"Nooooo. Wei Yaaa!" Lan Zhan screams.. his hand stretching towards his soulmate, as Zidian rises like an angry snake and unleashes it's power on Wei Ying's already miserable body.

Wei Ying screams as pain courses through his body.
Black smoke like substance exists Wei Ying's body and starts swirling mid air.
Everything stills for a second as all three men are frozen in their place.

Jiang Cheng is the first one to realize that the demon had abandoned Wei Ying's body.
He runs to Wei Ying and pulls him to Lan Zhan's side.

"Exorcise it now!" Jiang Cheng orders.

"No!...Don't... Just calm it down." Wei Ying counters.

Lan Zhan feels at a loss for words and he looks at Wei Ying.

Wei Ying's eyes are clear and confident.

'He knows something... something that we don't... that is why he stopped me from exorcising the demon. ' Lan Zhan thinks.
He trusts Wei Ying and the two men nod at each other.

Jiang Cheng sees the silent communication that the two men seem to have had once again and he doesn't object either.

Lan Zhan takes out his Zither and starts the ritual to calm the demon.

The black smoke like entity flings itself towards the three men...

'It's looking for a host.!' Wei Ying's brain supplies and he pulls Jiang Cheng towards himself and places his hand on the headband that is partially tied to Lan Zhan's wrist.

Lan Zhan looks offended for a second. He looks at Wei Ying accusing but when Wei Ying mouths a sad, 'Sorry'

Lan Zhan's anger disappears in an instant.

Lan Zhan focuses on the ritual.
Bright blue waves collide with the black entity and the whole room fills with loud screeching voices.

Lan Zhan continues to play the zither but the demon doesn't seem to respond to the music as desired.

Lan Zhan looks at Wei Ying to convey the same.
Wei Ying understands.
He tries to sit up. Jiang Cheng helps him.

"What is happening?" Jiang Cheng shouts over the screams.

"I need my flute." Wei Ying says looking around the room.
His eyes fall on the broken flute lying on the floor and his face falls, 'It must have broken when I fell.' Wei Ying thinks remorsefully.

Jiang Cheng sees the broken flute too.
He extends his hands and opens his palm and Wei Ying's Chenqing appears on it.

Wei Ying's eyes widen in surprise. Jiang Cheng offers it to him and both men smile at each.

'He kept it.' Wei Ying thinks happily, taking it from his brother and puts it to his lips.

An involuntary smile graces Lan Zhan's face as a sinister music starts to mingle with Zither's soft tones.

'One is controlling... the other is subduing.' Jiang Cheng thinks looking impressed at the way the two men use their skills insync with each other.

Now that both the melodies start filling the room, the loud screams finally start to lessen till the only sounds that remain are those made by the two instruments.

Lan Zhan and Wei Ying continue to play it for a few seconds more, just to make sure that they have the entity in control. The black swirling mass of smoke solidifies as if trapped in ice... Translucent....
The two men stop playing the music.

Wei Ying who was holding on to his conscienceness with great difficulty till now, immediately collapses on the floor. Chenqing hits the ground as well.

"Wei Ying!" Lan Zhan says... concern and worrying filling his every syllable.
He picks Wei Ying up in his arms and carries him to the bed. He carefully puts the younger man on the bed and sits next to him.

Wei Ying's unconscious form makes Lan Zhan's heart hurt.
'Again I failed...once again I couldn't protect him... once again he is wounded... Why?' Lan Zhan asks himself.

Jiang Cheng approaches the bed. He can see again how Wei Ying's well-being effects the mighty Hanguang Jun. 'Does he even realize that he is crying?' Jiang Cheng thinks miserably.

Lan Zhan caresses his husband's cheek and begs, "Wei Ying....wake up please."

A tear makes it's way down Lan Zhan's beautiful face and drops on Wei Ying's eyelid.

Lan Zhan realises that he is crying but instead of wiping his face he softly wipes the tear on Wei Ying's eyelid.

Wei Ying's hands twitch and he slowly opens his eyes.

Jiang Cheng breaths... He had not realized it but he had been holding his breath.

"Wei Ying." Lan Zhan says. He smiles and hugs his husband.
"Ouch.. Lan Zhan, it hurts...I am ok... But you need to let go... My brother is watching... He will think we are shameless." Wei Ying tries to joke.
"Sorry... " Lan Zhan murmurs looking guilty.

Hanguang Jun let's go and both men look at him with concerned eyes. Both know he is not ok.

There is an awkward silence... no one knows what to say.

Finally Jiang Cheng murmurs, "I am sorry that I hit you."

"Don't be." Wei Ying says stretching his hand to touch Jiang Cheng's hand and continues, "I would have died if you wouldn't have hit me."

Lan Zhan understands now, "Zidian has the power to separate illegal souls from possessed bodies...that is why you hit him."

"It was just a guess. I didn't know if it would work...but we were running out of options... I am sorry Hanguang Jun." Jiang Cheng admits truthfully.

Lan Zhan stands and bows to Jiang Cheng and says, "Thank you...You saved two lives today...I will never forget what you did today. And I forgive you for taking him from me all those years ago."

'You saved two lives today.' Jiang Cheng's mind echos with those words. And he knows that those were the absolute truth.

Jiang Cheng gulps. He feels guilty. Guilt for killing Wei Wuxian...for not trusting him... for not standing by him... for being too proud...for taking Wei Ying away from Lan Zhan.
"Thank you." Jiang Cheng says with difficulty and adds, "The demon... is it ok for you to stay here tonight?"

"It's stable. It won't bother us." Wei Ying answers.

"Wei Wuxian... you are hurt... I think I should get you checked for... " Jiang Cheng suggests but Lan Zhan cuts in.

"I will do it." Lan Zhan says immediately and adds, "It has to be me."

Jiang Cheng looks confused, "Mn?"

Lan Zhan doesn't say anything further. His eyes drop to the floor.

Wei Ying smiles. 'There he goes again..
He is so cute when he is trying to stop people from looking at me... So possessive... I would have kissed him right now if it weren't for Jiang Cheng's presence.' Wei Ying thinks fondly and his heart feels warm and fuzzy.

"Jiang Cheng, can you send medical supplies... you see Lan Zhan doesn't like anyone looking at me... for any reason...you see... I am for his eyes only." Wei Ying adressess Jiang Cheng but his eyes are fixed on his husband who is still resolutely looking at the floor.

Jiang Cheng's face flushes and he takes a few steps back and says in mock anger but real embarrassment
"Wei Wuxian!... that's more than I needed to know... You are still Shameless." He pauses and adds, "I will send the things.. supplies.. for..I will send it." Jiang Cheng stutters. He immediately turns and leaves...closing the door behind him.

Lan Zhan looks at Wei Ying once they are alone. Wei Ying tries to sit and Lan Zhan helps him.

Lan Zhan leaves the bed and walks over to where Wei Ying had hit the floor some time back. He takes out a pouch and orders the Yin seal to enter it. The Yin seal disappears into the pouch once again.

Lan Zhan place the pouch on a stand away from Wei Ying.

He walks towards the younger man and his face turns serious. He asks in a serious tone ,"When did you do it...and why?"

Wei Ying knows what Lan Zhan wants to know. He bits his lips and he looks away from Lan Zhan.

Looking guilty he pleads ,"Lan Zhan...sorry... I really needed to know everything that the demon knew so I stole the Yin Seal from you."

"When we first entered the room?" Lan Zhan asks for confirmation.

"Mn... Then before I started playing the flute I said an incantation that would let me look into the demon's mind... I did not realize that, that will give it more power as well... I did not realize that it will make me hurt you."

"Wei Ying... are you upset that you hurt me? Do you realize that you could have died!" Lan Zhan's voice rises.
Wei Ying remains silent. But his eyes fill with tears.

"Wei Ying.... Why?" Lan Zhan asks.

"I just wanted to be useful....I know what I did was wrong... Lan Zhan I am sorry. I promise I won't do stupid things like this again." Wei Ying says remorsefully, holding up three fingers next to his head.

'How many times have you promised me this Wei Ying... You have broken it every time... This is one promise I know you won't be able to keep. And yet I can't really blame you... This is who you are... This is who I fell in love with.' Lan Zhan thinks as he caresses his husband's cheek and wipes the tears.

"Ok. Don't do it again." Lan Zhan says affectionatey and kisses Wei Ying's forehead.
Wei Ying smiles.
He feels better now that he has confessed his mistake.

Wei Ying holds Lan Zhan's hand, "Lan Zhan... there much that I need to tell you... "
Lan Zhan puts a finger on Wei Ying's mouth.

"Mn?"

"You can tell me everything once I have checked and taken care of the damage you have caused this time." Lan Zhan says and slowly removes Wei Ying's clothing.

He gasps at the red angry marks the killer string has left around Wei Ying's arms, back and chest.
"Wei Ya..." Lan Zhan says in a pained voice lifting his hand to touch the marks... He stops himself.

"Lan Zhan... It's not hurting." Wei Ying lies... He pauses and adds, "Really... I just bruise easily."

Wei Ying's words...that are supposed to comfort Hanguang Jun only make him feel worse.

'I did that...I did that to him... with my own hands' Lan Zhan thinks. He wants to be punished... He wants to be whipped like he had been when he had dared to stand by Wei Ying all those years ago.

Wei Ying seems to read his mind.
"Hanguang Jun DON'T.... Don't you dare blame yourself for this." Wei Ying says angrily.

"It was not your fault.... Lan Zhan look at me." Wei Ying says and despite the pain he puts his hand on the nape of Lan Zhan's neck pulling him towards himself and crushing their lips together.

Lan Zhan gasps surprised.
Wei Ying's tongue enters Lan Zhan's mouth confidently. He knows what Lan Zhan tastes like and he loves it.
Wei Ying teases Lan Zhan's tongue into action.

Lan Zhan's hands come up and cup Wei Ying's face between his palms.

The kiss deepens.
Lan Zhan's lips move away for a bit only to immediately return to suck on Wei Ying's bottom lip.
Wei Ying moans... He loves it when Lan Zhan pays this kind of attention to his bottom lip. It's something familiar somehow... It reminds him of his days in Cloud Reassess...he doesn't know why...

'Mine.. Mine... Mine.' Lan Zhan's mind supplies... For a moment he forgets that Wei Ying is hurt.
His hands travel to Wei Ying's bare back..."Ahh!" Wei Ying winces.

Lan Zhan comes back to senses and immediately distances himself from Wei Ying.

"Lan Zhan, why did you stop...Things were getting interesting... Hehe." Wei Ying smiles through the pain and winks.
"No. Not tonight." Lan Zhan says resolutely.
"Lan Zhaaan! Why?" Wei Ying pouts.

'I must not fall for his cute tricks again.' Lan Zhan orders himself.
He calms himself mind.

He sits on the bed again and turns Wei Ying to check his back.
He looks at the long cut left by Zidian right from the top to the middle of his husband's back.
He bites his lips. 'Damnit Jiang Cheng!' Lan Zhan curses.

Lan Zhan is still in thought when Wei Ying starts blabbering again.
"Lan Zhan, we will have matching marks on our backs now.. Hehe... Lan Zhan... you know what you should do...you should kiss it better....I thi...Am.. Amm???....Ammmm."

'Did he just use the silencing spell on me?... How dare he??' Wei Ying's mind supplies and his eyes widen.

Lan Zhan makes a disappointed face at Wei Ying when Wei Ying turns back to look at him angrily.

"Ammm... am... Ammmmm!" Wei Ying continues complaining.

This brings an unexpected smile on Lan Zhan's face and surprises Wei Ying... He finally shuts up.

Lan Zhan kisses Wei Ying's cheek and says affectionately ,"The faster you calm down the earlier I will release you."

Wei Ying sighs and keeps quiet.
There is a knock on the door and Lan Zhan covers Wei Ying with a sheet and stands blocking him from view.

"Come in." Lan Zhan orders and a boy... Chu enters.
He is carrying medical supplies. He places it on the table.
"Master Nie, Clan leader has asked me to stand guard outside your room. If you need anything else please let me know."
Chu bows and walks out, closing the door behind him.

{Note :- As promised, this update is not as painful as the last one.

The next update will be a 'Special'. As mentioned earlier the specials will make things happening in the main story clearer. And fill certain loopholes. And they all will be from Lan Zhan's POV.

Votes and comments very much appreciated.
Share your WangXian feels with me.

Thank you for reading.
Have a nice day.}