Wangxian Prompt/Self-fill Dump

Alternate AU Pt 1

"You want to say Master's name, but because Master 'fixed' this world, he made sure there was nothing left that could disrupt the eternal peace he granted you..." they give a bitter laugh and turn away again. "We do not blame Master... it was not his fault, but the fault of everyone else... of your and....me..."

"Me?" Lan Zhan wonders, watching this entity as it walked over to the wall and grabs a box and carefully grabs it and brings it over.

"We are not being fair... Hanguang-Jun did nothing, but try to save Master... but We didn't like it, didn't want you to... We drove Master past his breaking point... You tried to save Master even at the end..."

A suddenly flash in his mind, makes Lan Zhan stumble forward and fall to his knees, the smell of ash and fire, the acrid stench of melting flesh. Screaming and the sound of battle echo around him. He looks around and sees all the Sects in a bloody war, strange demonic beasts fighting them and each other. He turns and he sees someone, he runs towards them, but it feels like he is knee deep in water, or mud, he cannot move fast enough, cannot escape this desparate need to get to HIM! And then someone stabs the man and he opens his mouth to scream, but he is suddenly looking at his reflection in the silver water.

"This use to be the Demon Eating Cave, this pool of water use to be the Blood Pool... It use to be a sacred Pool, but years of death, the blood and bodies being dumped here turned it permanently to blood. The Burial Mounds became alive and an Immortal who tried to save us, ended up sealing us in as they died... It was not until Master came that we were able to break free... Master was not like you... but he was skilled like you... He realized that when he whistled we listened... he made a Dizi from a stalk of the Blood bamboo. He drank form the Blood Pool and was reborn..." They say almost fondly. "If We knew then what We know now... we would have protected Master's kind soul... would have protected Master so much more..."

"Who--?" He gasps and they kneel beside him and pass him the box. "What--"

"You will remember if you open it..." They say and vanish from his side.

Lan Zhan is not sure if he's going insane, talking to some strange not quite demonic entity or he is bed ridden and feverish from the brutal beating he does not recall the reason for receiving. Does he throw the box away and pretend this isn't happening? But the echoes of something important ache deep in his chest, his very soul. He wants to know who he wants to call out to, who the child like giggles belong to. Slowly opening the box, he decides he is truly mad to listen to this not demon. In side is a cracked jade tassel, the vibrant red of the string is frayed and calling apart and then he sees a Jade Token, one that the Gusu Lan only give to either trusted allies and visiting students. this one was marked for a student. slowly reaching out, he gasps as he realizes whoever owned it had carefully carved a bunny around the Cloud motif and there was a louts flower seemingly floating on the cloud.

"Wei Ying...." He breathes and then with an agonized scream the dam breaks.

He remembers the annoying, but cheerful teen, recalls their time spent in the library, the constant teasing and attempts to befriend him. An infectious smile, bright innocent laughter. His name a near constant on his lips. Glittering silver eyes shining. Bunnies, peonies, gentians, loquats, the smell of alcohol -Emperor's Smile-

Lan Zhan arches his back as he relives his life with this young man at his side, vanishing and appearing sickly and half mad, trying to convince him to come back with him, to let him help him. He recalls the village where the Wen Remnants lived under Wei Ying's protection, the Yiling Laozu' Protection. He recalls Wei Ying telling him he gave birth to the small child, who had clung to Lan Zhan's leg calling him 'a'Die' and then calling Wei Ying 'a'Niang.' He recalls buying the child, Wen Yuan, a few toys, buying food and medicine for Wei Ying and the Wen Remnants.