Chapter Text
Xiaoge would have liked to move a bit closer, but then he could end up in the line of fire when Wu Xie's weight was released. He also couldn't move closer in case there was more than one trigger. "I won't let you die." He whispered a moment later, his eyes meeting the rich brown of Wu Xie's.
That seemed to calm the younger man down, watching as Wu Xie considered his words, and then nodded. "Okay, I trust you." Xiaoge waited as he tied the rope around his upper chest. He then wrapped the rope around his arm a few times, before turning slowly. He maintained constant pressure on the weighted trap, Xiaoge noticed, his eyes never leaving the stone as he did. "Promise me something?"
He let out a hum.
"If we survive this, please don't tell my Sanshu. I swear if I wake up one more blood zombie or set off one more trap; he's going to forbid me from coming with him for the rest of my life."
Xiaoge couldn't stop his lips from twitching slightly into a smile, before nodding. "Promise." Hearing that seemed to relax the younger man, and Wu Xie nodded back. "Ready?"
"Yeah," He whispered. "Well I guess I need to be ready, don't I? So, on the count of three?" His eyes strayed to the walls, and Wu Xie swallowed as he started the count. "One, two..."
Before he could say the next word, Xiaoge pulled. It must have been harder than Wu Xie was expecting, seeing that Xiaoge had a lot more strength than one would have guessed with his slimmer build. It was hard enough that Xiaoge had to twist his body as they collided so he could slow Wu Xie down. Xiaoge ended up with his back to the trap, holding Wu Xie close to his chest as they waited for it to trigger. He could feel the younger man wrap his arms around his back, his fingers digging into the fabric of his hoodie.
Nothing happened.
He blinked, looking at Wu Xie, who continued to hold him tightly. His face was hidden against his shoulder; eyes squeezed closed. "Wu Xie?"
After a moment the man opened his eyes, then his head rose as he looked around. Finally, his eyes met Xiaoge's, who blinked at him slowly. "I," he watched as Wu Xie looked away again, glazing over his shoulder at the place he'd stood moments earlier. "Is it possible the mechanism is broken?"
Xiaoge could feel Wu Xie's heart racing where they were pressed chest to chest, running a hand gently up his back to soothe him. A moment later his attention was pulled back to his face when Wu Xie laughed. "Wu Xie?"
Wu Xie smiled at him. "Thank you, Xiaoge. For saving my life."
Xiaoge looked at the man in his arms, nodding. He was about to speak but was cut off when a loud clicking echoed down at the hall. Wu Xie's eyes widened, and Xiaoge noticed the man looking over his shoulder as he turned slightly to look as well. Before either of them could speak, the far end of the hall started collapsing, moving directly for them.
"Run!" He yelled, pushing Wu Xie forward. Xiaoge hoped he would get away, at least. What he'd overlooked was the rope. The rope that was wrapped around his arm from when he pulled Wu Xie to him. The same rope that was still tied around Wu Xie's chest.
One moment there was stone below him, then next, Xiaoge felt himself falling. This caused a chain reaction, pulling Wu Xie backward and making him follow a second later. Though, logically, Xiaoge knew the man wouldn't have been capable of outrunning the collapse; it still bothered him he could have forgotten something as simple as a rope. Time seemed to slow, and it felt like he was falling forever. He wondered if this was how they would both die. If they didn't, how would the others locate them? Would Wu Xie blame him for not moving them sooner?
His fall ended, and soon Xiaoge was tumbling down a pile of rock and debris before his back finally hit something hard and flat. The rumbling of the collapse continued as a heavier weight landed on top of him, knocking the air out of him. Everything around Xiaoge was dark, the dust thick in the air as he tried to cough while the clatter of debris continued falling on him; burying his lower body under its weight. His eyes closed a moment later, the echo of stone and wood all he could hear before passing out.
When Xiaoge opened his eyes again there was only darkness. He coughed a few times, tasting the dirt and grit in his mouth as he tried sitting up. Then, he remembered the weight that had landed on him earlier, noting it was still there. Wincing, Xiaoge went to push whatever had landed on top of him off when his hand came in contact with something soft and warm. The realization that it was Wu Xie, and not some random rubble on top of him, drove him into action.
"Wu Xie?" He reached up to feel the man's head lying on his chest. A moment later Xiaoge felt something wet and tacky under his fingers, letting out a sharp breath. "Wu Xie? Answer me!"
His hands moved lower, feeling the gentle rise and fall of his breathing which finally calmed him. Xiaoge moved his hand off Wu Xie, feeling around, so he could get a better idea of their current situation. But, trying to shift was more difficult than he would have liked. There was a heavy weight on his legs, and he knew he and Wu Xie must be partially buried from the collapse. His head was also pounding, and he couldn't stop himself from coughing again. When the coughing completely subsided, Xiaoge wrapped his arms around Wu Xie once again and held him.
"I'll figure this out." His voice was coarse, probably from the dust he'd breathed in. "I promise, Wu Xie."
The man didn't respond, which only made him worry more. Breathing out, Xiaoge closed his eyes. There was no point in keeping them open anyway, he couldn't see anything. Suddenly, he remembered the gear check from earlier and the fact that Wu Sanxing had made sure each man had an extra torch in their pack. He might be unable to get to his, but he could get into Wu Xie's pack.
Shifting his hands up, he felt around for the zipper and the pack was open a moment later. Xiaoge dug through the items inside, not caring as they fell to the floor around them. He could collect them later, but he needed the torch. He had to know how badly Wu Xie was hurt. Where they currently were, and how bad their situation was when it came to being rescued.
Soon, he felt the familiar shape of cold metal in his hand and tugged it out of the pack. Flipping the switch as soon as it was free, the area around him was finally revealed. Above them was a partial ceiling where it hadn't collapsed. The rest was nothing but a mess of wood and stone, the trap having triggered quite a large cave in. That meant there would be no convenient way to dig themselves out, especially with the lack of equipment.
He moved the torch again, this time looking to the side and behind him. The room was small, and the collapse covered at least half the floor. But there was an area free of destruction and a door off to the left. One, that he could only hope offered them a way out of this situation.
Next, he turned the light onto Wu Xie. The man was breathing, blood covering one side of his face, showing he'd be injured in some way. Xiaoge shifted his free hand up into Wu Xie's hair, finding the blood clumped up near the back of his head. He'd either injured his head on the way down or was hit by falling debris, which would explain why the man was unconscious. His hand moved back to stroke Wu Xie's cheek gently, observing him for a moment before dropping his fingers to his neck. Wu Xie's pulse was steady, which told Xiaoge there were no major injuries - or so he hoped.
Now, he just needed to free them from the rubble that was pinning them down and noted that while some had fallen farther up, the worst was below their knees. This meant, most of the weight that Xiaoge had felt when he'd come to was because Wu Xie had a lot more muscle than he'd been expecting. He also took into account that he'd been very disoriented when he'd first woken, which would have affected his grasp of the situation. Now that he was feeling more clear-headed, he knew he could find a way to work around the debris.
He started pushing the rubble that was lying around their waist and chest further away. There hadn't been much, and it had only taken a few minutes to complete. Now that he had more room, Xiaoge shifted his own body, pushing Wu Xie slightly off to the side. That provided the room he needed to sit up and start removing the rocks that were pinning their legs. He didn't know how long he'd pushed the debris off to the side, watching the large pile above in case they became unstable. But, after some time he was able to haul them both free.
Then his focus turned to Wu Xie and moving him away from the collapse in case the ceiling gave out any further. Xiaoge gathered the man into his arms, walking over to the opposite corner. This was the point farthest from the collapse, and the one he felt was safest at the moment. He lowered Wu Xie to the floor, removing his pack, so it could be used as a pillow, and then laid the man back down. Pressing a hand to Wu Xie's forehead, Xioage watched as he shifted slightly and let out a hum.
Xiaoge felt that was a good sign, and Wu Xie didn't seem like he was in too much pain. Which meant any injuries he received weren't severe and he should be able to handle them until they were both rescued. Removing his pack, Xiaoge leaned against the wall and breathed out, before reaching for a bottle of water. He could still taste the dust and grit in his mouth, and it wasn't a pleasant feeling. Taking a sip of water, he swished it around before spitting it out and then took a long drink. Afterward, Xiaoge gave himself a once over. He noted a large lump on the back of his head, some cuts, and a lot of bruising, but nothing significant.
His attention then shifted to Wu Xie, who still lay beside him unconscious. He couldn't help but wonder if the man had fallen on top of him or had moved on purpose to protect him? But, it had been too dark to thoroughly comprehend what had happened in those brief moments. Pushing aside his thoughts, Xiaoge reached back into his pack and pulled out the first aid kit he carried on him at all times. Wu Xie needed to be his focus, he needed to see if there were more injuries. Unzipping the man's thick coat, Xiaoge started examining him.
Like Xiaoge, he had received quite a few bruises from the fall and also found a pretty nasty cut on his leg and right hand. But the one on Wu Xie's head was the injury that worried Xiaoge the most. Using a clean towel from his pack, he washed the three cuts with water and then wiped down Wu Xie's face first. He then went back with antiseptic from his kit and sterilized them before wrapping the cuts with a thick layer of gauze to keep them clean.
Seeing the younger man was now taken care of, Xiaoge grabbed another clean towel and wiped off his own cuts and face. None of his injuries were too serious, so he simply sterilized them before storing the items back inside his pack. Once he was done, Xiaoge leaned against the wall, his hand falling to Wu Xie's chest. There, he felt the steady rise and fall of his breathing. They were both alive, and that was what mattered at the moment. Shifting his hand up, he pressed it to Wu Xie's forehead and was relieved to feel he had no fever.
Xiaoge pulled his hand away, rubbing his face as his other hand reached down to the torch and picked it up. He had no clue how long Wu Xie would be asleep, but he needed to consider escape. The torch rose, shining on the door he'd seen. Bracing his hand against the wall, Xiaoge pushed himself up and walked over. If he was fortunate, it would be a hallway that led them out of the area. If he was unlucky, he would go nowhere. Reaching the archway, he shone the light in and realized that luck wasn't on his side. There was a coffin and burial items, but no exit. Which meant they were trapped until Wu Xie's family uncovered him, or they dug their way out.
Making his way back to Wu Xie, Xiaoge sat down beside him once again and laid a hand back on the young man's chest. As long as Wu Xie was alive and breathing, they could figure a way out of this situation. Before he realized it, Xiaoge's energy had given out and he dozed off.
"Xiaoge?"
He wasn't sure how long he'd slept, but hearing Wu Xie's voice roused him instantly. He blinked slowly, noting the low light in the small room. Then, realized he'd fallen asleep with the torch left on. But that didn't matter. Wu Xie mattered. Shifting, he leaned over the man who was still lying beside him, seeing Wu Xie smile when he came in to view.
"Ah," he breathed out, coughing. "You're safe. Good, that's very good."
Xiaoge nodded, helping him sit up as he reached for the half-empty bottle of water. "Rinse," he said. Wu Xie nodded, taking the bottom from him, and did as he asked. Afterward, he took a long drink from it until Xiaoge stopped him. He held out a small white bottle of painkillers to Wu Xie. "Take."
"Thank you." Wu Xie took out a few pills, tossing them into his mouth. He then took another drink of water before handing both bottles back to Xiaoge. He watched as Wu Xie started looking over his injuries, noting they had all been cleaned and bandaged. "You took care of me?"
"Yes."
Wu Xie smiled, and Xiaoge watched as he zipped his coat back up before moving a bit closer to him. Then, he felt Wu Xie's head resting against his shoulder, the man looking around the room lit up by the torch lying on the stone floor. Before he could think, Xiaoge found himself taking Wu Xie's uninjured hand in his own, running his thumb over the back. That only made Wu Xie look back up at him, confusion written on his features.
"You're cold," he muttered, glancing over at him.
"A little," was his reply, his cheeks suddenly looking flushed. His stomach growled then, and Wu Xie laughed. "I'm sorry."
Xiaoge shook his head, releasing his hand as he pulled his pack closer. A moment later he pulled out one of the compressed biscuits that Wu Sanxing had insisted they take with them. He wondered how much of that was normal planning, and how much of it was him knowing his nephew’s history for causing trouble.
Regardless, he held out the package to Wu Xie. "Eat."
He thought over the supplies he had in his pack. They had each come in with three bottles of water and four compressed biscuits. Between cleaning up their injuries and drinking, one bottle of water was almost gone which left them five bottles of water. Minus the biscuit he'd just given Wu Xie, they had seven more of those. Which meant they would be fine for a few days, as long as they were cautious. Black eyes glanced over at the pile of rubble again, and he knew it might take the others a few days to dig through the mess. Plus, he didn't know how much of the hall above had caved in and was now buried under debris.
Beside him, Wu Xie opened the biscuit and took a bite, chewing slowly. "I could think of a million things I'd rather have than this dry block." He muttered, causing Xiaoge attention to turn back to Wu Xie. "Then again, I'm glad Sanshu was prepared and made us bring these."
He nodded, the words reflecting his own feelings. One couldn't be too prepared when entering a tomb, and Wu Sanxing seemed to know that. "How is your head?" Xiaoge whispered.
Wu Xie took another bite, glancing at him as a smile formed. "It's okay. I mean, it does hurt, but it could have been worse. Anyway, I'm a Wu." The smile turned into a grin as if being a Wu explained everything.
Xiaoge couldn't help but wonder if all Wu were as troublesome as the one beside him. Even if they were, he found he honestly didn't mind. A thought popped into his head then, and he looked back at the man. "Wu Xie?" The young man hummed, taking another bite. Hesitating for a moment, Xiaoge breathed out and finally spoke. "Did you," he paused, "try to protect me?"
Wu Xie was silent for a moment. "Ah," clearing his throat, Xiaoge watched as he took another bite of the biscuit before looking up. "Maybe?" The way he said the word was feeble at best, more like Wu Xie was trying to stall. "I just," his eyes fell back to the biscuit in his hands.
Xiaoge hummed, wanting him to continue.
"I felt bad. You're stuck here because of me. I seem to be the black sheep in the family, and I don't mean that they treat me as an outcast. It's just my luck; I guess. Every time I go into a tomb, something is bound to happen. Usually to me and mostly concerning traps or blood zombies." The younger man looked back up, but he was now frowning. "I didn't want you to be hurt because of me, so yes. When I realized I'd fallen on top of you, I tried to protect you. Then, something struck the back of my head. When I woke up, you had taken care of me."
It made sense now, and Wu Xie looked like the type who would sacrifice himself for his friends. Well, based on the limited knowledge that he had about him. "Didn't have to."
"I did."
He shook his head, glancing at Wu Xie. "Wasn't your fault." Before the man could object, Xiaoge grabbed the torch from the floor and rose. Making his way back over to the rubble, he picked up the items that had fallen out of Wu Xie's pack earlier. Then, Xiaoge made his way back over, setting them by his pack, before looking around the room again. It was cold and dark so this must have been where the air they felt earlier had come from.
"Can we get out?"
Xiaoge flashed the torch towards one of the walls covered in rubble. Just above the rocks laid the top of an archway. "The doorway is blocked." He then moved the light to the other wall, showing the archway that was clear. "Dead end." He held out a hand to Wu Xie. "Wu Sanxing was right."
That seemed to capture the man's attention, gripping his hand as Xiaoge pulled him up. When Wu Xie stumbled, he wrapped an arm around his waist and assisted him to the door. He could feel Wu Xie's fingers dig into the fabric of his hoodie, a smile pulling at his lips as they made it to the opening. Flashing the light towards one of the walls, pottery with the telltale white and blue design came into view.
He could feel the man’s body tense in his hold when Wu Xie saw the burial items. "Ming porcelain," His voice held excitement and disbelief as if it were too good to be true. "I'm not seeing things because I was hit on the head, right? That is Ming porcelain?"
Xiaoge nodded. "It is."
Wu Xie leaned a bit more against his body, laughing. "So, if our theory is accurate? If the other tombs on the mural are older or built around the same time?" He paused, "there could be more than just this?"
"Yes." Wu Xie hummed, and then Xiaoge suddenly found himself holding more of the young man's weight than he had been a moment before. "Wu Xie?" His eyes dropped to see Wu Xie shaking his head.
"Sorry, I got dizzy suddenly." Xiaoge wasted no time helping Wu Xie back over to the packs, lowering him to the floor. "Thank you," he whispered as Xiaoge knelt beside him and felt his forehead.
"Rest more." He muttered, walking back over to the rubble. After a moment, Xiaoge started pulling small pieces of wood from the mess and tossed them on the floor behind him. That seemed to capture Wu Xie's interest, hearing him speak a moment later.
"Xiaoge, you can't dig us out of here. Please, you will only hurt yourself."
Glancing back at Wu Xie, he shook his head. "You are cold." Xiaoge went back to pulling shards of wood from the debris. "I'll make a fire. We should save the batteries."
A muffled, "ah," came from behind him as he continued working. "I should be helping you. We are stuck here because of me."
There was something more to his voice, something underlying that he wasn't saying. Needless to say, Xiaoge didn't feel this was Wu Xie's fault. Anyone who came into tombs for a living knew bad things happened, no matter how good someone was. He was disciplined in recognizing traps and had even missed a few over the years. So, he couldn't blame all of this on Wu Xie.
"I don't even understand why you came to Wushanju." The words were mumbled, causing Xiaoge to look back over at Wu Xie, who had tucked his legs up against his chest.
When he said nothing more, Xiaoge went back to pulling wood from the pile of rubble. Once he had enough, he carried the wood back over towards their corner of the room and then grabbed some stones. Soon there was a circle of rocks forming and a wall and Xiaoge started to pile the wood inside. That seemed to catch Wu Xie's attention, looking up as he stretched his legs back out.
"You're quick," he said.
Xiaoge didn't feel he deserved the praise, it was only wood. Brushing off the words as he held out a hand. "Matches?"
"Oh," he watched Wu Xie dig through his pack until he pulled out a silver waterproof tin. "Here, I just filled it up. There should be plenty."
Taking the container, Xiaoge pulled out a match. A minute later there was a warm fire going and Xiaoge switched off the torch, placing it back by his pack. The small tin was set beside it, and he lowered himself to the floor beside Wu Xie. "Wanted to."
"Huh?" Wu Xie glanced at him. "Wanted too?"
Regarding him for a moment, Xiaoge breathed out and then rested his head against the wall as he looked up at the ceiling. "You asked why I came to Wushanju," he said, his voice low as he spoke.
"Oh," Wu Xie nodded. "Because you wanted to? Well, that makes me feel better. I was hoping no one forced out to come." Wu Xie held his hands towards the fire and Xiaoge watched him. He could see the young man was thinking over something, then their eyes met as Wu Xie looked at him. "I didn't know about you." He admitted, letting out a laugh that sounded more nervous than amused. "I'm certain you're aware of that by now."
Xiaoge nodded. After all, Wu Xie had mentioned the fact to his Sanshu.
"I understand why my family did it." Wu Xie crossed his arms over his knees, resting his head on them, his attention staying on the fire. "We are skilled at what we do, the whole tomb running. Even with my bad luck, we experience more successes than failures. Though, my uncle hates that I give away a lot of items to museums." Wu Xie laughed, letting out a long breath. "He joked that I must have been adopted because no Wu would just give away money like that. But I feel that these are the treasures left to us and we must protect them. Maybe I'm wrong?"
"No," Xiaoge whispered. You're not."
"Thanks," Xiaoge nodded once again, unsure of what he should say. But, Wu Xie filled the silence by continuing to speak. "We don't lack manpower. But, we are a small family compared to others in the Jiumen Association. My dad was the only one who got married, and I was the only child they gave birth to. My two uncles never married, which places all of the family pressure on my shoulders.” He paused. “I knew they would try and force me to marry. Perhaps I should have expected an arranged marriage. But, I wasn't expecting you. I'm sorry if nainai made any promises that are impossible to keep."
"Such as?" Xiaoge asked, watching as Wu Xie pushed himself up and looked at him.
"I don't know, I haven't even seen the contract between our two families." He paused, and Xiaoge was quickly realizing that meant that Wu Xie was thinking over what to say next. "I do know my personal feelings don't matter. I'm an only child, which means I need to have an heir. I," Wu Xie shook his head. "I don't know what your family thinks of all this, or if you're an only child and could understand the complications this creates."
"I am."
"An only child?" He nodded. "Oh," did he detect disappointment in his tone? Before Xiaoge could place it, Wu Xie laughed. "Well, then both of our families put us in an embarrassing position. What do your parents think of this arrangement?"
That question made him look away. He'd always hated talking about himself, but Wu Xie had been so open and honest so he found it hard not to answer. "They died."
"I'm sorry. That is why you're Zhang Qiling," he muttered, causing Xiaoge to look back at him. "I thought your father might have just retired because you were old enough to take over."
Xiaoge regarded the man for a moment, then realized he was totally serious. Again, he wondered how someone as smart as Wu Xie could know so little about the Zhang family. Then again, if he hadn't known of the betrothal, there would have been no reason for him to be interested in the Zhang family. Blinking, Xiaoge looked back at the fire. "Doesn't work that way."
"What doesn't?"
"Zhang Qiling," he whispered. "Only death can transfer the title." He heard Wu Xie released a faint noise of acknowledgment, then fall silent. Matters of death and one's family laws never made for an interesting or happy topic. Xiaoge knew his family was different from the others within the association, so he'd never questioned it.
"Your fingers." Xiaoge looked back at the young man. "Can I ask about them, or would you like to change the subject? I'm not trying to be rude. We are just stuck here, and I don't know much about you. I saw two fingers on your right hand are longer than the rest, so I would obviously be curious."
He hummed.
Taking that as permission Wu Xie asked, "is it a family trait?" Xiaoge shook his head, and Wu Xie let out a sound of annoyance, or was it frustration? "Your family intentionally caused that to happen? Doesn't it hurt?"
He couldn't understand what pain had to do with it. All Zhang members underwent the process and it was part of the normal training they received as children. "Used too." He ultimately said, looking at Wu Xie and seeing the anger on his face.
"Your family hurts you, and you just accept it?"
Xiaoge breathed out, then felt Wu Xie take his hand in his own. While he wanted to pull away, he stopped himself. No one in the Zhang family touched him, but something about Wu Xie made him trust the man. "Part of our training."
"Excuses... it doesn't make it right, Xiaoge! Hurting children because of some tradition is stupid!" He muttered, looking over elongated fingers. For some reason, hearing that made Xiaoge smile briefly and he continued letting Wu Xie look over his hand. "I'm sorry they hurt you when you were young."
"Mm," when Wu Xie released his hand, Xiaoge pushed them both into the pockets of his hoodie as a warmth built in his chest. No one had ever spoken out against the Zhang like that. The other families had never questioned their traditions or their tactics. Hearing Wu Xie being so adamantly against it made him appreciate the younger man even more.
"Xiaoge, did I say something wrong?"
He shook his head. "Rest for now, we both need it."
It was apparent that Wu Xie wanted to say more, but his mouth fell closed and he merely nodded his head. Xiaoge grabbed a few more pieces of wood, tossing them on the fire before setting into the corner and closed his eyes. He was just drifting off when a weight rested against him, making him open his eyes once again. Wu Xie was leaning against him, his head resting against his arm.
"Wu Xie?"
The young man breathed out, sitting back up. "Sorry, it's hard to get comfortable." Wu Xie started to shift away when Xiaoge reached out to grasp his arm. "Xiaoge?"
"It's fine," he whispered, lifting his arm so Wu Xie could lean on him better. A smile appeared on the man's face as Wu Xie moved to rest against him. Once he seemed comfortable, Xiaoge lowered his arm and pulled him closer, his cheek resting on Wu Xie's head. "Sleep."
"Mm, okay Xiaoge."
When Xiaoge woke up later he wasn't sure how long he'd been sleeping, but he did know that Wu Xie was already awake. It felt good, his weight against his chest and Wu Xie's warmth in his arms. Letting out a breath, he raised his hand to stroke through Wu Xie's hair, and the man instantly looked up at him. But, there was something in his eyes that bothered him. "Wu Xie, what's wrong?"
"Oh, um..." there was a range of emotions that crossed his face in quick succession before he let out a laugh. "I'm sorry, I was thinking about our conversation. I realized you never answered me." Xiaoge tilted his head slightly, trying to remember what it was that he'd missed, but Wu Xie took pity on him. "I asked if nainai made any promises the Wu might not be able to keep. Also, the fact that we are both only children and heirs. Well in your case," he said, correcting himself, "already head of your family."
Xiaoge blinked slowly and did vaguely remember Wu Xie bringing that up. But, with the way it had been worded he hadn't realized that Wu Xie was expecting an answer from him. What was there to answer? Then again, it didn't seem an answer was needed as the man leaning against him started to speak again.
"Nainai, she means well in all things," Wu Xie muttered, his fingers playing with the cuffs of his jacket. An action that Xiaoge couldn't stop himself from watching. "I am sure she meant well with this arrangement too because she's not the type to hurt someone who doesn't deserve it. Once we are out of here I can explain to her why this won't work. Though, she will want to hear it from you too."
That made him pull his eyes away from Wu Xie's hands and look down at him. "Stop the arrangement?"
He nodded, and Xiaoge heard him sniffle. Wu Xie was bad at hiding his emotions, more like an open book. "Yeah, you're nice. Really nice. If we weren't," Xiaoge heard him sigh. "If heirs weren't needed I think I could be happy with you, Xiaoge. Anyway, you could find someone a million times better than me and..."
Sighing, Xiaoge tilted his head up and kissed Wu Xie gently on the forehead. "No one better than Wu Xie." He whispered. "Only need you."
Warm brown eyes widened as the man looked at him, Wu Xie's cheeks going bright red. "Wait, what?!"
Letting out a huff of laughter, Xiaoge reached over to the front pocket of his pack, pulling out a waterproof pouch with some type of papers inside. He held out the item to Wu Xie who seemed to be looking at it as if it might bite him. "Open it."
Xiaoge watched as the man looked between him and the pouch a few times before he sighed, moving it closer. "Okay, okay I'll open it." Taking the pouch from his hand, Wu Xie pulled it open. "Why do you have them in this?" He asked, peeking inside.
"Protection."
Wu Xie glanced back at him. "You carry this with you all the time?"
He nodded and watched as Wu Xie pulled an envelope out. An envelope that had many papers inside, which turned out to be photos, and saw his eyes widen once again as he pulled the first out.
"This is me!" He yelled, then covered his mouth with a hand as he stared at a picture of himself. "I remember this," he finally said after a moment. "It was right after my sixteenth birthday." Wu Xie glanced back up at him. "Sorry I yelled, I wasn't expecting you to have this."
Once again, Xiaoge let out a huff of laughter and motioned towards the others in his hand. The envelope held more pictures of Wu Xie. The younger man looked shocked, going through them as he mumbled to himself, knowing when each image had been taken.
"But, how?" Wu Xie asked.
"Your nainai," he replied, eyes falling to the pictures.
“Nainai?”
Xiaoge had been nineteen when the matriarch of the Wu family had come to visit him. At this point, he'd already held the title of Zhang Qiling for six years and was done with his family's overbearing nature. He'd even started volunteering for tomb runs just to get away from the Zhang family estate near Changbai Mountain. While he was unsure of why she'd traveled such a distance to see him, he felt he had no choice but to accept. Playing nice with the other Nine families was part of the job, after all.
But, he hadn't expected the document set before him. "Betrothal?"
She smiled, sipping the tea that had been brought to them moments earlier. "You were three, and our two families carried out the contract in secret. The Wu and Zhang have always been close, but others within the Nine would be looking to you for marriage as well. The issue is..."
The matriarch paused and Xiaoge frowned, his attention pulled back to the document on his desk. "The issue?"
“Yes, well only one of my sons married and they only had one child.” He glanced back up at her as she pulled out an envelope, setting it beside the document. “His name is Wu Xie.” The Wu matriarch smiled once more. “He’s brave, inquisitive, maybe a little too stubborn for his Uncle’s liking.”
"Mm," reaching for the envelope, Xiaoge opened it and pulled out the contents. "But, male." He had no issues with it being a man. His family would, and it would force him to either adopt an heir or choose one from the Zhang who lived within the estate.
The woman nodded. "But, male. This is why I came. I realize this is not an ideal situation for you, or for the Wu, where the betrothal is concerned." She sat down her teacup, smiling at Zhang Qiling sweetly. "As much as I would love to praise Wu Xie, the fact of the matter is our heir... Our sole heir is a man."
His eyes hadn't left her as she spoke, but inside, he was a whirlwind of emotions. If he did this his family would berate him for agreeing to a deal that provided the Zhang family nothing in return. That was how it was with them. Any deal, any contract that was accepted had to advance their family in some way.
They would despise the mere idea of a match like this. He almost wanted to do it to spite them, after all, he held no real love for his family. The only people who had treated him as more than a tool had been his parents, and they had long been dead. So would it matter if he married someone he didn't love and wouldn't contribute to the family's future?
"Zhang Qiling?" He blinked slowly, black eyes greeting the matriarchs. "It is your decision. I'm sorry I have nothing else to offer you. Please, forgive us if we have failed the Zhang family in any way."
Xiaoge breathed out, dark eyes falling to the pictures in his hands and... oh no. His breath hitched, and he couldn't help but think man or not, he was lovely. "Wu Xie." The Wu matriarch said nothing as he flipped through the other images before setting them on his desk. "What... are his plans," he asked, "for his future?"
"Oh, well. He will be completing school soon, and then he wants to go to University." She smiled once more, her eyes falling to the photos. "Following that he wants to work with the family on tomb runs, and our antique business." The woman paused. "Why?"
"What did you tell her?"
This was the most he'd talked to someone in an incredibly long time. It was far too hard to explain situations and plans. He preferred doing it himself and leave others to follow. However, this wasn't a situation where he could lead and hope Wu Xie would merely fall in line.
"I wanted you, but..." he paused. "You needed to enjoy your life and achieve your goals."
The man swallowed, looking confused. "Oh, so you rejected my nainai? It's fine, really. You're incredible, Xiaoge, and anyone would be more than happy to marry you."
Xiaoge sighed, wondering why this man was so dense. "You?"
"Huh?" It wasn't the most graceful thing that he could say, but Xiaoge could overlook it considering their present circumstance. "You came here to prevent the betrothal, right?" Xiaoge just stared at him, watching as Wu Xie's cheeks flushed. "Right?"
His eyes fell to the pictures, and Xiaoge shook his head. "I loved you a long time." Gently, he plucked one of the pictures from Wu Xie's hand. "Never wanted to stop, merely desired for you to achieve your goals, finish University."
"Oh," Wu Xie's eyes fell back to the pictures, and Xiaoge stroked his hair gently. "So, you waited for me to complete all my schooling. Now that I’m done, you're here. So you," Wu Xie visibly swallowed, "want to honor the contract between our families?"
He nodded, glad that Wu Xie had finally gotten the point.
"Are you sure?" The young man turned slightly to better face him. "You won't regret marrying me?"
Shaking his head, Xiaoge leaned forwards and pressed his lips to Wu Xie's lightly. Pulling back a moment later, he met Wu Xie's eyes once again. "Would only regret losing you."
"Xiaoge, I..." Suddenly Wu Xie looked away and towards the pile of rubble. Xiaoge followed his gaze, wondering what he'd heard. "Pangzi?" Wu Xie stood, his hand moving quickly to brace against the wall. "Xiaoge, where is the torch?"
Seizing it, Xiaoge was quick to support Wu Xie, wrapping an arm around his waist. "You can hear Pangzi?"
Wu Xie nodded. "We have a tap system. I can hear him above us..." Xiaoge watched as he blushed slightly. "I'll teach you."
"I'd like that."
"Help me over to the rubble. I need to get up a bit higher to make sure he hears me." Nodding, Xiaoge did as asked, noting every step the man took. Before long they were halfway up the pile of rubble when Wu Xie took the torch and started tapping against one of the higher rocks. Once he was done, they both waited and this time Xiaoge could hear the tapping as well. Wu Xie looked around and then tapped back. "We need to get into the adjoining room, quickly."
"Why?" He asked, helping Wu Xie down to the floor so he wouldn't injure himself.
"Let's just say, Pangzi isn't an extremely patient man and enjoys blowing things up a bit too much." Xiaoge blinked, looking at Wu Xie, and then nodded. "Therefore, we need to hide."
With the current situation now very clear, Xiaoge helped Wu Xie back down and over to the archway. He then went and grabbed their packs, stuffing items inside, before making his way into the room with Wu Xie. "Behind the tomb," he said, wrapping an arm around the younger man as they both made their way in deeper. Soon they were behind the large stone tomb, and Xiaoge pulled Wu Xie down to sit. "Stay low until I say."
"Okay."
Pulling his hood up, Xiaoge tucked Wu Xie’s head against his chest, wanting to protect his body as much as possible. The man was already injured, he was going to make sure Pangzi didn't cause any further damage to him. "Cover your ears."
They closed their eyes and for a moment everything was silent except for the sound of their breathing. Xiaoge wondered if the man was actually going to use dynamite, or if Wu Xie had misunderstood. A moment later there was a deafening boom echoing in the outer room as a rush of dirt and smoke flooded the smaller room they hid within. Unsure if that was it, or if more was coming, Xiaoge continued to hold Wu Xie close to him. He could hear rubble hitting the walls in the room they formerly occupied, and then there were voices.
"Tianzhen? Xiaoge? Are you there?"
That voice made Wu Xie look towards the room. "Pangzi, we are over here!" He smiled, looking at Xiaoge, and then hugged him. "They got through! Come on, let's go."
Nodding, Xiaoge helped him up before putting Wu Xie's pack back on him. Pulling his own on, he helped Wu Xie into the room they had been staying in. It was now a mess of stone and cracked walls. Seeing Pangzi poking his head through the floor, Xiaoge helped Wu Xie up the rubble. "Wu Xie is injured, pull him up first."
"Got it!” He said, looking away from them. “Pan Zi, help me!" A moment later a second head popped into the hole, both men reaching down to pull Wu Xie up to the floor above. Once Wu Xie was safely out of the way, both men reached back into the hole to Xiaoge, hauling him up as well. "I see you two had fun without us?"
Xiaoge didn't consider what they had been through fun, per se. But, he was starting to learn that this friend of Wu Xie's might be slightly crazy. Dependable, but crazy. He glanced around and found Wu Xie by his Uncle, who was already looking at the injury to his head.
"I've just been a little dizzy and unbalanced. Xiaoge took good care of me," he said. Xiaoge watched as Wu Xie's Sanshu gave him a look that showed he was far too used to his nephew either being in trouble or causing trouble. "But, Sanshu, listen!"
"I'll listen once we are out of here and you are on the way to the hospital, you little brat!" He snapped, but everyone could tell it was out of concern. "I'm never bringing you into another tomb!"
"He always says that." Pan Zi whispered.
Pangzi nodded. "He also always gives in after the fact."
"I can hear you both!"
Breathing out, Xiaoge walked over to Wu Xie and hauled him up into his arms. Wu Xie instantly wrapped his own arms around his neck, blushing as their eyes met. "I agree, hospital."
"Okay."
Xiaoge glanced back at Wu Xie's Sanshu. "You might want to assign someone to guard the entry. There is proof that the tomb is Ming."
Wu Xie smiled at him, nodding to confirm Xiaoge's words as he carried him out of the tomb. "Xiaoge…” he looked at Wu Xie as he dragged out his name. “Now that we aren't trapped, you can be honest with me, right?" He nodded. "Are you sure you want to marry me?"
Pausing once they were outside the tomb entrance, Xiaoge looked at Wu Xie and then nodded once again. "Absolutely," he whispered, then smiled slightly. "Someone needs to take care of you."
Wu Xie smiled brightly as he leaned in and kissed Xiaoge's cheek.