~*Wei Wuxian's POV*~

It was subtle, but I heard it. The screams, the cries, the anguish. They were spirits that were under my control but they were suffering. I felt the Yin Hu Fu stirring in my robes. Something was agitating it. The voices got louder, telling me that the person what's me gone. The spirits that were under my control don't wish to harm me, but the more they held back, the more painful their cries became.

The screams got louder, and I clutched my head in pain. I knelt down, seeing Lan Zhan and Xichen-Ge trying to say something to me. I could not hear, it was too loud. I heard an eerie tune, almost as if it was a whisper in my ears.

"Ano-ther Flu-te," I managed to say. I saw Xichen-Ge searching the area. He was trying to gather his senses, I could tell after a moment he heard it.

"Pain!" I yelled, "head!...Can't. breathe!" I felt my Qi was unstable, despite my spiritual energy being closed off, it was still being effected, "Qi!"

***

~*Lan Xichen's POV*~

Wei Wuxian was in so much pain, I couldn't get through to him. It was like he couldn't hear me.

"Flute!" I heard him say.

I thought he meant his but then I felt something was off. I closed my eyes and reached out with my senses...and there it was. I heard an eerie tune...but is was one I've never heard before.

"Qi!" Was what I heard that had me come back to Wuxian.

"He could deviate if we don't get him out of here," I told Wangji, "get him to the inn, get the healer to you as well. I heard the flute."

"Xiongzhang?" He asked.

He was afraid. I was asking a lot out of him, "A'Xian needs you, Didi. He is your soulmate," I said, "I have to track down that flute."

He nodded, "be careful."

I nodded and watched Wangji take off on Bichen with Wei Wuxian in his arms. I then turned to the direction of the flute. I saw Da-Ge nearby.

"Da-Ge?" I called.

"What is Wei Wuxian up too?" He asked.

"It's not him, someone is causing him to deviate. I had Wangji get him out of here. That is someone else," I said.

"Let's go," he said.

Da-Ge and I followed the music. We came across a person in black robes and a ghost mask, "who are you? What are you doing?" Da-Ge asked.

"Wei Wuxian will hand over that amulet, dead or alive," the man said and used a teleportation talisman to disappear.

"Over my dead body!" Da-Ge growled.

"Da-Ge, come back to the inn with me, I can inform you on some things there," I told him.

He nodded, "if you want some alone time, just ask," he teased.

I sighed with a smile, "just come on," I said and pulled him along.

I took him to the room Wangji, Wuxian, and I were staying at, "Wangji?" I called out.

"Xiongzhang," he said.

"How is A'Xian?" I asked.

"I'm okay, Xichen-Ge," Wuxian said as I saw him sitting up in bed, "Lan Zhan sent some spiritual energy to me. It helped."

I nodded, "is it alright that I share with Da-Ge, your story?" I asked him, "he won't tell anyone...he and I saw a man in black robes and a ghost mask. He said you  will hand over the amulet dead or alive. Da-Ge does not want that to happen."

Wei Wuxian looked at Da-Ge, "I trust him," he said, "as long as Jiang Cheng doesn't know."

"I am aware," I said.

I then placed a privacy talisman over the room. I told Da-Ge everything. Wei Wuxian spoke as well. Talking of his experience with it all. Then about his injuries, his core, and how he can potentially cultivate again if he heals properly.

"Did this stunt set you back on your recovery at all?" Da-Ge asked.

"I'm not sure, can you tell us what happened to you?" I asked Wuxian.

"I could hear screaming. It started off faint. The spirits that are usually around me and that I control, they were in pain. They felt someone trying to take over them. They just kept getting louder and I soon couldn't breathe. I couldn't hear you or Lan Zhan if you were speaking with me. So I just tried shouting what I could get out," he explained.

"Well, how do you feel now?" I asked.

"Better...thanks to Lan Zhan," he said happily and then became serious again, "how did the Jin Sect get more Wen Remnants?"

"I'm not sure actually, I thought the groups Da-Ge and I split up were the only two...unless Jin Guangshan had them in his dungeons," I answered.

"When I went up, I didn't sense that they were cultivators," Wuxian said.

"Jin Guangshan, he is getting more and more bold," Da-Ge said.

"Speaking of, I saw you saying something to Wangji before going up, what did you say?" I asked.

He smirked, "I asked for his ribbon...I was sort of teasing but he didn't give in anyway."

"You remember the meaning right?" I asked.

"Yes," he said, "that's why I asked...he wants to court me, so I was polite enough to ask to borrow it."

I sighed, "That's fair enough I suppose."

"I will secretly look into the Jin's. I won't share Wuxian's secrets either. I will see you three, soon," Da-Ge said and left.

"Did you get the healer?" I asked.

"I couldn't find them, which was why I sent him energy," Wangji answered.

"Because your Qi was effected a bit, I bet you feel like your chest is blocked up with stale blood," I said.

Wuxian nodded, "that, and I'm also hungry and in a bit of pain."

"I will order food," Wangji said.

"Alright," I said and watched him leave before turning to Wuxian, "I know he is trying, he just doesn't know what he is doing."

"I know," he said, "I am being patient with him...I also need time, remember?"

I nodded, "alright, let me get your medicine brewing and then take care of that blood in your chest," I told him.

After I brewed his medicine, I decided to take care of the stale blood before giving him the medicine. I gave him a handkerchief and then tapped a few points on his body. He then spit up the blood and then I gave him the medicine.

He suddenly started laughing, "what's so funny?" He asked.

"I just had a memory pop up, that's all," he said.

I sat beside him, facing him, "Want to tell me?"

"You'd laugh or you'd want to hit me," he said.

"Let me guess, it involves my brother."

He nodded.

"I'm listening," I told him.