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#sangcheng for @mirellasnape
The Whump Wheel chose... Burned!
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The plan had seemed sound when it was made.
The younger disciples would use flares to drive the creature into the clearing where he and the older disciples were waiting, and then he would use Zidian to snare
The Whump Wheel chose... Burned!
---
The plan had seemed sound when it was made.
The younger disciples would use flares to drive the creature into the clearing where he and the older disciples were waiting, and then he would use Zidian to snare
it so the disciples would have an easier time to kill it.
And, at first, everything had gone as expected.
What they hadn't been expecting was how much the creature could still thrash even in Zidian's coils.
What they hadn't been expecting was that one of the juniors would
And, at first, everything had gone as expected.
What they hadn't been expecting was how much the creature could still thrash even in Zidian's coils.
What they hadn't been expecting was that one of the juniors would
attempt to help kill it faster by flinging one of the unused flares at it.
And what they *definitely* hadn't expected was that the combination of the two would send the lit flare directly at *Nie Huaisang*, who had attempted to dodge it only to be struck in the back, igniting
And what they *definitely* hadn't expected was that the combination of the two would send the lit flare directly at *Nie Huaisang*, who had attempted to dodge it only to be struck in the back, igniting
both his robes and his *hair*.
Jiang Cheng couldn't risk the creature getting loose and killing anyone else, but it still made him feel nauseous that he could only hang on with Zidian while two Nie disciples rushed to tend their sect leader.
The *moment* the damned thing was
Jiang Cheng couldn't risk the creature getting loose and killing anyone else, but it still made him feel nauseous that he could only hang on with Zidian while two Nie disciples rushed to tend their sect leader.
The *moment* the damned thing was
dead, he bolted over to see how bad the damage was.
Nie Huaisang's robes were a lost cause, but they meant nothing compared to what the flare had done to *him*. His hair had been burned to just above the sickening mess of blisters and ruined skin that spread over part of his
Nie Huaisang's robes were a lost cause, but they meant nothing compared to what the flare had done to *him*. His hair had been burned to just above the sickening mess of blisters and ruined skin that spread over part of his
shoulder blade and ribs.
He was being surprisingly quiet despite the amount of pain he had to be in -"Shock, most likely," one of the Nie medics had said- and that was almost as disturbing as the injuries.
"What do you need me to do?" Jiang Cheng asked. It came out more sharply
He was being surprisingly quiet despite the amount of pain he had to be in -"Shock, most likely," one of the Nie medics had said- and that was almost as disturbing as the injuries.
"What do you need me to do?" Jiang Cheng asked. It came out more sharply
than intended, but he didn't much care.
The same Nie medic looked him over, then nodded to himself for some reason. "These-" he said, holding up one of the talismans he'd begun plastering to Nie Huaisang's upper body, "-need a continual stream of qi to keep them activated."
The same Nie medic looked him over, then nodded to himself for some reason. "These-" he said, holding up one of the talismans he'd begun plastering to Nie Huaisang's upper body, "-need a continual stream of qi to keep them activated."
"On it," Jiang Cheng said without hesitation, kneeling by the medic's side.
"Good. That'll let me finish administering the pain medication and sedatives before the shock wears off."
Jiang Cheng pressed two fingertips to one of the talismans, and his stomach lurched again
"Good. That'll let me finish administering the pain medication and sedatives before the shock wears off."
Jiang Cheng pressed two fingertips to one of the talismans, and his stomach lurched again
when he felt the damage the burns had done to the meridians under them.
Swallowing back the urge to retch, he focused on the channeling while the medic began injections.
He wasn't sure how long he spent at it. At some point, the unlucky junior had approached with anguished
Swallowing back the urge to retch, he focused on the channeling while the medic began injections.
He wasn't sure how long he spent at it. At some point, the unlucky junior had approached with anguished
apologies, but he barely remembered what he'd said in response. Something about accidents happening and not to be so eager next time.
His heart leapt into his throat when Nie Huaisang slumped forward with a low moan, then remembered what the medic had said about medications.
His heart leapt into his throat when Nie Huaisang slumped forward with a low moan, then remembered what the medic had said about medications.
"Leave the talismans on until we get back to Lotus Pier."
"Right," Jiang Cheng said, then shifted his position to pick up Nie Huaisang as he stood.
No one stopped him.
And when Nie Huaisang was finally laid on his stomach on an infirmary bed, no one protested when Jiang Cheng
"Right," Jiang Cheng said, then shifted his position to pick up Nie Huaisang as he stood.
No one stopped him.
And when Nie Huaisang was finally laid on his stomach on an infirmary bed, no one protested when Jiang Cheng
sat down and took hold of his hand, beginning to channel qi through the fresh set of talismans while they all waited for him to wake up.
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