Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Have you seen it?!"

"Of course I did!”

They ran after the strange black dust, but Jiang Cheng was falling behind fast. He watched his brother pull ahead, disappearing among the trees, leaving his laughter as a trail to follow. Until it wasn't laughter anymore, but a bloodfreezing scream.

By the time he could catch up, a firework signal could be heard.

At the scene Wei Ying was on his knees, resentful energy swirling around his shaking form. WanYin took out some talismans as he tried to slash the black fog away. Sandu's cleaning aura could clear and cut off the energy flows, which in retaliation attacked him as well, pushing away from his current victim. He barely managed to force through some talismans, which took effect too slowly. As he was forced back, his feet got caught on Suibian, lying in the dust. He kicked it forward, but its master was not conscious enough to take hold.

Suddenly the dark fog thickened, closing him out- in panic, he swung an opening, jumped forward to reach Wei Wuxian, grabbed him and hopped on sword. The successful bust out rewarded him with a quick breather from the screeching sounds of the resentful energy.

Only to hear all different kinds of yells, (hopefully) coming from the searching parties.

Maneuvering towards the rescue, they were knocked down way too soon. This time pinned down, Jiang Cheng had to witness, to his mortified horror, his brother being lifted off the ground and the surrounding black sandstorm forcing its way in his orifices, crawling under his skin, colouring it unnatural gray.

All the struggle was fruitless against this mass. Cursing his lack of strength to do anything, his eyes were tearing up… until a talisman landed near. And another. Soon the entity was swarmed by the Yunmeng disciples, driving it away.

Maybe too late.

Jiang Cheng smacked away all helping hands, directing them to the one who actually in needed . Dread did not leave his veins, how would it, when Wei Ying is still down! Moreover his motionless form was reminiscent of extinguished fire with remaining thick smoke and ashes as stark contrast to what it was before.

Others dared not to touch, but fuck that, crawling closer he had to be sure his brother was still breathing. Jiang Cheng’s hands clutched on the ashen coloured wrist, feeling a weakening pulse.

They all received some level of medical training, but this was not a common case. Helplessly all he could do was to channel energy. Their companions watched him act with such stubborn determination, which inspired them all to do the same in vain attempt to prolong his condition from worsening.

The leaders of the sect found them like that: people crowded around one person in visible darkness, sending their energy to cleanse the seeping resentment.
Their heir holding onto the first discipline with terrified look-

“... we were taking care of the corpses when they ran off to ...”
“We followed it, but the corpses were too restless… ”
“... we all were losing it, it was just a small ball of energy …”
“... when I arrived there was so much around!”
“... lost them, but we could follow the firework… ”
“... he seemed cursed, but we couldn’t identify what kind!”

Chapter Text

He woke disoriented. Wrong. Pain crawled under his skin, while each breath felt like gulping another handful of water, suffocating his own lungs. Reflexively reaching for his golden core was a grave mistake, the agony shot through his body like thousands of arrows piercing his own very being.

Nothing was right. Confusing. Nothing feels the way things should be.

It took him time to realise there were muffled sounds beyond his ringing ears, they might have been words.

Someone was approaching, are they foul as well? Desperately forced his eyes open, through the blurry form he had no idea if it was human or not. Whatever was approaching could not be up for good and tried to flinch away. However, his body was not as responsive as he would have liked.

He dreaded the unavoidable contact, soon something soft and nicegot in contact with his forehead. Warm and welcoming. It was the first good thing in such a long while. To the best of his ability, he chased the feeling.

Hands all around, pulling and pushing- all made out of the same warmth. He showed his willingness by being a dead weight, not resisting. Not even when some liquid was forced down his throat. Oh, and this whole operation meant more warmth. The fresh hope for more comfort gave a burst of energy, and curled into his newfound comfort.

Yanli could not decide which broke her heart more. When his little brother started to shake and grunt in pain, or when he actually flinched away from her, or when the obviously worst smelling (and probably tasting) medicine did not even cause any reaction, or when he crawled into her embrace until he lifelessly limped as he slipped into a painless slumber.

Time did not bring salvation to anyone. No amount of cleansing could scrub off this suffering. Wei Ying was not even conscious for days. Lucid incoherent words, when they were even words, were diagnosed as awful dreams.

Most of the doctors' analyses were not pleasing either. It was said thankfully he was not aggressive despite the visions (but that could change from one day to another). Although he reacted positively to care, the amount of lingering resentment in the air can be poisonous if someone was exposed for a longer period of time.

Whenever they had the opportunity, his siblings crowded by his sick bed, and watched him sleep. The dark fog wasn’t as dense as before, and was not hostile towards anyone else, unless provoked.

It was one of these sessions when it happened. They could not tell for how long Wei Ying was awake, it was Yanli who grasped Wanyin’s arm in alarm. Clouded but aware eyes stared at them, for the first since the incident. Pain clenched his face in a fragile grimace, and oh, despite that there was such overwhelming love, soft and rare, like a treasure always hidden under layers now clear as day directed at them. Bright rays of the Sun, hope bloomed under such in the worried parties.

A weak start of a smile sat on his face, as he weakly reached out towards them. Letting go of his brother, his sister clasped their hands together. After a few long moments Wei Ying’s focus wandered to Wanyin, and bless their sister, she pulled the boys’ hands together, holding onto each other’s wrist in an iron grip. She rested her hand on the bond, smiling and crying at the same time.