Chapter Text
After two long years of rigorous internal mourning, Lan Xichen managed to leave the seclusion within the Hanshi, which had been his prison, his refuge. Once outside, although still a cloister within the walls of Gusu, he found that the world of cultivation had undergone some changes, for despite all the commotion that led him to shut himself away that time, now no one dared to ask for the head of Gusu. his brother-in-law - at least out loud - and whoever dared to do so would suffer Wangji's fury.
Currently, Wei Wuxian was admired and respected by Gusu Lan's disciples, as well as barely tolerated by his uncle and of course quite loved and pampered by his younger brother.
His uncle brought him up to date with certain things concerning the politics of the Sects, since during his self-confinement he avoided paying attention to all that chaos.
Qiren couldn't help but show the disappointment on his face at the decisions made by his beloved nephews, but at least he felt a great relief to see how the oldest of them resumed his responsibilities.
One of the informations he received was that the Cultivation Society elected a new Cultivation Head, and this person was none other than the one everyone called "the head shaker" Nie HuaiSang, the Da's beloved didi. - Ge from him.
I'm sure Mingjue would be proud.
On the other hand, Young Master Jin Ling, A-Y... Jin Guanyao's nephew, had the obligation to assume the position of leader as the only legitimate heir of the Lanling Jin Sect, so at first due to his lack of experience During the first year, Jiang Wanyin was in charge of taking the reins of said Sect while paving the way for his nephew to leadership, once again demonstrating his abilities as he did in that battle against the Wen.
It was not easy for him, because he had to face the proud elders of Lanling Jin, to protect the child's inheritance, which was not going to let them take it from him when the minor was fully entitled, in addition to owing it to him to his parents, who did not have the joy of seeing him become the good young man he is today.
While Leader Jiang kept both sects functional, Jin Ling was sent to Gusu Lan to train as a cultivator and leader. And from what he could hear from his uncle and younger brother, Master Wei had a chance to talk to the young man, to make amends and win a new chick to shelter under his protective wings during night hunts, as well as a new target for his teasing and excessive love.
After completing a year of training, he returned to his sect and was able to assume as a genuine Leader, showing great strength and conviction, even at his young age.
Since he saw the light again, little by little Zewu-jun was recovering physically and resuming his functions within the Sect, but he did not venture out of it for two more years, since he still did not feel emotionally stable, so time passed. Since his departure, he has become accustomed to corresponding with various leaders.
Until one morning he received a letter, whose content motivated him to return to the outside world, letting his curiosity take over, and wanting to test himself before the greatness of an almost mythical creature, which apparently threatened the lives of many people in a border town. with other sects; It would be the perfect opportunity to return to the world, guiding his young disciples to exalt his beloved sect, which deserved it for the patience and trust they have deposited and for not losing hope in his leadership capacity, even when he doubted himself. same.
He never imagined that this outing, which was only destined to be a great hunting experience, would lead him to cross paths with another leader who, just like him, was withering but in solitude, although his pride would never admit it. .
Not even in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that they would end up adopting two beautiful children together, whom they helped to come into the world, deciding to take them under his protection, thus avoiding an uncertain future.
They had no idea what they were going to face, but what they were sure of was that as they tried to understand each other and stay together, they would be able to overcome obstacles and support each other, bringing out that strange relationship that came out of nowhere and that now they would keep them. linked for life, joining their destinies and breaking those strong chains that held them to the dark past that none of them could forget.
During this journey of forced parenthood, both leaders will be forced to fulfill the promise they swore in front of a grave, discovering the emotion and consequences of being unprepared parents.
Hearts so lonely that they were unaware of the self-deception to which they submitted, believing that by isolating themselves, avoiding confrontations, turning a deaf ear, they could overcome that pain caused by the absence of people who left indelible marks on their lives, discovering that those two little lives came to redesign their disastrous destinies, giving them reasons to face their insecurities and help them heal each other, facing the hatred, pride, envy and ignorance that poisoned them and threatened to extinguish their existence from the world...
Two years have passed since Lan Xichen came out of *seclusion, and resumed leadership of the Gusu Lan Sect. Since then, Second Master Lan and his outgoing husband decided that it was time to start their travels in search of great adventures, along with their stubborn donkey, not forgetting to exchange correspondence and send small gifts characteristic of the places they have known. .
Lan Xichen was reading the last letter sent by his brother, smiling when he saw that it had attached a painting made by his brother-in-law, where Lan Wangji could be seen giving an apple to Manzanita under a blossoming cherry tree, to the letter as well accompanied by a small black perfume bag that contained some four very beautiful and strange gemstones that gave a blue-purple glow when held up to the light and an instructional note, according to the letter, Wei Wuxian acquired them especially to send them to you, for the purpose If he uses them for cultivation, according to the detailed letter, these gems would help normalize and even increase his cultivation bases.
Although he had blamed him in the past for the suffering caused to Wangji, Master Wei did not hesitate to show concern for his well-being, and he appreciated that.
As he got up to put the letter and gifts away, he heard a disciple call out to him, then reflexively stuffed the black bag into one of his *qiankun sleeves.
"Sect Leader," Disciple Lan.
“Go ahead,” Lan Xichen replied.
The disciple entered, bowed and offered him a tray on which could be seen a letter bearing the official seal of the Chief Cultivator, which did not surprise him. I would often receive these types of letters from the same sender, but they were mostly about personal things, such as greetings, meeting dates, or simply arranging agreements with the Sect Leader so that Qinghe Nie would not be threatened by any of the other sects. while you regain your status.
He carefully took the letter and dismissed the disciple with a slight smile, who made a formal bow to continue to leave the room.
The sigh. Alone in his room he realized that the feeling of discomfort still lingered in the pit of his stomach and that it came whenever he had to deal with Huaisang, but he made a promise to himself that he would protect Da-Ge's beloved little brother as well. Whatever the cost, because despite everything, he continued to blame himself for his death, although his family and people inside and outside his sect tried to make him understand otherwise.
He was the one who blindly trusted Jin Guangyao, whom he knew from the beginning by the simple and humble name of Meng Yao, or at least, whom he thought he knew.
He had been guided by that smile, that warm look and that aura of confidence that he transmitted, from the first moment he met him.
Had he also been one more piece in his game in order to rise up in the world of cultivation? He didn't know it, although he really always wanted to find the answers to his doubts, but now he only had regret.
In the past, in the Guanyin temple, when all the secrets came to light right in front of his eyes, he still refused to believe what was really going on and what had been happening right under his nose for more than a decade without knowing. that he was aware. It was so illogical that a person could show him all of his good deeds, his good deeds to the world but that he was actually running the game in his favor with such thin strings that he wouldn't be able to see it.
He had even mistrusted the words of his own brother Wangji's, when he and Master Wei had warned him. Now the only consolation was having to take care of Huaisang to feel at least a little peace, because he was the one who had finished extinguishing the life of the last brother of his sworn to him.
Another tired sigh escaped his lips and he continued to read the letter, surprised that this time it wasn't just trivial or just personal matters, but something that flummoxed him a bit.
When he finished reading it, he pursed his lips and passed his hand over his face.
"This is serious," he told himself.
The time had come to officially leave Gusu Lan, he could no longer lead behind closed doors, after all, he could not always be safe within the walls of his sect.
In the Yunmeng Jiang sect, it was a hot day and the sun was in all its splendor on its inhabitants, Jiang Cheng was training his disciples, showing the exclusive sword forms of his sect to the newcomers and some movements that they could perfect. for disciples with some time under his teachings.
They looked at him amazed at his ease and his movements, it was like watching an exclusive acrobatic show, that only an Emperor would be worthy of enjoying, but this time, they were the lucky ones to see such a scene.
It was magnificent, none could say otherwise as they watched their revered sect leader perform a demonstration for them on top of his platform from where he gave his directions for them to follow. It did not matter if the space was reduced, it did not matter if the place was rocky, muddy or up a tree, the movements of their leader were so impeccable that nobody could take their eyes off it, so fascinating that more than one felt their spirits renewed despite his fatigue from spending more than two hours in the training arenas.
Everyone had heard of their leader's actions during the war that was so many years ago, but they really rarely saw him in action, except for some cultivators who fought by his side in that event.
The junior disciples, on the other hand, were fascinated to see their leader on every little occasion, whether it was in a simple night hunt or in training with demonstrations like these, where their elder had perfect synchronization with Sandu and Zidian, as if spirit weapons were simply an extension of him.
Once his demonstration was over, his amethyst gaze was firmly directed at his disciples, who understood that this demonstration was the goal that everyone was looking to reach or even better.
Zidian was a ring again in the blink of an eye and Sandu was back in his sheath, being carefully carried by one of the disciples while another went over to place a small wet towel in the hands of the older one.
"Sir, a letter has arrived from the Chief Cultivator, do you want me to take it to his office?" the same disciple who had handed him the small cloth reported.
—Yes, take him there, and ask me to prepare the bath and clean clothes —when he finished cleaning his face, he handed the towel to the minor, who did not hesitate to take it.
-Yes sir.
Without much ado, he walked calmly to his room, found a change ready to be used. He sighed quietly.
He really appreciated every gesture of his people in gratitude towards him, who hadn't left his side since he had managed to raise his sect by himself after the Wen War.
It wasn't easy, he admitted, even for him, who had to raise a child and raise his sect at the same time.
They were lower than high, but thanks to the people who joined him, he was finally able to overcome. Everyone now resided under his care around his sect, people his age, old or young who somehow supported him in his ashen past and who now depended only on him to live in prosperity.
It was a great and heavy responsibility, but nothing that he did not already carry as his daily life, after all, he is the one who completely leads what is and will be the Lotus Dock.
Feeling the cool water in the tub made him let out a contented sigh. There were still a few hours until dinner and he was looking to take advantage of them after relaxing in the bathroom, spending them going through paperwork or something else, even going down to town to see that everything was in order, after all, this week he had taken advantage of it to concentrate on training the youngest.
Soon the night hunts would come in competition with some other sect and his was not going to remain a complete embarrassment.
After finishing cleaning up and checking to be presentable, he went to his office, on the way he asked a disciple to prepare him tea, since he had decided to do some paperwork before anything, so, being in his place, with his desk in front of him, he sighed heavily at the stack of papers in front of him.
A little later the disciple arrived, placed the teapot and cup on his writing away from any paper, Jiang Cheng dismissed him and ordered that no one disturb him for a long time.
He took a seat, and proceeded to serve himself the tea, he began to drink it while he gave a sidelong glance at the letter that his disciple had warned him about finishing his training, he could not imagine what new nonsense the good-for-nothing was writing him. Your excellence.
He took a sip from his cup before opening the paper, which seemed to be a bit more formal and longer than previous ones.
Dear Sect Leader Yunmeng Jiang.
I am writing to you, in order to request your valuable help in the following case. "Five days ago, a request for help was received from the Mayor of Shihe, that at the foot of Mount Jigong there is a small town, whose inhabitants are engaged in mining, according to the mayor, they were extracting minerals from the mountain, and in one of the explosions a large amount of resentful energy was released.
This caught the attention of a group of rogue cultivators. At first they thought that with that help it would be enough, but everything ended up getting out of control to the point that there began to be casualties. What was released is described as a three-headed dragon, presumably a *Yaoguai, cultivating within the mountain. So it was decided to send disciples from the Nie Sect to act as support and containment, while more reinforcements from other sects can be sent.”
As you know, that area is adjacent to the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, Quinghe Nie and Gusu Lan, for this reason and because of the trust between our Sects, it has been decided to request your help, and that of Zewu-jun.
Hoping for valuable help from him and his brave disciples, if you accept this request, I will be waiting for you within two days in the village at the foot of Jigong Mountain.
Nie Huaisang
Chief Cultivator.
Leader of the Qinghe Nie Sect.
This was far from what he imagined the subject of the letter to be, but a Yaoguai? That sounded interesting. Truly that Huaisang had excelled this time and found something good to stick his nose into.
He smirked as he tossed the letter and the remaining stack of paperwork aside with a predatory gleam in his eyes. "Those constipated Lans won't steal this prey from me," he said to himself.
And without thinking twice, he went to his room, where he took Sandu, fully ready to throw endless orders at his most capable disciples, after all, what they would face was not just any prey.
There was definitely no time to lose.