The dark green of the water turned black as the boats began to sink and drift in a circle that was the mouth of a whirlpool.

"We won't be able to handle this on our own. We need to focus on saving people. Young Master Jiang and Young Master Wei, you two form a team. Wangji, Young Master Jin, and I are a team. Now split up!" Lan Xichen ordered.

'BROTHER WHY ARE YOU NOT LETTING ME BE WITH MY BELOVED IN BOTH

LIFETIMES!?'

Within moments, everyone mounted their swords and moved into position. As if sensing its prey was leaving, the black tendrils begin attacking in earnest.

Hovering above his boat, Wei Wuxian is forced to dodge and navigate through the forceful onslaught. Barely dodging in time a few times as the tendrils cut off his path.

That was when he noticed Su She was stranded on his boat. His sword still had not resurfaced. He was already knee-deep in the water and frozen from fright.

Wei Wuxian darted over and grabbed Su She's wrist to pull him up from the water. Once again, he is dodging and weaving through the renewed onslaught of black tendrils before flying upwards.

Suibian was built for speed not for strength so the ascent from the water

began to slow as the front of the sword dipped towards the water.

The tendrils shoot forward from the water to catch the two ascending. Su She

flailed around erratically trying to avoid the tendrils. Tiring out, Su She decided an alternative was needed and yanked hard on the arm Wei Wuxian was gripping.

Wei Wuxian felt a sudden tug from Su She and braced before it almost knocked him off his balance. Thinking it because of the tendrils, Wei Wuxian forces his sword to ascend faster as Jiang Wanyin shot forward to help Wei Wuxian.

Definitely to help as he well...do I need to explain?

Another hard tug on his arm gave the tendrils enough time to wrap itself around Wei Wuxian's ankle and violently yank him off his sword. Wei Wuxian used the momentum to throw Su She safely towards Jiang Wanyin.

"Wei Wuxian!" Jiang Wanyin shouted as he stared at his Shixiong falling 'You are not allowed to die just yet!'

Wei Wuxian's body slammed into the water and is dragged to the bottom by

black wisps and tendrils. Soon he is pulled into the heart of the abyss as

silence overtakes his senses. An erie sense of peace calms his heart and eases his mind.

Wisps of resentment curl around Wei Wuxian's out stretched arm as corpses

and bones swirl into view. Words he had spoken in class echoed in his mind.

Spiritual energy is energy...

Resentful energy is energy as well.

Spiritual energy can split mountains and fill oceans.

It's available for human use.

If so, then why can't we also use resentful energy?

Resentment.

'Should I swim up? Or not?...I could just stay here, No one can hurt me here, No

more pain, No need to act, No need to be strong, No more...I'll be free.'

As if making the decision for him, a white clad arm reaches through the thick

resentment and Wei Wuxian feels his collar tighten. He is lifted into the air and

Wei Wuxian turns to see that his savior was none other than Lan Wangji.

'I can't believe I let this happen twice in a row! Wei Ying honey I'm sorry! But at least this time I was a little bit faster in getting you out of the water.'

Shoving aside his thoughts, Wei Wuxian spoke, "Lan Zhan, your sword is quite

strong! Thank you for saving me but why did you pull on my collar? I don't feel

comfortable if you grab me like this. Why don't I stretch my hand to you and you can grab that instead?"

'Shit-Right!'

"Sorry, here." he then positioned the younger in a bridal carry which made him flush deep red.

"L-LAN ZHAN! You-this! This is embarrassing!"

"I never knew you actually had it in you to be embarrassed?"

"I'm human! I have emotions! I feel things!"

Jiang Wanyin just looked at the two in disgust as Lan Xichen was sealing the abyss.

'A whore like his mother indeed.'

—————————

The trip back into Caiyi was quiet as they each were caught up in their own

thoughts. Wei Wuxian sits on the bow of his boat, staring at his reflection in the

water.

'What would have happened if I actually drowned? How many people would be happy?'

"Here, your sword." Jiang Wanyin's boat drifts closer to Wei Wuxian's. "What's on your mind?"

'Not like I care or anything.'

Wei Wuxian shakes his head and answered, "Nothing, Just thinking about where that Waterborne Abyss came from. Everyone in Caiyi Town can swim. Gusu Lan would have taken care of any reports of more than few ships sinking right away. It's not likely for one to take form here."

In their own boat, Lan Wangji asked his brother, "Brother, do you know if any

place has recently had an increase in shipwrecks and water demons?"

Lan Xichen simply pointed to the sun in the sky.

"That's outrageous."

"They couldn't take care of it so they chased it here. Bringing harm to others!"

"The Wens are very powerful right now. Most of the smaller clans rely on them

so they've become domineering. We can't point a finger at them without proof

anyways. As long as we stay out of the way we'll probably not get targeted."

Lan Wangji sent him a glare 'Cloud Recesses did no such thing and yet we

were burned! Seriously some people deserve a beating or two.'

"But if we keep letting them get away with these things sooner or later there will be disaster." Wei Wuxian said.

'As usual, Wei Ying is the only one with common sense during situations like this'

"It's easy for you to say! If you can't stand being pushed around, then just fight back. Don't drag Yunmeng down with you!" Jiang Wanyin spat.

Jin Zixuan shot the Jiang heir a disapproving look "If everyone only worries about themselves, then it won't be long before all clans become servants of the Wen Clan."

Jiang Wanyin turned red.

"The sword hits the person who takes the lead. Don't ever bring that up again. Stay out of trouble." The purple robed man glared at his head disciple.

'Stubborn and arrogant, it'll get him nowhere!'

Chuckling, Wei Wuxian agreed, "I know. Just mind my own business, right? Even if I don't say anything, someone else should."

Rolling his eyes, Jiang Wanyin punched his shoulder, "For heaven's sake..."

Lan Xichen followed his brother's gaze to see that Wei Wuxian was flirting with the fruit vendors on the side of the lake.

Suddenly Wei Wuxian shouted while pointing to Lan Wangji, "Miss, don't you

think he's good-looking?"

Several shouts of "Yeah, he's even more handsome!" came as a reply causing Lan Wangji to stiffen up more.

Wei Wuxian sent his boat forward to speak to Lan Wangji, "Lan Zhan, I like the

Gusu accent! Can you teach me how to curse in your dilect?"

Wei Wuxian's boat pulled in close.

"Cussing is prohibited."

'Unless you cuss in your mind then it isn't.'

Lan XiChen laughed into his sleeve "I am more than welcome to teach you

Wei-gongzi."

Lan Wangji glared at his brother "No need!"

'Brother I am still mad at you for not pairing me up with Wei Ying earlier! Don't

you dare take him from me!'

—————————

Lan Wangji decided not to catch them drinking alcohol that night and told his

brother he wanted to sleep earlier and appoint someone else to take his place.

His brother of course agreed, he loves him too much!

Except when his A-Yao came to the picture, Lan Wangji is still sulking about

such thing!

Lan Wangji should have known better than to let someone take his place

that night, because he seemed to have forgotten some things can't be changed.

And now his beloved got his back hit with a discipline paddle while he was sent to the Library to arrange the texts.

He then told his brother he'll be bathing in the cold pond.

He knows what his brother will be doing next, so gladly he won't say anything

about it, he just made his way towards the pond removing his robes but leaving his pants on because obviously! Last time he didn't even had any! And his brother sent his crush here! While he was naked!

Not that it wasn't a good thing.

But he's currently a mentally 30 year old man in a 16 year old body and Wei Ying is still 15 turning 16 in...

Why does this seem illegal for some reason...

—————————

Wei Wuxian hasn't seen Lan Wangji all morning after his punishment with his

brother and Nie Huaisang. He heard from other disciples he was busy arranging stuff in the library 'Boringg, I'll find him later.'

Wei Wuxian was limping, but he wasn't going to complain, he had worse with the Zidian, this was just child's play for him.

"Wei-gongzi."

He jumped when he saw Lan Xichen "Ahh Zewu-Jun" he rubbed the back of his neck "What brings you here?" He asked and the man infront of him softly smiled.

"How is your back fairing? I heard you got 50 strikes while the other only got

10" 'Uncle was lenient on the amount of strikes for Wei-gongzi, it would have been more if Wangji didn't clear his mind on the first day' he thought to himself.

"My back is doing well, I might be able to walk in a few days he smiled but Lan Xichen didn't quite believe him, he saw and observed him and the Jiang heir for some time now.

Spying on people is forbidden but he was just in the right place in the right time, plus it's not like Uncle caught him or anything.

"How about I point you to a place where you can heal a bit faster?"

"Oh?"

—————————

'What's taking brother so loooonnnngg???'

Lan Wangji was splashing the water 'I'm getting impatient.'

"Lan Zhan!"

Lan Wangji turned around and saw Wei Wuxian "Wei Ying? Who let you in?" He asked before he saw Wei Wuxian's cheeks turn a bit pink 'Funny, that didn't happen before? Is he starting to like me? Dang if he is then how stupid was my past self?'

Wei Wuxian gaped at Lan Wangji 'This! Zewu-Jun you never told me your brother is here! He- too hot!'

"Zewu-Jun let me in! Lan Zhan you never told me about this place!"

Lan Zhan smiled "I was planning on finding you later after I was finished, I heard you were caught drinking again?"

Wei Wuxian huffed as he got undressed, leaving his pants on as well before going in the pond.

"Lan-er-gege! It's so cold! How do you handle this!"

Lan Wangji's ears flushed at the name.

"Come over here, it's warm on my side." he smiled and Wei Wuxian flushed before complying.

There was a comfortable silence until Lan Wangji spoke "Do you mind if I wash your back?" He asked permission "The wounds from the paddle might cause infection." Lan Wangji waited patiently for the male to answer.

Last timeline he didn't see the other's back as Wei Wuxian moved quick and put his robe on his back. Come to think of it, he never saw the other's back. Not like it was necessary but...

Oh Lan An he really is a pervert in disguise...

Wei Wuxian was reluctant but he trusted the male, he had showed him more

kindness than the rest...his shijle was kind...but she would always say that he was one to blame for the scars on his back...even if not directly he knows what

she meant.

'Would Lan Zhan be the same?' He thought but the man infront of him gave him no reason to doubt him.

"Sure, but can you promise not to tell anyone?" Wei Wuxian asked wary.

Lan Wangji smiled softly "You can trust me."

Wei Wuxian hesitated and turned his back around.

What Lan Wangji saw made him gasp and murderous at the same time.