Chapter Text
“Pairs will be assigned randomly,” Lan Xichen spoke, addressing the group of disciples in front of him, “Assignments will be handed out as pairings are read off, please come up to the front when your name is called.”
A Lan disciple pulled out a scroll and started reading names - each pair then stepped away from the group and to another Lan, being handed a small slip of paper containing their night hunt assignment.
“Jiang Wanyin, Jin Zixuan.”
Wei Ying covered his mouth, smothering the laugh that threatened to escape, as Jiang Cheng ran a hand over his face, sighing, before walking to the front and glaring at Jin Zixuan as he took their assignment.
Soon, there were only a handful of disciples left to be called. Wei Ying looked around and grimaced, noticing that most of those who were left were Jin disciples - but then his eyes landed on the white in the crowd, and he couldn’t hide the smile that crossed his face.
Lan Wangji had yet to be called, there was still a chance that the universe was on his side and he would be paired up with his fuddy-duddy.
“Jin Zixun, Su She.”
Wei Ying watched the two teens groan as they stomped forward, one of them rudely swiping the book from the Lan disciple, and then completely leaving the area everyone else was standing in, waiting for the assignments to finish being delegated.
“Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji.”
Wei Ying turned his head towards Lan Zhan, flashing him the widest smile he could as he practically ran forward, taking the booklet and immediately flicking through it.
Report: Multiple farm animals have been going missing over the course of two weeks, farm owner states that there has never been issues with his animals prior. Corpses of the animals are then recovered days later, mangled and mauled.
Location: One shichen walk south of Caiyi.
Suspect: Yao, likely singular in nature, potentially hiding in the woods around the farm and being opportunistic at night. Likely not from the area.
Preferred Method: Extermination.
Wei Ying smiled as Lan Zhan walked over to him, handing over their task so Lan Zhan could read it as well.
Just as he was about to open his mouth, Lan Xichen’s voice rang out across the crowd.
“Now that everyone has received their assignments, you will be given a week’s time to complete them. Working together with your assigned partner will be vital in making your methods quick and effective. Remember, the goal is to not cause any more harm than already has been done. If you feel as though your assignment becomes too much, that the initial assessment was lacking in information and the night hunt becomes more difficult for you and your partner to manage, there will be signal flares in your qiankun pouches. If needed, a group of Lan disciples will come swiftly to aid.”
Lan Xichen smiled, bowing to the crowd.
“Remain safe and good luck!”
The pairs started dispersing, voices rose discussing the strategies they should use, how they should manage their assigned night hunts.
“Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying started, following after Lan Zhan as he turned around at Lan Xichen’s dismissal, walking in the direction of the main gates. “Lan Zhan! Aren’t you excited! This will be so much fun!”
Wei Ying caught up to him, turning his head and looking for a reaction - and being met with Lan Zhan’s gaze remaining straight ahead, not even sparing him a glance.
“Night hunts are not fun. They are serious matters.”
Wei Ying sighed.
“Well of course, I know that.” He reached over, bumping Lan Zhan’s arm with his. “I’m just excited that we were partnered together! Out of everyone, there were only a few people I’d want to spend days in the woods with. Poor Jiang Cheng though, having to spend time with Jin Zixuan.”
Lan Zhan said nothing, gave no indication that he was even listening to the words coming out of Wei Ying’s mouth.
The once amazing night hunt started turning sour in Wei Ying’s mind. He knew that Lan Zhan probably barely tolerated him, but he was still excited to see him fight, to be able to fight a Yao together, side by side.
By the time they had walked into Caiyi, turning south and starting their journey towards their destination, Wei Ying hadn’t said another word.
There were a few moments where Wei Ying pointed something out on their journey, pointing to flowers or trees, animals that were crossing their path, all in a way to get Lan Zhan to look at him, to acknowledge that Wei Ying was with him, that they were working together.
He stopped after the sixth time, when he saw Lan Zhan’s eyes slip shut after he finished speaking, his hand tightening his grasp on his sword. It was disheartening to face such rejection, but if Lan Zhan wanted to pretend that he was alone, then Wei Ying would just keep quiet - it’s not like his words would be noticed anyway.
He kept up with Lan Zhan’s pace, walking slightly behind him, and just took in the scenery around him as they walked down pathways and through the forests.
As the sun started inching towards the horizon, Lan Zhan still hadn’t given a single indication that he even acknowledged that Wei Ying had been assigned as his partner during this hunt, acting as if he was acting alone when dealing with their assignment.
And it was starting to get to Wei Ying.
“You know, Lan Zhan, if you’re so upset with who they assigned to work with you, you could have just said something before we left.” Wei Ying spoke, arms hanging at his sides as he turned away, looking down the hill at the farm land that surrounded them. “I’m sure Zewu-jun would have let you work alone and assign me to someone else.”
Lan Zhan kept walking, his head looking straight ahead.
“Fine, be that way then.” Wei Ying mumbled, unsheathing his sword and flying ahead.
Flying past Lan Zhan, past the quiet, past being ignored. He flew above the treeline until he finally spotted a small farm not far from them, and directed his sword towards it.
The farmer was waiting for him when he arrived, looking relieved that someone had finally shown up to solve his problem - to help save his animals from whatever was attacking and stealing them away.
Lan Zhan arrived shortly thereafter - after Wei Ying had been given the run down, after Wei Ying had examined the pens the animals were in and laid out repulsion talismans, after Wei Ying had started to examine the most recent corpse of a cow that the farmer had found just that morning.
Lan Zhan arrived just as Wei Ying was making his way into the forest, turning east and walking into the thickest part he could see.
He saw white out of the corner of his eye, knowing that Lan Zhan had followed him, and he quickened his pace.
If Lan Zhan wanted to take on this night hunt alone, then Wei Ying would just make it so he did all the work, leaving nothing for Lan Wangji to take credit for. If he wanted to work alone so badly, then Wei Ying would let him - and work alone himself too.
An hour passed before Wei Ying came across anything worth mentioning - and found that the farmer was dealing with a Yao, and a strong one at that.
Wei Ying stared down the Yao - it was a large being, probably almost Wei Ying’s height. It looked as though it had tried taking on the shape of one of the farm animals, maybe either a pig or a cow.
It wasn’t happy to see him, huffing and scratching its feet on the ground as if to intimidate Wei Ying into leaving.
He charged forward, sword drawn, slicing at the Yao.
Wei Ying didn’t notice when Lan Zhan joined the fight, not until their swords clashed together, the Yao managing to dodge both of them.
He practically glared at Lan Zhan before turning to follow the Yao deeper into the forest. It was using the growing darkness of the incoming night to aid in hiding, but Wei Ying had gotten better at tracking things, especially at night, so he found it almost immediately.
There were footsteps behind him, and he knew Lan Zhan had caught up to him, both of them taking shots at the Yao, trying to take it down.
It was bleeding quite heavily, making the forest floor slippery in spots. There were gashes and stab wounds littered across its body, and yet it remained standing, unwilling to fall to those who were trying to take it down.
Wei Ying managed to hop up into the treeline above it, a place he discovered that it couldn’t see, and jumped down, Suibian aimed down, as he landed on the Yao’s back, gouging his sword deeply through the Yao’s back. He flailed, holding onto his sword as the Yao tried to buck him off like he had seen horses do to those who were trying to ride them.
The jumping around and frantic movements only made Wei Ying’s sword do more damage as he held on - unwilling to let go but also not wanting to get flung off its back.
He heard Lan Zhan doing something, moving around, before there was a twang in the air - Wei Ying turning around to see Wangji in his hands, hands hovering over the strings as he sent attacks toward the Yao.
In his momentary distraction, Wei Ying’s hand slipped. His grip on his sword was nonexistent as he was flung off the Yao, his back slamming into a tree, forcing all the air out of his lungs as he felt something snap in his chest.
The Yao, now watching as one of its attackers lay on the forest floor, unprotected, charged.
Wei Ying managed to dodge the brunt of the attack, hearing the tree he was just leaning against snap as the Yao ran into it.
A loud crunch echoed through the forest as pain erupted in Wei Ying’s right leg, causing him to let out a loud shout as he looked down. The Yao had managed to step on his leg when he was twisting away from it, pinning him to the forest floor underneath it, unable to escape due to the weight.
He heard a shout of his name and saw a flurry of blue flashes before the Yao finally slumped over, falling to the ground dead.
Lan Zhan rushed over to him, reaching a hand out towards his leg - Wei Ying slapped it away, glaring at him.
“You do not get to care now when you spend the whole day ignoring me.” He pushed himself up, leaning back against the now tree stump behind him. “I can manage just fine,” Wei Ying spat out, “So you can just go back home and tell them you were successful.”
“Wei Ying-”
“Go!” He shouted, tears starting to pool in his eyes. “You hate me anyway, I don’t get why you’re still even here.”
Lan Zhan shook his head.
“I don’t-”
“Then why ignore me? Why treat me like I’m some dirt on your robes? Why brush off every single attempt I make at conversation? At trying to just talk to you?” He spoke, a tear finally sliding down Wei Ying’s face.
“You can stop pretending now, Lan-er-gongzi, I understand quite clearly what you think of me.” Wei Ying looked away, closing his eyes. “So you can just leave, you don’t have to force yourself to tolerate my presence any longer.”
Lan Zhan just stared at him, at the tear that slid down his face. His hand still hovering over Wei Ying’s shattered lower leg, fingers trembling.
“I…I don’t hate you, Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan finally managed to get out - his voice small, quiet.
“Lying is forbidden.” Wei Ying mumbled, not meeting his gaze.
Just as Lan Zhan was opening his mouth, just as he was about to state that he wasn’t lying, that he just didn’t know how to control himself when he knew he was going to be alone in the woods with Wei Ying, when they were going to be in such close proximity for an extended period of time.
He had rationalized it to himself that by ignoring Wei Ying’s words, he could keep his mind from wandering towards those disrespectful dreams he had started having. Lan Zhan thought that if he kept quiet, kept to the path, that they could be done with this within hours and be back in Cloud Recesses, parting ways before the thought of how Wei Ying’s smile tasted could cross his mind for the fifth time since he woke.
If he had known that keeping quiet would make Wei Ying think he hated him, that it would cause this reaction, he would’ve slapped himself.
Just as he was going to speak, explain himself and his actions to Wei Ying before Wei Ying could come up with more things he thought Lan Zhan was thinking, he froze - before quickly moving forward and covering Wei Ying’s body with his own.
He felt Wei Ying thrashing, telling him to let go, but then the sound of a growl made him stop - made a whimper escape him.
Behind them, in the trees, was a wolf pack.
Not just a few of them, but well over a dozen.
Lan Zhan felt the way Wei Ying started trembling, his hands fisting in Lan Zhan’s robes.
“Lan Zhan.” Wei Ying gasped out, “Lan Zhan!” he spoke, the fear in his voice made Lan Zhan’s heart break as he pulled Wei Ying closer, tightly tucking him into his arms, shielding him from the wolves as they approached.
It was too many to take on his own, Lan Zhan knew, especially when Wei Ying was so heavily injured and in no state to fight.
He tried moving his hands, moving to the qiankun pouch tied at his waist, to the flare that was inside, to the help that was just out of reach.
Every movement of his body was carefully watched by the wolves, one of them was close enough that Lan Zhan could make out the color of its eyes.
Bichen, however, was within Lan Zhan’s reach - and he knew he would only have one attempt to escape, to get away long enough to get out the flare, something he should’ve done the moment Wei Ying screamed.
The wolves grew closer, snarling and growling at every movement Lan Zhan made - Wei Ying letting out a whimper every time. He tried to move slowly, to avoid the wolves pouncing on them before he could get Bichen into his hand - all while protecting Wei Ying the whole time.
Lan Zhan had his whole body pressed over Wei Ying, hovering over him, feeling every shiver that ran through Wei Ying’s body as he tightly held onto Lan Zhan’s robes as if letting go would mean death itself would get him.
He counted to three in his head, then made his move.
Bichen shot to his hand at his call, rising above them as he wrapped an arm around Wei Ying’s waist, pulling them both into the air as Bichen rose higher and higher. He heard the wolves below them growling, barking, screaming as they made their escape.
Lan Zhan managed to get one of his feet onto Bichen’s blade as they rose, starting to pass by the lower tree branches of the trees around them.
He thought they were in the clear, that they would be able to escape. They would have to come back for Suibian, Wei Ying was in no state to do anything but hold onto Lan Zhan, but they would be okay.
Lan Zhan spotted the moon in the sky, full, bright, blinding as he soared up.
Then he felt a tug, a pull.
Then they were plummeting back to the ground, to the wolves, to their death.
One of the wolves had managed to jump high enough to grab the robes that hung from Wei Ying’s injured leg. The ripped, tattered robes that had been torn in the struggle, when Wei Ying got hurt.
Bichen slipped from his grasp, his eyes turning towards Wei Ying as they fell no more than ten feet back to the ground. Lan Zhan wrapped his arms around Wei Ying, shielding him from the wolves as they crashed onto the forest floor, as the wolves pounced on them.
Lan Zhan cowered over Wei Ying, attempting to cover him at all points, protecting him at all costs - to not allow the wolves to get to Wei Ying, even if it meant they would get to him first.
The first bite came down on his shoulder, he could feel the wolf’s hot breath on his neck as he hissed in pain. Lan Zhan felt the teeth break his skin, puncture into his muscle.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying shouted out from under him, seeing the pain that flashed across his face as the wolves came down on them.
Another attacked his leg, one managed a bit along his hip. Wei Ying let out a scream when one of them zoned in on his mangled leg, grabbing onto it and trying to drag them away, somewhere they would never return from, somewhere the wolves could devour them and leave their families wondering what happened to them.
Lan Zhan looked down at Wei Ying, eyes wide, as he felt shaky hands come up and wrap around the back of his neck. Wei Ying’s hands splayed out, covering every bit of skin he could reach, shielding his neck from the wolves - sacrificing his hands in order to protect Lan Zhan.
Lan Zhan let out a muffled scream as his side erupted into pain, his body tensing at the sudden amount of pain that rushed through him, the warmth he felt of his blood spilling out of his body and into his robes.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying spoke through a sob, stretching up and knocking their foreheads together, tears sliding down his face.
He welcomed the warmth, the comfort that Wei Ying was trying to provide despite the fear that consumed him. Lan Zhan looked down, seeing blood splattered across Wei Ying’s face, tears falling down both of their faces.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan started, grimacing as a wolf latched onto his leg, tugging and pulling them, “I love you.”
Lan Zhan watched as Wei Ying broke, as he started sobbing, pulling them as close as they could be, keeping his hands locked on their spot at the back of Lan Zhan’s neck. Wei Ying held on tightly, and Lan Zhan couldn’t help but do the same.
He heard Wei Ying scream, tears sliding down both of their faces as two wolves approached their faces. Lan Zhan felt their hot breath on their faces as they waited, stalked them, stared down at them - before they pounced.
Lan Zhan felt teeth on his hair, his neck being pulled away from Wei Ying. He heard Wei Ying scream his name as the other wolf latched onto Wei Ying’s hands at the base of Lan Zhan’s neck.
He heard both of their screams over the sounds of the wolves. He felt the way Wei Ying trembled, hands almost painfully tightening their hold on Lan Zhan’s neck, refusing to let go, to let the wolf have access to the precious skin.
A wolf jumped on top of them, pressing them both down onto the forest floor.
This is it, Lan Zhan thought, refusing to close his eyes, forcing himself to keep his gaze open, eyes locked onto Wei Ying’s.
Then, there was a glow coming from behind Wei Ying, Lan Zhan’s eyes widened as it wound around them before pulling, taking both of them with it.