Backlash Part 1

Chapter 105: The Library Array

The glow pulsed repetitively almost as if to the rhythm of a song. The mist slowly dispersed revealed the library. The structure looked as though nothing had happened to it. No trace of damage. The glowing array slowly dimmed and faded from view. In moments it was as though the library had always been sitting here, whole and undamaged. Lan Wangji's mind was slow to process what he was seeing.

"How?" Lan Wangji heard the soft question come from somewhere behind him. He could hardly process who could have asked it, let alone answer them in return. There was a crunch of footsteps in the stunned silence.

"Oh, you activated the array." Wei Wuxian said cheerfully as he bounded to Lan Wangji's side.

"Wei Ying..." Lan Wangji whispered breathlessly. There should be other words after that, but no matter how hard Lan Wangji tried no more words would come. Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Wangji's stunned face and smiled warmly.

"I promised to help you protect your home. I don't skimp on effort when it comes to keeping my promises." Wei Wuxian said gently cupping Lan Wangji's cheek with his hand. Wei Wuxian was pulled against a warm chest as Lan Wangji encased him in a firm embrace.

A few disciples entered the library. Their excited chatter at finding the books intact was background noise, like the chirping of insects or the rustle of leaves. Lan Wangji had felt certain the library could not be saved. He was certain Wei Wuxian had made a strong protective array, but one that ultimately fell against the determined invaders. The reality was not something Lan Wangji could have ever imagined. He had seen the ruins of the library. The smell of smoke and charred wood, the rubble and splinters. It had been real, and yet the building was now intact.

"How?" Lan Wangji asked the question that had been voiced by the crowd more than once.

"Well... GusuLan sect's library is famous. If someone wants to hurt you or shame you they would target the library. It might be a bigger target than your treasury, if only because the library is easy to find." Wei Wuxian commented.

Wei Wuxian had been shown where the treasury was at some point. He'd plastered talismans on every structure in Cloud Recesses and he vaguely recalled someone saying something like 'this is the treasury.' Unfortunately Wei Wuxian's brain was a noisy place and information was often lost in the chatter. He couldn't have told you where the treasury was anymore than he could tell you where the immortal Baoshan Sanren lived.

"Us. Our." Lan Wangji said into Wei Wuxian's ear.

"Mn?" Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Wangji in confusion.

"Wei Ying belongs." Lan Wangji said gazing intently at Wei Wuxian. 'Belongs to GusuLan sect. Belongs in Cloud Recesses.' Wei Wuxian's eyes slid away as a faint pink dusted Wei Wuxian's cheeks. Lan Wangji could see the shiny of happy tears moistening Wei Wuxian's eyes. He didn't say anything more. Lan Wangji knew Wei Wuxian struggled to respond to such statements, but he also knew that being told he belonged meant everything to Wei Wuxian.

"Anyway," Wei Wuxian cleared his throat. "When I was working with Xichen-ge on updating the wards and barriers of Cloud Recesses I felt the library deserved special consideration. The library of Cloud Recesses is an important symbol. If the building itself was protected an attacker might just go inside and destroy the contents directly. So in this case something a bit trickier than a shield seemed prudent." Wei Wuxian explained.

"The library appeared destroyed." Lan Wangji said slowly.

"Mn. It did look that way. The array is really complicated but the idea was something like moving something out of the way and then putting it back. They get to see damage occurring, but the real library and its non-living contents are untouched. Then when you activated the array again everything went back to its proper place." Wei Wuxian explained brightly.

Lan Wangji wanted to pin Wei Wuxian against the wall of the library he just saved and kiss him senseless. That would probably be inappropriate, though Lan Wangji was suddenly finding that he could no longer recall any rules that related kissing in public. A thought itched at the back of his head telling him that such rules probably existed, but when Lan Wangji tried to recall them now all he could see was Wei Wuxian's red and extremely kissable lips.

Lan Wangji grabbed Wei Wuxian by the wrist and began dragging him towards the Jingshi. He decidedly ignored any sounds of speaking, deciding it didn't matter what they were saying. Whether they were trying to talk to him or not, Lan Wangji did not have the ability to think about anything else right now. As soon as they were within the threshold of the courtyard Lan Wangji pressed Wei Wuxian up against the wall and began to attack that beautiful mouth.

Lan Wangji did not stop kissing Wei Wuxian until he pulled away gasping for air. Lan Wangji was also struggling to breathe, but breathing seemed far less important than kissing Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji was slowly calming himself down in time with Wei Wuxian's gasping breaths.

"Lan Zhan. Did you really drag me back here because you couldn't wait to kiss me? Or were you looking for an excuse to hide from everyone's questions?" Wei Wuxian asked between breaths, dark eyes glittering.

"Wei Ying is too good." Lan Wangji said somewhat breathlessly.

Wei Wuxian beamed brightly and Lan Wangji thought the sight might stop his heart. Seeing Wei Wuxian giving his full smile was like staring into the sun. So bright it blinded, so beautiful it hurt. Lan Wangji suddenly wrapped Wei Wuxian in an embrace and held him close. He suddenly needed Wei Wuxian in his arms. He needed to feel Wei Wuxian in his arms to remind him that Wei Wuxian was real, and his. Wei Wuxian settled comfortably in the embrace, seeming content to be held as long as Lan Wangji wished.