Ch29 – Into the breach

OK so it had not gone to plan so far. Somehow Wei WuXian had been able to use his demonic cultivation to cure people. He hadn't seen that coming, nor had he seen the YiLing Patriarch being taken over by the spirit of the Wen Patriarch! That had been interesting though, watching how they all just couldn't bring themselves to kill him again, despite the danger to themselves. Interesting and maybe a good bit of information for the future. But like a damn insect even the Wen had not been able to kill off Wei WuXian and he had derailed his plans once again. Well….he might have woken people up…...more people than he wanted were now awake. More than that…...the powerful ones were awake. The ones that were once against him…...hated him. They were awake. But just like back then, people were so easy to manipulate. A right word in the right persons ear and soon everyone thought up was down, hero could become enemy, and no one knew where the rumours even started. After all if Wei WuXian and Lan Wanji where going to ruin his plans, he could ruin theirs. He had one huge advantage on them after all. Everyone in the world knew about them, no one knew about him! Smiling to himself he thought. Well just kill off those two and then I can get back to the original plan.

The meeting was arranged for the following week. After all there were still ill people in each Sect who needed healing and some lunatic out there that had created this whole mess in the first place. So out of necessity the normal rules of sending invites and planning out meals and entertainment where ignored. Despite them wanting to get back to their normal routines Lan XiChen had argued for both Lan Zhan and Wei Ying to only have partial duties. In Lan Zhan's case so he could be helpful and in Wei Ying's case so he didn't annoy his brother too much, so they could recover as much as possible in the interim. The only people who would be attending from each Sect where the Sect leader and a healer, if the Sect leader was still ill then a suitable replacement could be bought. As Excellency of course Lan Zhan was expected to be there, and Wei Ying was always at Lan Zhan's side anyway so he was expected as well.

People soon began arriving even though the meeting was several days away, all wanting to speak to either Lan Zhan or Wei Ying, often both. Lan XiChen of course denied the requests saying the two were still recovering and the Sect leaders could speak to him instead. Some took him up on his offer, complaining about the current circumstances and the way nothing was being done to help solve the crisis. Even with his almost infinite patience, XiChen wanted to toss some of them off one of the very high hills surrounding his office. Others refused to speak to him, saying they every right to speak to the Excellency of the cultivation world, to this XiChen could only repeat that his brother was recuperating and would see them at the meeting. And take a breath to avoid tossing them off the aforesaid hill.

Eventually though the day of the meeting dawned. Lan Zhan and Wei Ying had no duties so they took a dip in the tub Wei Ying had invented years ago to prevent Lan Zhan breaking every tub the Cloud Reccess owned. It could easily accommodate three people, although it only ever held two, and had unique spells carved into the wood to make it even Lan Zhan proof. The two often enjoyed a warm soak together, washing each others hair and helping the other scrub their back. Of course baths still lead to Wei Ying teasing and Lan Zhan trying to break the bath tub on the way to the bed, but not as often as it once had. Today they simply sat, Wei Ying resting his head against his husbands chest. Feeling the relaxing rhythm of his heartbeat. Lan Zhan was running his fingers idly through Wei Ying's hair, relaxing at the feel and smell of the soft strands. Neither of them spoke, they just sat in a companionable silence for long enough for the hot water to turn cool.

As the two where dressing, preparing to leave, Wei Ying let out a small laugh. Confused Lan Zhan turned and looked over at him, a quizzical look on his face.

'Do you remember the last assembly we went to?' Wei Ying asked, his face brightened with the smile.

Lan Zhan just laughed quietly as he spoke.

'You mean the one we were late for because you couldn't decide what to wear?'

Wei Ying grinned and nodded before holding up a crumpled mess of fabric and spoke. He couldn't quite hide the laughter from either his face or his voice.

'What about this one?'

Lan Zhan groaned outwardly and shook his head in resignation before turning his back on his hopeless husband and getting himself dressed.

Thankfully they didn't have a repeat of the previous assembly drama and they both arrived on time, and fully dressed, at the assembly hall. It was even more full than before, with representatives from seemingly every Sect in attendance. They all fell silent as both men entered, walking side by side to the main dais where they sat quietly waiting for the chaos to descend. Before anything could happen though Lan XiChen spoke up, welcoming everyone to the assembly and making it clear that although it was uncertain times he still expected everyone to behave appropriately. Mutters came from the group in the hall but no individual dared speak up so Lan XiChen continued to speak.

'We all know why we are gathered here today, there has been a plague let loose on all of us. This Illness is not natural, its man made, and made to attack the golden core of cultivators. Every Sect has been harmed by this…..' he glanced down at the two sat beside him before looking straight forwards once again. 'As you know, recently His Excellency and Master Wei healed most of those ill. Almost at the cost of their own lives. Whatever this is, and whoever is doing it, they are clearly trying not only to split the unity of the Sects but focus on the strongest among us.'

Lan XiChen finished his speech but didn't sit down. He had made the choice a few days ago, when the meeting had been decided, that he would introduce his brother-in-law as 'Master Wei' rather than the normal 'Young Master' or 'Brother in law'. He knew this change of address would get a few people's backs up but he needed to get through to them the importance of Wei Ying in this current problem, as well as the fact that unlike last time he had been at the front of everyone's eye, he had a strong Sect backing him. He knew he could have used the 'YiLing Patriarch' Title but that now was given too many negative connections he didn't want to introduce right now. As he thought as soon as he finished speaking voices from around the room started rising.

'Master Wei!….since when did he earn that?'

'No Sect leader should call HIM Mater…...its an insult to the title'

'He's no Master, or even young Master, we all know what he is…..lets face he's still the YiLing Patriarch'

'Yeah that's right'

'Yeah…..who knows he might have designed this thing himself, after all he was the only one who could cure it.'

'True …..How do we know its not payback for twenty years ago?'

Hearing all the mutters and allegations against him was nothing new to Wei Ying, he had long since stopped caring what people thought of him. Well except the few that actually mattered anyway. He glanced up to see XiChen who was still stood and his face still blank despite the tense look of his jaw. Glancing over to where his brother sat close by he noticed Jiang Cheng's hand gripping his sword and shook his head slightly. Finally he returned his attention to Lan Zhan, who seemed to be as unfazed by current proceedings as he always was. Well he was if you discounted the fact that one hand was gripped round Bichen's hilt until his knuckles where white and his other hand was currently gripping the table in front of him hard enough to leave impressions in the wood. Wei Ying held a hand out, resting it on his husbands arm. Trying not to wince at the solid muscle wound so tight it might snap at any moment. XiChen remained still as the voices still rung out through the hall. Eventually though when Wei Ying wasn't sure he would be able to keep Lan Zhan from exploding any longer, XiChen held up his hand for silence.

'I hate to argue with other Sect leaders but there is a large flaw in your line of thought.' he spoke no further until the hall had once again fallen into silence. 'Maybe some of you have forgotten, and some of you are unaware, that it was not only Wei WuXian who saved the ill cultivators but also his Excellency. Neither could have done it alone and survived, even working together they both very nearly paid with their lives. Wei WuXian is not a fool, even if he created something that would take his own life, does anyone here really believe he would create something that take the lives of his husband and son!'

The hall remained silent once Lan XiChen finished, this time actually sitting down, for a few moments before someone spoke up once again. Again the person was hiding in the mass of cultivators assembled in the hall so no one could quite place where the voice was coming from.

'So what if he nearly died!….if he made this thing then he deserves to die just like last time!'

'Are you an idiot we can't kill him until he cures everyone'

'what makes you think he will cure everyone? After all its just a ruse to make everyone obey him. Just like the last one was.'

'What do you expect from the YiLing…...'

Grinding his teeth Wei Ying silently Wei Ying had had enough. The table under Lan Zhan's hand was already half the thickness it had been at the beginning of the meal, and Jiang Cheng looked like he was going to get into a fist fight with the next idiot who opened their mouth. Patting his husbands arm, he stood. Twirling ChenQing idly in fingers he faced the hall and spoke loudly enough to be heard over the din.

'ENOUGH!' he shouted. The faces of all those in the hall turned to look at him, some though pointedly carried on speaking in little groups, but most stopped speaking. The view of himself stood up or at the view of the flute doing circles in his fingers, he wasn't quite sure which was getting the most attention, nor did he really care. 'Are you all Sect leaders or Juniors? Because I seem to hear lots of talking about how I deserved to die many years ago! I know that can't be correct because it has already been found that I was innocent of those actions and killed unjustly.' His sarcasm was not missed on any of the men around him, and some of them even lowered their eyes. 'As for the current problem I will make something clear before any of you continue your discussion. Yes I am the only person who can cure those still ill, and whether I do it or not depends on you. I am now a member of the GusuLan Sect, I suggest you treat both my Sect, Husband and my Sect leader with respect in his own home. I will be helping no one who does not have that many basic manners.' This time he had everyone's attention.

'You can't decide what we do and how we speak!' came an indignant voice somewhere near the door. A man stood up, obviously a Sect leader but unknown to Wei Ying. A lower Sect then maybe. The man stood proud, shoulders back as he stared over at the dais. 'I don't care who you are! You have no right to speak to Sect leaders in such an ill-mannered way. Obviously your own Sect leader doesn't care how you act but we do!'

Wei Ying paused spinning the flute, which he noticed gained himself a soft touch on his free arm by Lan Zhan. Not wanting to feel the soothing comfort right now he gently shrugged his wrist, Lan Zhan knew that movement well enough by now and let go. Although both men knew that Lan Zhan would remain close by to steady him if he went too close to the edge. This was an edge they had both walked many times and Wei Ying trusted his husband to pull him back if he went too close, just as Lan Zhan trusted him to know his own limits. After taking a deep breath Wei Ying spoke, his glare fixed to the man and his voice dripping with ice and force.

'Sounds like we have our first volunteer!' He stated, the soft level of his voice hiding the acid in the delivery.

The unknown Sect leader opened his mouth to speak but Wei Ying continued and over rode him. The people in the room had seen that subtle change in his air, when the playful and friendly Wei Ying had turned into the unpredictable and scary YiLing Patriarch.

'I made myself clear but It seems I have to make an example. You have all been referring to me as the YiLing Patriarch instead of Wei WuXian, well very well. Wei WuXian has long forgiven what happened years ago, he has moved on and gotten a loving family out of the ashes. He has empathy and sympathy for you all. The YiLing Patriarch however does not! You harm him or his, he will harm you and yours! You claim that I would I would harm my own my own family…' a thin smile came over his face. 'My husband, my son, my brother, nephew and my brother in law are the only ones I have ANY allegiance to. Bare that in mind when you throw your words around.' He paused and pointed across the room with ChenQing. 'THAT Sect spoke up against my family and has sacrificed his own! Does anyone else want to say anything?'

Unsurprisingly no one spoke as Wei Ying moved to walk around the table and leave but Lan Zhan's hand kept him in place. The two locked eyes as the room seemed to hold its breath, both men seemingly ignoring the fact they were in public. Lan Zhan knew that right now Wei Ying needed his support and closed his long fingers a little tighter round his husbands thin wrist. Slowly nodding Wei Ying sat down, this time smiling as he received a reassuring squeeze on of the hand by Lan Zhan. Lan XiChen also smiled over at him, further easing his tension, before the elder man spoke to the stunned crowd once again.

'I think we have all gotten off topic' he said, his voice soft. 'Everyone will get helped in time with the most in need attended to first. You will need to hand in a list of all your still injured members along with how life-threatening their injuries are. That will be the basis on how many I allow to be treated daily. As I said before someone is trying to split up the Sects, some of the words used here today show that they are succeeding. We can not allow it.'

Just as another round of argument was about to erupt in the hall Jiang Cheng rose from his place and bowed to Lan XiChen. Everyone knew the history between the two Clans, and the fact the YunMengJiang was a high Sect, so they didn't start speaking but rather listened.

'If I may?' Jiang Cheng asked. At Lan XiChen's nod he addressed the hall. 'What is happening today is completely different to what happened years ago. If myself and my brother can put it behind us then you all have no reason to keep bringing such things up. Think about when my brother and brother-in-law first got injured saving us all. They were hailed as heroes, and myself and my nephew were the villains for harming them. Think when this started to change in your heads, what made you all focus on Wei WuXian once again being the villain despite no proof!. Sect Master Lan has told us all there is someone behind this. Last time we blamed someone without proof we know their was someone behind the rumours, what makes you think its different this time?'

The hall erupted once again, this time with the heated comments aimed at Jiang Cheng.

'Of course you would stand up for your brother….after all you can't think for yourself!'

'There is no proof he didn't do it either'

'Why can not bring it up?…..are you all planning on controlling what we think and say now'

Wei Ying tapped his fingers on the table and muttered something about people obviously not wanting his help, designed to be heard. And those who were shouting blanched as they looked over at him before sitting down, jaws firmly clenched. Lan Zhan had released the table and Wei Ying was sure he was now fighting not to smile. Lan XiChen though sighed before he spoke up and informed the hall that a recess was in order and everyone should return in an hour when they had had time to calm down and reorganise their thoughts.

As everyone else walked out of the hall, some grumbling, some happy, but most just relieved to get away from Wei WuXian's show of temper for a while, the Sect leader who had been vocal earlier walked up to the dais to find Lan XiChen.

'Are you really going to allow that man to dictate who he will and will not help!' the Sect leader demanded, practically spitting out the word 'man'.

XiChen just sighed loudly.

'My brother in law made up his mind in front of an entire room of Sect leaders.' He tried to explain. 'After giving you all plenty of warning. Even I will not be able to change his mind on the subject now. If you want to save your Sect the only one who can help you is Wanji!'

The Sect leader turned and stalked out the building muttering things under his breath that thankfully XiChen couldn't hear. Ohh this was going well.