted off, leaving him looking somewhat...troubled? “Wen Chao,” Wen Xu repeated once again, as if it was a mantra. Wen Chao stared up at him, and for the first time in Wen Xu’s presence, he was not directly stared at. Instead, Wen Xu’s eyes were cast down to the ground, and Wen Chao found he kind of missed the consistent and cold stare.
“Tomorrow, I will be leading a charge against Yunmeng Jiang.” Wen Chao blinked up at Wen Xu, who did the Wen Xu-version of squirming, which is to say he aimlessly walked around the room, touching random things as if to give him balance. His brows were furrowed, as if he did not know why the words were spilling out of his mouth. “Father has asked me to bring you Wei Wuxian’s head.”
Ah, there was the rest of his punishment.
He felt no sense of panic consume him like Wen Qing’s words did, the confirmation of the attack merely assuring his need to help Wei Wuxian. Wen Xu would expect it of him though, but his back was turned away from him. He did not need to muster up his rather pathetic acting skills just quite yet.
An alarm was set off within him as Wen Xu approached his desk, his fingers trailing over the sheets of paper scattered across it.
“Wen Xu-” He began, his heart thudding against his chest, his nervousness almost painful.
“Quiet, Wen Chao, I do not need to hear your protests to know that you don’t like it. That this is not what you want. I have heard far too many of your simpering words for that Wei Ying to know that you will not standby. I wish it could be different, for you to be different, perhaps a bit more shallow and more arrogant and more cruel. To be more irritating, so irritating that I...that I…” Wen Xu cleared his throat. Wen Chao attempted to figure out if he should be offended.
“Anyway, all I’m trying to say is that, perhaps - and heaven knows why I’m here at all - that I could-” Wen Xu paused, his eyes staring at a particular piece of parchment, and finished with an, “Oh.”
Wen Chao swallowed down his guilt, wondering why he even felt terrible in the first place. Wen Xu had done nothing to help him, after all. Yet, it seemed his heart would not listen, his stomach twisting uncomfortably, little bugs eating him from the inside out.
“Xu-ge, I…” He attempted to think of something, to word an explanation together that could possibly help him in this situation, yet it was like he was trying to grasp water. “Xu-ge, please.” He ended with, the words nothing and everything together; a please don’t tell, a please don’t go, a please help me, and a please don’t hurt him, don’t stop me, don’t be Wen Xu - just be my brother.
Wen Xu glanced at him, his eyes moving from the letter, and for once he did not look like the strange, emotionless man he always portrayed himself to be. For once, his eyes, previously as cold as a glacier, looked like melted snow, watery and hesitant and fragile. For once, Wen Xu looked his age, perhaps even younger, as confused and scared and desperate as Wen Chao was.
Just when Wen Chao was considering how he could ever compare Wen Xu to their father - the similarities miles apart - Wen Xu stared down at the letter again, and his impenetrable armour steadily built back up until it seemed as if it was all Wen Chao’s imagination.
“You and this boy .” Wen Xu growled, setting the letter down on the desk, his touch unusually gentle. Wen Chao had assumed he’d rip it to shreds right in front of his eyes, and then carry Wen Chao off to face punishment from their father. “I couldn’t believe it when I heard of what you did at the training camp, and now this, Wen Chao? This is as good as renouncing yourself from the Wen Sect. But you would like that, wouldn’t you? To run off and live a happily married life with this servant’s son, abandoning all that Father has built for us .”
“Xu...Xu-ge, please. ”
“I’m not your Xu-ge!” Wen Xu roared, Wen Chao rearing back in shock, as if he had been slapped. “From this moment on, Wen Chao, we are no longer brothers! You do not owe anything to me, nor I to you.”
“Xu-ge, please wait, stop!” Wen Chao jumped up, uselessly clinging onto Wen Xu’s sleeve to stop him marching towards the door, despite his mind warning him that Xu-ge doesn’t like it when he’s grabbed .
“Enough, Wen Chao!” Wen Xu shouted, shoving him aside. Wen Chao hissed as he landed on the floor, pain ricocheting up his spine and making him see white. Wen Xu stared down at him - and for a split second, it was that same hesitant gaze, those delicate puddles of warmth, before it was all gone again - and with a bang, Wen Xu had stormed out the room, the curious gazes of the guards following him.
Wen Chao sat on the cold floor in shock for what felt like forever, yet the seconds passed painfully slowly. Soon, the shock melted into dread, his mind playing various scenarios of Wen Xu telling his father, and guards coming to collect him. He was frozen there, despite his back sluggishly bleeding and his bum aching from the uncomfortable seat the floor provided, as if one movement would send the guards hurtling towards him.
Yet, seconds passed into minutes, and minutes became hours. After hearing nothing from outside his room, no stamping feet or shouts of traitors, he carefully stumbled to his feet, his legs having lost all feeling.
He clumsily tripped his way over to his desk, picking up the letter that didn’t even look like Wen Xu had touched it, and methodically sent it, it’s little wings flapping off into the sunset. He picked up some bandages, sloppily tying them around himself after disposing of the blood-soaked ones, struggling to do it alone. He lay down on his bed, absolutely certain someone was just waiting to barge in, to take him away, yet there was silence.
He woke up several times that night, but no one came.
In the morning, he determined that either Wen Ruohan was playing a cruel waiting game with him, laughing as he squirmed with dread for some invisible threat, or that Wen Xu for some random reason, perhaps summoning up the last dregs of brotherly love he owned, did not tell about Wen Chao’s little traitor act. The former was actually more likely than the latter, but Wen Chao hoped with all his being that it was the latter.
In any case, he was seemingly safe (for now), the Wen army was probably planning to leave at that moment, and Wen Chao had still not figured out a plan in order to escape. With no possible options in sight, his stressed-out mind could only think back to fairytale books, where princesses would escape by tying their bedsheets together and climb out the window.
He might have just resorted to that when there were two thumps of something hitting the ground outside his door. He ducked behind his bed, as if that would offer any comfort if Wen Ruohan marched into the room, yet the longer he squatted with no telling movement outside the door, the more foolish he felt. Cautiously, he tiptoed towards the door, carefully opening it and waiting for the eventual telling off by the guards.
There was only silence that greeted him.
He peeked his head out, finding empty hallways and empty rooms. “Huh,” He said, straightening his shoulders and stepping out of his room, only to fall flat on his face. “Ow!” He rubbed his aching nose, bemoaning his poor fate. Wen Chao looked at what he tripped over, anger bubbling within him, but what met him was the sleeping faces of the two guards, sharp needles pointing out from their necks.
“Wen Qing?” He called out, his voice echoing out from the empty hallways, but no one responded to him. She must have rushed ahead, having left already with the charge.
It didn’t take long to find his sword, hidden away in the closest weapon room, collecting dust on a shelf. Wen Chao was almost offended with the lazy treatment of his sword, before reminding himself that it worked in his favour. If it had actually been treasured, they may have placed it in his Father’s study, and he knew there was no chance of getting it out of there.
Shaking the thought away, he hurriedly stuffed some snacks he found unattended in the kitchens into a qiankun pouch, along with some medicine and bandages, and a spare robe or two. Strangely, he did not encounter anyone in his wing. It was as if everyone in Qishan Wen had disappeared. He shrugged it off, summing it up to the heavens smiling down upon him, and left in a hurry towards Lotus Pier.
Lotus Pier was burning when he arrived.
Huge flames licked up towards the sky, casting the evening dusk aglow, dangerously beautiful. It looked as if a phoenix had crashed down from the sky, setting the world ablaze in its anger. To the edge of the pier, the fire lulled in a sleepy daze, some of the embers pittering out already, as if they had given up.
Wen Chao watched for one second, two, his mind whirling while his stomach flopped and twirled, what little food he had consumed threatening to come back up. Here was Wei Wuxian’s home, something he had so happily wanted to show to Wen Chao. Here Wen Chao was, with scorched lotus flowers and crumbling buildings to keep him company.
He lowered himself to the ground, shrouded in bushes and trees from any sneaking passerbys, creeping around like a thief in the night. He crawled towards Lotus Pier, finding it dominated by white and red, the sun peeking over the building. It left no doubt who had won, and set off another round of nerves that left Wen Chao feeling sick. Among the blurs of his sect colours, he found Wen Qing, an indifferent expression and a strong stance wrapped into one. There was a lack of Wen Ning.
She was talking to a few nameless Sect members, their postures relaxed yet attentive around Wen Qing. Wen Chao could not make out her words from so far away, but he did not imagine it was something very nice. As Wen Zhuliu passed by, she quieted, her eyes like knives as she watched him go. Soon after, the disciples dispersed. Without thinking, Wen Chao threw a small rock at her before she could go anywhere else.
It hit her on the temple. He cowered.
“Did you just throw a rock at me?” She hissed in disbelief as she arrived in front of Wen Chao. He was already mumbling apologies. “Wait, nevermind that. You were able to escape?” Wen Chao had a moment of, well yeah, you were the one that helped me escape, did you not? The words were left unspoken as she moved onwards without waiting for an answer. “Are you hurt? What about your back?”
Rolling his eyes, Wen Chao allowed Wen Qing to check his back, creeping further into the forest to prevent them from being seen. He had done a good job of ignoring the discipline whip marks for the majority of his flight to Lotus Pier, only occasionally wincing when he had to change his position on his sword to stop his legs from going numb. The wounds tired him out too easily; he was forced to take several breaks on his way to Lotus Pier. It was worse than he thought, apparently.
“ What were you thinking?” Wen Chao didn’t have a response to that because, well, he wasn’t. The only thought on his mind was Wei Wuxian.
He attempted to peer at his back although it stretched his injuries, until Wen Qing roughly shoved his head back. She poured something on them that stung, Wen Chao’s nails curling into his palm until he was sure he was bleeding there, too. After, she gently wrapped bandages around him, at odds with the uncensored curses that spewed out of her mouth about a certain someone who went frolicking around with his back in tatters. Wen Chao decided he did not know this certain someone.
“What happened?” Wen Chao asked, freshly bandaged and feeling better than he had in days. Wen Qing was leading him into the deepest parts of Yunmeng, passing by citizens that watched them like hawks from their windows and parted doors.
She sighed, and began.
Wei Wuxian, it seemed, had taken his warning seriously, and while Wen Qing did not know the full details, there were numerous barriers that protected Yunmeng Jiang that no one had ever encountered before. Wen Chao suspected it was Wei Wuxian’s work, having heard of his enthusiastic ramblings of theories and inventions that he was sure would shock the world. Wei Wuxian was always spectacular like that.
The barriers, however new they were, were clearly rushed, seemingly only a prototype. Although it took humongous effort to even get near, they buckled under the force of the large Wen army. This, it seemed, was the hard part.
There was a reason Wen Ruohan had picked that specific day to attack. Most senior Yunmeng disciples were busy with surrounding nighthunts in the area, most probably monsters which the Wens had lured there, and were too far to quickly respond to any crisis from the Sect. Only some junior disciples and a few elders (most being nomadic, and also away from the sect most of the time) were left, including Madam Yu, Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian. The Sect Leader and Jiang Yanli had been occupied in other sects, and hence Yunmeng Jiang was left weak with few disciples able to defend.
The Wen Sect tore through like rabid beasts. There had been far more casualties than they had expected, though, Yunmeng Jiang fighting them with desperate hearts, which only intensified as the Sect Leader joined them partway through the battle.
In the end, although the Wen clan had claimed Lotus Pier as their own, it was not the win they had imagined. There were few deaths on the Yunmeng Jiang side, all disciples seemingly having managed to hide. They had managed to injure both the Sect Leader and the Madam, but the whole of the Yunmeng Jiang family had also escaped with the help of Wen Qing and Wen Ning.
The Wen Clan could not even claim the Yunmeng Jiang treasures for their own, no gold nor any cultivation secrets. The secret room, after having been found after several fruitless attempts and being in plain sight all along, was also blocked by a barrier. No one had been able to dismantle it yet, but Wei Wuxian had admitted to Wen Qing that nothing was in there anyway, all treasure having been smuggled out by the disciples. Except, of course, for a crude drawing left by Wei Wuxian.
It was an empty win which could be questioned to be a win at all.
“What about my brother?” Wen Chao asked Wen Qing, attempting (and most probably failing) to hide his eagerness for information. He wondered if Wen Xu knew of his escape, and then dismissed the thought entirely. He most likely hadn’t heard anything yet.
“What about him?”
“I mean...is he okay? Was he hurt?”
Wen Qing stared at him for a moment, her gaze somewhat speculative, before she answered. “No. No, he wasn’t hurt. But I do believe he is in a worrisome position with your father.”
“ What ?” Wen Chao spluttered, shock bursting in his heart, pausing in his walk and having to rush to catch up. The idea of Wen Xu in trouble with their father is...surprising, to say the least. After all, Wen Xu was the perfect child. He caused no trouble, was unimaginably smart and powerful, and followed their father’s orders to the letter. There couldn’t be a better heir.
“Ignoring the obvious failed attempt to weaken Yunmeng Jiang, Wen Xu’s attitude to the entire invasion left something to be desired, to speak plainly. Sure, he gave the orders to attack and everything, but he did not participate himself and well, there was no strategy. He just kept sending disciples across the water until it worked. And even then, when all the Jiang clan escaped, he delayed on sending people to find them and wanted everyone to check in Lotus Pier ‘just in case.’ Wen Zhuliu also didn’t participate on Wen Xu’s orders, despite the fact that he is a huge fighting force that may have won against the whole of Lotus Pier.”
Silently, he pondered over the words. Does that mean Wen Xu was helping him? Or was this just a coincidence, him being lazy, like when he slept in Wen Chao’s room because his own wing was further away or when he made Wen Zhuliu get books from the library for him, it also being too far to apparently walk. Yet, Wen Xu was never lazy when it came to things that mattered. When it came to Wen Ruohan.
He forcefully pushed the thoughts away when they arrived at an innocent building, no mark or sign to differentiate it from all other buildings along the street. Wen Qing led the way inside, past the entrance to a room to the right.
Upon entering, Wen Chao had only managed to see who he assumed was Madam Yu unconscious in bed, Jiang Cheng and an older man sitting beside her, when something came hurtling towards him. Or someone.
Wen Chao only barely was able to catch Wei Wuxian as he came jumping towards him, his arms automatically winding around him. He pressed his face into Wei Wuxian’s shoulder, breathed in his scent, allowing himself to relax even while he clutched at Wei Wuxian’s body desperately as if someone were going to snatch him away.
“Thank you,” He felt, rather than heard, the words pressed into his own shoulder. “Thank you.”
Wen Chao only melted further into the embrace.
A clearing of the throat disturbed them. Suddenly, Wen Chao remembered that they were in a room full of people, with Wei Wuxian’s parental figure and all others simply staring at them. Wen Chao hurriedly wiggled away from the hug, his cheeks practically melting off his face as heat radiated from them.
“Sect Leader Jiang,” Wen Chao greeted, his voice cracking halfway through, bowing extra low because this was Wei Wuxian’s adoptive parent and he had just seen him clinging onto Wei Wuxian as if he were a monkey after his clan had attacked theirs oh my god he probably thinks Wen Chao is a monster that has come to capture his son or something.
“Ah, Second Young Master Wen, is it?” Jiang FengMian’s voice sounded calm, at least. A bit pained, maybe, but Wen Qing did say he was injured.
“Wen Chao, please.”
“Wen Chao, then. I believe it is I who should be bowing to you.”
“Huh?” Wen Chao surged up from his bow, gaping at the Sect Leader. “Uh, er, no need. A-Ying - I-I mean, Wei Wuxian - is, um, special to me so…” Inwardly, he cringed at his words, feeling as if his mouth had suddenly been taken over by Wen Ning. Beside him, Wei Wuxian snorted, his hand doing nothing to cover the laughter coming from his mouth. Across the room, he could see Jiang Cheng scrunching his face up as if he were in pain, appearing exactly like how Wen Chao felt inside.
His response was justified, at least. The only thing that ran through his brain was: marriage proposal marriage proposal marriage proposal marriage proposal marriage proposal -
It was a miracle he didn’t blurt it out right then.
Or maybe I did, he thought, horrified, because Jiang FengMian was staring at him with an unidentifiable glint in his eyes, his mouth still fixed in a passive smile, answering only with a “Hm.” to Wen Chao’s words. He glanced at Wei Wuxian to see if he had noticed something, if he could tell whether Wen Chao had done something wrong, but he was oblivious, pulling Wen Chao away from Jiang FengMian with sparkling eyes and a smile.
Needless to say, Wen Chao was terrified.
Thankfully, attention strayed away from him when Wen Ning arrived with an armful of medical supplies, Wen Qing hurriedly dragging him in and interrogating him on whether he was seen. Wen Qing began checking over Madam Yu while Wen Ning treated Sect Leader Jiang.
“Are you not hurt?” He asked Wei Wuxian after they had settled into their own corner so as to not disturb Madam Yu lying in bed on the opposite side, Jiang FengMian beside her. Jiang Cheng joined them but did not speak, only resting his head on Wei Wuxian’s shoulder, their arms curled around one another, seemingly going to sleep.
There was blood seeping down Wei Wuxian’s sleeve, other blood staining his chest, only noticeable from the darker red of his inner robe that was peeking out.
“Not much, I don’t need any bandages; they’ll be healed as soon as my qi is replenished.” Wen Chao sighed in relief. A smaller part of his brain blabbered, shame, because I would love to see you half naked any day. Wen Chao pushed his thoughts down, occupying himself by grabbing Wei Wuxian’s - warm, perfect - hand and sending a small stream of qi his way. Wei Wuxian immediately snatched his hand back. “Surely you must have little yourself after having flown all this way?”
“I have enough,” Wen Chao refuted, trying to grab Wei Wuxian’s hand once again.
(“Stop moving.” Jiang Cheng grumbled. He was ignored.)
Wei Wuxian huffed, avoiding his touch. “Enough to fight if we are found, as no one else currently can. And so save yours; I’m already healing, see?” Wen Chao watched as a small cut on Wei Wuxian’s hand healed, split skin seamlessly mending back together until there was nothing to show he was injured there in the first place. Pursing his lips, he gave up for now. “Anyway, what happened to you?” Wei Wuxian said.
“Uhm, I was forced into seclusion.”
Wei Wuxian’s brows furrowed. “Seclusion? Is that it? I thought Wen Ruohan would, I don’t know, expel you or something.”
“No, just seclusion.” Wen Chao smiled wobbly, feeling his wounds ache. He practically felt Wen Qing’s glare sizzle into him, and even Wen Ning’s faint glance. The whole of the Wen Sect, after all, knew what happened. But Wei Wuxian just had his home taken away from him; Wen Chao didn’t need to add to his worry, no matter what the others thought. “Well, he also wanted to bring me your head, but I’m glad that didn’t happen as I’m quite fond of where it already is.”
Wei Wuxian laughed, bright and airy, at odds with the grim atmosphere that had previously hung in the air. It lit up the entire room. Or maybe that was Wen Chao’s imagination.