Back in Gusu, a bleeding man was lying on his chest as the Lan doctor cautiously pulled the arrow out of his body, taking care to not let it damage more veins and flesh.

"AAAAAARGH!" The Lan doctor winced at the patient's scream. Lan Zhan vowed to make up for the pain later, because that scream was something he would never get out of his head. The torturous agony shook Wei Wuxian as he lay there, writhing in pain, while Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen held his arms and legs, lest the struggling should worsen the wound.

Finally, after what felt like hours of torture to Wei Ying, the doctor pulled the arrow out. Lan Qiren, who ran here to check on his nephew, gasped at the sight. Wide and linear, a gaping wound sliced across the Yiling Patriarch's back. Redder than his ribbon, leaking faster than his tears, the wound seemed to mock the cultivators who had been protecting this man.

Jin Ling had never been angrier: such a wide wound could only be made by the powerful and heavy Jin arrows. Whoever did this... I will borrow Zidian from Jiujiu... Must find the scumbag... I'll tear the sect apart if I have to...

Jiang Cheng and Xichen let go, both silently agreeing to find the scoundrel at all costs.

For the first time, Wen Ning was here in the Jingshi. He wouldn't be allowed into Cloud Recesses no matter the occasion, but Wei Wuxian indignantly told Lan Qiren that the Jingshi was away from the Cloud Recesses. Hence, his soul-brother watched him from a corner of the room. For the zillionth time, Wen Ning wished his sister was here: such a wound would be nothing to her.

"This wound... Second Master Lan, could you apply pressure on it with this, please?" The doctor handed Lan Zhan a white cloth. Lan Zhan, of course, obliged.

"Owowow! Lan ZHAN! Slowly! Go soft!"

To the onlookers' wonder, Lan Zhan blushed furiously.

"Second Master Lan, do NOT be gentle now, you need to apply pressure to stop the bleeding," the doctor said.

While Lan Zhan obeyed, Jiang Cheng sat beside him, stuffing the pillow in Wei Ying's mouth. "Shut up, you selfless idiot." Lan Zhan felt grateful towards his brother-in-law for once: he had spoken aloud what was raging in his own mind.

The doctor meanwhile, spoke to Lan Xichen. "Sect Leader, this wound will take a lot of time, patience and rest. He's bleeding too much. We'll have to stop the bleeding, then stitch the wound up. This wound itself isn't much trouble..." the doctor broke off.

"Doctor, is there something wrong?" Qiren asked with worry evident in his tone.

"Well... I need time. Time, not just to heal him. But time to find out what happened to him."

"What the hell– What do you mean, Doctor?" Jiang Cheng asked under Qiren's glare.

"Well... see this arrow?" The doctor said, taking the arrow he had placed on the bedside table into his hands. "See this arrowhead? There's something in it."

He was right. The arrowhead had the smallest slit in it. It was more of a container than an arrow. But what did it contain?

"Doctor," Jin Ling mumbled. "What's inside?"

As he spoke, the doctor held the arrow facing the floor and tapped the arrowhead. Suddenly, drops of an olive green liquid fell to the floor in a rapid series. Apparently, once hit, the arrowhead leaked of a disgusting 'something'.

Lan Xichen mumbled one word: "Poison."

"Correct, Sect Leader. Which explains why Master Wei is white and blue-lipped, and why his pulse is barely there," the doctor shook his head. The listeners looked at each other, shock on their faces. White? Blue-lipped? Why, they had been too focussed on the gash that none had noticed his other symptoms! Lan Zhan twisted his head to look up and down Wei Ying: yes, he was terribly weak. Pale, withered. A wilted lotus.

"Doctor... Is it..." Lan Zhan couldn't bring himself to say the rest.

"Fatal? Yes. Which is why I need all the help I can get. I cannot recognise this poison–"

"Do...Doctor?" Wei Ying stammered, slowly turning to get up. Lan Zhan let him sit up, but laid his arm around his own neck to support the barely alive man.

"Master Wei? Please rest–"

"I know who can help you. He might even know what it is."

Doctor Lan looked at him round-eyed, eagerly asking, "Oh? Who?"

Wei Wuxian sighed. "Promise me you won't hurt him."

"Huh?"

"Promise!" Wei Wuxian cried, holding back the choking urge in his chest.

Doctor Lan nodded.

Wei Wuxian lifted his left hand, very slowly out of feebleness, to point to a man hidden in a dark corner of the room. Wen Ning.

"Ghost General?" Doctor Lan asked, turning to Lan Qiren, since it was he who detested the very sight of the fierce corpse.

"Mn. He is Wen... Wen Qing's brother."

While Xichen automatically turned to see Jiang Cheng wincing, understanding dawned upon Doctor Lan. "Oh, right. He might be able to help. Qiren?"

Lan Qiren didn't say anything — which the Doctor took as him not saying 'no'.

"Ghost Gen–"

"He has a n... name!" Wei Wuxian shouted despite the soreness.

"Apologies, Young Master Wen, would you like to help?" The Doctor asked, his eyes twinkling with benevolence.

Wen Ning walked a few steps forward into the light, before smiling. "Sure." Despite the mildly sour glare from the furious Qiren behind, he agreed right away. Anything for Young Master Wei, he thought.

Wen Ning then looked at Wei Ying. "A-Ning, you remember A-Qing's notes?"

"Yes," the other nodded.

"Good. Then you he- help the doctor. If you can't find it, it's fine, don't tr- trouble too much," he said waving his hand casually, before falling into Lan Zhan's chest, unconscious.

**********

Wei Ying awoke two days later, feeling fresher than ever. He opened his eyes to stare sideways at a cold Jingshi. He looked around. Where was Lan Zhan? Wait, am I dead? Is this how the Jingshi looked in the in-between realm? With everything except my Lan Zhan? It's cold here. Warmth... I need warmth... Lan Zhan? Where's Lan Zhan? Panic flooding his thoughts, he quickly sat up. Wrong move.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" Wei Wuxian yelled at the top of his lungs. Crash! Lan Zhan ran through the door, left the tray he brought on the table and rushed to his husband's side.

"A-Ying? What are you doing?"

Wei Ying, having already sat up, buried his face and arms in his husband's chest. Lan Zhan gently brought him onto his lap, cradling him, stroking his hair. "A-Ying, what are you doing sitting up like this?"

"I thought... you weren't here... I thought you were gone... or rather, I was gone... that I left you here again, desperate, broken... that I won't see you again... A-Zhan where were you?"

Lan Zhan smiled sadly. "I went to get you something to eat. A-Ying," he placed his chin on Wei Ying's head. "I'll never leave you, nor will I ever let you go just like that. Never again."

Lan Zhan felt his chest growing wetter by the minute. He continued to stroke the beautiful, sobbing head on his chest. Wei Ying spoke, "I know... I know... it was just... so cold..." Yes, Lan Zhan could easily sense Wei Ying shaking. "A-Zhan... hug me."

"I already am."

"No, hands around me... A-Zhan... so cold..."

Lan Zhan wanted to, he really did. But unlike Wei Ying, he could not forget the recently stitched gash in his back. Lan Zhan felt helpless.

"A-Ying, I can't. Your wound..."

Wei Ying sniffed. "Oh... I forgot. But it's cold... A-Zhan," Wei Ying's face crimsoned. "Warm me up, please... too cold..."

Lan Zhan smiled his softest angelic smile. Drawing his head back, he lifted Wei Ying's face in his hands and bent down. Hair, forehead, eyebrows, nose-bridge. The tip of his nose, each cheek, chin. Upper jaw, lower jaw. Down the neck to each shoulder blade. His hand slid down Wei Ying's face to his neck and stopped at his chest, where it rested on the brand mark. Slowly, softly. Gently, generously. Lan Zhan pecked his husband from head to shoulders, letting the skin beneath his lips slowly heat up with each kiss. In Lan Zhan's familiar mouth, Wei Ying's body reacted marvellously, its colour returning rapidly. Lan Zhan was satisfied. He looked up at Wei Ying.

The latter's face was redder than his lips. "Lan Zhan... that's more than enough you know..." he mumbled, pulling gently at Lan Zhan's headband, too embarrassed to look his husband in the eyes. Lan Zhan smiled, seeing he was much better.

"A-Zhan... what's that fragrance?" Wei Ying sniffed the air. "Mm! Smells delicious... wait a minute... this is!" He looked at Lan Zhan, eyes round and eyebrows creeping up into his hair with amazement.

"Mn. Yanli-jie's soup."

Wei Ying gasped. Lan Zhan stroked his constricting chest as Wei Ying's eyes asked How?

"Jiang Wanyin found the recipe sometime back. He gave it to me. Said he didn't need it. Said you need it more. So I made it for you. This is what you lived on these days," Lan Zhan explained, smiling. He knew only Yanli-jie's soup could revive his weak husband.

"So... you weren't here... becuase you went to make this?"

"Mn."

"A-Zhan..." Wei Ying's chest tightened even more as tears dripped down his face. Whatever Wei Ying was about to say, Lan Zhan didn't want to hear. Placing his finger on the younger's lips, he tenderly kissed the tears away.

"A-Ying doesn't need to cry. I only did what she would do, and what was the only thing I could do to help A-Ying. Shijie loves you. So do I," Lan Zhan said, his index finger caressing his husband's cheek.

Wei Ying didn't know how to reply. He just flung his arms around the other's neck.

"Come, let's eat."

"But I can't eat! I'm sick, can you–"

"I'll feed you. Lie down," Lan Zhan said, looking at the soup on the table in front of him. When he heard no words of assent, he leaned back to look at Wei Ying's face.

Wei Ying was playing with his headband, pouting ever so childishly. Gulping back the urge to swallow that pout, Lan Zhan asked, "A-Ying, what's wrong?"

"Lan-Er-Gege... Darling... you missed one spot!"

Already warming up himself under Wei Ying's loving eyes and words, Lan Zhan muttered, "Mn?"

"LAN ZHAN! You forgot this!" Wei Wuxian shouted in his face, pointing at his constantly pouting mouth.

Lan Zhan grinned. "Apologies."

Twenty whole minutes ticked by before Lan Zhan was seated on the side of the bed, with Wei Ying resting on his lap, being baby-fed by his beloved. Shijie's soup had never tasted better.

A while after the meal, Lan Zhan, not allowed to leave thanks to his stubborn husband, sent a butterfly note to inform his brother. Minutes later...

"Didi! Are you better? Did the medicine work?" Lan Xichen ran to the bed, panting. He had clearly run all the way.

"I'm good, gege."

"Are you cold? Doctor and Wen Ning said you'll only have a fever as a side-effect–"

"Don't worry, gege, the fever's gone! Lan-Er-Gege took good care of me!" Wei WuXian said, grinning at the sight of Lan Zhan's red ears.

Xichen beamed, stroking his own chest to calm his breathing. Jiang Cheng also rushed in with Sizhui and Jingyi.

"A-Xian! You finally remembered to wake up?"

Wei Wuxian smiled broadly. "A-Cheng! Nice to meet you too!"

The three standing Lans chuckled. "Daddy!"

Sizhui ran to hug him. Lan Wangji blocked him with an arm on his shoulder. "Sizhui, no," he said, pointing to his back.

"I know, Father! Daddy, thank goodness you're back!" Sizhui cried, kneeling to toss his arms around Wei Ying's leg, hugging it tight.

Wei Wuxian smiled. "A-Yuan, but I didn't go anywhere!"

"Well..." Jingyi scratched his nape, before following Sizhui.

"You almost did, Daddy. Almost. But you're back now," Sizhui said, half-crying, half-smiling. Crying at the memory of how he had lost Wei WuXian once. Crying at the memory of how fear had enwrapped his world in a black blanket when he heard Wei WuXian had been poisoned. Crying at the memory of how Father had endured, silently, cooking the soup and sending spiritual energy to heal the wound faster. Crying at the memory of how Father had cried, endlessly, incessantly, every morning when Wei WuXian didn't wake up with him. And yet, smiling, because no matter how long it took, Wei WuXian would always come right back to his husband. Sizhui loved how his fathers loved each other so deeply, admired it, and secretly learned from them. The red thread that bound them would stretch, to threatening extents, but never break.

"Silly children, of course I'll come back," he laughed, stroking their heads. "Now let go, my legs are going numb!"

"A-Cheng, what are you doing here? Has the YunmengJiang sect gotten a new sect leader?" Wei Wuxian chuckled.

Jiang Cheng huffed. "Huh! I came to check on you, you selfless idiot."

"Oh... but wait, why selfless idiot?"

"Because that's what you are! Worrying over our idiotic nephew, you didn't even that arrow until it bloody well hit you!" Jiang Cheng fumed.

"Ah... that..." Suddenly, Wei Wuxian felt as though lightning struck. "Rulan? Where's little Rulan?"

"A-Ling went to Koi Tower–"

"The hell is he–!"

"Didi, don't worry, Shufu went with him this time. They went to clear the mess up, and to find the culprit," Xichen explained.

"I see," Wei Ying nodded, his fingers inadvertently twisting Lan Wangji's headband around his hand, like a bandage.

"They've found the man," Xichen continued.

"Oh?" Wei Wuxian asked. Lan Wangji looked up at his brother, eyes flaming with sudden rage.

"Yes, the man is in the Jins' dungeons now. Said he's one of the Rebel Leader's closest. He had evidence on him, too, that poison was in a sealed jar of his."

Wei WuXian nodded. "But why did the man confess too soon?" He wondered aloud, tapping his nose.

"As if he can bear Zidian for too long anyway," Jiang Cheng smirked.

"What? A-Cheng you–?"

"I did nothing. Ask that son of yours. He said he wanted to do it himself."

Wei Wuxian shook his head in despair. "A-Cheng, you're ruining my son. At least, don't destroy the other two!"

Jiang Cheng smiled. "Right, like neither of them would be more than willing to SLIT his throat right now, right Lan Wangji?"

Wei Wuxian turned to his husband. To his amusement, Lan WangJi was literally on the verge of breathing fire at his husband's near-murderer. Sizhui and Jingyi shivered at the sight; Lan Xichen kept saying, "Wangji, calm down," while stroking his back; Jiang Cheng just smirked and Wei Wuxian was beaming.

"Young Master Wei!"

"A-Ning!"

Wen Ning ran into the Jingshi, skidding to a halt before his master. Wei Wuxian reached his hand out to hold his soul-brother's arm. "A-Ning, you did this?"

"Yes. Jiejie taught me about a poison called the Ivy of Death, it's made of poison ivy and wolf's bane. It's deadly; that's why Young Master Wei suffered so much."

The doctor walked in. "The antidote has a lot of herbs, but mainly this amazing white powder Young Master Wen called borax. Fascinating. It might help in a lot of future remedies. All thanks to Young Master Wen!" He bowed to the Ghost General.

Wen Ning jumped away, saying, "Not me, Doctor: Jiejie." That silenced the Doctor. This great doctor deeply respected the greatest-doctor-known, but Wen Qing was killed by their own kind. He sighed, shook his head, and checked Wei Wuxian's pulse.

"Ah! Much better! Your heart's racing as fast as ever!"

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. Of course it is, he is sitting on his darling's lap!

"Thank you, Doctor Lan, and Doctor Wen," Wei Wuxian sniggered. "I don't know how to thank you two."

"You're Hanguang-Jun's partner, and a close friend of mine, so no need to thank me. It's my duty to treat Lans," the doctor winked. Wei Wuxian blushed at the words, before turning to Wen Ning.

"A-Ning, thank you," he said.

"Young Master Wei! You don't have to. Forgive me for not noticing the arrow in the first place."

"A-Ning, stop. It's not your fault and it's over."

Wen Ning nodded. "You better go back before Shufu returns," Xichen said.

Wen Ning nodded again. He was about to leave when Wei WuXian stopped him. "A-Ning, wait." I think I know how to thank him. "Come with me to the hillside. Lan Zhan, take me to the waterfall. Jiang Cheng, you might want to come too."

The listeners looked at each other. What was going on? But their thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Wei Wuxian jumping up from Lan Wangji's lap, shouting, "Where's Chenqing?"