The Path In-Between

Chapter 5: The Beginning (LWJ)

A/N: 1070+ words! I think this might be the most I've written in a chapter! That was intense guys! Here's the much awaited Lan Zhan POV! Just a little tidbit, this chapter is written in a flashback format of what happened at the end of the siege from Lan Zhan's perspective. Additionally, if one chapter is from only one person's perspective and that person is someone other than Wei Wuxian, I'll put their initials in the chapter title from now on.
This took a lot! Enjoy and please vote and comment!
Warning: Mild gore/violence/Abuse, depressed behavior, etc.
~ worldlesswanderer

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Lan Wangji watched in horror as Wei Wuxian surrendered his life to his family in front of his eyes. His Wei Ying. His Zhiji. The man that Lan Wangji considered to have perhaps the purest soul in all of this world. The very same man that was now administering himself and relinquishing his remaining assets- namely, A'Yuan -to the same people that had considered him a monster, Lan Wangji's family.

Two hours ago....

Lan Wangji lay in bed on his stomach. His Zhongzhang had yet to visit. Simply laying like this, Lan Wangji was working his mind into self-destruction, despairing about his zhiji. Until he felt Wei Wuxian's presence. Forgoing all warning concerning his current state of health, Lan Wangji rose. For the first time in his life, the Second Jade ran inside the Cloud Recesses as memories of a week ago flashed into his mind.

'Wei Ying'

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"Wei Ying" Lan Wangji breathed.

The man's eyes turned to him. This was not his Wei Ying. This was the true face of the Yilling Laozu. Eyes red, blood spilling from his mouth, surrounded by tendrils of black resentful energy and lips stretched thin in a forced smile. A silent laugh. But not an unfeeling one.

Fear corroded the stoic muscles of Lan Wangji's face. He had seen the look in Wei Ying's eyes before. He had seen them in other eyes before. The eyes of the patients that would be admitted to the care of the mind healers in Cloud Recesses. Oftentimes, these were people that had just survived a suicide attempt and their family felt there was no other way to help.

When he tried to call out again, it was too late. Wei Wuxian walked to the edge of the cliff. Lan Wangji saw Jiang Cheng furiously make his way to Wei Wuxian and ran faster to catch up, to grab him before it was too late.

And then. It was too late.

The last Lan Wangji saw of Wei Wuxian was his smile. Wei Wuxian looked ethereal. Finally, peace had reached out and wrapped its arms around the fallen angel. Finally, the heavens had endeavored to take back what left its embrace.

The next thing Lan Wangj remembered was dragging himself to the warded entrance of the Burial Mounds.

Slash after slash, Lan Wangji wielded Bichen as he'd been taught to. As he had in the war. Against the elders of his own clan. Thirty-three of them and yet, they didn't stand a chance against him. Their fear stunk like corpses littering the Burial Mounds. It revolted him. But he knew he needed to use it to protect Wei Wuxian. In the blink of an eye, Lan Wangji had obliterated the hypocritical rats with his bloody arm. Without remorse.

A day later, his consciousness seemed to return. He was kneeling in the punishment hall. Slowly, his hearing returned.

"Impossible! He's the- the second jade!"

"-ust like his father. It's to be expected."

"Yeah. Falling for the viles of the demons seems to be a familial trait."

Lan Wangji shifted his weight and realized that his arms were bound by a rope that was tethered to the sliver of ceiling in the hall. He listened to the small crowd behind him. When the council of elders realized that he had raised his head they began to speak.