Wei Wuxian wanted to tell Lan Wangji that he was okay, but that was a lie. Wei Wuxian was caught somewhere between what had just happened and what had happened in his last life. He wanted to burrow deeper in the warmth of Lan Wangji's arms and never leave. He couldn't do that. He was present enough to recognize that they needed to leave. He needed to get Jiang Wanyin out of here. The fighting wouldn't last much longer and Wei Wuxian was unsure how much time they had before someone would begin searching all of Lotus Pier for survivors.

Wei Wuxian took a few deep breaths. He wasn't okay. He had failed. Well... Not exactly failed. It... it had been discussed at length. There had been a good chance that he would not be able to talk Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan into evacuating. He had not even been able to convince Jiang Fengmian to let him modify the barrier. He had to do it in secret.

The chances that Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian would insist on going down with Lotus Pier were high. Wei Wuxian knew that. Logically he understood that it was their choice to refuse to evacuate. Unfortunately the logical part of Wei Wuxian's brain was very quiet right now and that was making everything harder. Wei Wuxian let himself take a few more breaths. They needed to leave. Before more soldiers came. If more came he might have to use demonic cultivation to get them out, and that would create more witnesses before he wanted them.

Wei Wuxian pulled back, looking at the bloody ruin he had made. All things considered it was not all that horrifying of a sight. He had created much more gruesome scenes than this. The part that was horrifying was the two bodies that he had not killed. Wei Wuxian wasn't certain exactly where Jiang Fengmian's corpse was. He knew it was here somewhere, but his eyes were focused on Yu Ziyuan. The powerful and terrifying Madam of Lotus Pier was a broken and crumpled body on the ground. Wei Wuxian had an urge to look away, but held himself back. It wouldn't help to not look. He already had the images seared into his brain, both from his last life and from this one.

"Lan Zhan. Sect Leader Jiang and Madam Yu... Can... Can we... Can you?" Wei Wuxian wanted to curse. Why couldn't he get the words out? 'Lan Zhan. Can we bring their bodies away? Can you collect their bodies? Can...' Wei Wuxian's throat was tight with tears. Wei Wuxian took several slow breaths to keep them from falling.

"I will retrieve them. Will you be alright for the moment?" Lan Wangji asked. The voice was filled with a warm concern that tugged on Wei Wuxian's heart. He wanted to throw himself into Lan Wangji's arms and never leave. Wei Wuxian took another steadying breath.

"Mn. I'll be alright. I need to get Jiang Cheng out of here. Talk to him." Wei Wuxian said quietly. Wei Wuxian could see the scowl on Lan Wangji's face. Wei Wuxian didn't bother trying to force a smile. Lan Wangji would see through it anyway. "We won't be going anywhere without you, and he isn't going to kill me. He might yell at me a bit. Don't worry about it. Just let him yell. He... he needs it, and I already know what he is going to say." Wei Wuxian said softly. Lan Wangji's scowl deepened.

"Please, Lan Zhan? I can bear what he is going to say, but I can't... I can't leave them here again. I can't touch their corpses. I can't bear that." Wei Wuxian shivered. It wasn't a lie. He could not possibly bring himself to leave Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan's remains behind. Yet, the idea of touching their corpses. Feeling their lifeless bodies was something that would haunt him forever.

"He has until I get back." Lan Wangji consented to Wei Wuxian's request, but it was clear in everything from Lan Wangji's tone to his posture that he hated it. Wei Wuxian managed a small grateful smile before sending Lan Wangji off. Yu Ziyuan's corpse was in eye shot. So Lan Wangji began searching for Jiang Fengmian's. Wei Wuxian had a good idea of what to expect, and Lan Wangji would not like it. It was better to get it over with before Lan Wangji came back.

Wei Wuxian turned to Jiang Wanyin. His Shidi looked broken, eyes too wide, staring fixedly at Yu Ziyuan's corpse. He was kneeling on the ground motionless. There was no shortage of things that could have left Jiang Wanyin in shock. Watching his mother die. Watching Wei Wuxian summon resentful energy and vengeful spirits. Watching Wei Wuxian use both to kill their enemies. Wei Wuxian walked over to him.

"Jiang Cheng?" Wei Wuxian called softly. Jiang Wanyin closed his eyes taking a few deep breaths before slowly rising to his feet. He looked Wei Wuxian in the eyes.

"Go away." His voice was quiet and even. Dread pooled in Wei Wuxian's stomach. Those were two things that Jiang Wanyin's voice never were. "I said, 'Go Away!'" Wei Wuxian stepped back out of range of the fist flying to his face. The dodge intensified the anger on Jiang Wanyin's face. It was a mistake.

'I should have let Jiang Cheng hit me.' Wei Wuxian realizes quietly.

"Why? Why couldn't you leave things be?! A few months and suddenly your fiance is more important than the entire YunmengJiang sect?! If Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan wanted to get themselves killed by standing up to Wen Chao, then let them!" Wei Wuxian allowed the next punch to land. Jiang Wanyin was not holding back, the punch made the side of Wei Wuxian's face explode in pain as he found himself colliding with the ground.

"If they wish to seek death, let them die! It's none of my family's business! Why should my family pay for their actions?!" Jiang Wanyin had followed Wei Wuxian to the ground. Jiang Wanyin's hand came forward and locked around Wei Wuxian's neck. Wei Wuxian tried to open his mouth to speak, but nothing would come out.

"Why? Why? Why did you do this to us?!" Jiang Wanyin's face was covered in tears. Wei Wuxian's mind begins to panic. He needs to breathe, but he can't. Pain is exploding through his senses. It is more than the pain around his throat. Wei Wuxian's head hurts so much. He wishes he could just pound his head into the ground and knock himself unconscious.

"Go to hell!" Jiang Wanyin screams, but the sound is starting to feel distant. "I want my parents!" The words ended in a choked sob.

'I deserve this.' The thought settled in Wei Wuxian's mind, cold and familiar. 'I deserve whatever he wants to do to me.' Wei Wuxian's vision grew fuzzy. A strange calmness settled around him as everything began to fade. The vague image of a fist flew across Wei Wuxian's vision towards Jiang Wanyin.

Lan Wangji's fist collided with Jiang Wanyin's head. The impact knocked Jiang Wanyin off of Wei Wuxian.  The single punch was filled with unrestrained furry.  Jiang Wanyin hit the ground with a loud thud.  Lan Wangji could not even form thoughts to his rage.  The sight of Jiang Wanyin with his hands wrapped around Wei Wuxian's throat.  Lan Wangji had thought he new what it was to be angry.  He was wrong.  He had never felt so overwhelmingly furious.  He had never wished for violence more than he did right now.

Lan Wangji heard Wei Wuxian take in a gasping breath.  That gasp drew Lan Wangji's attention as a bitter anxiety flooded alongside the burning rage.  Wei Wuxian's gasping breath was apparently too much.  It dissolved into a coughing fit that sounded rough and painful in Lan Wangji's ears.  Wei Wuxian gasped for air between the choked coughs.

Lan Wangji feels a familiar rage filling him. It takes all of the self control he has ever cultivated to lift Jiang Wanyin and place him safely in the boat along with the remains of Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan. Lan Wangji has no desire to save him. The rage burning inside of him wants to strike Jiang Wanyin. Lan Wangji wants to leave him for Wen Chao to do what he wishes. The only reason he is saving Jiang Wanyin, is because the alternative would hurt Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji wishes he could engrave that knowledge into Jiang Wanyin's soul. The knowledge that Wei Wuxian is the only reason Jiang Wanyin is alive right now.

Lan Wangji crouches beside Wei Wuxian. His hands hover, afraid of hurting Wei Wuxian more than he already is. Wei Wuxian manages to quiet his coughs, taking short shallow breaths to try and prevent dissolving into another coughing fit.

"Lan Zhan." Wei Wuxian rasps. His voice sounds rough and strange.

"Mn." Lan Wangji forces out the response. He's upset... too upset to talk, but he can't bear to ignore Wei Wuxian either.

"Help me up?" Wei Wuxian croaks out in a hoarse whisper. Lan Wangji gently lifts Wei Wuxian up before setting him on his feet. Lan Wangji's hands linger in support as Wei Wuxian wobbles on his feet, blinking as though trying to clear his vision.

"There's..." Wei Wuxian coughs after trying to take too large of a breath. He doubles over, nearly losing his balance. Lan Wangji's hands are the only thing that keep Wei Wuxian on his feet. "There's a place we can hide. Wen Qing hid us there before helping us get out. She'll probably come by and check." Wei Wuxian's throat protests the use. It is evident in the pinched expression on Wei Wuxian's face, and the growing weakness in Wei Wuxian's voice.