[Wei Wuxian is straining, even as they draw closer to the skulls; a couple of wraiths break loose form the edges and head for Lan Wangji with a shriek]
[Wei Wuxian feels that cool analysis again, much rapider this time. it apparently ends in the decision that it's not a good idea for him to try to play music at the same time as he's acting as the instrument Wei Wuxian is using to do his own thing, unless it's really necessary - he summons his sword from its sheath with the barest effort of willpower and sends it at them to keep them back with a sweep.
pulls Wei Wuxian closer, letting him lean harder on his own will and focus for a moment, and arrows towards the skulls fast]
[Wei Wuxian braces his shoulders against Lan Wangji's and digs deeper into himself. a red haze steals over their shared vision.
the skulls need to be pulled off the bamboo; they look to have been staked onto it, at some point. other human bones litter the bases of the woody stalks]
[he's going to gather the ones that seem to go with the skulls up - he remembers the major ones that seemed to be missing from the coffin - and head back towards the tunnel mouth, if he can. is there time?]
[there's no value in avoiding the use of spiritual energy to keep the ghouls less interested at this point. as Wei Wuxian's control continues to crumble he summons his sword back from their defense and flies close to the ground in a near streak of light to the cave mouth, dodging the many, many enemies closer to the escape route than they are..
turns and plants himself solidly just inside it as soon as they get there, the mass of wraiths nearly on their heels, and pulls his guqin out now to blow them all back from the entrance with a few notes, the song modulating up and up and up into something strident and powerful as he backs up one step, then another--
the rocks at their feet begin to tremble and dance, everything shakes, and then the mouth of the tunnel fucking caves in]
[Lan Wangji doesn't slump; apparently tension turns him into an ice-blade of a human, drawing him up crystal-clear and sharp and tempered to intensity rather than jarring him from his calm. it takes him little while to thaw.
closes his eyes, after a moment; Wei Wuxian's still slumped against him, unless he's pulled away.
[he imagines that using demonic cultivation isn't pleasant, but doesn't think Wei Wuxian has been in this much pain for the last few years. the realization dawns on him slowly but fully formed in his moment of detachment: oh. Wei Wuxian's meridians must still be damaged from his death.
...doesn't... push back against this... he just turns to walk up the tunnel again instead. Wei Wuxian doesn't pick up any fresh distress from him, just quiet acceptance.]
[the ache and pushing it down has been enough of a constant that Wei Wuxian doesn't think much of it, actually; doesn't even quite realize he betrayed that to someone else.
it's not long before they're both a bit distracted by the ghoulbaby's enraged wailing up ahead]
he half closes his eyes. Wei Wuxian feels him steady further, spin some still place inside himself up around them like a cloak as he begins to play...]
[interesting. he waits to see if it integrates a little better with time, shifting his own playing a bit to wind around Wei Wuxian's better; Wei Ying can feel out what harmony will work best as well as he can.]
[the spirit in the pit wails and struggles. Wei Wuxian is good at adapting his technique, as always, yes; he adjusts his tempo and his notes. the powerful sound rings out, waves of suppression and coercion: go to sleep, go to sleep, we'll carry you to your mother and father; rest, little one]
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