When We Meet Again (The Untamed Sequel)

Chapter 21 - Empathy

"Run, hide. Do what you must... I'll still find you.
-Su Young - Broken Season

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Lan Wangji

I wasn't aware of how long I stayed kneeling next to him, after trying all methods I could think of to move Wei Ying from where he was, failing over and over again. A rain started some time ago, making him shiver. He screamed every so often, but now it seemed that he had no strength to do so.

I numbly stare at his glistening body, helplessly hoping that his pain will die down, but his whimpers said otherwise.

I notice that the color of the energy changed. Now it was red and it was faint. It was fading away.

I try to touch him once again. This time my hand jolts away, but not powerful enough to push me.

I wait for the energy to cease, and desperately pull himself towards me. He was cold, I hug him trying to give him the little body heat I have. I check for injuries, but I don't find any. Nor did I find the cause of his pain. But I find a black talisman, writings invisible because of its color, attached to his back. I stuff it into my lapels.

Wei Ying's breathing was faint, but something was telling me that he was stronger.

"Hold on a little more Wei Ying," I whisper to his ear. "I'm taking you home."

I carry him, and as if he recognized my presence grabs my robes and hides his face in my chest, still in pain.

I mount my sword, heading to Cloud Recess.

I could feel that my energy was draining, but I'm determined to go on. I have to save Wei Ying.

I use my Jade to get through the wards and step on the ground at the gate. I see my brother rush to my side with my blurred vision and I feel my legs give out.

***

My memory was blurry and disoriented. I remember carrying Wei Ying to Jingshi and then falling asleep on my brother's bed since he insisted me to rest for a while.

After waking up I almost run towards Jingshi, to find Wei Ying on the bed, now calmer, and Sizhui sitting next to him, wiping his face with a wet cloth. I know not why, but I feel that Wei Ying was in good care.

"Sizhui?"

He stands up at once and bows. "Hanguang Jun... I- I wanted to take care of Senior Wei while you were resting. He has a fever"

"I permitted him to do so." My brother says, standing near the door.

"Thank you Sizhui," I tell him.

"My pleasure." He says and I know he meant it. "Hanguang Jun, I can come tomorrow too." He says, looking at with hope, and I see the need for payback, the desperate need to help a person who was a brother and a father to him once.

"You can," I reply.

His face lights up immediately. "Thank you Hanguang Jun, I'll be here in the morning."

"Wangji, what happened?" my brother asks after he leaves.

I tell him about the spirit, leaving out the part about being unable to touch him.

"I didn't see what attacked him." I should've been more careful.

I rummage through my wet pile of robes which I wore when I returned, and take out the talisman I found. "This was attached to his back."