Where Your Heart Leans
(Flashback)Xuanyu knit his brows as sleep slowly clears from his eyes. Everything around him appeared hazy, and he could not make out where he lay. A smile welcomes him after blinking a few times; his Master was by his side, holding his hand. "Dont get up...", was the only sentence he made out in the first few minutes. His ears kept shutting off within intervals so he tries to read the other's lips. More so, he fell in awe, seeing so many talismans plastered to his body. Wei Ying removed them one at a time, applying pressure on each spot before peeling it off. "Okay, now you can sit.", Wei Ying pursed his lips as he pulled the servant by the arms and leaned his head against the bed frame. He then got a cup of water for Xuanyu to drink."Do you hear any voices?", Wei Ying looked at him curiously. "No...", Xuanyu's throat was dry and husky. He sets the cup to his mouth and sips the water but swallows so hard. One would think he was gushing down a bucket of water instead of a tiny ceramic cup."Okay, but don't be frightened when you hear them later. Spirits can be annoying sometimes, especially when your mind is imbalanced. If not handled wisely they can push you to a dark place.""Like make me evil or something?", Xuanyu lowered the cup to frown."Pfft...Yes, something like that. But I trust you Xuanyu, you're the toughest person I know. For you to survive me all these years shows that you're mentally sound... It's nothing alarming, as long as you remain your calm usual self and dont lose your shit as I do, then we're in the clear.", Wei Ying ruffled Xuanyu's dishevelled hair. "Aiya, that hurts Master Wei!""Sorry, sorry...Geez, Xuanyu, I barely even touched you.", Wei Ying quickly changed those rough movements to gentle stroking. Mo Xuanyu gruffed, his eyes shut briefly, "I'm hungry Wei Ying.""Wow, he has begun giving me orders.", Wei Ying chuckled. "It's just a joke, I'll ask the others to get lunch, be right back.", Wei Ying taps himself up when Xuanyu pouts. The servant smiles, watching Wei Ying act silly and sweet. "Stop walking backwards, you're gonna fall.""Ah, I see my servant is back now.", Wei Ying teased."Just go!", Xuanyu picks up the pillow, threatening to use it as he laughs back. **********(Present Day)Wan Zhuliu left his Master alone after finding a good place to lay low. The town was a few miles away and he worried there could be another ambush along the unusual path. He saw some of his men flee after he snatched the young master and a great part of his instincts told him to be patient. It was now midday and he had a few hours until the sun came down, when the area would be unsafe. Inside the abandoned shack, Xuanyu sits in a corner, crying his eyes out. Yelling and cussing Wan Zhuliu brought no comfort to him. He needed Wei Ying.'It's outrageous...you did nothing to them but they attacked you and took away the only person you love...They killed him.''No, it cant be...My Master Wei can't die so easily.', Mo Xuanyu clutched his head, rocking himself like a deranged person as the voices crammed his head with heavy thoughts. His heart was aching, mind agitated. 'But he did. That cultivator in white robes strangled him before your eyes. And you let this happen?''...', Xuanyu bit down his lips, pulling his fingers as his body shook. It came as flashes- that memory of Wei Ying's last moments. "Why Master Wei, why did you do this to me? How am I supposed to live knowing you will never return to me. Ahh", despair poured out in waterworks that disturbed the silence. 'Hihihihi...Oh my, but your Master did not do anything. Your Master Wei protected you with his life while you hid like a coward.', a feminine voice giggled menacingly. 'How pathetic, he is weak...He has always been weak. A useless servant in the robes of his Master. A servant who killed his beloved Master.', a crispier voice joins the chat. "shut up! SHUT UP!", Mo Xuanyu was off the ground, yelling at the emptiness. "AHHH...NOO!...AHAAA...", He wailed and groaned as he wept bitterly. What was he going to do? How will he explain himself if Sect Leader Jiang ever found out what he had done? Wei Ying could have received maximum protection had he not agreed to the switch- he could have gotten out of the ambush if Chenquin was played.'Hahaha, you're alone now Xuanyu...you have nobody. ', the voices laughed on as the servant turned Master dissolved in unrestrained tears...**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************YunmengJiang...The Lotus cove is grey, lacking life and spunk. The Madam's regular ranting and scolding died down completely, and Jiang Cheng had to stay in his father's presence almost all the time. YanLi remained in the kitchen or visited the ancestral hall to pray for the family. Same old routine without the nuisance of a pure rascal disturbing their peace. The place is empty without Wei Ying and they felt it dearly. Sect Leader Jiang rewarded his disciples for delivering his nephew unharmed. His son commended the men as well and showed appreciation. "It's fair to say that your brother has crossed the borders of QishanWen as we speak, He should arrive home soon. Let us wait for the confirmatory letter...In the meantime, we can discuss another important issue." ", Fengmian gazed at his son after the men left. Jiang Cheng guessed where his old man was going with this. His mother already mentioned it the other day. "You're old enough to build a family. It's high time you chose a bride.""I understand your concern father, but, can you give me some time. At least let us get word that A'Ying is safe in his father's arms.", Jiang Cheng did not appear enthused."I see...But bear in mind the options that your mother and I have picked for you. Each of them would make a wonderful bride and will hopefully give you an heir...Since you've asked for time, you have ten days to decide.""Yes father.", Jiang Cheng bowed...After the discussion, Wanyin strolls to his sister's quarters to share the news. The omega's smile fades like a glowing splint. "You miss him too, don't you?", YanLi asked as they continued the walk to another location- Wei Ying's room. "I can't say that I don't, he was my worst nightmare. Always making me worry.", Jiang Cheng had a hand behind him, chest sticking out, eyes upfront. "Hmph, yes, our XianXian is like that. But he is pure and kind. He is a good boy.", YanLi reminisced about the times they spent together with the youngest."Tch! Good boy my behinds.", Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes."Hahaha...You know I'm right.", YanLi slid an arm around her brother's and leaned on his shoulder. "Sister, whom do you think our crazy brother will end up with?", Jiang Cheng looked down swiftly, then at YanLi. "Well, I know there are many great alphas in his sect. Plus there are also nobles in Yunmeng who could fit the job.""Hmph! No alpha will be good enough for that idiot.", Jiang Cheng paused when they got to Wei Ying's room."A'Cheng, do you want to...", YanLi looks up at the alpha, then shakes the thought away. "What's wrong?", Jiang Cheng saw the unsettling expression on YanLi's face. The omega faced him with a smile. "It's nothing, I was wondering if you want to visit our little brother soon.""Oh that...Maybe.", Jiang Cheng smiles back as he pushed the door open.*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************hoves trekking at a slow pace.* *Distant murmurs and whispers*"Mnn.", He saw the ground first, hanging on the back of a horse like a sack of rice. There was a distressful throb in his head and his body was a little numb. Wei Ying felt a sharp sting when he moved his neck. He pursed his lips in agony; the up and down motion of his ride made it hard not to feel the pain.He takes a well-deserved breath when the animal stalls for a second. 'Where am I? Am I dead?', he found those thoughts to be untrue after discovering the spirit rope on his wrist. These ropes could only be cut with the spirit weapon of a Master Cultivator. The omega's heart skipped a beat when a baritone voice gives a command. 'Lan Wangji, he recalled what took place hours ago. But why was he on a horse, riding with Wangji's men?... 'Does he know who I am?... That can't be, he was so bent on stealing Xuanyu...Huh! Mo Xuanyu!...He must be devastated.', the omega gulped at the rushing thoughts. 'I have to escape, I need to find Xuanyu...'Disciples were walking beside him, blocking his view of the side of the road. Wei Ying hand on, holding on to the thought of his servant while he devised a plan. It will be hard and the stakes were high, but he had to find a way. If only his sword was nearby...But wait, something caught his attention.Lan Wangji stops when his nose picks up a scent. He veers his neck at the men behind him, specifically spying on the only horse at the back carrying the prisoner. Wangji looks ahead after some seconds and continues when the person remained unmoving. They were on a safer route to QishanWen, taking a path through the mountains. It was up to him to surrender his prisoner to the Wens, however, reporting to Sect Leader Wen before heading home is a must. *Loud neighing*"The prisoner is loose!", A disciple shouts when the prisoner's horse suddenly goes berserk.The Jade turns sharply to the alarm. Something scared the horse into trampling on disciples and it runs in the opposite direction. Seeing that the prisoner was still tied up on all limbs, Wangji saw it as an accident. Wei Ying winced as the animal picked up speed down the mountain. What his captors did not know is that he could see ghosts even when they did not wish to be seen. Wei Ying spotted one hiding in the woods just in the nick of time. It was the spirit of a little girl named Tintin, who perished in No Man's Land; locked out of the place when cultivators set up the great barrier. The disciples were too engrossed on the road to notice Wei Ying's eyes glow red in the day. It took a lot more to communicate with the child telepathically but once he managed to convince her, she flew into the horse. Her inability to control the animal right away lead to the loud neighing and gruffs but that changed when she got the hang of it. 'That's it, you're doing great.', Wei Ying encouraged his new pet. "Eh?!", he jerks when he sees the jade flying on Bichen while the disciples came after him on foot and horses. His eyes got wider when he caught sight of Suibian comfortably swaying on Wangji's side. "Why that...Hmph, Tintin, shake your rump...*Cringes* that came out wrong...Err...Tintin, jump!", Wei Ying braced himself. The instant the possessed horse leapt he grabs the chance to flip over. Unfortunately, his plan wasn't as bright as he imagined it."Argh, freaken shit...Damn it.", That hurt more than it should. Tintin also realized that Wei Ying was falling off and slowed down almost abruptly. "Ah!", Wei Ying cried. His neck kept bobbing downwards like a spring and there was no way to ignore the fast-moving ground.Lan Wangji swooped down with Bichen at that moment and tried to take the reins on the beast but Wei Ying chose to upset him more by pulling Suibian out of its scabbard and influencing Tintin to jump again. The horse did so, violently- causing the jade to fall off his sword while Wei Ying got the chance to slit the ropes around his ankle. Wei Ying took the hilt of his blade into his mouth and cut the rope after several attempts on a boisterous horse. With that out of the way, he was able to straddle the horse and take the reins. The jade refused any help from the disciples that got to him. Shaking his sleeves, he hops on bichen and pulls out his zither. "Um, Tintin, the bad people are gauging on us. We need to lose them now!", Wei Ying grew anxious as he glances behind. Tintin neighed and run like the wind. Without notice, she veers off the road into the randomly arranged trees. It should be difficult for any animal its size to move freely, yet she took that direction."Do not lose sight of him... get the nets ready.", Lan Wangji refused to give up on this pest. The wen disciples with him handled the nets while the few Gusu disciples took to the air. Wei Ying did not know where the girl was taking him but he had confidence in her submission. Her hoofs got suck between roots at times and Wei Ying had to get her out quickly then climb back on. Wangji growled whenever he lost sight of the target. He had not planned to go that far but he was sick and tired of playing with his menace. *whoosh* Close enough he let out a hazardous amount of musk. And it works, Wei Ying let out a distress cry when the pheromones latched on to his senses, registering that there was an alpha on his tail. 'What the hell is this...Tintin, hurry', Wei Ying communicated with his mind while he began to lose control of his will. *Neigh!*The horse took another sharp turn towards a huge cave when it made its way to another path. With no trees in its way, it sprinted into the shelter until it disappeared. Lan Wangji and his men followed blindly, thinking they had the man cornered...**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************Wan Zhuliu returned to the shelter with food and water. Things did not go as planned but heaven was on his side- leading him to find five of his men, lost in the vast land. It was difficult leaving his Master behind but it proved fruitful. He had more people to help him protect young Master Wei. As long as this person stays alive, he could return home with his head held high. But thanks to the death of the Master's special servant, the honour due him seemed shaky."Master Wei, I brought some fruits, please manage them until I figure a way out.", The alpha went on his knees to present what he had found. For one man, it should be enough berries.But his Master was not in a good mood. All the fear in him mutated into something else after spending two hours alone with his thoughts and the unseen voices."Master Wei...""Take that thing out of my sight... Bring me back my servant, only then will I be satisfied.", Xuanyu tilts his head, his eyes narrowed with a displeased look."...", Wan Zhuliu lowered his eyes remorsefully as he gathered the drive to repeat what he had said earlier and more, "That won't be possible Master Wei...while I was looking for my men, I saw smoke in the air. It reeked of scorched flesh and blood. The other's confirmed it; the assailants burned down our fallen disciples...including that servant."Xuanyu dug his hand into the bowl of fruits in a fit of rage and scooped what his palm could carry. Staring grimly at Zhuliu and his men, Xuanyu crushed the food they worked hard to gather, "This...this is what you and those barbarians have done to me, and I will not forgive or forget this for as long as I live. DID. YOU. HEAR. ME?!", his breath hitched aggressively. The depth of the Master's heartbreak seemed endless. Zhuliu bowed his head in shame. He may be older but the Master held more value to the sect. His men fell on their knees chanting for forgiveness and mercy alongside him. "I do not care for apologies. Apologies won't bring back my friend. It won't feed me the joy of hearing him laugh or cry in my arms...It won't let him keep his promise to return to me. I'll never get to be the first person he wakes up to because you failed to protect him- I failed to protect him... Just get me out of here.", Xuanyu looked away, his hands clenched in a fist. He suddenly felt cold inside out. What's the use of staying in this forsaken place if Wei Ying is now ashes. He knew that the longer he stayed in that there- on these lands, the more absurd that terrible news would sound. And he may be tempted to look for the Master himself...But this was not the lotus cove, he was in the middle of nowhere and he won't know where to even start looking. The men heeded his command and held their own. If they could make their way to the main road, then perhaps they could get to town before dark. Xuanyu got up and dusted himself. He was used to having dirty robes. His Wei Ying always accumulated dust when playing. As he steps out of the wooden shack, he holds onto the fake Chenqing and takes a deep breath. This is him stepping into the world without his Ying, this is him trying not to be weak...For Wei Ying.*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************Meanwhile, Wei Ying did end up at a dead end. It's not that there was no way inside the cave but a barrier was blocking his path. The horse kept neighing, galloping and striking its hooves against the invisible forcefield. "Easy Tintin, I asked you to find us a place to hide not lead me to a spirit barrier. Aish! Gege was right, I can't believe that jade used pheromones on me. Isn't it against his clan rules?...", Wei Ying felt his senses coming back to him. His heart was still racing and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. "You saved me back there A'Tin. Move aside, let me take care of this stupid barrier.", He stepped back and bit into his finger. The omega's brows knit and eased whenever he felt overwhelmed. Occasionally he looked back to see if Lan Wangji had caught up to him. Wei Ying didn't need much light to see in the dark but that's not the case for the ones pursuing him. He knew they were near when the darkness began to fade. "Shit...Come on...Hah! Let's go Tintin.", He climbs the horse and keeps going after taking down the shield. He would discover that there were many layers and tunnels well hidden in that simple-looking cave.Just when he perceived the others were far off, that same blue glare slaps him off the horse. Tintin returned for him but Lan Wangji was in a range too close to dodge. "Unhand me you brute!", Wei Ying scuffled with the jade, throwing his other arm in all directions. Wangji's grip was excruciatingly painful on his hand. For a moment he thought his wrist would snap like his neck. And it did. "Ahhh! What do you have against my bones?!... I'm warning you, let go.", Wei Ying's voice echoed all around them. He kept pulling his weight backwards to oppose Lan Wangji's forceful motion. The flower considered whistling, but within the twinkle of an eye, a hand lands on his lips. He flinched when the jade yanked him to firm broad chests and said almost in a whisper, "Be quiet." *Dudum* *Dum* *Dududum*Wei Ying's heart changed tunes. 'This is...why is he so...close.', Wei Ying blinked, trying not to breathe too rashly on the alpha's long fingers. He cringed as his thoughts went haywire. 'Focus Wei Ying...This is not a romance novel where the protagonist falls in love over again with the alpha of his dreams... in a dark, lonely...cave. Oh God, his palm is hot...'He tried to move but that only made the Jade hold on tighter, letting go of his wrist swiftly to pin him closer to his breastplate. 'Oh fuck, his chest...His hand ar...around my waist. Waaaah Gegeeee, save your A'Ying... Stop beating so fast, stupid heart.' the flower whined in his head. If the lights were any brighter, the dark pink blossoming on his face would have been exposed to the jade. Wei Ying wished the mountains would cave in on him to save him from this embarrassing moment. Lan Wangji turns his neck as soon as the disciples reached them with wooden torches made of spirit fire. Wei Ying could not let the light expose his unhealthy thoughts pioneered on his flushed face. And so while Wangji warns the men not to make a sound, Wei Ying finds a spot to bite hard! The jade jerks his hand but refuses to let go. The two trips after the former squirmed in the attempt to break free. What Wei Ying missed as he stumbled backwards was the slope three feet behind him. He exclaimed with a "Hah! Ahh! Ahhh!" as their bodies tipped over and they rolled into the deep."Hanguanjun!", the other disciples rushed in the same direction, wanting to save their leader. Lan Wangji never let go until they hit the bottom and Wei Ying rolls further away from him. When he sees the light at the top, he tells the men not to come down but four of them were already on their way."Oh crap, now we're trapped for real...what's your deal?!", Wei Ying finally unsheathes his sword, pointing it in Wangji's direction while he complained. The ground beneath them trembled, faintly, yet noticeable. Lan Wangji heard the strange noise earlier. The vibration happened whenever the cave became noisy. The men who joined Wangji lifted the fires to inspect their new surroundings- Nothing but a pond and more rocks. "Fly upon your swords. It is not safe here, I'll bring the prisoner.", Wangji said as he walked toward Wei Ying. With the entrance blocked by the jade's men, the latter sought refuge on the giant rock sitting at the centre of the pond. "Hah, Hanguanjun, I'd rather rot in this place than let you treat me like a criminal!", he retorted."Shhh...Do not speak.", Wangji responded rather softly. Having very sensitive ears made him more likely to hear the low growls and little tremors happening around them."Do not shush me! I escaped, deal with it and leave me alone. What the hell is wrong with you and your men; hunting down a defenceless servant!", Wei Ying stuck his sword in the wet moss to administer a tantrum. He had been through enough for one day.*GRRRRRRRRRR*The tremor increased, shaking the ground beneath them- shaking the ground under Wei Ying's feet. The rock he stood on creaked and cracked. The omega yanks his sword while Wangji's men try to leave. He slipped on the moss and fell into the pond when the boulder raised itself to reveal a giant monster. "Oh boy...", he froze when the thing stretched its neck out of a hollow space at the base of the rock."The tortoise of slaughter?...", Lan Wangji recognized the beast by its unique features. There was a vivid drawing of this creature in the library back home. Awoken from its slumber, the beast let out a thunderous roar that shook the foundation as well as the roof. Pieces of rocks broke off from above making their escape difficult."Move faster!", One of the men yelled out of fear. The beast reared its long neck in the direction of the sound and roared again. Huge stones came flying in at the entrance. Soon the path was blocked and their way out was cut off. Only one out of four men escaped to tell the others. The beast stood tall on four limbs, its tail swinging as it stretched its long neck to snatch two men into its jaws at once. 'Yeesh, I did not have to see that.', Wei Ying was too grossed out to get out of the spot. The third did not get eaten, but he too was unlucky- getting smashed by a rock on his way down. When he sees Wangji running toward the beast to help the third person, Wei Ying's feet move without instruction. He stands at the other end and screams on top of his lungs, "HEY BOY, AIN'T YA HUNGRY, IM VERY JUICY!"... The creature changed course immediately. 'Wow, I guess you're very hungry to eat skinny old me...Let's see if I get digested today.', Wei Ying smirked and swung his neck from side to side...*crack* "*Yelp* Aish, my neck!", the youngster had forgotten the wounds inflicted on him. That said, he let go of his silly idea and run for his dear life. To control a beast that size meant he needed to be physically and mentally fit. Right now, he was not completely healed. However, he did learn something; This tortoise responds to noise and the smell of blood. With his good eyesight and the torches left on the ground, he found another cave- one the beast would not fit in. "*Sigh*...This is officially the worst day of my life.", He slumped to the ground and shut his eyes, leaning on the walls of this smaller den.*Groarrrr*"Wait a minute...", Wei Ying recalled that he was not the only man trapped here. 'Lan Wangji!', His amateur heart pumped adrenaline into his system. Quickly, he went back out there to see what went on and why the beast sounded furious."Idiottttt!", The flower facepalms himself when he sees Hanguanjun on the monster's head; his left leg stuck between its teeth while he fought to keep its jaws open. "Ahsmbejhbfrbfndnahbefgh!...Gahhhh. How did you even get up there!...", Wei Ying clawed at his skin, agitated by the situation. At the same time, Lan Wangji did not loosen his hold on Bichen. The tortoise of slaughter kept wriggling his head, wanting to lose the sharp object sticking between his gum. Searching the floor hurriedly, Wei Ying frowns at his Suibian- Again, lying somewhere peacefully. "Chenqin does not wait for me to call it. Why are you so lazy like your master?", He called for the sword, babbling like an angry mother as he runs to the danger.Lan Wangji was barely hanging on when his prisoner jumps onto the creatures face. "What are you doing, get back.", Lan Wangji gruffed. Wei Ying ignores him and concentrates on what he wished to do. He could not show Lan Wangji his blood-red eyes, so why bother. At first, it was hard and his strength was fleeting quite fast, but then the tortoise lowered its jaw slowly, minimizing its gaspy rants. Lan Wangji had no idea what went on above but he grew weary by the minute. He lost a lot of blood. Wei Ying bit more than he could chew when fatigue causes him to lose his composure. "Shit!", his control over the beast slipped just as he heard the Jade fall into the water. He got distracted too soon. *Grrrrrr* The tortoise of slaughter turned on him in the next moment. But the omega was smart, jumping off its horny head while sending him on a wild goose chase with a fire talisman. The noise and flame attracted the tortoise, and it threads in that direction."Mhn...Let go...", Lan Wangji muttered as the shorter man draws him out of the water. "Dont worry, I got you.", Wei Ying used his might to pull Wangji over his back. He gnashed his teeth- all the pain in his body centred on his back, neck, wrists and ankles when he heaves the heavy alpha up and makes a dash for it. The creature soon gives up on the trickery and goes after fresh blood and the sound of footsteps. 'Just a little more.', Wei Ying put energy into his strides. The beast was right behind them, its jaws wide open, ready to snatch and kill... ************************************************************************************************************
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