The acknowledgment is enough to have him taking a slow shaky breath, his eyes never leaving the figure in front of him as he moves, closing the last of the distance between them, his hands twitching at his sides.

Because he responded.

Because Wei Ying recognized him and it takes everything he has not to crush the other man to his chest, to kiss him senseless as he drinks in the sight in front of him. Wei Ying alive and moving and not dead in his arms as his last memory of his love.

"..How.?" It slips out, shock clearer in his tone than he'd like it to be.