Wei WuXian moved from his position by Lan QiRen's feet to his side. As he freed one hand from its warming pocket, Wei WuXian looked over to Healer Zhang.

"May I?" he asked, gesturing to the Grandmaster's pulse point.

The expression on the Healer's face did not reflect any confidence, but neither did it reflect any especial wariness. Just a kind of exhausted wistfulness perhaps, at best.

"Certainly. Do not check the resentful energy until you are finished with any other examination. It tends to be rather... responsive... and you are unlikely to reach any other findings once it has been accessed." Clearly the Healer had concerns, but he politely stepped back against one wall and allowed Wei WuXian free movement about his patient.

With a quick look at the Twin Jades, and a nod to the Healer, Wei WuXian picked up the Grandmaster's wrist and carefully placed his fingertips to read his pulse. No dedicated Healer training had ever been part of Wei WuXian's education, but the simple basics of skills necessary to monitor his own and others' spiritual energies together with specific common emergent procedures had been part of his Cultivator training from boyhood. Unerringly, he found the traces he sought and settled in to see what could be found.

At first Wei WuXian permitted a passive read of the pulse thrumming through the Grandmaster's veins. Strong, but with a strangely sluggish element, as if being held back. This was not uncommon in Cultivators who suffered grievous injury but was a concern in this case for there was no visible injury to Lan QiRen. Additionally, in normal circumstances a healthy Cultivator would suffer such slowing only briefly; few were so seriously injured their Core could not address the damage with a day or two. The Grandmaster had lain in stasis for many weeks now. The hesitant quality of the pulse indicated a major anomaly, which – for lack of any other known possibility – Wei WuXian could only ascribe to the suspected presence of Yin Iron and resentful energy. He followed the pulse through the quiet body before him and found no blockages, no injuries.

Shifting focus and realigning his grasp, Wei WuXian ever so gently let slip the merest whisper of spiritual energy into the Grandmaster. Delicately he followed the pathways; he travelled the Meridians and tasted of the emptiness. The spiritual energy that should have been flowing through the body was virtually absent. Mere ghosts persisted, as if former floods had reduced to a damp stain. There should have been a generous outpouring, the result of a lifetime of Cultivation. He gently placed the hand back into its warm covering and moved to the other side of the bed. Taking the Grandmaster's other hand, Wei WuXian repeated the process. First the pulse, then the spiritual inspection. The results did not vary.

Wei WuXian replaced the Grandmaster's hand in the warming pocket and turned to the Healer.

"Healer Zhang, am I correct in saying the pulse is being restricted and that the Qi is blocked from his pathways?"

Healer Zhang stepped up from where he had quietly waited, leaning against the wall, and rejoined Wei WuXian at his patient's side.

"Yes. The pulse is strong enough, but the natural energy within it is being held back or diverted somehow. The Qi is being locked away from use and the Meridians are all but bare. The pulses show enough activity to sustain life, but no more. There is no spiritual energy supporting the Grandmaster's Cultivation. It's as if that aspect has been somehow locked away from his access."

"Do you have a preferred way to inspect the Qi and Core? Is there a method you've found safer or any warning I should hear before trying to assess the resentful energy?"

Healer Zhang gave a tiny shrug of one shoulder, almost involuntary, and shook his head. "Not really, Master Wei. I've found no approach any more successful than any other in reading the energy. All attempts from any angle always agitate the resentful energy, and I find it very hard to check the status without feeling I am risking the stability of the stasis itself."

"Hmm." Wei WuXian's index finger rose to absently rub his nose, as he turned over the problem in his mind. "Alright. Since it seems the only way to get information is to hold hands with a demon, it looks like I'll be riling up the resentful energy a bit just now, then. Perhaps everyone else should stand back, just in case? I'll be as careful as possible, but resentful energy will always have its own agenda."

The men in the room stepped back and lined the walls, leaving a clear expanse around the bed, the patient and Wei WuXian.

Wei WuXian stood straight and took a few strengthening, grounding breaths. He was mildly displeased to sense anxiety, the type usually assuaged by Lan WangJi's gentle attentiveness. He took another breath and realized the depth of his concern over what he might find and just how deeply he felt in need of his soulmate's anchoring. The thought was disquieting. Am I really in such bad shape? So feeble I need to borrow my husband's strength for a simple assessment? he wondered, before he admitted to himself that yes, in fact, he would like his husband's support. Oh, to the Heavenly Realms with it! As he said, we're married and the gods take the idiots unhappy about it!

In a few long strides Wei WuXian moved to where Lan WangJi was waiting, one white-knuckled hand grasping the hilt of Bichen, while the other fisted behind his back. Taking his husband's face in his hands, he took a long, deep kiss from his beloved, disregarding the shocked gasps from the Cultivators in the room.

"A kiss for luck," Wei WuXian smiled at Lan WangJi, before swiftly returning to the quiet figure awaiting his attention.

Carefully Wei WuXian placed one hand on the Grandmaster's pulse and brought his other hand to the top of his head. Closing his eyes, the better to concentrate, he carefully let free a trace of spiritual energy, monitoring the changes as it moved cautiously through the Grandmaster's inert body. Bringing his hand from the top of the head slowly down over the Grandmaster, Wei WuXian registered the changes in energy as if his hands were a circuit, able to record the energy flow. Slowly he moved. Gently he probed. As the location of the source of Qi was neared, he sensed the resentful energy, softly rolling in place, as one would turn in bed. He drew on his own intimate relationship with resentful energy to keep the peace.

Calmly, calmly, he thought. I am no threat to you. I am just passing through. You need pay me no mind. Over and over he thought this, as a mantra, keeping the resentful energy from boiling up in protective fury.

Wei WuXian's travelling hand reached the solar plexus where Lan QiRen's Core was located, above the lower dantian, and paused. An ache beyond pain, somehow greater and more profound than mere weight, settled into him. He had to separate his mind for a moment to concentrate on his own breathing. In. Out. In. Out. He consciously repeated the instruction until he was able to spare the energy to attend to the Grandmaster's body.

They were right. Oh gods, why did we have to be right? He could feel it. The Yin Iron powder had filtered into the tissues and was massed in the centre of the Grandmaster's body. There wasn't a great deal of it; probably the Grandmaster had only taken a few pellets. Maybe two? Three? But it was enough. The powder had indeed lingered in the body, rather than passing through the man before him. A cloudlike presence, a web of infinitely fine particles, provided a nest for the resentful energy within. It called for more. He could feel the energy within himself responding to the call, yearning for this home being offered, and brutally restricted its freedom, refusing to permit the slightest contact. The Yin Iron, however fine its current form, was compelling, and kept up the siren call. He could feel it commanding the resentful energy within him to come forth and join with it, to sink within the Grandmaster's body and help it build. Help it grow. Help it...

Lan XiChen turned his eyes away from the tableau at the centre of the room and looked at his younger brother. Lan WangJi's impassive face had acquired a grim cast to the clenched jaw. The slight narrowing of the eyes and the single line between the brows spoke of his unbearable tension. Lan XiChen turned back to his uncle, unable to watch his brother suffer.

Lan WangJi kept his gaze on his husband as he sought to help his uncle, and the stress was nearly intolerable. He saw the quick intake of breath as Wei WuXian first made a link to the resentful energy within Lan QiRen's body. He noted when his husband had to take the time to steady himself before continuing with his inspection. And when the resentful energy began to drift about Wei WuXian, sifting silently, lightly gathering about the dark robes and rising towards the Grandmaster, he could take no more.

"Wei Ying!"

Wei WuXian turned ruby eyes to his husband, who stopped in dismay at the sight.

"Patience!" Wei WuXian demanded. "I'm nearly done. It's alright, Lan Zhan."

The drifting dark energy wafted from the ends of Wei WuXian's sleeves and the neckline of his robes, even as he turned back to the Grandmaster to complete his evaluation. Gently Wei WuXian probed. Yes, the Yin Iron was clearly well established in the tissues. Fortunately, it had largely come to rest in one primary grouping. Unfortunately, it had already drawn a significant accumulation of resentful energy. May as well see what I can do, while I'm here, he thought.

With a deep breath, Wei WuXian focused his mind and called the resentful energy forth from Lan QiRen. The men in the Archive chamber stood still in amazement as the cloudy, dark energy rose from their Grandmaster, and encircled Wei WuXian. For a moment, only a moment, Wei WuXian wavered in exhaustion, and the resentful energy gathered more aggressively about him. A series of gasps were torn from the wary Cultivators as he lifted his eyes and the nervous men encircling the room saw nothing more than the threatening energy being manipulated about their Grandmaster by the legendary YiLing Laozu, red eyes glowing through the gathering darkness. Wei WuXian dragged the energy back under control by sheer force of his indomitable will. Damn the appearances, thought Wei WuXian. I should have brought ChenQing with me. Without his spiritual weapon of choice, he was forced to use what he could, and a shaky whistle took control of the resentful energy even as the Cultivators put their hands to the hilt of their swords in shock. Within a breath Lan WangJi had ranged himself at Wei WuXian's back, Bichen drawn, prepared to protect his husband from his own brethren, if necessary. He didn't see Wei WuXian raise his hands and force back the resentful energy, drawing it within himself, crushing it back to nothing once more, although the Cultivators in the room would never forget the sight.

The whistle broke off, sudden silence ringing in ears still flinching from the haunted tune. A soft sigh sounded behind Lan WangJi. A slim hand rested on his shoulder.

"It's alright, everyone," said the beloved voice. "It's fine."

Lan WangJi turned to see his husband's silver eyes, almost back to normal, the dark circles beneath emphasizing their rare colour as the red dimmed to frame the silver iris, fading fast.

Wei WuXian patted his husband's shoulder.

"It's alright, my love. I'm done. Shall we go discuss things with your brother back at the Jingshi?" A faint, brave smile almost broke Lan WangJi's heart. "This took a bit more out of me than I expected..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lan WangJi swept Wei WuXian up in his arms, and turned to Lan XiChen.

"XiongZhang. We will be in the Jingshi. Please join us." A shortened bow, more of a nod, to the Healer, careful of the man in his arms, and Lan WangJi strode away.

The lightness of his burden frightened Lan WangJi, but it wasn't the only sign that something wasn't currently right with his world. Every other time he made to carry his husband, Wei WuXian would kick up a fuss or make nonsense about it, but not today. Not this time. Lan WangJi knew how exhausted he was when Wei WuXian didn't even pretend to put up a fight. There was no playful, flattered acceptance of the indulgence. Instead, Wei WuXian allowed the embrace, and melted more deeply into his husband's arms as he laid his head upon Lan WangJi's chest and raised one arm about his neck. Only soft sighs from time to time marked their passage back down the Mountain, through the Cloud Recesses and home to the Jingshi. As it was time for the midday meal the paths were thick with disciples, elders and servants, all heading to the Dining Hall. Muttered whispers and the occasional shocked inhalation of passersby didn't register with Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi simply ignored them.

One low-voiced utterance of "shameless", however, stopped Lan WangJi momentarily. He halted abruptly, and locked eyes on one of the elders. This particular individual had been incensed by the marriage of HanGuang-Jun to the YiLing Laozu. Had been scandalized by a marriage between men. Had been horrified by the acceptance of the infamous YiLing Laozu into the Gusu Lan Sect. Lan WangJi was familiar with this elder's narrow and judgemental view of others from his earliest childhood.

"Shameless?" inquired Lan WangJi. "My husband has exhausted himself trying to help the Grandmaster. Is it shameless to care for another human being and their needs? Is it shameless to give your all to protect another, without care for return? Where is shame in love? Shame is for a narrow, shuttered mind. Shame lies in hiding behind walls built of tradition without heart or hope. Shame is holding others to standards you do not even attempt to achieve. Shame is being less than you could be. There is no shame here, except your own."

Leaving a speechless and sputtering old man surrounded by other shocked disciples, Lan WangJi continued to the Jingshi, where he gently lay Wei WuXian upon the bed. Fetching water, Lan WangJi brought it to Wei WuXian, and helped him to sit and drink, brushing his bangs from his eyes before handing him the cup.

Wei WuXian drank deeply before leaning to rest against his husband.

"I love you," Wei WuXian thanked him.

"I love Wei Ying," accepted Lan WangJi.

"Those old men never give up, do they?" asked Wei WuXian, with a wry twist to his mouth. "Do you think they'll be the same when we've been married ten years? Or even more?"

"They do not matter," answered Lan WangJi.

"Only my Wei Ying matters to me."