"Nothing that Wei Ying will give," Lan Zhan says, voice low and rough. The despair feels like it might split him open, break him in half. "There is nothing that can be given, since there is only Yiling Laozu."

Bichen stays sheathed, and Lan Zhan turns. There's a span of seconds where he hopes some voice will sound, will ask him to come back. Anything that will forestall his leap away.