Chapter Text
***
Lan Wangji could feel the tears in his eyes. He didn't know what to do. The Xuanwu was dead but at such a cost. Wei Ying was dying. He was dying and there was nothing Lan Wangji could do about it. He had transferred all the energy he had but now there was nothing left. His only comfort was that he would not long outlive Wei Ying. Blinking, he lay down next to the man he had come to love so dearly.
He should have told him. Lan Wangji had never wished for anything more than to have told Wei Ying of his feelings. He could only hope that Wei Ying had heard the name of the song he had written for him. If he had, then he would know. Reaching out a hand he caressed his beloved's soft cheek. At least the last thing he saw before he died would be Wei Ying's face.
As his eyes started to close he heard a strange mechanical wheezing. Frowning he looked for the source, mouth opening in shock as he saw a large rock appear as if from nowhere. His shock increased as a door opened in the rock and a woman stepped out. She appeared to be in her forties but could be a great deal older given the amount of raw power he could feel coming from her.
Lan Wangji tried to call out but could make no sound. He raised his arm and she saw him. She came closer. “Hello. This is a surprise. I wasn't expecting people. I was looking for...oh, that. I was looking for that.” She pointed at the strange sword Wei Ying had found in the belly of the Xuanwu. “How helpful of you to get it for me. And I see you also dealt with that nasty beast. Mean, crotchety thing. Way too bitey.”
Lan Wangji could feel himself fading. With supreme effort he whispered, “help.” Then the darkness took him.
***
Lan Wangji woke to strangeness. To odd beeping and whooshing sounds that were nothing like he had ever heard. To people talking in a language he did not know. Then he opened his eyes to unnatural bright light. For a moment he thought he must still be sleeping. The man – the person leaning over him had green scales on his face, flowing back into spikes on the top of his head. He could not be human and yet Lan Wangji felt no sense of menace from him. He kept silent, looking around with wonder. He should be afraid but somehow he wasn't. Maybe because he felt better than he had in a long time. Maybe simply because he was unexpectedly not dead.
Then he remembered. Sitting up he looked around frantically, only calming when he saw Wei Wuxian in the bed next to him. Alive. Wei Ying, too had survived their ordeal. Whoever and whatever these people were, they had saved them both. He saw her then. The woman who had found them in the cave. He looked at her and she looked back at him. Lan Wangji decided to wait and see how she would explain this situation.
She smiled at him. A strangely familiar smile that made him frown and look over to Wei Wuxian. She came and sat on the bed next to him, patting his arm. “Hello. This must all seem strange to you.”
“These people are not human.”
“They're not. Is that a problem for you?”
“They have done me no harm.”
“And they won't. They're healers.”
“Mn. You?”
“Me? Oh, did I bring you here?”
“Mn.”
“I did. You and your friend were on the brink of death. I have some healing knowledge but not enough so I brought you here. Best hospital in the universe.”
“Who?”
“Am I?”
“Mn.”
“My name is Baoshan Sanren.”
Lan Wangji pushed himself out of bed so he could bow. This was an immortal. He must show her the proper respect.
Baoshan Sanren chuckled. “Such a proper little Lan. Now get back into bed. You still have more healing to do.”
Lan Wangji did as he was told, looking again to Wei Wuxian. “Wei Ying?”
“Oh, is that your friend's name? He's fine. His energy was in a worse state than yours. Saturated with resentment.” At Lan Wangji's alarmed look she patted his arm again. “Don't look so worried child. He'll heal. He has a good strong core inside him and now that the resentment's been cleansed he'll be up and about in no time. You said his name was Wei Ying? Is he the child of Cangse Sanren?”
“Mn. He will be happy to meet you. He was excited when Lan Yi spoke of you.”
“Ah, Lan Yi. My old friend. Is she gone now?”
“Mn. She faded after passing on the Yin Iron.”
“She gave it to you? But you're so young to shoulder such a burden.”
“I failed her. I let Wen Ruohan get it.”
“Not deliberately, I'm sure.”
“They were killing our disciples. I chose to give Wen Xu the iron shard to save them.”
“An admirable reason. Hard isn't it when there are no good choices yet you still have to make a choice? If it's any consolation I think you made the right one.”
“It seemed so yet now Wen Ruohan has three shards.”
“Not for long.”
“I do not understand.”
“I'll explain it all, I promise. But I only want to do so once so if you don't mind I'd prefer to wait until Cangse's boy wakes up.”
“'M 'wake.”
“Wei Ying.”
“Lan Zhan. Where are we.” He started as he saw who was tending to them. He leaned closer to whisper, "Lan Zhan that person, look he's not, uhm...”
“Human? No.” Baoshan Sanren was smiling widely. “Hello Wei Ying.”
“Hello? Do I know you?”
“Not exactly. I am Baoshan Sanren. You look like your mother.”
“Baoshan Sanren? Really? I wanted to meet you.”
“And now you have.”
“But how? We were in the cave waiting for rescue and I thought...well, I thought I would die.”
“You very nearly did. Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to let resentful energy in as you did?”
“Mn. Harms the body and mind. There is no exception in all of history.” Lan Wangji added.
“Absolutely right, little Lan.”
“I didn't mean to do it. I saw the sword and took it. I didn't know what would happen and then it was the only way to kill the Xuanwu.”
“I see. Reckless, just like Cangse. Still, no harm done and you did manage to get the sword.”
“You know about the sword? Where is it?” Wei Wuxian looked around but it was nowhere in sight.
“Ah, answer time. Where to start. Okay, first thing, I'm not exactly an immortal. I mean, I've been around a really long time but that is the nature of my species. Even when we die we don't stay dead. We regenerate into a new body. Useful but also inconvenient. Have to get a whole new wardrobe every time.”
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji stared at each other and then at Baoshan Sanren. Wei Wuxian narrowed his eyes at her. “Your species?”
“I'm a Time Lord.”
“A what?”
“Time Lord. There's not many of us left as our home planet is gone. Only those of us who were off world at the time survived.”
“Off world? You...how?” Nothing like this had ever happened to Wei Wuxian before. His mother's master was a whole other species? Oh, his mother. “My mother?”
“Human. She was my Companion. It can get lonely so sometimes I choose someone to travel with me.”
“I thought you took orphans in from the streets and trained them on the Celestial Mountain?” Wei Wuxian began to wonder if anything he thought he knew about Baoshan Sanren was true.
“Yes, but also no. I do sometimes pick up a child in need of help but my lifestyle is just not suitable for child rearing so I mostly take them somewhere safe to grow up. Some of them decide to come with me when they are older. Your mother was one of them.”
“Travel how?”
Lan Wangji was thoughtful. “The rock.”
Baoshan Sanren gave him a nod. “My TARDIS.”
Wei Wuxian was gaping. “Your what?”
“My TARDIS. Stands for Time And Relative Dimension In Space.”
“Your vehicle is a rock?” That wasn't what Wei Wuxian expected. Baoshan Sanren travelled in a rock?
“Not exactly. It looked like a rock because we materialised in a cave. The TARDIS has this thing called a chameleon circuit that allows her to appear in any form so that she blends in wherever we end up.”
“Oh. The TARDIS is a transport device?” This was the most interesting thing that had ever happened to Wei Wuxian. He grinned over at Lan Wangji. And best of all, he got to share the adventure with Lan Zhan.
“More a time and space ship. She can go anywhere in the universe and anywhen in time.”
“So this place is...”
“As I told your little Lan, I brought you to the best hospital in the universe.”
“Lan Wangji. He's Lan Wangji.”
“Of course he is. Tell me, Lan Wangji, are you a descendant of Lan Yi? You look a little like her.”
“Mn.”
“I'll take that as a yes. Not very chatty, are you Lan Wangji?”
“No need.”
“Indeed. I have to say, your reticence is somewhat appealing.”
Lan Wangji could feel his ears burning, hating that he had never been able to suppress such an obvious tell to his emotions. Wei Wuxian cackled gleefully. “How did you come to save us in the cave?”
“I wasn't actually there for you. I came for the sword and there you both were. Exhausted and half dead. Well, I couldn't very well leave you to die so I brought you here. As soon as you're better we have work to do.”
“What work?” Wei Wuxian asked.
“Wen Ruohan. That man has become a problem.”
“You said that he would not have the Yin Iron for long?”
“I did say that didn't I, Lan Wangji? And he won't because we are going to take it from him.”
“We are?” Wei Wuxian turned from Baoshan Sanren to Lan Wangji, wide eyed.
“We are. At least, I am and I would welcome your assistance. You don't have to if you'd rather not of course. I can drop you off somewhere safe first.”
“I will assist.”
“Oh, me too. Absolutely. Right Lan Zhan? We can both help. This is so fun. How are we going to do it?”
“I must say, you are both taking this very well. So anyway, that sword you found is the key. It's made of Yin Iron but unlike the shards Wen Ruohan has it's been refined so it's stronger. Once I amplify that a little more we can use it to attract the other pieces.”
“Sounds good, right Lan Zhan?”
“Mn. What of Wen Ruohan?”
“Not sure. It's possible losing the barrier to the resentment the Iron represents will push him to qi deviation. Even if it doesn't it will negate his ability to make his puppets and creatures. Your regular human troops should be able to deal with him then.”
“We should go now, before he can cause more harm.” Wei Wuxian began to push himself out of the bed.
"Not until you are both fully healed and the doctor is willing to release you to me. For now you both need to rest."
"I'm fine. We can't delay just for me."
“That's the beauty of a time machine, Wei Wuxian. Absolutely no need for hurry up as we can pop in at whatever point in time we want to.”
“Then couldn't we go to before he got the Iron and get it first?”
“An excellent question, Wei Wuxian. The answer is no, we can't as that would mean creating a temporal paradox.”
Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Wangji, who gave a small shrug. He turned back to Baoshan Sanren. “I have no idea what that means.”
“Cause and effect, Wei Wuxian. You have the small, mostly insignificant paradoxes which can be confusing but not lethal. Like if you send a piece of information back in time and it becomes the cause of what it described. Then there are the big, impossible paradoxes. The ones you should never mess with. You can't go interfering with the web of time or altering a fixed point in time. Do that and you risk destabilising or even outright destroying the entire space-time continuum.”
“And Wen Ruohan finding the Yin Iron?” Wei Wuxian still wasn't sure he completely understood but it was so interesting.
“A fixed point in time. But now that he has it, there's no reason we can't take it away from him.”
Wei Wuxian gave her a look of awe. “You know more than anyone I ever met.”
Baoshan Sanren chuckled. "I do, I really do. How gratifying."
***
They had been declared fully healed so now Baoshan Sanren was leading them to what appeared to be a cupboard. Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Wangji who put out a hand to touch it. “This is your TARDIS?”
“It is.”
“But Lan Zhan said it looked like a rock.”
“It did. Chameleon circuit, remember? When we were in a cave it looked like a rock. Now we're in a hospital it looks like a store cupboard.”
“That must be confusing. Don't you ever lose it?”
Baoshan Sanren laughed. “Aren't you full of questions, Wei Wuxian? But yes, that can be a problem if I forget where I parked. You have no idea how many times I've accidentally walked into wardrobes and phone boxes. So embarrassing when someone's watching and I have to turn around and come right back out.”
Wei Wuxian frowned. Phone box? “What's a phone box?”
“Ah, that's something you don't have yet. It's like a tiny one person sized room that houses a communication device. Come on then. Let's get this done.” Baoshan Sanren opened the door with a flourish and stepped inside. Then poked her head out when they didn't follow. “Coming?”
Wei Wuxian was giving the TARDIS a dubious look. “Will we all fit?”
Baoshan Sanren chuckled. “Come in and see.”
Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Wangji, shrugged and stepped through the door. He stopped on the other side and gaped at the bright chamber he now stood in. Round raised bubble-like protrusions covered the walls and a hexagonal console sat in it's centre like a tree with it's trunk reaching to the high ceiling. “It's...”
“Bigger on the inside. Yes. Everyone says that.”
“But how? How is it bigger on the inside?”
“Huh. You're the first person to ever ask. Dimensional engineering.”
“Again, I have no idea what that means.”
“It allows the inside to exist in one place in space and time while the outside exists in another dimension, time and place.”
Wei Wuxian frowned in thought. “So, the inside could be in Lotus Pier fifty years ago while the outside is in Cloud Recesses right now? A bit like a qiankun pouch?”
“Not dissimilar. Smart, Wei Wuxian, very smart.”
“Well, I'm not sure I completely get it, but wow.” He turned to Lan Wangji who was still standing near the doorway with one hand resting on the wall. “Lan Zhan, isn't this amazing? What are you doing?”
“She hums.”
Startled, Baoshan Sanren stared at Lan Wangji. “You can hear that? You boys keep surprising me. Yes, she hums. Most people can't hear it unless she wants them to. Must be your superior Lan hearing. My Baobei is alive. Her Sentience Matrix acts as both a brain and a soul. Artificial Intelligence at it's best.”
Wei Wuxian had moved to the central control panel. He reached out to stroke one of the levers looking back at Baoshan Sanren. “What does this do?”
“All kinds of things which you really shouldn't mess with unless you want to send us hurtling off into oblivion. I'll show you what to do once we're ready to leave. First I need to amp up that sword. You two might want to find yourselves something to wear. Those clothes you're in now have seen better days.”
“What do you expect? I was inside a giant murder turtle. It was nasty.”
“Which is why I suggested you get changed.” She pointed to a door. “I'm sure you'll find something suitable through there.”
“There's more than this one room?”
“Oh, so much more. Now off you go boys.”
***
Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian stood together and surveyed the rail after rail of colourful outfits. Wei Wuxian picked up a gown of glittering gold. “What do you think, Lan Zhan?”
“You will look like a Jin.”
Wei Wuxian shuddered and put it back instantly. “Oh look Lan Zhan. There's a whole sea of white over there.”
Lan Wangji went to the section Wei Wuxian pointed out. He began to look through the clothes and was pleased to see several options that would not be out of place in Cloud Recesses. He heard Wei Wuxian exclaim happily behind him and turned to see him holding out some shiny black robes. They seemed to be similar in style to his usual preferences but the fabric was unusual.
“Lan Zhan, these feel so soft and light but look how indestructible it is.” Wei Wuxian was pulling at the cloth, trying and failing to tear it.
“Mn. You would be protected in battle.”
“Right? I'm having this. What about you? Have you found something you want”
“Mn.”
“This is all so strange, isn't it? Lan Zhan, do you think we're still dying in the Xuanwu cave and none of this is real?”
Lan Wangji pinched Wei Wuxian's arm. “Ow!”
“Real, if unexpected.”
Wei Wuxian doubled over in laughter. “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan. We were saved by my mother's master who turned out to be a time travelling alien and now we are in her time ship on our way to steal the Yin Iron from Wen Ruohan and you call it unexpected?”
“I did not expect this outcome. Unexpected is appropriate.”
“Ah Lan Zhan, you're so funny. Why does no-one know that?”
“Ridiculous.”
Wei Wuxian continued to chuckle as they changed into their new clean clothes.
***
Wei Wuxian was spinning around in his shiny robes. He liked them. Really liked them. Baoshan Sanren had told him they were made of a material from a far away world and were impenetrable to almost all weapons. Lan Wangji's too. Yet they were lighter and more comfortable than anything he had ever worn. Any time he was not admiring himself he was admiring Lan Wangji. He had chosen well, a white hanfu that fit his body perfectly and sported wide sweeping sleeves.
“Lan Zhan, we look good. Are those qiankun sleeves?”
“Mn.”
“Huh. Useful. I still prefer mine though. Don't those get in the way when you fight?”
“No.”
“Enough with the fashion show children. Unless you've changed your minds about getting the Yin Iron?”
Both turned to her in anticipation. Wei Wuxian asked excitedly, “we're ready?”
“We are.”
“How are we going to get the Yin Iron?”
“Watch and learn, Wei Wuxian, watch and learn. Did you want to see how all this works?”
Wei Wuxian nodded and bounced to the console to peer over Baoshan Sanren's shoulder as she began setting dials. “What are you doing?”
“Setting the time and place we want to go. Okay, Wei Wuxian, why don't you do the honours?” She pointed at the black lever in the middle of the panel.
Excited, Wei Wuxian pulled it down, staring in awe as a loud whooshing sound echoed from the central column, something inside it rising and falling. “What?”
“That's the time rotor.”
“Wow.”
Baoshan Sanren laughed. “An apt description, Wei Wuxian.”
It didn't take long. Only a few minutes and then the time rotor slowed to a stop. “Why did it stop?”
“Because we have arrived at our destination. Come along. Bring that.” Baoshan Sanren pointed to a cylindrical tube, about waist height with handles on both sides. Lan Wangji moved to one side and waited for Wei Wuxian to take the other handle. They carried it to where Baoshan Sanren stood by the door. Wei Wuxian thought they would be taking it somewhere but instead Baoshan Sanren indicated that they should put it down. Then she opened the door. Wei Wuxian peered out then jumped back when he saw that they were hovering high above Nightless City. “We're flying?”
“Time and spaceship.”
“But what if they look up. Won't they see us?”
“Yes, but also no. The TARDIS has a perception filter. Kind of like a look away device. It makes people ignore her, think she's normal.”
“So they see but don't notice?”
“Yes, good, Wei Wuxian. I like talking to you; you pick up ideas so fast.”
Wei Wuxian grinned and nudged Lan Wangji. “Baoshan Sanren thinks I'm smart.”
“Mn. Wei Ying is very smart.”
Chuckling, Baoshan Sanren took out a small sphere, pressed a few buttons and then released it. It flew out the door and straight down.
Wei Wuxian leaned out to watch it go. “What was that?”
“Surveillance device. Look up there.” Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji turned to look to where she pointed as a large screen appeared above the console. It flickered for a moment and then they could see inside the main hall as clearly as if they had been standing in it. Wen Ruohan was sitting on his massive throne, the Yin Iron spinning above one hand as monstrous beings circle aimlessly. He was sneering at Wen Chao, who knelt in front of the steps.
Wei Wuxian stared in wonder. “That is happening now?”
“It is. The sphere acts as our eyes and ears so we can watch in real time the effect of taking the Yin Iron.”
Wei Wuxian moved closer as Wen Ruohan began to speak. “You have been lying to me.”
Wen Chao cowered lower. “No Father, really, everything I told you was true.”
“You told me that my hostages were all killed fighting the Xuanwu.”
“Yes! Yes, they were. All of them. I only just managed to get away.”
“Then why am I hearing that they have started to turn up in their own homes?”
Wei Wuxian sighed with relief. “Thank the gods, they made it out and got away.”
Lan Wangji nodded. “Mn. Watch.”
Wei Wuxian turned his attention back to the screen where Wen Chao was again talking.
“What? No, that's impossible. I sealed the cave. There's no way they got out.”
“So you admit you lied. They were not dead, merely confined. I want the truth, boy. What did you do to my hostages?”
“I...I...it wasn't my fault, Father. It wasn't! They attacked me and...and...”
“Attacked you? They were unarmed, yet you were unable to subdue them? Instead you ran away and now they are running back to their families to report on your behaviour. You are such a disappointment.” Wen Ruohan looked around with a frown. “Where is Wen Qing?”
“I...she was insubordinate. Always trying to undermine me.”
“She has always been loyal to me.”
“She wouldn't listen, kept trying to pamper the prisoners.”
“Hostages, boy, hostages. They were to be kept secured until I needed them. Safe and healthy. You say she undermined you? How?”
“She wanted to go back and release the pris...hostages, but how could I? I would have lost face if I had done that.”
“They should never have been left behind! You had one job. One. Even that you could not do. Zhuliu, where is my niece?”
“Wen Chao sent her away when she questioned his decisions. She has returned to Dafan Mountain.”
Wei Wuxian gasped. “That's a relief. I hope Wen Ning went with her. Did I tell you he saved me from Wen Chao's demon dog, Lan Zhan?”
Lan Wangji frowned. “When you were taken for punishment?”
“Yes. I was put in a cell with this monster and it would have eaten me if Wen Ning hadn't brought me his sister's needles to paralyse it. Energy pills and some herbs, too. They're the ones I had in the cave, so he really did help us.”
“Mn.”
Back on the screen Wen Ruohan had risen to glare down at Wen Chao. “You will have to go and get her back, Zhuliu.”
“But Father, she has no respect for me. Why do you need her here?”
“Do not make me choose between the two of you, boy. You will not like the result.”
“I've heard enough of this. Time to end it.” Moving back to the box Baoshan Sanren pushed a panel on the side. The top opened and the sword rose up to begin spinning vertically above it. Wei Wuxian felt a pressure in his ears as Lan Wangji winced and stepped back.
“Lan Zhan? What's wrong?”
“Screaming.”
“Yes, sorry about that Lan Wangji. Your sensitive hearing. That's the sword calling for the Yin Iron. Again, that would be beyond the hearing range for most people, but clearly not you. If it's too much for you...”
“I will endure.”
While they had been talking the sword had been increasing in speed, spinning so fast now it was almost a blur. Lan Wangji relaxed as the pitch increased and moved out of his ability to hear it. They watched the screen in fascination as the Yin Iron too began to spin faster and faster. Wen Ruohan tried to calm it, frowning, unsure of what was happening. They watched as the Yin Iron shards began to circle wider, pulling upwards until they spiralled away from Wen Ruohan entirely, crashing straight through the ceiling and out of sight of the sphere. As one, they turned to the open doorway and within moments the iron flew through and began to circle the sword.
On the screen, Wen Ruohan was raging, pulling soldiers towards him and then throwing them away. He bellowed in anger, raising his hand and demanding that the Yin Iron return to him. A scream sounded from somewhere beyond the range of the sphere and then one of Wen Ruohan's creatures lurched towards him, shaking it's head and reaching out. Wen Chao jumped up and tried to run but he got no more than a few steps away when he was caught. Teeth began to tear at him, claws ripping him apart.
There was pandemonium all around as the monsters raged out of control. Wei Wuxian frowned, pointing to a small man who had been standing behind the throne but who was now desperately trying to escape the fierce corpses grabbing at him. “That man, I know him.”
“Mn. The Unclean Realm.”
“That's right, Chifeng-Zun's deputy. What was his name?”
“Meng Yao.”
“Meng Yao. What is he doing there?”
“Dying.”
Wei Wuxian chuckled then looked back at the screen to see Wen Ruohan watch in shocked horror as his son was eaten alive. Wen Ruohan called his sword from it's stand, swinging wildly as the creatures began to converge on him. Wen Zhuliu jumped in front of him, but his famed core melting abilities were useless against Wen Ruohan's demonic creations. He, like Wen Chao was torn to pieces, leaving Wen Ruohan alone to fight against impossible odds.
He lasted longer than Wei Wuxian would have expected, shouting his defiance until the end.
Baoshan Sanren clapped her hands together. "That was convenient."
Wei Wuxian turned to her. “Why did they turn on him like that?”
“Without the Yin Iron he no longer had the ability to control them.”
“Is it over then?”
“For him it is. Oh, that's strange.” Baoshan was staring at the still spinning sword. “I thought it would stop once it pulled in the Yin Iron.”
“Xue Yang.”
“Oh, I know what you're getting at, Lan Zhan. The fourth shard that Xue Yang had, right?" Turning to Baoshan Sanren Wei Wuxian asked, "can this machine get that one too?”
“With the extra pull from the three pieces here, there should be enough power to attract the final piece, wherever it is. We just have to wait awhile.” At that moment, the last piece of the yin iron flew through the door to join with the others. “Or not.”
Wei Wuxian laughed. “We have it all. Wen Ruohan is dead and we really have it all. So what will we do with it?”
“Get rid of it, and I know just the place to do that.” Baoshan Sanren took out a warded qiankun pouch and guided the Yin Iron and sword into it. “Close the door, would you Wei Wuxian?”
He did so as she went over to the control panel, re-setting the dials for their new destination.
***
Baoshan Sanren stood in the open doorway looking out into absolute nothingness. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji stood back a little, awed by what they were seeing and a little nervous by the pull they could feel on their bodies.
“Uh, what are we supposed to be looking at?” Wei Wuxian asked.
“A black hole.”
“A hole? In what?”
“Space, time, everything. When a star dies and the energy that held it together disappears it collapses in on itself. What's left of it falls into a point smaller than the head of a pin, called a singularity. At the centre the gravity is so strong and the matter so densely packed that it rips the fabric of time and space. Nothing can escape it, not even light. It consumes everything around it, gases, planets, stars, even other black holes.”
“Are we safe here?”
“We are. I made sure to stay just outside of it's pull, but we can't stay long. Lan Wangji, see that device over there?” She pointed to what looked like a slingshot sitting on the console. “Bring it to me.”
He did so, trying to keep as far away from the open door as possible. Baoshan Sanren loaded the qiankun pouch in the cup then pointed it out the door and fired. They watched as the bag flew far outward and was caught by the pull of the black hole.
“What happens now?”
“Now, Wei Wuxian, it will gradually be pulled in until it's crushed by the overwhelming pressure surrounding it.”
“And the resentment?”
“As I said, nothing escapes a black hole. Not light, and not the dark energy of the Yin Iron.” Sighing she pulled the door closed and moved back to the controls. “That's that then. Where to now?”
Wei Wuxian's eyes widened. She was going to let them choose? He looked over to Lan Wangji who gave a slight shrug, letting Wei Wuxian decide. “Suibian. My sword. The Wen took our swords. Can we go get them back?”
“They're spiritual weapons so share your spiritual signature. It should be possible to track them that way. Come over here. Put your hand's on this panel, one at a time. Let my TARDIS get a sense of your qi.” Once they had both done as instructed, Baoshan Sanren pulled the lever and the TARDIS cranked into action and they were off.