MDZS Fanfic

Red Strings of Connections

ARC 3 Chapter 42

Spring has Come

Everything is normal...

Everything is normal, supposedly.

But Tiao Reinshun doesn't feel normalcy towards her Xiong. Since he came back from Night Snow Village, Wei Wuxian has been constantly acting weird. One moment he talks nonstop, mostly about nonsense; the next moment he went quiet.

Tiao Reinshun observes this weird behavior and ask their siblings Myo Ning and Myo Qing of when it started and if they knew the reason, but both claimed they don't have a clue, but they told her that it just started the morning after Wei Wuxian shared a room with Lan Wangji at the inn they have stayed, after leaving the Night Snow Village. The lack of information made Tiao Reinshun frown.

"By the way Sis Rein."

"Hmm?"

"Where did you go after our fight against the Evil Phoenix?"

Tiao Reinshun knitted her eyebrows in confusion. "What do you mean? I was there? You sure?"

"Yes! Hua-shidi said that Bro Yu was also there."

"But that's impossible... we're in Wangxian Valley and investigated the case of kidnapped beauties."

The three could only went silence while staring at each other, all three are confused and felt weird on the events at Night Snow Village, and just like Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, they all question the presence of the people that helped them.

~~~***~~~

Irritation brewing within Tiao Reinshun upon the sight of her Xiong.

Marching while riding their horses are disciples from different sects. Flowers were showering them from high towers thrown by many ladies, surprisingly Tiao Reinshun received way many than to anyone, but this isn't what irate her. Most guys are waving their hands towards them, and Wei Wuxian is among them.

'He is trying so hard... but for what? Just what in earth did happen between him and Wangji-xiong?' this, this is what boiling her irritation.

Wei Wuxian's shamelessness is something coming out naturally, so when Wei Wuxian is trying to hide something, he'll play shamelessly by force and ended up like a shameless fool instead.

Though, if she would compare her Xiong's current shamelessness she could use Wen Chao as an example, but with a little tone down. At least Wei Wuxian isn't look like an annoying pest flying above the flowers.

Tiao Reinshun could only sighs.

Today is an event prepared by five prominent sects: a hunting event for disciples of all sects. This kind of event will make the top disciple be famous across the world, along with their sect and whoever their shizun is.

Riding on horses are well-known disciples such as the head disciples of Zhuque Sect which are Wei Wuxian and his siblings, except O Zhangyao; The twin jades of Lan, Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji; The siblings of Nie Sect, Nie Huaisang and his older brother Nie Mingjue; The hotheaded heir of Jiang Clan, Jiang Cheng; currently with Jin Clan's Peacock being a Sect Leader, there is no notable disciple to speak of.

On the far behind, marching by foot are various disciples from different sects who want to earn a name.

Why are they marching in foot? Because they thought that whoever arranged this event would provide gallant horses for all participants, but upon arrival at the event does they've learned that the horses are provided by each of their own sects. Thus, this set up.

Glaring so intently to those in horses won't change the fact that it was their missed and their fault. This small detail is out in the poster of the event, so these disciples could only blame themselves for not reading through it, and all they could do is—really just glare at the youths on horses.

Tiao Reinshun sighs, yet again; this is the problem when you are so much conscious to your surroundings, you simply see everything, and she admitted that it is exhausting.

Upon arrival, each shows their skills in archery. During this time, Xingxiu Xuanyu and Cong Zhuliu didn't fail to miss the gossips behind them, talking shit about them; from the privilege of information about the event, to allowing someone who using a different kind of cultivation take part in, going far as calling it demonic, and how cheating it is to have this already well-known youth cultivators joining the hunting.

Cong Zhuliu only sighs, while Xingxiu Xuanyu shook his head, both are disappointed at how lowly their minds are, and as much as they want to retort, the two knows that it'll be just a waste effort seeing this people have narrow minds.

When the two thought they finally stop in gossiping as the number decreasing, at the same time Xingxiu Xuanyu went up to show his skill, Cong Zhuliu hears something that made him frown.

"Hey isn't that Mo Yu?"

"Who?"

Turns out the disciple behind them are from Jin Clan. 'Fuck! They aren't even from lower sects!' The Jin Clan might be shining in gold and wealth, but their mouths are known as filthy as Jin Guangshan's depravity, which gave the current sect leader, Jin Zixuan a real headache for receiving many complaints about his sect's disciples' undiscipline acts.

"That Mo Yu! Have you forgotten? The one that seduced the former sect leader!"

"Oh him! That cutsleeves?! Fuck! Who did he "serve" this time to be in such a good sect?!"

"He might sold himself to the sect lead—"

They stop, mouths hanged open, shock that soon turn into fear. Who knows if it's their own luck that the twin arrows that flew towards them, passing right up their open mouths didn't hurt them, but if by any chance they have close their mouths or bring out their tongues they would definitely lose something.

Cong Zhuliu and the other disciples are staring confusedly at that stuck moment. At the spot where the players are standing and showing skills, someone from Zhuque Sect has her bow faced their way, and hold no arrows, the string of bow is still trembling after being used.

Xingxiu Xuanyu stares at her in shock, Myo Qing, and Wei Wuxian smirks, Myo Ning smiles, Li Yang grins, Cong Zhuliu huff proudly, and the sect leaders all tries their very best to resist giving her an applause, while Jin Zixuan secretly thumbs up in approval.

Tiao Reinshun brings down her bow and smile sweetly at the two disciple that still with hanged open mouths but already staring at her.

"Oh my! Their boasting makes me distracted and mistaken them as the targets~"

The targets are wild animals that are line up at front, so who in earth would mistake a pair of humans as such, plus the pair being in midst of crowd.

"Shixiong I need extra arrows!" Tiao Reinshun playfully claimed, facing O Zhangyao, "I've just wasted a pair by missing my targets!"

That's on purpose, everyone thinks the same.

Nie Huaisang covers his mouth with fan, hiding the unsuppressed smile behind.

"I think that's fine already. Disciple Tiao, you've passed."

"Oh~ is that so Sect Leader Jin? Alright then, thank you~"

The sweet smile changes into sharp smirk as she went where her other siblings are.

"As for those who have time to waste in gossips, make sure you'll make your sect leaders proud!"

A strong gust of "Yes" came from the crowd of remaining disciples, except to the pair that almost wound by Tiao Reinshun's arrows.

How could they possibly answer? Up until now they could still feel the lingering of arrows that almost cut whatever in them.

Xingxiu Xuanyu follows Tiao Reinshun's elegant figure, that he fails to hear his Shixiong O Zhangyao calling for him. "Yu'er!" Xingxiu Xuanyu jerk up in shock when finally, someone's calls pierce his mind. He turns at the platform where the Sect leaders are, with O Zhangyao standing just below them.

"Focus." It was gentle tone, different from the earlier full of authority tone he used. "Yu'er your focus is on different place."

Xingxiu Xuanyu blushes, as he quickly prepares his bow and arrows.

"That's fine, that's his target, after all!" Wei Wuxian teasingly said out loud.

"Ying-Xiong!" Everyone is Zhuque Sect laughs, some from other sects smiles, and only Tiao Reinshun made a mistake on the meaning of Xingxiu Xuanyu's "real target".

On the other hand, no one within their midst is actually shock when despite Xingxiu Xuanyu loses focus on his target, his arrow still hits the mark, unlike those who knew Xingxiu Xuanyu as former disciple of Jin Clan, were jaws drop upon witnessing it.

They couldn't believe it, Mo Yu who is good-for-nothing and only knew how to sell his body to the older men have hit the mark without sweat, not to mention Xingxiu Xuanyu loses focus at the same time he let go of his bow's string.

Getting passed so easily like this, the Jin Clan's disciples are all curses him internally; but no matter how much they hated him and curses him, it wouldn't change the fact that they are all below him.

Wei Wuxian starts stretching, "Alright! Yang'er would you lend your Xiong a piece of cloth?"

"Hm? For what Ying-gege?"

"I'll cover my eyes and tries to hit the marks."

"If that's the case, why don't ask Wangji-xiong's forehead ribbon instead?" Tiao Reinshun suggests bluntly.

Wei Wuxian is at first speechless, while his eyes travel and landed on that person in issue, he remembers, he remembers that night, their night together, the night they have crossed the line between childhood friends, a line that no matter how much he loves Lan Wangji, he shouldn't let it have cross.

His eyelashes lower then smile at his sister, "Look here, is in the rules of Lan Clan that forehead ribbon is as important as their life. Better not, better not."

Eyebrow perks, but she no longer made a comment.

Something.

Something did happen between her Xiong and their Wangji-xiong, and that "Something" is hurting Wei Wuxian greatly, and alone, as she what observed, it is only her Xiong who bears the memories of that "Something", seeing there's no difference on Lan Wangji.

She claps her hands behind. She ought to find out what is it, she swore, wanting to stop the pain on her Xiong, and to make it clear on the confused white robed cultivator.

After showing off skills, the transportation portal has activated, letting the top disciples in archery went through first.

Myo Ning, "Ying-xiong, won't you remove that blindfold first?"

"Nah~ I saw Chengcheng scoff earlier when you all done the first obstacle, so I've decided to continue pissing him off!"

Myo Qing, "Be careful, you didn't know what you would stumble upon~"

"I will! I will!"

Cong Zhuliu, "Shall I hold your hand and guide you through it?" Either he was teasing his brother or him being serious, no one other than his siblings could tell.

"What I am?! An old man?!"

They all laugh at the same time entering the portal altogether.

~~~***~~~

He cannot understand.

He doesn't get it.

'Why?' He always asked to himself. 'Did I done something to upset him? Why is he avoiding me?'

These are the questions that keeps popping up inside Lan Wangji.

He has noticed how much effort Wei Wuxian is using every time they are together, which isn't normal. But every time he tries to open his mouth to ask, Wei Wuxian has already run away from him.

Lan Wangji frown. He wants to know Wei Wuxian's reason for avoiding him, and if ever Lan Wangji did something unforgivable, he himself will accept it and avoid Wei Wuxian instead.

That would be much easier for them.

"Get lost!" Someone in black worn robes, full of wounds and seems out of his mind uttered.

"Wei Ying!" It was quiet, deep voice coming from someone in white robes.

This person is known for being always clean and never been dirtied, some even claimed that he is allergic to uncleanness, but right now he is equally dirty as the person in front of him and it did not bother him.

"Get lost!" "Wei Wuxian" repeated with the same tone and manner.

His hold on "Wei Wuxian" hands tighten as he also keeps calling for his name, hoping for "Wei Wuxian" to wake up, to be back to his usual self, and if ever that happened, "Lan Wangji" swore that he would protect him to anyone who wants to hurt him further, that "Lan Wangji" would never leave "Wei Wuxian" anymore.

And yet...

Lan Wangji halted through his steps, he turns his head up and there he found the person he was looking for. One leg dangling, hands are positioned behind his head while half of his body leaning at the tree trunk above, sitting on branch of tree, still with blindfold. Lan Wangji's eyes narrows. He saw Wei Wuxian sit straight and seems to be looking down, he has smile, which one of Lan Wangji's favorites.

He misses it, Wei Wuxian's attention.

Lan Wangji breathes in, tightens his fist, controlling himself not to do something Wei Wuxian will be mad about. But seeing Wei Wuxian smiles in confidence like this, Lan Wangji feels he will lose it.

How would he contain these feelings? He already endured it for a very long time, then all suddenly Wei Wuxian left him?

He said to himself before, he would accept that his feelings wouldn't be returned at all, and that he will accept whoever girl Wei Wuxian would love and marry. Lan Wangji really did accept that fact and ready himself for that future that's why as much as possible he wanted to be at Wei Wuxian's side.

He understands that soon Wei Wuxian will marry a girl and have his own family.

He understands that.

He understands, that's why he endures the torture of not being able to hold him like he wanted to. Kiss him, claim him, make him all his.

No. He can't.

Lan Wangji kicks the ground and a second only passes and he is already in front of Wei Wuxian who is still smiling despite not knowing who he is or his intention.

Throwing everything, his hesitance, his fear, his endurance, as in all of it, Lan Wangji grips Wei Wuxian's wrists and pins it atop of his head and finally smash his lips with his own.

It wasn't gentle at all, Lan Wangji's kisses contains hunger and longing, and via throwing away all his concern, he doesn't care how many bruises he caused on Wei Wuxian's lips. All he cares is to fill his hunger and need; like a vampire that thirst to blood.

With needed of an air Lan Wangji let Wei Wuxian go for a while to his shock Wei Wuxian mutters his name, which confuses Lan Wangji on how Wei Wuxian knew that it is him, despite the blindfold.

Looking at Wei Wuxian's lips, Lan Wangji couldn't help but to kiss him again, this time is much intense, invading his mouth fighting with dominance, exploring every inch of him without leaving any places left untouched.

It is primal instinct, he let it go wild, letting his instinct to claim his love even with just this, even just for this one time, he could claim that he owns Wei Wuxian.

For a mere second Wei Wuxian able to mutter Lan Wangji's name again, and yet Lan Wangji ignores him and continue eating his mouth, savoring his flavor till the very last drop.

During these intense moments, Lan Wangji more than so Wei Wuxian did not notice the two people standing in the distance, mouths hanged open and eyes on the "extravagant" scene that happening atop the tree.

Snapping out of her shock, the female cultivator quickly forms a sign on her hand and raises an invisible barrier around them, while suppressing a smile, preventing her voice and the butterflies on her stomach went out of control.

The male cultivator standing next to her, has sweat drop on his head he watches how her shoulder tremble in suppress emotions. He brought his hand to her back and brushes it gently, even tapping it nicely. He has blush on his face upon witnessing this scene, and something that he has been burying inside him has starting to emerge above, but he suppresses it, and push it back deep inside again.

It was no use to let it out.

It's no use exposing it.

The female cultivator grips his sleeves and drags him away from the two, letting them to have their own time, even though the two never realized their presence at all.

Brought by the moment, Lan Wangji let go of Wei Wuxian's wrist and touches his face, not letting Wei Wuxian to get away. Wei Wuxian, on the other hand finally remove his blindfold, which makes Lan Wangji to finally stop, and stare at him, fear is evident in his eyes.

Wei Wuxian takes a breath and mutter Lan Wangji's name yet again breathlessly, now directed to his assaulter.

Lan Wangji bit his lower lip, he felt guilt inside while looking at Wei Wuxian's teary eyes that staring directly to him, mouth still open with little bit of saliva, breathing heavily, and blush that is red as cherry.

Wei Wuxian gulped before speaking in hoarse voice, "Lan... Lan Zhan?"

Lan Wangji hand that holding Wei Wuxian's cheek is trembling, and without any words, he embraces Wei Wuxian tightly which made the latter utterly shock.

"Wei Ying I'm sorry... Please don't hate me... I've been holding back all this time, but you suddenly avoided me, and I—" Lan Wangji's next words, the words he has been holding down and has no intention to take it out especially to the man in his arms, cause once these words get out and have been known by this person then he will hate Lan Wangji, for sure. "Wei Ying, I've always love you..." Lan Wangji readies himself, ready to be push by Wei Wuxian that is not moving in his embraced, but Lan Wangji could feel his body trembling; probably trembling in disgust. Lan Wangji tightens more his embrace, as this will be the last hug that he could have with Wei Wuxian.

His tightly close eyes open wide in shock, and his words get stuck in his throat. "Wei... Ying?"

What he receives is not a push but a pull.

Wei Wuxian's arms encircle in him and pulling him closer, buries his face to Lan Wangji's shoulder.

"Lan Zhan... I—" Lan Wangji rip himself from the embrace and his eyes widen again upon seeing Wei Wuxian's red face, he is not looking at him but peaking every now and then.

Lan Wangji was about to utter his name, but he noticed the hand that gripping his sleeve, trembling. "I—" Wei Wuxian couldn't utter his next word, while Lan Wangji sees Wei Wuxian's Adams apple moves as he gulps the words he wants to say.

'It's alright. I'll accept it.' Lan Wangji said to himself. "Wei Ying I—"

"Lan Zhan, I feel the same..."

"sorry..."

Both speak at the same time, one confessing while one is giving up, Lan Wangji's eyes widen as he didn't fail to hear Wei Wuxian, which also confuses him that he immediately thought that he heard it wrong.

"Lan Zhan I'm sorry..."

Or maybe he did hear him wrong.

"I have avoided you. I didn't mean to. I'm scared, although you don't remember what happened and I thought that I could pretend that nothing had happened that night, I—I just couldn't help but to remember that every time I looked at you."

"Mn..." Lan Wangji silently affirms that he is listening.

"I'm sorry I took advantage of you when you were drunk... I didn't know what came into me. Why I've let that happen and I'm too scared that you will hate me. I—I just love you so much."

The first and last time he was drunk was in the night after their departure from Night Snow Village, and just like what Wei Wuxian stated, Lan Wangji doesn't remember what happened during his drunken state.

Did he...

"Did I soil Wei Ying?" Such a word, quite direct. Wei Wuxian red face darkens more in embarrassment, answering Lan Wangji's