Mad Scientist AU 🥺?? If you're feeling up for it, that is. Totally fine if you're taking a break or resting.
I have been ROCKING THE HELL OUT at a Living Tombstone concert!!! Sorry for the drought of posts but also it was so sick as hell that my apology isn't all that sincere. ANYWAY, I'm writing this bad boy on the phone for you, pookie wookie!!
Even while learning how to raise a baby and dealing with war planning (and the actual fighting of a war), Wei Ying has had eyes on the Wen. Ever since the loss of most of his family, he has had eyes on the Wen. The crows dart in and out of camp regularly, reporting on every single movement that the Wen make - most of it is useless, and even when it isn't, he does not divulge the information unless necessary. The Wens have made it personal twice over now, and Wei Ying will not risk someone else carrying out the payback he craves to deal out himself. It had been a lingering thought at first, a fantasy of sorts that couldn't possibly become reality with all of the other things he had to focus on now, primarily A-Yuan's care. However, as Lan Zhan proves himself time and time again to be capable of helping care for A-Yuan, these lingering thoughts and fantasies take on a much less vague route in his mind. It gets to the point where he's actively planning his strike against them long into the night, when only the darkness watches his frenzied thought process take shape on paper.
He bides his time, waiting, watching, trying to decipher when the best moment for it would be. Then it becomes oh so clear to him how he can gain personal vengeance with a single crow fluttering into his tent with word that Wen Ruohan has actually let Wen Chao advance with the army to a town nearby. Ever since the deaths of Wen Zhuliu and Wen Xu, Wen Ruohan appeared to have been keeping a tight leash on Wen Chao, not wanting his only remaining heir to be eliminated like his other son was - for some reason, he has allowed him to join in the fight. This spells a warning of something big for the Sunshot Campaign, but it also spells out an opportunity for Wei Ying. One that he cannot just let slip away from him. He scoops up A-Yuan, who has been swaddled up into a blanket and tucked into the bedroll beside Wei Ying, and sneaks through the silent war camp, dodging patrols and relying on the darkness as cover.
Of course, he cannot take A-Yuan with him, so he creeps over to Lan Zhan's tent, quickly bypassing the security talismans he himself put up and then gently laying A-Yuan down beside the teenager as he sleeps. He takes a moment to tut at how heavy of a sleeper Lan Zhan is, tucking both of his boys in and then writing a note to explain the situation. It's not fair to Lan Zhan to not tell him where he's gone, and he does also have to warn the others about the potential threat that comes with Wen Ruohan's bold move to let his remaining heir join the fight again. Placing that beside A-Yuan, he sneaks back out and darts off into the night on Suibian, a crow leading the way to his enemy. He's already taken down one key Wen, why not knock another one off the board? He would be doing everyone a favour, and it would totally piss Wen Ruohan off as well, which could lead to sloppier choices in his anger. There were only benefits to doing this in his eyes.
Wen Chao, even in times of crisis and threat, would always choose the flashier, more comfortable option. Choosing to take over a town and stay in one of the most fancy inns within that town was only to be expected with this mindset, and so it is far too easy for Wei Ying to find him in the unfortunate town that has seemingly only been seiged recently. He gives himself time to deal with small groups of Wen soldiers (not a Jin in sight) that are tormenting the locals, allowing Suibian to do most of the work while he controls her from the shadows; it's practice of sorts, a workout after so long of relying solely on resentful energy to keep him alive and safe. Suibian's spirit sings back to him, just as delighted as he is at the chance to attack real people once again rather than just slicing at air during sword drills. Her thirst for blood is not quenched just yet, and just as well with what he has planned for tonight.
Lan Zhan wakes up to a baby tugging on his hair and gurgling, although he is quite certain that A-Yuan was not left with him the night before. In fact, A-Yuan has never been left with him during the night - instead, he often stays in Wei Ying's tent along with A-Yuan when the other boy requests it. He did not stay in Wei Ying's tent last night, so he should not have a baby gurgling in his ear and now chewing on his hair. He takes a moment to remove his hair from the chubby fist it has been clenched in and scoop A-Yuan up as he sits up himself, before looking around to try and figure out what is going on. It doesn't take long for him to notice the note left next to his bedroll, and then to both read and start to panic at the contents of it. There are many things that he wishes to do right this second, but Wei Ying has entrusted him with A-Yuan and he will not betray that trust or the baby, meaning he cannot run after Wei Ying despite how much he desires to.
Instead, he opts for yanking on an outer robe and carrying A-Yuan with him to Gege's tent, where he finds him halfway through actually getting dressed. Gege is rather surprised to see him in such a state of dishevelment, but then he sees A-Yuan wiggling around in his grasp and understands why Lan Zhan looks like this completely. In lieu of explaining anything, he holds out the note Wei Ying left him, feeling almost sick with concern as he watches Gege's brow furrow. "What do we do?" He asks desperately - there's no way they could catch up to Wei Ying, and it would be too risky to in such a state of panic. Gege pauses, deep in thought about how to handle all of this, before opening his mouth to offer what would hopefully be words of comfort and reassurance.
A scream rings out through the quiet of the war camp.
