Untamed/MDZS catch-all

[ze_uwu_jun]

WHO: The Untamed / MDZS cast and friends (enemies, etc)
WHERE: Anywhere, everywhere, including their assigned lodgings and around all towns
WHEN: February
WHAT: Catch-all because the emotions never end
WARNINGS: The Untamed / Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation / Mo Dao Zu Shi spoilers; canon-typical violence; event-typical violence. Will add more if it becomes necessary

ooc: Go forth and do the things as they come.

Comments

[snowsparksjr]

The shadow had no such compunctions about attacking. It hurled itself at Wangji, ready to attack.

The stance was Jin Ling's, but the attacks were basic martial combat, no better than a common foot soldier under Jiang command. The demon had none of Jin Ling's creativity in battle.

Fairy kept barking as Wangji stopped, as the guqin came out, as though she could not understand why he had paused. She jumped, prancing back and forth, impatient to run, to take him to the alley where she had left her master. The sword--the monster and the sword didn't matter! Jin Ling was hurt!

[secondjade]

The demon attacked, and Wangji’s fingers flew over the strings, the chord assassination technique sending a shockwave of spiritual power out in an arc from him, directly at the creature. He was about to send a second when he noticed the dog was tying to get his attention.

This wasn’t what she’d wanted him to see?

At the last second, he strummed the instrument again, the shockwave stronger the second time. Either way, he had to subdue this demon. That was clear.

[snowsparksjr]

The shadow was knocked down by the attack, but it made no cry. It fell like a doll, all limp soft limbs, and then struggled up again, resuming the attack with no change in strategy. It was no match for Lan Wangji, but it knew only the blind urge to fight.

Fairy's impatience only rose, whining worriedly and looking in the direction of where she had left Jin Ling. She wanted to go to him, to check on him, but she needed the human to help!

Suddenly she made a surprised little noise, ears perking up as she heard her name called. Jin Ling was awake! She disappeared instantly, teleporting to his side... and leaving Lan Wangji without a guide and without information as to what had just happened.

[secondjade]

The dog disappeared, and his surprise caused a delay in his use of the next chord, the creature getting too close. Jin Ling’s sword lashed out, and Wangji played the chord just in time, the very last second, to throw it back. The music wasn’t hurting it, only slowing it.

The guqin disappeared, Bichen drawn in its place, and the next attack was met with metal on metal, sparks flying as he deflected the blade and then pressed close.

“Jin Ling!” He admonished, hoping the words would mean anything at all.

[snowsparksjr]

The words meant nothing. There was no recognition, no hesitation. Nothing inside the shadow but a blind need to destroy.

It attacked again and again, uncaring, untiring, and never once adapting its strategy when the same attack failed time after time.

Whatever the creature was, the imagery it bore of Jin Ling was only mimicry. There was nothing in there of the boy himself.

[secondjade]

It took nothing.

A single clear strike with his blade, Bichen’s sharp edge cutting through the thing like water.

The creature that was Jin Ling disappeared into motes of darkness, spreading around Lan Wangji like water cresting rocks.

For something that took no effort, Wangji was breathing hard when it was complete, ragged breath in his throat. He swallowed, blade lowering as he tried to process what had just happened. Had that been Jin Ling himself? A mockery of him? He didn’t know.

He searched the area, looking for any clue or sign, but found nothing. He was already turning to go back to the house - to find Wei Wuxian - when he remembered he had a way to message both him and Xichen at the same time.

Sending a voice message to both of them:

“Jin Ling. We must find him.”

Because if they couldn’t, then Lan Wangji has just killed Wei Wuxian’s only nephew.