[Continuation ch 45 : Song Lan]

"There it is!"

The child exclaimed upon spotting the familiar looking hut. It was their home.

The elderly woman was anxiously moving back and forth in front of what seems to me an old shed. Upon seeing a familiar face Er Wa - the younger - begun to jump in excitement thus Song Lan released him, allowing him to run to that person.

Sang Pang did the same and the two kids hugged the elderly woman. Upon a closer look, there were many scars on her face and Song Lan could tell that the elderly woman had seen her fair share of deaths.

The little children said something to the elderly woman and she made her way to Song Lan who was standing at the safe distance, looking at the little kids.

"Young Master, Sisi is grateful to you for rescuing the children." The elderly woman named Sisi bowed and Song Lan did the same. The little children were circling around Song Lan and tugging his robes in appreciation. In a short while, they grew fond of their Gege.

"Young Master, If I may trouble you. I am a former prostitute..."Sis begun to elaborate. She wasn't ashamed of her past, she was doing whatever she could do meet ends meet. However, she realized too late that prostitutes are often looked upon as disgusting beings.

They would play with them behind closed door but when curtains are open, they are shamed.

She also learnt about Meng Yao's upbringing in Qinghe Nie and Lanling Jin Sect. Despite the horrendous crimes, he was still the child of her dearest confident Meng Shi. So, she swore to herself no other kids would suffer the same kind of insults and mockery the little Meng Yao had to endure. When she found no trace of disgust on Song Lan's face, she knew the young man was righteous. So, she decided to have faith in

"I am currently raising kids who were abandoned because they were born out of prostitutes. I do not have wage to offer but I request young master for his help."

Song Lan silently listened to the elderly woman. He was never the one who had asked for any reward for his services. He just wanted to build a place where blood won't be the hierarchy and little kids like these could have a future of their own.

The Gems are often hidden among the rocks.

"My acquaintance Bicao was hired to look after a child in prison but looking at these corpses I realized she had gone too far with her greed. Young Master, please I request you to end this campaign. Innocent children are suffering because of it."

Even Song Lan noticed the Wen corpses surrounding the area. But What he didn't understand was why these corpses were not attacking. These looked like they were protecting these people instead. Of course, that's something normal humans wouldn't be able to see. It is true Corpses are not inclined unless they are being controlled but who could control such a huge mass of corpses?

Song Lan inspected the corpses, looked around and searched for nails in their head but there were none. That means none of the people are controlling them. Which proved only one thing...

"Where are you going young master?" Sisi asked when she heard no reply form the young master instead saw him turning around to move away.

Song Lan was stopped by the tug of his robes and looked down to see the two kids from before.

"Gege." Er wa and Sang Pang called.

Song Lan bent down to come on the same level as the little ones and patted their heads. He could see Lin Qi and Ying Shu in them. With a smile he said,

"Protect each other."

I will protect you from a far.

Song Lan had spoken. The burning sensation he felt in his mouth was gone, instead his tongue was restored and not only that he could feel the flow of his core again. He knew who had the power to do that. So, he needed to perform his part and do what was needed to be done.

The children hugged him good bye and he began his journey with Shuanghua by his side.

. . .

[Continuation ch 47 : SangXuan]

He was running like his life depended on it, among the corpses, through the crowd. Not caring about the scratches and grazes he got because of his hasty steps. He had one goal in his mind and he was certain to achieve it this time.

Nie Huaisang was sure he was hallucinating, but the reality was proven the moment the running cultivator jumped straight in his arm crashing them both in the ground.

"Mo-Xiong!"

Nie Huaisang called, confirming it was really Mo Xuanyu.

"Sang-Xi!" He breathed out laying on top of his love.

"What are you doing there?" Nie Huaisang didn't sent him to Xingle Ridge just to walk straight into the battle ground.

Instead of his reply Mo Xuanyu sealed his lips shut, swallowing with his own. Nie Huaisang was shocked, Mo Xuanyu was not going easy. Aggressively leading the kiss and making it passionate. He only let go when Nie Huaisang was out of breath.

"W-what are you doing?" Nie Huaisang asked, catching his breath.

"Punishing you with my love." Mo Xuanyu said with a wide grin on his face.

"What?"

"And I will keep punishing you until you say that you love me."

Nie Huaisang had never seen Mo Xuanyu this confidence before, the squirming fragile child was nowhere to be seen and deep down Nie Huaisang was thrilled. Mo Xuyanyu got up first, helping the older by offering his hand. Nie Huaisang followed.

In all honesty, he was certain that Mo Xuanyu would leave him after how he treated him and he would let him go. At least, he (MXY) would be alive and if luck was on his side, he might forget him and move on.

But fate had other plans and he wasn't complaining. For once he wanted to accept.

"Let's go!" Mo Xuanyu grabbed his hand and lead the way.

"To where?"

"To bring back Master Yiling Patriarch."

Nie Huaisang couldn't help but gaze at the founding smile, dawning on the younger.

. . .

Why did he think, it would be different this time? Why did he think he could change a thing? He never dared to hope for a good life. All he wanted was the people he loved by his side. But one by one, they left him, all alone in this world to rot.

"A Ling..."

"You'll be fine... I will save you..." walking like a corpse himself he carried the cold body so gently in his arms.

"I will take you to Lotus Pier...you'll be fine..."

He repeated those worlds endlessly with a numbing voice. He didn't have the strength to mount his sword. The world around him seemed to have sucked out his soul. It was all dull and silent, the same kind he hated the most.

"A-Ling, do you know when you were just three, I took you to the lotus lake for the first time? You were really scared of the water ghouls but the moment you saw lotus flowers, you begun to jump excitedly." The memory was a fine one but the voice that narrated it was so dead, devoid of any emotions.

"Do you remember your very first scripture? I came back from a night hunt just to see that because you refused to sleep otherwise." His arms were getting numb with the frigidness of the body, and his steps were unsteady as if walking the fine line of thread with void beneath. Yet he continued to walk, straight into the single dark path laid by the shattered pieces of his once called Heart.

"One time, you had a burn on your hand. I was really worried back then but you were stubborn and refused to tell me how you got it, so I asked around and disciples told me that you were cooking the Lotus Pork soup, for me." He was holding on to the senseless figure, as if on letting go, all the memories of him would disappear along with him.

He narrated all the stories of his childhood carrying the boy in his arm, like he used to carry him before. There was no reply to any of fun memories but he kept going, a stubborn butterfly trapped in a net yet refused to die.

"Wanyin!"

The voice was always gentle but this time there was panic in it. After making sure that Lan Sizhui was alive and save in Wen Ning's arm. He looked around for Lan Wangji but the latter wasn't there and nor was Wanyin. He got up to see where wanyin could have went when Luo Qingyang told him that he left with Sect Leader Jin in his arms.

"Maiden Luo, may I trouble you to take care of these people?" Lan Xichen pointed at the cultivators that wen corpses had captured. They were quiet. Too quiet.

"Leave it to me." Luo Qingyang bowed and Lan Xichen dashed right after.

He spotted the familiar figure of purple lotus, carrying the young boy in his arm. Lan Xichen stepped closer to them and heard what Wanyin was telling him. The forbearing fear rise in him and he called.

"Wanyin!"

The younger turned around. His face was stoic like any other but He looked so lost. So broken. So hurt.

Lan Xichen made his way toward the younger and saw the lifeless body of Sect Leader Jin. He immediately reached to check its impulse and froze in his steps.

Jin Rulan was dead.

"Oh look A-Ling, sect leader Lan came why don't you greet him properly hm?"

Lan Xichen looked at Jiang Cheng with eyes full of uncertainties.

"Do you remember when I first took you to Cloud Recesses? You caused a lot of trouble to sect leader Lan back then, but do not worry he won't reprimand you. So, why don't you greet him?"

"Wanyin.. " Lan Xichen couldn't bear to look at Jiang Cheng like that.

"Wanyin...Young Master Jin is..."

"Shut up!"

"Don't interrupt A-Ling, he's about to greet you."

"Wanyin..Stop it.."

"Sect Leader Lan, A-Ling may be young but he's still a Sect Leader. So, I advise you to address him with respect!"

"Wanyin...please stop this." Lan Xichen reached towards him but Jiang Cheng slapped his hand away staggering in process and falling on the ground.

Lifeless body of Jin Ling was resting there with no sign to wake up. Jiang Cheng reached toward him but Lan Xichen held him by his shoulders and shook him to his side.

"Wanyin!"

"Sect Leader Lan, let go of me!"

Lan Xichen held him in his embrace while Jiang Cheng struggled to escape, to reach towards his nephew, to hold him before he disappears, like the rest of them one by one in to thin air.

"Wanyin let him rest!"

And that broke the dam, the tears crashed down un invited and his heart broke unwantedly.

"No! No! No! No!"

He shouted like a mad man stubbornly denying the bitter truth.

"I said I will protect him! I have to protect him!"

"Wanyin.." Lan Xichen didn't know what else to do or how else to comfort. He too felt his pain, especially when he grew fond of the younger.

"Xichen ge ...please save him.."

The plead broke Lan Xichen. The younger had called him so tenderly but he had no power to abide his request. He didn't even have the power to take away his tears.

"I-I can not..." Lan Xichen bit his lips to suppress the surge of emotions he was feeling. He mustn't break down. Not now.

"I-I know Wei Wuxian can! Wei Wuxian!!" The younger begun to shout hysterically to the empty air. The sound of wind that whispered next to their skin was the only reply he got. He must be playing a prank on me with A-Ling. I know they are in it together!

"Wei Wuxian! Come back! You have fooled around enough! If you don't have a body, you can take mine! Just come back! Come back and save A Ling..." He broke down at the end of the sentence. All the years of grinding work just to avoid this helplessness and here it was again, mocking him right to his face.

And what if Wei Wuxian decides to disappear as well? What would that leave him with? Where would he go then? The clamor of Lotus Pier was still hushed in his ears. But what comes after acrimonious silence?

No! he refused to accept this. He called his brother ceaselessly because he knew how mischievous Wei Wuxian had always been. Jiang Cheng was sure that Wei Wuxian would come up to him and laugh hard, placing his arm on his shoulder. Just like before he would say It was just a joke.

"Wanyin....please...it hurts me to watch you like this."

Lan Xichen pleaded. Even his tears couldn't stay hidden to the sight. He clutched hard on the younger who was still trying to reach to the cold corpse resting peacefully on the ground.

Holding a Lan ribbon securely in his hands, resting amidst the grass like a beautiful mannequin.

Of course, it was too beautiful of a scene to be a memorial.

Lan Xichen held the trembling lotus in his arms, praying for a miracle that would take away his pain. But it only worsened. He felt something warm trickle down his skin and when he looked down, it shook him to his core.

Like Chengqing, he carried Subian with him all the time. Though this time in his guqin pouch to stop the endless mouths that could talk. But what Lan Xichen couldn't believe was how Jiang Cheng was using Suibian to cut himself.

"Wanyin!" Lan Xichen immediately took the blade and pulled it out, younger winced in vicious pain, not sure whether from the wound or his heart.

"What do you think you're doing?" Lan Xichen raised his voice not out of anger but out of fear.

"Giving back his core..."

Was it a fool attempt to think that Wei Wuxian would come back if he offered his core? But it was his core, that Xiao Xingchen acknowledged. He even took the Gonggong shell with him, for Wei Wuxian. And so, He cut himself exactly where his core was stitched, breaking the fibers connecting to his flesh. Even if it kills him, he would go after Wei Wuxian in his death until he saved Jin Ling.

Lan Xichen tore a part of his sleeves and wrapped it around Jiang Cheng's waist; who in return fought back, not allowing him to proceed.

"Wanyin! You will die!" Lan Xichen begged him to listen but was received by a cold laughter.

"Die? Hahahahahaha"

Die he said. What a contemptuous word!

Jiang Cheng begun to laugh riotously. How many times he had almost kill himself? Funny he would lose count now.

Lan Xichen begun to transfer his Qi into the fragile person who just lost everything once again.

His blood had oozed out to a dangerous level and he begun to lose consciousness. Lan Xichen was praying to heavens for any miracle as he kept transferring his Qi to the broken fibers of the core.

Then it lit bright like it did before.

And a little hope rose in Lan Xichen. But he wasn't expecting to see that person at all.

"Wen Gunya...." Lan Xichen called looking at the slender figure of a beautiful Maiden. It has been 13 years or so but he could confirm that it was indeed Wen Qing of Qishan Wen sect.

She was glowing like a warm light that would guide the butterfly out of the trap.She was carrying a lotus flower in her hand which Lan Xichen recognized at once.

It was the Lotus of He Xiangu, one of the great immortals like Dalou and Baoshao.

"Wen Qing?" Jiang Cheng couldn't believe his eyes. She wasn't looking like a corpse like the rest but like a soul purely made of golden core.

"Wei Wuxian was right, he knew you would do something like this."

The glowing light figure reached towards the two and she placed her hand on the core which was getting torn.

"Ugh..Nghhh.." Jiang Cheng grimaced in pain which was caused by the sudden touch.

"Wen Gunya!" Lan Xichen panicked and only held the withering lotus tighter.

"Do not worry Sect Leader Lan, I'm fixing his core."

"Ngnn..S-save..A-Ling.." Jiang Cheng placed his hand on top of the glowing figure and begged her to save his nephew. He was his only reason to be alive and if that was taken from him, he wouldn't have the courage to start in the lonely world once more.

Wen Qing didn't reply to Jiang Cheng but looked at Lan Xichen who had bewildered look on his face.

"Sect Leader Lan, knock him unconscious."

"Pardon?"

Wen Qing gave him the knowing look but Jiang Cheng only begun to struggle more.

"No!..Save...A Ling!.." The pain was immense, it wasn't easy to sow back the broken threads of Qi back inside the Core. Lan Xichen felt so stranded and helpless but he knew what was needed to be done.

"Xichen ge..if you dare..Ngnnn-"

Lan Xichen made him fall asleep with the pressure on his neck. It pained him a great deal but he had to save him.

"Wen Gunya.." Lan Xichen wanted to ask so many things but had no words for them but Wen Qing knew what he wanted to know.

"Wei Wuxian knew that if Jiang Cheng ever faced a situation like this. He wouldn't think before sacrificing himself, Good thing he planned ahead." Wen Qing wanted to reveal what Wei Wuxian had been doing all this time, but she didn't have enough time. So she focused on performing her task.

There was just one thing that came in Lan Xichen's mind.

The two brothers would sacrifice themselves for the other behind their backs but wouldn't spare each other a glance at front.

"Is there anything you can do to save Young Master Jin?" Lan Xichen asked, even though he was more than aware that nothing could be done at this point.

"I apologize but I'm just a soul myself."

Her reply was brief but it carried weight. Lan Xichen was there when Jin Guangshao scattered her ashes to the Nightless city right in front of him.

These people didn't deserve to die, he knew that more than anyone else.

"Jiejie?"

The glowing soul flickered on hearing the very familiar voice. She turned around and saw Wen Ning.

When Lan Shizui gained a little consciousness, he asked for Jin Ling but he wasn't there. So he asked Wen Ning to take him to him, but Wen Ning refused because he heard what Luo Qingyang said to Lan Xichen. Even if it was a possibility, Wen Ning didn't want Lan Shizui to find him dead.

Luo Qingyang offered to look after Lan Shizui while Wen Ning stepped out of the pavilion. If Wen Ning had to be honest, he wanted to see his sister so badly but he didn't want to see her as a corpse like him.

The emotions they carry are there but they have no way to let them out. It only surges out in the form of resentment which was the life force of the living corpses.

But now he was human once again, thanks to the immortal Baoshao Sanren.

So, all the emotions he carried ran wild when he spotted the warm light of his sister.

"A-Ning."

She smiled at him so tenderly, radiating warmth which Wen Ning was now able to feel. He stepped closer to her, tears brimming his eyes which he had held in for more than 13 years.

"Jiejie." He called with each step when he sat closely to her.

The situation was a bit similar except instead of Wei Wuxian there was Lan Xichen. Wen Qing raised her free hand to touch Wen Ning but this time, it was her who lacked all the senses. Wen Ning closed his eyes to feel her warmth and it spread through his body like an embrace.

"You have changed." She felt his golden core which was the sigh of life in cultivators.

"JieJie I missed you." Wen Ning said not minding the tears that ruined his face.

"I've missed you too A-Ning." She said caressing his face.

"Go to A-Yuan and feed him this." Wen Qing handed him the seed of the Lotus pod and Wen Ning accepted with a nod. Before going back to Wen Yuan, Wen Ning stopped and looked behind at his sister.

"Jiejie will I see you again?"

Will he be left all alone again? Now that he had emotions, he wasn't sure how well would he be able to handle the loneliness, pain, guilt and life.

"Of course." She smiled when she lied.

Even though Jiang Cheng was unconscious, he kept squirming to the pain while calling Wei Wuxian's name. Lan Xichen had placed him on the ground as per requested by Wen Qing. While he himself went to the unfazed body of Jin ling.

Lan Xichen sat next to him, eying the Lan Ribbon in his hand. A tear of desolation escaped his eyes.

Why must Love be so tragic? Would he see Lan Shizui, waiting like Wangji now? Would he spend rest of his life, searching for a lost soul? What would he do when the world demands his death? He was by birth a Wen, something that could never be erased. And Wanyin? Would he dare to live another second?

But what about him? If the people around him kept breaking, how would he fix them without breaking himself?

"Sect Leader Jin. I pray that you meet your parents in a better place."

Lan Xichen said when he proceeded to take the ribbon out of his hand.

"He can be saved!"

A gentle yet firm voice made its way to his ears. He might have heard it somewhere, maybe among the court meetings? But whoever it was, carried the light to step out of this dark.

He immediately turned around to see the cause and it didn't surprise him the least. Gracefully carrying the two swords, a beautiful man appeared.

"Daozhang Zichen!"

Song Lan bowed and immediately rushed towards Jin Ling. He checked his impulse and he was indeed dead. Song Lan took out a gourd from his guqin and begun to pour his qi into it.

"Daozhang Zichen that is..."

"It's the gourd of the Li Tieguia. I have always been carrying it with myself, to bring back Xingchen's soul."

But a corpse doesn't carry a golden core and so all of his efforts to nurture Xingchen's soul were futile. He cultivated many methods for the cause but XingChen's soul was too broke.

Li Tieguia was among the great immortals and Song Lan found his gourd in the Baixue temple. Master Guang was acquainted with several immortals so it wasn't a surprise to find such a thing there.

"But if you use it then you will-"

"I will reunite with Xingchen." Song Lan said when he kept pouring out his life source into the gourd. The Qi had the power to secure the Hun and connect it with the Po and that's what Song Lan was aiming to do.

"These kids will carry out our legacy."

The orphans understood meaning of blood better than any. And the cultivation world needed a change. He had met capable orphans and the juniors. He knew they would full fill the dream which Xingchen and he carried.

Lan Xichen stood up and bowed with outmost respect and gratitude. Song Lan could only smile as the last bit of his core was taken out.

"Build a beautiful world."

Song Lan said when every piece of his being disappeared.

"Watch over us." Lan Xichen who was still bowing, bent down and placed the gourd to Jin Ling's face. Gulp by gulp his soul passing was through the flesh once again.

Wen Qing who witnessed the scene also bowed in respect and turned around towards Jiang Cheng and whispered.

"Love can be so beautiful."

Jin Ling coughed and spat out the clots of blood. The wounds he received before were healing as well. It was a slow yet effective process. And the first thing he did was clutch the ribbon tight. Lan Xichen tried his best to kept the gourd stable. Jiang Cheng was recovering as well but another calamity hit them soon.

Luo Qingyang was inside the pavilion guarding the prisons when Wen Ning brought the lotus seeds for Shizui. He helped him eat those seeds and it helped him recover a great deal. But what they didn't expect was that Wen Corpses begun to move again.

A mocking laugh was echoing in the air and the source was none other than Yi Weichun.

"Thank you for giving me all the time to collect the souls."

Souls?

Yi Weichun took out the orb out of his pouch and it was

The Oracle of the Moon.

Luo Qingyang and Wen Ning looked around only to found that all the cultivators that were trapped there were all dead, including the Yao, Yingchuan Wang and rouge cultivators. Yi Weichun was silently stealing their souls and used the orb to turn them into ghouls. The cultivation world was once again in chaos, this time under fierce ghouls.

Sect Leader Wang unsheathed his blade and begun to attack!

. . .

In the pleasure of the screams, desolated figure was seen. A little light that beamed carried it out of the ream.

It called

"Lan Zhan!"

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Sorry for the errors and wait.

Next chapter will be WangXian!