The journey back for Lan Zhan was intense. He felt so much, joy at finding Wei Ying, but now fear and panic clawed his throat. It did not help that the person in question drifted in and out of consciousness.

The others followed behind, having retrieved the injured disciple, and SiZhui shared a sword with JingYi, too weak to ride by himself.

They flew straight to the Healing quarters and sent for the medics. Lan Zhan waited next to Wei Ying, holding his hand and trying to keep calm.
Zewu-Jun came soon after, a worried look in his eyes.

"They told me what happened. How is Master Wei?"

Lan Zhan shook his head.

"He is strong. He will be fine," he tried to reassure him.

The medics came then and ushered them out but Lan Zhan refused to leave. He explained in few words what the creature looked like and what happened, helping them turn his body over.

A single puncture wound stood out on the pale back amongst older scars, red around the edges. Black veins of poisonous blood streaked out, spreading across his back. His skin was clammy with sweat. The medics sucked out as much of the venom as they could, using tubes and a pump. Finally they let Lan Zhan take him to the Jingshi.

****

Lan Zhan stayed awake, watching Wei Ying sleeping. He could not stop touching him, holding his hand, caressing his face. Such a precious person and he was here. It seemed hardly believable, that after months of not seeing his face, that finally, finally he could look to his heart's content. Of course, better circumstances would have been much preferred, and yet he could not stop a feeling of elation.

There were a few changes, perhaps not noticeable to ordinary people, but Lan Zhan had spent the better half of his life memorizing the curve of his cheeks, the plump, full lips and the cocky arch of eyebrow. His long lashes rested softly, eyes moving behind the lids. He hoped whatever Wei Ying was seeing, that it was at least a pleasant dream.

He stirred then, not quite awake but not fully asleep. And then he smiled, radiant and bright, stopping the elder from breathing.

"Lan Zhan! Come to bed. Let's sleep!" Weakly pulling him forward and then draping himself over him and falling straight back into slumber.

Lan Zhan pulled the cover over them and submitted to sleep, exhausted by the events of that night, and too happy to think of why.

****

That happiness did not last long. In the morning, after the medic examined Wei Ying, he asked to speak to Lan Zhan outside the Jingshi.

"He is not getting better?" Lan Zhan somehow knowing.

"I think we need to make an anti venom. I've never seen anything like this particular wound though, and it might be wise to keep an eye on it."

Lan Zhan nodded. But the medic seemed to want to say more so he waited.

"We will need live specimens in order to do so, perhaps a mix of the two different venoms?"

"And?" Lan Zhan prodded, wishing the man would get to the point.

"Spiders and scorpions are not readily available here. We should send word to Lotus Pier." He replied nervously.

Oh.

Oh. That meant dealing with Jiang Cheng. And only his brother, Zewu-Jun had the patience to do that.

****

"Where's my BROTHER?"

The noise was becoming louder and louder as Zewu-Jun approached hurriedly, a few days later.

"Sect Leader Jiang, welcome." He smiled at the angry man, hoping to calm him down.

The relief in his eyes was brief but also reflected in his own eyes as he escorted Jiang Cheng to the Jingshi, explaining as they walked.

"My brother is SUCH an idiot. Why is he always throwing himself into danger?" He fumed, growling.

The door opened as they arrived, blocked by a white wall of jade.
"Wei Ying is resting. No noise."

Jiang Cheng scowled. "I want to see my brother!"

The wall was unmoved.

"Sect Leader Jiang will keep his voice down, Wangji. Please let him see Wei Ying." Zewu-Jun put in, wanting to avoid a confrontation. He knew that Lan Zhan only tolerated the Angry Lotus because of Wei Ying; there was no love lost between them.

Lan Zhan reluctantly moved aside, and then resumed his position next to his beloved.

"Thank you for bringing what we asked you for. As you can see, the matter was quite urgent." Zewu-Jun added, knowing that his brother would not speak voluntarily.

"It was the least I could do." Jiang Cheng bit out.

The uncomfortable silence dragged on and Zewu-Jun decided to leave them to it, having other duties to attend to.

"Do you mind if I stay with him for a while?"

Lan Zhan looked at him then. His face was drawn, anxiety around the edges of his eyes, a frown marring his otherwise handsome features. Finally, he nodded, not wishing to leave him there alone. So instead, he focused his full attention on the person lying in the bed, still not awake, fast asleep.

"I know you don't like me." Lan Zhan heard him say softly. "I know I failed him many times. But surely, it is never too late to change?"

Lan Zhan thought of many things he could have said then, like 'he was your brother. You discarded him.' or he could have mentioned the golden core, or the fact that he had never defended Wei Ying from his mother and her Zidian, but when he looked at Jiang Cheng, he realized that these thoughts were probably on a loop in his head anyway. The depth of suffering in his eyes quelled any retaliation he might have wished for and he remained silent.

"You may stay." He replied quietly instead.