[best read in white bg]

The blue sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds that drifted lazily in the gentle breeze. It was chilly. Not like the cold of the winter mornings in Gusu, but more like the cool breeze lowering the temperature after some brisk rain, which would have been very pleasant otherwise, but not now.

The cold air brushed against Wei Wuxian's cheeks, irritating the skin to make it red. Not too red, but quite visible over his ghost-like pale skin. Lan Zhan had told him to wear warmer clothes, but he insisted on wearing those same blood-damp robes from the past two weeks.

The midday was beautiful. Upon this mountain, especially, where the birds sang merrily all day long. Red and white flowers fell on the ground once in a while. It was romantic. Except it wasn't. For them, Lan Zhan and Wei Ying, at least.

For, Lan Zhan was carrying Wei Ying to his death.

Now, about two weeks ago, Lan Wangji had found Wei Ying, partially wet, not in water but blood. Lan Wangji wasn't sure who that blood belonged to, Wei Ying, or his name-sake enemies who were trying to kill him.

Wei Ying looked empty. Tears were flowing down his cheeks, though none of it shown over his expression. Lan Wangji shook him in fear. And Wei Ying responded, only by gazing up at him, just as empty as a porcelain doll.

The sky was painted red, like the blood of all of those who died, no, those who were murdered by Wei Wuxian. Is it funny, how Wei Wuxian was alive like a monster, while those innocent ones he loved were dead at his fault?

When the sun had set already, the sky was dark, black, like Wei Wuxian's soul. There were no stars, for the dense clouds had blocked away their shine. Wei Wuxian realized that he was no more in the battlefield of the nightless city, but in a warmer, brighter room.

Lan Wangji was beside him. When Lan Wangji touched Wei Ying, he was icy cold. It seemed that he had none of the warm blood anymore. There was no colour to his face. His clothes stank of rotten blood.

During the two weeks Lan Wangji hid Wei Wuxian in the cloud recesses, away from those cultivators who were hungry for Wei Wuxian's blood, and his Yin amulet, he couldn't tell which of the two suffered more.

Wei Wuxian tried to kill himself more than he tried to keep himself alive. He refused to eat, refused to sleep, refused to talk. Just whenever he found an object sharp enough, he tried to end himself. Lan Wangji tried far too hard to stop him, as far measures, where he had to practically tie Wei Ying's hands, and try to force food down his throat to keep him alive.

Lan Wangji didn't know how he could get back the Wei Ying he knew. Lan Wangji couldn't understand Wei Wuxian's pain. Wei Wuxian thrashed and yelled and cried. He cursed at him and begged him too. Begged him to get killed.

"You think you are helping, Lan Wangji?" Wei Wuxian said, eyes full of water, but somehow, still empty, "Well, the fuck you are not. Why are you making me suffer so much? Do you really hate me so much? Can't you just let me die? They didn't let me live peacefully and now you won't fucking let me die."

Words had pierced in Lan Wangji's heart.

It was pouring outside. It was rare for it to rain in Gusu. It mostly snows. But the few times it rains, it's not just rain, but accompanying thunderstorm and lightning. Between the loud sound of the heavy raindrops falling on the paved pavallion, the roaring thunder and Wei Ying's silent sobs, Lan Wangji could only focus on the sobs.

Tears were collected to the brim of his eyes, blurring his vision, but they didn't fall down. "I'm ... " Lan Wangji wanted to apologise. But it seemed that the words had choked up in his throat.

"Lan Zhan, you know the pain of losing family, parents, don't you?" Wei Ying spoke, then again, softer. "My parents, almost my whole foster family, the stray Wen remnants who had been close to me like a family. I lost them all Lan Zhan. And so too because of my own fault. I killed them. Can you imagine that pain, Lan Zhan? You must be stronger, but I am sorry, i am weak. I cannot live on with that pain. Please, just let me die for once. I promise, i won't trouble you after that."

Lan Wangji wasn't capable of imagining a pain like that. But he knew for sure, that the shit hurted bad. Very bad. And it wasn't fair for Wei Ying to be forced to bear that pain by himself.

Lan Wangji tried to look at things from Wei Wuxian's point of view. Perhaps ... Perhaps it was best to let Wei Ying go. To set his soul free. To give him peace of the afterlife.

Therefore, now, they were here, at the slope of the mountain of great Lady Baoshan, the kind-hearted immortal who was known for her justice and for training the young cultivators from the streets when they have lost parents.

Lan Wangji had asked Wei Wuxian to give him a few days, just enough so he could find a way to let his soul free in the least painful way, so that atleast the last few moments of his life were peaceful. Wei Wuxian had not agreed verbally, but he didn't disagree either. So Lan Wangji took his own call.

It was hard, but after day and night of research has Wangji found about the Baoshan Method. It was where Lady Baoshan gently lifts the soul from the body, without damaging it, and sets it free in the afterlife heaven. It was a method practiced by none but herself, as she never shared her methods. It was only after Lan Wangji visited his great ancestor, Lan Yi, also great friend of the mysterious Baoshan Wanderer that he could find the mountain where the said master lived and taught.

And it was where they had set to now.

The sun had lowered now as the late afternoon turned to evening. Lan Wangji held Wei Ying's hand. He was afraid to lose him or leave him behind. The birds chirped and flew across the trees, getting ready for sleep. Lan Wangji looked back at Wei Ying.

The moon had rose up from the opposite side as the sun.

"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji have a call. Wei Ying have a mere hum of response. "We have reached."

Hearing so, Wei Wuxian looked up. In front of him, there was a settlement. Though no one was to be seen in it. No, not because no one lived there or because everyone were home. It was because of the barrier wards that blocked partial vision of the foreigners.

Lan Wangji gave a call out to open the wards for them to enter. After bit of anticipation, they were presented in front of a lady.

Hello babies! Its your author-mei, Cherry! Hehe did y'all lovies cry in the first chapter itself? Dw, because my mental health is just as poor as every other fujo. i will be making and posting random memes in every chapter as a coping mechanism. Because let's admit, anyone who reads yaoi and BL does not have any better coping mechanism :)