Chapter Text
It's been half a week since the incident. Letters have been sent to the sect leader of the involved, a side note was attached in the one meant for Jiang-zongzhu informing the situation of his head disciple, as well as his current state.
Wei Wuxian woke up 3 after his qi deviation, but the lively boy was no more... Apathetic, almost completely unresponsive. He ate, he slept, but he didn't try to talk at all or move unless extremely necessary.
Lan Qiren was confused, the Lan healers said his presence made the Wei tremble, but that was it, the boy didn't say anything nor moved, his face expressionless as far as they could tell. It didn't matter that much 'cause the same apparently unconscious response was given to most people that tried to interact with the boy, even the Jiang heir was barred to visit for the time being.
Surprisingly, the only one that seemed to attract no negative reaction from the Wei was Wangji.
It wasn't long before some worrying signs started to show when the Wei slept.
First he shivered...
Then his breath became erratic...
There was sweat, tears too, the boy even spat blood! He could've choked if someone didn't notice!
It was on the fourth day, when the leaders were supposed to arrive that the Wei finally did something...
The healers found the Wei seated on the bed, looking at something far from there and when someone went to try and touch him, the boy flinched so hard he actually fell!
Now on the ground, shaking, the Wei began to laugh only to take a deep breath and start screaming right after.
It was so loud and so heartbreaking, even some of the people that gathered in the infirmary started to weep with the boy, it sounded almost like a punishment for everyone who heard it. The spell only stopped after a more experienced healer threw a needle and put the boy out for "a good whole day", the healer affirmed.
*
Later that day, it was a worried Lan Qiren that greated the Jiang delegation, just as he arrived nonetheless. The Lan quickly explained that his head disciple finally gave some sort of reaction even if a bad one, his heir was kneeling in front of the Hanshi waiting with the Jin heir under Lan Wangji supervision as to not have another altercation start between the two, and they would stay there until the leaders decided what would be done.
Right now Lan Qiren would accompany the Jiang leader on the way to the infirmary so the other could see how his head disciple was.
It was then that Jiang Fengmian stopped the Lan in his tracks and informed the man he would resolve the conflict between his son and the Jin heir first, ending their talk saying he trusted the Lan's to watch his disciple while the more pressing matter was discussed, as they had been doing well so far and there was nothing for him to do right away 'cause the man was sure the Wei would be fine for the time being, he always was.
That got Lan Qiren surprised, but he didn't say anything more, just changed his route for the Hanshi.
*
The talk with the sect leaders did not go smoothly, the heirs were called to give their side of the story but at some point, after some rude remarks and shouting, they were told to leave and kneel while they waited.
It was safe to say the Jin x Jiang engagement was unsavable.
After everything was resolved it was time for the leaders to leave, their heirs and disciples were encouraged to stay and finish the classes, the only one that was almost expected to leave with his sect leader was Wei Wuxian, due to his current state of course. The Jiang leader asked to be guided to the infirmary after having a word with his son. With just a few corridors to reach they found a disciple walking way to quickly for a Lan in the Hanshi's direction. The same disciple looked relieved as he got close and saw Lan Qiren.
- Lan Xiangshen - he started when he got to the two leaders, bowing - The healers... Wei Wuxian, he... - the boy looked distressed and Lan Qiren tried to calm him down asking for clarification on the matter - Lan (insert courtesy name here) went to the infirmary and found most of the healers passed out on the ground. Wei Wuxian disappeared and there was blood at the side of his bed, more since the incident, we think itcs his since no healers were charmed and we sent other disciples to find Wei-gongzi as soon as possible, I was sent to warn you.
*
The search for the Wei boy wasn't a big all out affair, the Lan decided to be discreet as to not disclose their own incompetence with guarding one of their guests. Healing as the Wei was made for a poor attempt of running away, the boy was clever though.
Lan Wangji was searching for him north from the cold spring and he found him, in a clearing illuminated by the evening sun,drawing on the ground with a stick, that was strange and left Lan Wangji with an uneasy sense of deja vu, but the most important matter of the moment was to bring the Wei back to the healers. Seing as he left on his own volition and not because someone else took him would be noted as well with his strange behavior as a side-effect from the qi deviation.
But suddenly when the Lan got closer, Wei Wuxian got up and with few hand movements made to touch the ground, a flux of energy was felt in that whole side of the mountain as fire came out of the ground, first orange and hot, then blue and that came with a cold that left even the Lan shivering, more disciples started to appear in search of the Wei following the string of energy left in the air, but Wei Wuxian did not react to them.
From the flames a bird was formed and the Wei bid it farewell seeing it fly away disappearing in the clouds.
After such sight, Wei Wuxian turned and made his way to Lan Wangji, offering nothing more than a smile that was short-lived and... shy? The Lan felt so out of place next to the Wei, everything was different somehow and Wangji could feel the change as if it was tangible, he felt... uncomfortable.
- Let's go back, shall we? - and with that, Wei Wuxian started his way back to the the more common areas of the Cloud Recess - I heard Jiang-Zongzhu came to foresee the situation already, guess my time here is over. Lan Zhan... I have something to give you, come say goodbye later. - and he continued to walk, not even looking at anything or anyone.
They passed by Lan Qiren and Jiang Fengmian and bowed to them, one look at Wei Wuxian's face and the Jiang seemed wary.
- This disciple is lookimg forward to get back at Lotus Pier, not that Lan Xiangshen teachings are unwanted or under appreciated, with all due respect to Lan Xiangshen, it just seems that your metodologies crash with my morals, being honest, I feel like they would stifle my cultivation actually. And lying is forbidden.
After his monologue, the Wei bowed again and left for the guest quarters, presumably to gather his things. Two Lan disciples decided to accompany the Wei just to be sure he wouldn't disappears yet again.
Lan Qiren was concerned, the boy disappears after such a show of angst and then comes back as if nothing happened, even the healers couldn't say exactly why tell fell unconscious, they could just remember a pressure and next thing they knew, they woke up after hours of unconsciousness.
It was definitely strange, but Qiren was happy the boy wasn't his problem anymore, what he said about his teaching methods really bothered him though. The Lan couldn't actually believe it would stifle the boy's cultivation, but the line about it clashing with his morals would haunt him for some time.