Lan Wangji was late for the next conference. It was not because he had suddenly forgotten the rules ingrained in him but it was more so because he had some urgent matter to conclude back at Cloud Recesses.

He came back to an entirely silenced conference hall of the Jins who looked at him as if he had turned up from another dimension altogether. Frowning, his eyes flitted across to a man who had the cheekiest smile and rapturous eyes.

He was sinking deeper into that mercury ocean and he could care less if he was in the middle of a crowd. He had always assumed white and blue were colors that he loved but now that he knew red, black and silver were splurges of emotion rising high in his chest, constricting any other reason beyond that man who held his soul in his palm.

Unearthly, heavenly and most importantly demonic.

But he was stalled by his brother when he was about to walk to his seat which was once again just across the seductress of his heart. Oh well, he would look at the beauty later and thus he turned to his brother, his eyes raising a question.

His brother looked- disheveled? Was that what it was because he looked completely out of his usual demeanor and for once Lan Wangji's heart galloped in his chest.

The Jin sect leader looked at him with pity in his eyes. Wangji almost cringed but before he could lower the barricade of his emotions he sat down elegantly on the mat and turned his attention towards Jin Guangshan, pointedly ignoring the sultry gaze of someone he knew.

"We spoke about our best combat plans and we had come to a conclusion but unfortunately we had forgotten one important piece of information."

Wangji stared, waiting to hear the rest but sect leader Jin was being reluctant and although he looked like the most patient man living he wasn't. He was extremely impatient when it came to some things and this one was amongst the top three of his ever growing list at the moment.

When Wangji didn't seem to question nor say anything in response Jin Guangshan continued, raking a hand over his face seemingly frustrated.

"There are demonic puppets and we as cultivators wouldn't be able to be of much help as we get into the stronghold of the Wens so we were quite uneasy about it."

Sect leader Jin sighed. Wangji was quite intrigued that this weird man was feeling like this because he usually wore a look of absolute ignorance so this expression was new.

"Wei Wuxian offered to help."

The silence in the room was deafening, only the breath of the people were heard and it was making everyone jittery and uncomfortable but a smooth chuckle from the demonic cultivator himself halted it and Lan Wangji looked at the man with some sort of reverence, only Wei Ying knew.

"So Lan wangji, the greatest cultivator of all time, I don't just help if I don't gain anything. You know, there has to be some sort of balance. If I give, I should receive, am I not right Hunguangjun?"

Wangji nodded without hesitance. That wonderful and despicable laugh resounded the room again. Wei Ying hopped over to his side and knelt down opposite his table and leaned in.

"Then Lan Zhan, you wouldn't mind if the catch for my help was you, right?"

Lan Wangji stopped breathing. He stared wide eyed at the perfect set of teeth, the crinkles around his eyes as Wei Ying grinned bashfully.

"What did you say?" Lan Wangji asked again. He wasn't positive he heard him right.

"Ah, hunguagjun you're so slow, what happened to your quick wits?" But Wei Ying approached the subject broadly for Lan Wangji's convenience.

"I offer my help to the cultivation world to lead the war against a tyrant and as payment I ask for you. I want you to be mine for just three months Lan Wangji. Three. Quite simple, don't you think? And it is very fitting if I say so myself."

Lan Wangji sat shocked. In the expanse of his life he never assumed he would be speechless like he was now. His emotions were in a haywire and he had no idea how to not succumb to each one of them, to keep holding onto his sanity when Wei Wuxian suggested such a brutal idea.

There was anger, hurt, pain and sudden feeling of numbness inside him but the audience saw none of it. Not even the demon in disguise of a human; Wei Wuxian. He saw a stoic form probably contemplating the option offered to him but his mind and heart weren't at peace. He was battling a losing fight.

For once he wanted to hide, sob against the comfort of his mother's robes and let loose what he held on like a burden on his shoulders yet he couldn't. He wasn't gifted like that, he never was and never will.

"I agree to the terms." He'd said, leaving the crowd gasping and mumbling with each other while Wei Wuxian gave a triumphant smirk as he floated back towards his table and sat as if he hadn't done the most outrageous thing on earth. Wangji followed his form and where there used to be positive emotions now held a negation of many he'd thought about this man who he had feelings for.

Not anymore. And from Wei Ying's knowing smile Lan Wangji knew the other was aware of his thoughts.

Dark, bleak and not Hunguangjun, the righteous prodigy nor Lan Zhan the one who bared his soul to Wei Ying the day earlier. He was different, just as dark as Wei Wuxian.

Hunguangjun stood disinterested in other's views about him. He bowed to the crowd and was about to walk away when a ribbon floated towards him. More specifically the ribbon on Wei Ying's ponytail.

Lan Wangji turned to the cultivator, an eyebrow raised. "If you want to win the war tie it on your hair and I promise you'll win with not many casualties."

Lan Wangji took the ribbon and his frown deepened. Wasn't it a piece of silk? Why was it so heavy? He looked at Wei Wuxian again and watched him as he turned his neck around as if to alleviate the pain. Puzzled, he withdrew from the hall.

When they got ready for the war Lan Wangji tied the ribbon on his hair but surprisingly it wasn't heavy anymore and he couldn't stop to think because they were moving and he had to be alert of anything that would happen.

During the last two weeks proceeding the agreement sect leaders and heirs alike were all apologizing or sympathizing with his situation. His brother was the worst because he would tag along everywhere he went and he would buy so many things for Lan Wangji he was almost sick of all the attention.

His head pounded against his skull and his ears hurt listening to all the buzzing of people so he glared venomously at anyone who dared to come closer even if they were a good li away.

He spent the two weeks wondering how he had fallen for someone so shallow as Wei Ying. Someone who would be lustful even when the world was in chaos. He never understood greed but now he did. He saw it in Wei Ying's insane motives and he didn't want to think about him so he gulped down the bitter pill and let it go.

As if he could.

The path to the Wen stronghold was not as bad as he assumed, they spent less spiritual power because the soldiers weren't as good as their armies who trained day and night. They marched along to the stronghold, breaking in.

In one swift motion the ribbon on Lan Wangji's hair ripped away from him and it lifted above farther and farther away from them. For a moment there was silence until there were sparks of black whipping out of the ribbon at great speed and the puppets of the Wen began to dissolve into ashes in front of their very eyes.

Everyone looked at the scene as if they've been struck and many had thoughts about Wei Ying, the demonic cultivator, strong enough to maneuver a war even without his presence at the battlefield and they shivered.

The entire ordeal might have taken about half a sichen and it ended as abruptly as it began when Wen Ruohan was pierced with a sword by Nie Mingjue. It was all over, the war had ended. They were saved. Now it was time for Lan Wangji to sell himself to Wei Wuxian for his pleasure.

Wei Wuxian appeared at the end of the entrance to the Wen stronghold with a smug smile on his face, his hand on his hip as leant against the wall with ease. He watched as the white-robed man, epitome of righteousness walked to him with so much grace.

Lan Wangji stopped when he came close to the other cultivator, glaring. Wei Ying didn't seem to notice his bleak spirits and held out his hand in offering to Hnguangjun, still smiling.

Wangji wanted to wipe off that terrible smirk of his face and probably tamper with him but held still. He would wreck Wei Wuxian- oh yes he will, he was in fact looking forward to it but he will do it at his own time and place just not in front of these people. After all, he had a reputation to uphold.

"Come on Hunguangjun, I don't have all day." He said, snapping his finger in front of the man and holding out his palm for Wangji to accept.

Lan Wangji was reluctant- of course he was. He's being taken away as some sort of war prize and he was not at all pleased with the arrangement but he placed his own palm on Wei Ying's and they were instantly teleported right at the outskirts of the burial mounds.

La Wangji trembled, rather visibly but when he saw Wei Wuxian's satisfied glance he tampered it down and glared. This was going to be a war of its own, they both knew.

The only problem was who would benefit and who would be disadvantaged out of this arrangement because at the moment Wei Ying seemed to be at a better position than Lan Zhan.

Hence, Fate was yet to be decided. 

Wohoo, and the next one as well. Btw, I I don't think anyone was expecting this, but I yeah??

I know. I'm cruel like that. ^_^

~Rovena.