"Hanguang-Jun!" A disciple pushes through the door and pants "It's ZewuJun! He sent up an emergency flare!" and as a gust of wind, I was out of the Orchid Room, mounting my Bichen in search of my brother.

Following their trail and reaching a remote pass, I find many of our disciples gravely injured with only my brother fighting with the walking corpse and protecting the children.

In a corner behind the giant rocks, I could see Sizhui, Jingyi and the others all huddled together.  

Summoning Wangji, I use the chords to send a wave of deadly notes which would perish the corpses. I immediately turn to see my brother who is now quickly walking towards the children. I sigh. They're safe. When out of nowhere, I hear a melody of the flute.

My eyes widen. No. Can't be.

Wei Ying!

I turn around and my eyes seek a red ribbon fluttering in the wind, when I suddenly hear my name being yelled.

"Wangji, watch out!" my brother's frantic call makes me realise that I have committed a grave mistake of dropping my guard and not being vigilant. As I am about to defend, a sword shreds my skin on my back and plunges deep within.

Using my spiritual powers, Bichen is unsheathed and kills the corpse immediately.

I try to stay alert, but unable to stand still, I slump down on my knees.

I hear everyone call my name "Hanguang-Jun" but I am unable to care anymore.

All I can see is my Wei. Smiling at me. Holding his hand out for me to never let go. Vision fading away slowly, everything becomes a lot brighter until they stop being.

"Wangji" my brother hold me in his warm embrace but I am unable to see his smiling face.

All I can see is the red ribbon. All I can hear is my Wei Ying playing his Chenqing. I didn't let go, Wei Ying. Hold my hand so that I can join you in a realm, where it's only for you and me.

I am coming.

Don't let go.

Somewhere in distance I hear my name being called but I couldn't care more.

"Lan Zhan" a soft voice calls my name and I open my eyes.

Wei Ying.

His smile is sad and so are his eyes. Softly playing with my tresses, he traces my eyebrows and gently kisses my forehead. Lying on his lap, I sigh with content.

Just me and him.

"Where am I?" I enquire.

"You're, where you shouldn't be" he presses the bridge of mu nose.

"If you're here, then this is exactly where I should be" I retort and he chuckles quietly.

"Ever the same Lan Zhan, always against me" he caresses my cheeks and I look up at his smile.

"Not against you. Never against you. With you. Always and forever" I cup his neck and bring him down for a kiss. His plump lips against mine, I bite and suck them. My tongue seeking its mate.

"I miss you, Wei Ying" my breathing is erratic and he wipes the lone tear from my eyes that falls freely.

"I don't miss you, Lan Zhan" he whispers and I seek his eyes "for me to miss you, I need to be away from you" he kisses my lips again "and there is never a moment where I am away from you" he winks and I smile.

Kissing again, I trace his palm that's placed on my chest "I didn't let go, Wei Ying"

"I know" he sighs "I wish you did" and I gape at him, shocked. "Don't look at me like that Lan Zhan, had you let go, you wouldn't have been stuck here in the neither realm".

"What do you mean?" I enquire as I get up and twist to look at him. He cups my cheeks and nudges me with his nose "you're gravely injured. Your battling for your life. If you give up, I would be lonely forever and there would never be a second chance for us. Fight Lan Zhan. Don't give up. If you wish to stay with me, then please don't let go".

"Lan Zhan, you and I are mates for life. If you cross now, we'll be separated forever. Atleast at the moment, you have my memories. You have an entire life ahead of you. Go back Lan Zhan. Your brother, Sizhui and Jingyi need you. Fight Lan Zhan" he smiles sadly.

And before I could hug him for one last time, the vison fades away. He fades away.

I open my eyes.

Looking around, I find myself in a familiar chamber.

Jingshi.

"You're awake" my brother's coarse voice tugs my heart.

I look at him and he appears to have aged in last few hours.

"How long have I been unconscious?" My voice is parched and be brings a cup for me to drink.

"Two days" his words are short but they hold an in-depth meaning "you were giving up". His tone is not accusatory but I understand the pain behind them.

"I am sorry" I cough and he pats my back carefully.

"Wangji"

"Hm"

"You kept murmuring, let go, let go" he looks away "what did you mean?"

When I don't speak up, be turns to look at me again and I observe his eyes are red "isn't it the same thing what Young Master Wei Wuxian had told you when..." he does not complete the question. He knows how much the topic of Wei Ying hurts me.

"Don't scare me again, Wangji" he stands to exit my room "I have already lost you once" he pauses and his voice breaks "I can't stand to loose you twice" with that he leaves and I am unable to stop my tears.

I am in such a plight.

I can neither live without Wei nor live with him.

"Wangji" my brother caresses my hair and I open my eyes.

"Remove your robes, we need to clean your wounds and apply the salve" he points out to a box filled with potions.

I inwardly wince when my new wounds are treated and I feel a pause at my brother's end.

"Brother?"

"Your old wounds have just healed and here you have new ones. Your back is completely scarred" he takes a deep breath.

Work of art. I think but don't dare say it aloud.

"What happened back there?" He questions but I don't answer. Rather I am unable to answer. What do I say? I misheard the melody of flute. That I was dreaming of red ribbon and wasn't vigilant?

"I don't know" atleast, I answer a facet of truth. I precisely wasn't aware of what happened in reality, so technically, I wasn't lying.

"Wangji" brother sighs and I change the topic "How are the kids?"

"Disturbed. Shaken. Scared" he answers truthfully and I feel thousand needles pricking my heart.

"Please ask them tos top by, I want to meet them" I comment and brother agrees. Closing the box, he gets up "Go back to sleep and I'll ask them to stop by in the evening" he smiles, pats my forehead and leaves.

Closing my eyes, I dream of Wei Ying and me. Our fluttering ribbons and a world where there is only him and me and us.