Jiang Cheng picked up Wei WuXian, turning around and seeing Wen Qing crouched beside Lan WangJi. He called out, "Wen Qing! A-Xian's knocked out!"

"So is Second Young Master Lan!" Wen Qing yelled back.

Jiang Cheng cursed, walking forward. He paused seeing the Stygian Tiger Amulet on the ground. Gently, he grabbed it and placed it in his robes for now, before bringing his brother to Wen Qing and laying him back down again. Wen Qing took a small pause from checking Lan WangJi and moved to Wei WuXian.

Jiang Cheng didn't know what to do, let alone what to think. He couldn't even phantom what the hell he just watched. One second Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian are radiating opposing energies, the next second they're completely hidden in a whirlwind of black and white. And finally, when he could see them again, they're both on their knees, only to get thrown back from another boom.

"A-Cheng!!"

Jiang Cheng snapped his head up to see his father flying towards them, along with multiple of the older disciples. Jiang Cheng called alarmed, "Father!!"

Jiang Fengmian landed and crouched down beside the two knocked out males, eyes wide, "What happened?"

"I don't- I don't even know," Jiang Cheng confessed pathetically, shaking his head.

Wen Qing ordered, "Bring them back to the Pier. They're fine, not going through any Qi deviation this time. They're spiritual energies are fluctuating a bit, but not enough to be life threatening, though it is a concern. A-Ying has some resentment, thats normal, despite it being a lot lower than usual. Second Young Master Lan, also has some traces of resentment, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything wrong, just slowly balancing out with the spiritual energy already flowing,"

She then paused and spoke firmly, "But just in case, I would send a letter to the GusuLan Sect and have them send someone to play some music,"

Jiang Fengmian nodded, looking at one of the disciples, "Go to Gusu and send this information to Lan Qiren, Sect Leader Lan, and Xichen. No one else should know,"

The disciples nodded, saluting before taking off at high speeds. Jiang Fengmian picked up Lan WangJi, stepping onto his sword again. A disciple older than Jiang Cheng, looked at the heir for permission, which he gave only because Wen Qing needed to return with them and didn't have her own sword. The disciple picked up Wei WuXian with ease, a small ounce of surprise escaped into his expression. Jiang Cheng sighed knowing his brother was still too light for his height and age.

He unsheathed Sandu, stepping on it and holding a hand out to Wen Qing, which she took as she stepped on the sword as well. Jiang Cheng looked at the other disciples, "three of you stay and search the area for any sort of debri or spiritual signature. Takes notes if you can,"

There was a series of nods and Jiang Cheng and his Father exchanged a glance before flying back towards the sect complex. When they landed, Jiang Cheng released Wen Qing, who quickly motioned Jiang Fengmian and the senior carrying Wei WuXian to follow her. Jiang Cheng began to bark orders to any disciples and servants telling them to get Wen Ning, Jiang Yanli, and Yu ZiYuan to the infirmary.

He followed behind his Father, entering the medical quarters. Wen Qing opened one of the few rooms they used for medical patients and both Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian were laid down in the two individual beds. Jiang Fengmian looked at the disciple, "You may leave,"

The disciple saluted and walked out of the room. Jiang Cheng and Jiang Fengmian made eye contact, the sect leader saying, "Do you want to inform anyone else?"

Jiang Cheng wordlessly sent out three butterflies. As he did that, footsteps sounded loudly and three bodies shot through the doorway. Yu ZiYuan was in the front, eyes wide with panic and concern, "Where are they!?"

"My lady," Jiang Fengmian spoke softly, taking his wife's hand and guiding her out of the way so Wen Ning and Jiang Yanli could rush to Wen Qing for any instructions to perform. Jiang Yanli exclaimed as she saw her brother, taking his pulse, "A-Xian!"

"What happened?" Wen Ning asked as his sister ordered Jiang Yanli and him to check their Qi levels and meridians.

Jiang Cheng began to explain as Wen Qing was busy. He explained with detail everything they saw from the beginning to the end. Everyone was silent as they listened, except for the shuffling of robes and the three medics doing their tasks.

"...then the amulet flew from their grips and they reached for it, but the amulet sent another wave of energy, I faintly heard them both yell before they were thrown back. Then the amulet hovered a bit before the energies retracted and fell to the ground like nothing had happened. That's when we ran to them and found both of them passed out," he finished.

Yu ZiYuan and Jiang Fengmian looked alarmed and very, very, confused. Yu ZiYuan reached up and stroked Zidian to calm herself, asking, "At least neither of them are Qi deviating this time,"

"JieJie!" Wen Ning exclaimed as he was checking Lan WangJi, "Jiejie! Second Young Master Lan has signals of resentment,"

"I know," Wen Qing shook her head with a tired sigh, "Is it hurting him?"

"No..." Wen Ning frowned, "it has to be doing something, though,"

Jiang Yanli spoke up, "A-Xian's resentment levels have decreased dramatically as well. His spiritual energy seems to be flowing a lot more as well, despite the seal on his golden core remaining the exact same as it was first placed,"

Jiang Cheng leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest, "But...they're both fine, correct?"

"Yes," Wen Qing nodded, walking over to an incense burner. She pulled out something from her sleeve, before the incense burner began to be used, a light scent beginning to fill the room. Jiang Yanli blinked, "Jasmine?"

"Jasmine helps calm the mind," Wen Qing explained, "The incense sticks I just burned are ones made by my clan. They're a mixture of jasmine and lavender,"

Jiang Yanli's eyes lit up, "Ah! And lavender scent helps in anxiety, mood, and memory recollection!"

Wen Ning smiled at the engaged female, "Maiden Jiang has become quite knowledgeable!"

"So what do we do now?" Jiang Fengmian asked, after a moment.

"Nothing, we wait for them to wake up," Wen Qing shrugged, "I'll monitor them for any changes,"

Jiang Cheng nodded slowly, calming down his heart, "In a few hours, someone from the Lan Sect should be here to play music. We can check again then,"

Jiang Yanli smiled, "Yes, there's a good chance Er-Ge, himself, might come,"

"When will they wake up?" Yu ZiYuan asked.

"At latest, tomorrow morning," Wen Qing shrugged, "They're fine,"

◈

They were definitely not fine.

It had been four days and both Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi were still out cold. Wen Qing had even tried to forcefully wake them up using herbs, but nothing worked. Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren had arrived at Lotus Pier the day they passed out, both males getting the run down of the situation and playing music.

However, when the boys did not wake up the next morning, it had caused a mild amount of confusion and panic. Lan Xichen and Jiang Yanli were going mad, being over protective siblings and spending all their time in the medical ward with Wen Qing, the three of them playing music, talking, and worrying. Jiang Cheng joined them most of the time, before he was taken away to do his duties as Sect Heir, and some of his brother's duties. Wen Ning offered to help train the disciples in archery, Jiang Cheng blessing the boy's kind soul.

Lan Qiren also stayed at Lotus Pier, talking with the medics a few times and providing any knowledge he knew from any scriptures. On the fifth day, Wen Qing gathered them all in the medical ward, face dark and grim. It eased no one.

"Lady Wen?" Lan Xichen finally broke the silence after the door had closed.

Wen Qing looked at them, "Who has the amulet?"

All eyes went to Jiang Cheng, who spoke confusedly, "I do, why?"

"Great, on the desperation that these two havent fallen into a coma," Wen Qing said, ignoring how the Lan's and Jiang's all paled, even her own little brother seemed to jolt, "I don't think they're gonna just wake up on their own,"

"Then...what do we do?" Jiang Fengmian frowned.

"I was thinking we just let the amulet do something," Wen Qing sighed.

Lan Qiren's face scowled, "Absolutely not. That trinket is what caused this mess,"

"That is the exact reason I think it might help us," Wen Qing explained.

Yu ZiYuan questioned, "You want to use the amulet?"

"No," Wen Qing spoke firmly, "I want Second Young Master Lan and A-Ying to make contact with the amulet,"

Jiang Yanli blinked, "You told us to keep the amulet away from them,"

"And I now take those words back," Wen Qing gave another sigh, "Look, there's nothing wrong with either of them! They should already be awake!"

Wen Qing was stressed, alright. She was frustrated that she couldn't understand what the hell was going on. She was the renowned medic, the expert in core theory, the former Wen Ruohan's personal medic and later murderer. How could she not manage to wake up two 19 year olds from a sleep that is lasting much longer than it should've!?

Jiang Cheng walked forward, pulling out the qiankun pouch the Stygian Tiger Amulet was being kept in, "I don't see a problem, especially if it can wake them,"

Wen Ning agreed, "There's no h-harm in trying,"

Lan Qiren was about to protest further when Jiang Cheng removed the amulet and walked forward. On the third day, they had moved the bed to be closer, a small walkway in the middle of them. Wen Qing took one of Wei WuXian's hands and one of Lan WangJi's, holding them as close as they could get. Jiang Cheng gently placed the amulet in the grasp, fingers brushing against the amulet.

In hindsight, they probably should've been prepared.

The amulet activated and Jiang Cheng yelped, letting go as if he was burned. The amulet stayed in its place, tendrils of white and black holding it up. The black tendrils burst out towards Wei WuXian, the white heading to Lan WangJi. It was then that Wen Qing released her own hold, the energy forcefully shoving her fingers away.

Everyone was thunderstruck.

They watched as Wei WuXian and Lan WangJ were both suddenly swarmed with opposing energies, before the black and white retracted back and burst out in the opposite ways, white now going to Wei WuXian, black to Lan WangJi. Then, after a minute, it retracted again and fell to the floor as if it had done nothing at all.

Jiang Cheng stared at the amulet with the same annoyed dumbfoundment he gets when his older brother says nonsense. Before anyone could question it, two gasps of shock burst and the two bodies that had been as still as corpses lurched upwards, both their faces ashen and eyes wide.

Jiang Yanli and Lan Xichen recovered first, older sibling instincts kicking in. They both yelled their respective younger brothers' names, rushing to their sides and checking them.

"A-Xian! Oh, you're awake! Here, give me your wrist. Are you alright?"

"A-Zhan! Thank heavens, do you need spiritual energy? What happened?"

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi both blinked out of focus and overwhelmed. Wen Qing snapped, "They just woke up! Fretting is not going to do anyone anything!"

She then walked to stand in the middle, "A-Ying, Second Young Master Lan,"

The boys turned to her, still in obvious confusion of what was going on. Wei WuXian's mouth finally worked, "Qing-Jie, what the hell happened? How did we get here? Where's the amulet? When did Er-Ge and Master Lan get here?" He then paused, turning to Lan Qiren flabbergasted, "Wait- why are you here?!"

Lan Qiren gave the male an unamused look, but answered, "Because WangJi and you were was knocked out,"

"Knocked out?" Lan WangJi repeated, only speaking after Wen Ning had given them some of the medical tea they always had ready.

"Okay- pause on the conversations for now!" Wen Qing stopped any answers, "A-Ning, Maiden Jiang, please assist me in checking these two,"

Jiang Yanli took to Wei WuXian, who was still confused but did and answered questions. He scowled a bit at the herbal tea, but one look from Jiang Yanli and a glare from Wen Qing was enough to have the cup as dry as the desert.

Wen Ning focused on Lan WangJi, not needing to speak much as Lan WangJi did everything and answered everything without much thought. His eyes did stray over to his brother and uncle occasionally, at one point Jiang Cheng, who caught his eye and just motioned towards the ground.

Only then did Lan WangJi detect the strange feeling in his gut, eyes casting downwards in between the beds and somehow forgotten, was the Stygian Tiger Amulet. And just like that, everything came racing back to him, "Oh, it was the amulet,"

Wei WuXian also seemed to need the reminder that the amulet existed, his silver eyes also following the tug of his gut. He then frowned and before anyone could stop him, he whistled sharply, the amulet shooting upwards towards him in a black smoke. Gripping it, Wei WuXian knew there was something different with it. It was...lighter in a way, but it also seemed more uncontrollable than before.

"Get that thing away from both of you!" Jiang Cheng snapped, walking forward and snatching it away, "First it knocks you both out and then it knocks you back awake,"

And just like that both males snapped their gazes to one another, speaking at the same time with worry, "Wei Ying," "Lan Zhan,"

Jiang Fengmian failed to hold back an amused chuckle as his wife snorted. Wen Qing rolled her eyes, "You're both fine, were fine the entire time. Which is why I do not understand the reason you two were knocked out for five days,"

"Five days?!" Wei WuXian choked.

"Did something happen when the two of you were...asleep?" Jiang Fengmian suggested.

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi fell in thought. Had something happened while they were asleep? Perfectly possible. Wei WuXian knitted his eyebrows together. And finally, he remembered. His face paled at the reminder of all the things he had seen and imagined, obvious fear and pain crossed over his expression. Jiang Yanli worried, "What? What is it?"

Wei WuXian shook his head, expression hiding away and a small smile replacing the pain, "Nothing,"

Everyone's eyes hardened, frowns dipping at the edges of their lips. Lan Qiren looked at Wei WuXian with one of the deeper frowns, 'If I hadn't seen his expression before, I would've thought nothing was wrong at all,'

"Young Master Wei," Wen Ning pushed.

Wei WuXian swallowed, "A dream...nightmare is probably more accurate, I- I'm not really sure. It was...it was strange,"

Lan WangJi had gone noticeably silent, though Lan Xichen caught a slight amount of nervousness, though he did not bring it up. He did, however, observe the way Lan WangJi caught Jiang Cheng's eye, letting clear warning flash for a second. A look that made Jiang Cheng's eyes widen.

"Dream?" Wen Qing repeated, "Of what?"

Wei WuXian shook his head, "That's just it...I dreamt things that definitely never happened,"

"...like?" Yu ZiYuan pressed worriedly.

Wei WuXian clenched his fists and spoke slowly, "There were alot of things. I saw the massacre of Lotus Pier happen again, but something was different because...because...the only people who were on that boat were A-Cheng and I. A-and we were tied by Zidian and A-Cheng was yelling for Auntie,"

Jiang Cheng felt his heart race. He glanced at Lan WangJi, giving a small nod to the question. Lan WangJi's eyes widened a fraction, before they both focused on Wei WuXian. Jiang Yanli's grip tightened, "Then...what about Mother and Father?"

Wei WuXian shook his head, "I don't know, I don't know what happened,"

"Is there more?" Jiang Cheng got out and then seeing his brother nod, he exhaled, "Tell us everything,"

There was a pause, "You...you lost your core,"

Jiang Cheng felt a headache coming on as he froze. He really, really, hoped his brother wouldn't learn of the core transfer. Yu ZiYuan reached out and placed a hand on her son's shoulder, squeezing firmly, staring at her nephew, "And?"

Wei WuXian placed a hand over his meridian, "I gave you mine, but lied about it saying I took you to Baoshan Sanren,"

Wen Qing and Wen Ning both froze, while Jiang Cheng let out a choke of pain. Others were no better, the mere idea of Wei WuXian confessing that in his dream he had willingly given away his golden core...

Wen Qing blurted out, "How do you know of my golden core transfer theory?"

Jiang Cheng and Lan WangJi felt ready to panic.

"What?" Jiang Fengmian snapped, "It's real?"

"The theory is," Wen Ning explained, "But its never been tested. The chance is only about 50/50 and no one would willingly give their core away..." he paused and glanced at Wei WuXian, "...most people wouldn't willingly do such a thing,"

Wei WuXian blinked slowly and then suggested, "Maybe I read it at the Supervisory office? I did sometimes go in there to read for things to send Shijie,"

Wen Qing seemed to consider this and relaxed slightly, "That's...that's possible, yes,"

Jiang Cheng and Lan WangJi did not add anything. Wei WuXian carried on and he frowned, "...I...I argued with everyone, a lot. A-and...Lan Zhan kept asking me to go to Gusu, but I kept yelling at him to leave me alone...demonic cultivation, I suppose. I think I kept my lack of core a secret, since everyone kept demanding why I never carried a sword. I..." he paused, glancing up at the four Jiang's before muttering, "I defected from the sect,"

"What?!" Three of the four exclaimed.

Wei WuXian grimaced, "I don't know what was going on!! I just know I told Jiang Cheng to leave and tell the world that I betrayed YunmengJiang. That way, nothing I do would affect the sect!"

"Was that it?" Lan Xichen asked, seeing the way Lan WangJi's fingers had curled into fists.

Wei WuXian shook his head and then smiled a bit, "I saw Shijie in a wedding dress! Shijie, you looked very pretty..." Jiang Yanli giggled, but it faded as she saw the sorrowful expression on her brothers face, "A-Xian?"

"Shijie...I don't think I got to see you get married..." Wei WuXian confessed weakly, "You and A-Cheng were both there, but we were just in some old pavilion. After I defected I suppose, you came to visit and show me your dress,"

Everyone's heart squeezed. Jiang Yanli's eyes softened into pain, knowing that the things her brother had seen were not the best and had caused him to hurt.

Wei WuXian looked up at her with guilty eyes, "I'm sorry, I wasn't there, I-"

Jiang Yanli cupped his face, "No, no, no, XianXian, it's all not real. You won't defect, you won't be alone. You'll come to my wedding and I'll come to yours,"

Wei WuXian glanced at Lan WangJi, smiling a bit, before saying, "You asked me to name your future child with a courtesy name!"

Everyone in the room smiled a bit at that. Wen Qing asked, "and what did you say?"

Wei WuXian looked at his sister, "Jin Rulan,"

Jiang Yanli's eyes lit up, "Rulan...I love it. I'll have to speak to A-Xuan, but I don't think he'd oppose,"

Yu ZiYuan erupted, "You're not even married yet and you're already speaking of children!

"Lan?" Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow, mockingly, trying to ignore how fast his heart was beating, "Why should a child of the Jiang and Jin sect have Lan in it, no offense Master Lan, Er-Ge, WangJi,"

"You said the exact same things in my dream!!" Wei WuXian protested, "What's wrong with Lan? It can mean so many great things!"

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes with an amused smirk. Though he knew that his nephew always felt shy of his courtesy name, the name Rulan was too elegant and, in Jin Ling's words, "pretty" for the young master of the Jin Sect. It did mean 'orchid-like' and despite those 13 years raising Jin Ling, Jiang Cheng never told the boy how he got his courtesy name. All he had said when Jin Ling had asked why his parents gave him such a courtesy name was, "Your parents didn't pick it. Your parents couldn't figure out a good courtesy name so your Mother spoke to me about it. I suggested someone and we went to visit him and he suggested Rulan. Your Mother loved it,"

Jin Ling blinked at him, "Were they expecting a girl?"

Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow, "Do you not like it?"

"Its too sissy!"

"You're just like your father," Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, frustrated, "At least your courtesy name gives some hint to your mother's elegance,"

There was a pause, "JiuJiu, who gave me my courtesy name?"

Jiang Cheng blinked slowly. He then felt the familiar swarming of grief hidden in the veil of rage. He then turned around and stalked off, speaking sternly, "Do not ask me this again,"

Lan Qiren moved on, "Anything else?"

Wei WuXian shook his head, "Then I woke up,"

Wen Qing turned to Lan WangJi, "Did you have any dreams?"

Lan WangJi blinked. He did have a dream, it was only a few scenes, but it was enough to petrify him. He had been so helpless and his voice wouldn't work. He could only watch and listen.

"A-Zhan?" Lan Xichen called softly.

Lan WangJi looked down and then glanced at Wei WuXian. He opened his mouth hesitantly, before closing it again. Wei WuXian frowned, "What's wrong?"

Lan WangJi looked at him and after a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Have you tried to drown before?"

Wei WuXian froze, blood draining from his face. The other four Jiang's were no better, all of them pale and horrified, clearly recalling that night.

"It was once, okay!" Wei WuXian looked like he would rather be anywhere else, avoiding their eyes completely, "And I haven't...I haven't done anything...too bad..."

Wei WuXian felt all the eyes on him and he forced out a startled laugh, "Pardon me?"

"Wei Ying..." Lan WangJi croaked, "Answer my question,"

"I fell into a Waterborne abyss in Caiyi," Wei WuXian said.

Lan WangJi's fists clenched tighter, "I mean here. At Lotus Pier. Have you woken up in the middle of the night, snuck out from your room, gone to the pier and tried to drown?"

Just saying the words was difficult, but Lan WangJi had to know. He wanted to know if what he had seen was real or not. Because if it was...

"A-Xian," Jiang Yanli's voice cracked, "A-Xian,"

Wei WuXian stared at his fiance, the memory bubbling to the surface.

Wei WuXian shot awake from a nightmare, tears streaming down his face and teeth biting into his bottom lip. He exhaled and inhaled shakily, holding his head painfully. It was another one of those, another where he watches the four Jiang's fall apart because of him. Where he watches and listens to all the insults he pretends don't hurt. He hated it, he hated it so much. Everything hurt and it was so tiring to try and pretend. He wanted to tell someone, but didn't want to burden anyone more than he already has.

That voice whispered to him, mocking his loneliness, how pathetic he was, sitting in the dark and crying when he had been brought into a great sect to live in. A whimper passed his lips, "Mom...Dad...please come back,"

He hadn't begged in so long for them. But he really wanted them. He didn't have memories of them and he loathed it. Some nights he'd sit and scour, push his brain beyond and search for things that aren't there. He knew he wasn't alone, but it felt like he was. He wanted his parents, he wanted them to take him away and care for him. He wanted to know their faces, their voices, their laughs, he wanted memories.

'Then go to them,'

Wei WuXian removed the covers and snuck out of his room with the desperation of a five year old that had grown up too fast. His parents, his mother, his father. If he went to them, everything would be fixed. Jiang Fengmian and Yu ZiYuan wouldn't argue, Jiang Cheng could have his puppies back, Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli could have their Father's attention again rather than some pitiful street rat like him.

He was at the docks, the private pier of the sect residence. He walked to the edge and stared down at the dark water. He smiled a bit, mind projecting the robes he knew belonged to CangSe Sanren and Wei Changze in the water. He saw two hands motion to him. Wei WuXian fell into the water. He swam down and gripped the leg of the pier, searching for the robes. His mind whispered, 'Soon, mother and father will come. Just wait here,'

He waited.

His lungs began to hurt and when there was finally no more air, his body opened his mouth, only to take in water. Wei WuXian felt it go in, he felt his body lurch and fight. But his mind was soothing him, promising that this will fix everything. He'd be okay after this.

He closed his eyes and waited, despite the burn, despite the pain, despite the way his body began to grow heavier than it should be. He was close, he knew, he felt it, he felt himself grow ever tired. His mind flickered, showing brief flashes of the four jiangs. He heard Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli yell for him.

"A-Xian!"

"WuXian!"

Something hurt and Wei WuXian coughed, arms and legs flailing. He shook his head, 'No. I didn't tell them goodbye, yet! Shijie! Jiang Cheng!'

He lurched upwards, head breaking the surface. He coughed, water fell from his mouth as he weakly pulled onto the wood, water emptying from his lungs and stomach. Wei WuXian felt light headed when it all stopped, not even realizing his wheezing had turned into pained sobs.

He shook his head, snapping himself out of the daze. Seeing the expression everyone was giving him, they must've realized he had been thinking of something, or remembering, most likely all of them came to the second conclusion. Jiang Yanli's tightened her grip on his hands, pleading, "XianXian..."

He wilted under her pained breath, just like he had wilted and broke the surface at her voice. He looked away and admitted, "When I was 13 I tried to kill myself. I tried to drown but didn't go through with it,"

The two older Lan's and Wen Ning all felt like they had been stabbed, the four of them paling rapidly. Lan Xichen reached for his brother, only to see fear in the golden orbs. Lan Xichen's heart pained and he whispered, "WuXian..."

"Its fine," Wei WuXian smiled, shaking his head, "It's so long ago, I barely think about it anymore. Plus, I'm here now, aren't I? Who cares about some stupid teenager trying to die?"

Jiang Cheng found his voice again and turned to Lan WangJi, speaking sternly, "How did you know about his suicide attempt?"

"I didn't," Lan WangJi shook his head, "I saw it,"

Wei WuXian's eyes widened and he was suddenly off his bed and in front of Lan WangJi, "Lan Zhan...what are you talking about?"

"Dream," Lan WangJi exhaled softly, gripping the black sleeves, "Saw you almost drown, Wen Zhuliu try to melt your core," another pause and then Lan WangJi moved forward, pressing his face to hide in Wei WuXian's shoulder, but his voice was still clear for them all, "I heard you...I heard you tell that bastard to stop,"

Lan Qiren gaped at the way his nephew had just cursed, but didn't speak when he saw everyone in the room gasp and anger and pain practically exploded. Wei WuXian had gone completely still, barely even breathing at this point. His voice shook, "You...you..."

Lan WangJi inhaled and pushed forward, "Only for few seconds, then you were in the Burial Mounds..." he paused, "I know why you can't eat normally anymore,"

"Fuck," Wei WuXian choked out, "No, no, you're not supposed to know that!!"

Lan WangJi pressed a soft kiss to the males shoulder, "Its okay,"

"Its not okay- oh my god," Wei WuXian tried to leave, but Lan WangJi held him firmer and promised, "You had to survive, Wei Ying. You were in a desperate situation. I do not think of you any different than I did before,"

Wei WuXian bit back an argument, not having this debate with so many eyes around them.

"The last thing..." Lan WangJi tilted his head up again, hearing no refute, "I don't know what it was. But you were surrounded by resentment and...ghosts, maybe, the amulet was in your hand too. I think you might've been trying to destroy it or break it, whatever the case, there was a backlash. Then when it faded and you stopped screaming, you were just laying on the ground in pools of blood, I-"

"Alright, that's enough," Wen Qing ordered as Wei WuXian launched towards the jade for a tight hug, the two of them gripping one another like their lives depended on it. No one was any better. Jiang Cheng stared at the golden eyes, the two of them giving one another feared and worried looks.

It was utterly silent, everyone just soaking in everything. Wen Qing quickly moved to the incense burners and had some calming herbs burn and waft around the room. Lan Qiren broke the silence, "What exactly is the Stygian Tiger Amulet?"