CH 45/
The two spent the next few days in bed, alone for the first time in what seemed months. Neither had seen their clothes since a flurry of hands had stripped both of them bare, and neither had gone further from the bed than was necessary to relieve themselves or get something to eat. Both were tired and sore, and Lan Zhan had to admit that his first time being filled by Wei Ying had been both an eye opening and wonderful experience, making him understand why his partner enjoyed it so much. He had to admit though that even though it had been enjoyable he wasn't ready to repeat the experience in the near future, he was much more comfortable knowing he was giving Wei Ying pleasure than receiving it himself. It had been a relaxing, but tiring few days for both men, and a few days they both had really needed in which to re-establish their relationship with each other after the testing few days at Nightless City and the even more testing few days of the YiLing Lazou and Lan QiRen. Wei Ying had never felt so out of control as he did in those days having the Lan elder in his home, and these few days alone with Lan Zhan had really helped him regain that lost balance.
As with anything though, the good days could not last forever. On the 4th day of being alone, when the two had finally managed to get out of bed, get dressed and go as far as the walk as far as the small the clearing outside the cave, simply because they were running out of food in the storage room and would need to go out to buy some more soon. If it wasn't for something as important as eating, they would have probably still been cuddling, or doing something else, in bed when the fire message danced its way through the wards and into Wei Ying's hand. The two men looked at each other startled for a moment. Both were well aware that the only messages Wei Ying allowed to travel freely, even now the Wen were defeated, were those from Lotus Pier. Opening his hand Wei Ying allowed the message to materialise without any hint of hiding its contents from Lan Zhan.
Brother
I need your and Lan Zhan's presence in Lotus Pier. Ever since the threat of the Wen subsided the cultivation community has been trying to rebuild and now decided that our Sect is the only one with enough people and resources to help them succeed.
I have invited them all for an assembly, under strict restrictions, three days from now. I hope you can join me, and we can rectify the wrongs done to our family together. I look forward to seeing you.
Oh by the way, sister has told me that her future brother's presence isn't optional!
JC
Wei Ying needed to read the note several times to digest what it was actually telling him, and even then, he needed to ask Lan Zhan if he was reading it wrong. The larger man wrapped his strong arms around his slighter partner who looked on the verge of tears, and he could understand why. After years of being isolated, vilified and forced to risk his life on a daily basis just to stay alive in YiLing, Wei Ying finally had a chance to return to Lotus Pier and the siblings he loved most. Wei Ying wrapped his arms back around Lan Zhan in response, almost like a child, burying his face in the others robes. The two remained like that, all need of food forgotten, for minutes, hours, neither of them either remembered or cared. Wei Ying eventually stood up with a groan as his stiff muscles protested from being in one position for so long. Lan Zhan just looked down at him, a mixture of sadness and pleasure mixed in his eyes.
'What's wrong?' Wei Ying asked quietly.
'Nothing!' Lan Zhan responded a little too quickly.
'Lan Zhan since when did you learn to lie?' Wei Ying scolded gently. 'It doesn't work anyway; I know you well enough now to know when you are upset.'
Lan Zhan just smiled before letting out a small sigh.
'I am happy for you Wei Ying, but I fear I have no place at your side in Lotus Cove.'/
'Don't be foolish Lan Zhan' Wei Ying huffed, amusement in his voice. 'My brother asked for us both, not just me, and my sister loves you and already considers you another brother…not even a brother-in- law Lan Zhan, an actual younger brother. If you want to upset my sister about this, then you can come back with me and tell her yourself because I'm not doing it for you!'
Wei Ying was laughing by the end of his speech and Lan Zhan could only smile and nod himself. He knew that Jiang Yanli didn't like the Lan much, but he was also well aware that she loved both of her brothers a lot and would love anyone who cared for them. He could only sigh and wish that his own family had been that supportive about his relationship with Wei Ying.
Two days later the two men landed in Lotus Pier. Lan Zhan hadn't really known what to expect, despite Wei Ying's assurances, but Jiang Yanli welcoming him with the same hug she did Wei Ying and apologising that Wei Ying's old rooms where a bit small for them both, but she was already working on some new and much more spacious ones for them, had both shocked him and made him feel at home almost immediately. The two had slept for a few hours before eating in the room. A few of the Sect leaders were already present and the two wanted to keep a low profile until the day of the assembly.
The day finally dawned when everything would finally be bought to a close between the Jiang, Wei Ying and the rest of the cultivation community. The Sect leaders filtered into the main hall of Lotus Cove with Jiang Cheng following. Once he was sat on the Sect leaders seat, in his place of prominence, everyone seemed to take it as a signal to begin speaking one over another, especially Jin Guangshan who obviously had not learned his lesson the day he was criticized in Gusu.
'We are not here to speak about old problems with you Sect Leader Jiang. We are simply here to gain aid from a fellow Sect in rebuilding our own.'/
Jiang Cheng just smiled at the other Sect leader before beginning to speak himself.
'You speak as if the two are separate Sect Leader Jin. For myself and my Sect they aren't, and never will be. If you want my help to rebuild your Sects, then we need to rectify the injustice done to me and mine first!'
'How dare you...there was never any injustice!' Jin Guangshan sputtered.
The other Sect leaders simply looked at Jiang Cheng sat on the lotus throne with a mix of hatred and awe, none seemed inclined to speak and all seemed to be seeing the young Sect Leader in a new light. Jin Guangshan on the other hand was the leader of only a few men and, like themselves, was greatly in need of the Jiang's help so wouldn't be much of a challenge to Jiang Cheng's new found supremacy.
'Why don't we see how much you dare instead!'
Wei Ying's voice echoed through the hall as he entered, Lan Zhan's silent but imposing presence by his side. The two walked slowly up the middle of the staring, and in some cases gasping, Sect leaders and to the dais where they stood beside the seat Jiang Cheng resided on. Lan Zhan couldn't help but catch the eye of his brother who sat not far from him. Pride warred with sadness in Lan XiChen's eyes as he looked at his younger brother, so obviously establishing himself as Wei WuXian's partner, but slipping further away from him with each step. When the invite had arrived to attend the assembly, it had been made clear that he would need to attend it alone as no other Lan was trusted, and even he would be turned away if his uncle tried to gain entry.
''You have no rights being in this hall YiLing Lazou. So, take your trained dog and go back to that dead place where you belong'. Jin Guangshan shouted, turning his attention on Wei Ying who he obviously considered a weaker target.
Lan Zhan felt his fist clench around his weapon at the insult, so did Jiang Cheng and Lan XiChen. Fortunately, though, before Jin Guangshen could open his mouth again, and possibly get himself killed, Wei Ying burst out laughing.
'It amazes me how many people are still stupid enough to think I could tame Lan Zhan, does no one here know the man?' He giggled, causing everyone to stare. 'As for me having no rights to being in this hall Sect Leader Jin, I actually have more rights than you. Yes, I left Lotus Pier when you all decided to gang up on my younger brother, but did anyone actually hear him remove me from being a Sect disciple?' Wei Ying looked around the room at the assembled Sect Leaders who were openly gaping at him, as if wanting a reply, before continuing. 'I didn't think so…. that's because such a thing never happened. I am still the head disciple of the Jiang Sect and therefore have every right to be standing here speaking to you in my brother's hall. As for what you said earlier about being daring, it seems you need something from my brother and have nothing to give in return. So, I have a solution. Why don't we have the same agreement for yourselves that my brother came to with Sect Leader Lan when he needed our help earlier on?'
Lan Zhan and Jiang Cheng only just managed to keep their faces straight, they had known what Wei Ying was going to say, but still actually hearing it out loud was a shock. Lan XiChen on the other hand had no clue what was going to be happening and could only openly stare in astonishment at the three people on the dais as the questions began to pour down on him, asking him what he had done, and what agreements he had made. Eventually gathering his wits about him, XiChen rose to his feet and keeping all the poise he was capable of, spoke over the clamouring room.
'I made a deal with Sect Leader Jiang for his help in regards saving my uncle and that until the Lan were able to do something worthy of that help, I would allow Wei WuXian to seal my core.'
If the assembly was loud before it was now deafening, with Sect leaders exclaiming that they would never give up their cores to the whim of the YiLing Lazou or any other man, shouting that they would rather die, or lose their Sects, than submit to someone who was little better than the Wen. Some even shouted that Lan XiChen had been a coward, others to Jiang Cheng that he was letting a demonic cultivator dictate proceedings, the assembly had fallen into chaos. Jiang Cheng allowed the noise to go on for a few moments, occasionally exchanging amused glances with Wei Ying. Eventually though his patience wore too thin, and he shouted above the background roar.
'If you want the help of my Sect then that is your choice. Plus….' He looked at Jin Guangshen. 'My Sect will be the leader of the alliance from this point on, so I expect the same obedience from you that you once expected from me.'
Jin Guangshen was almost purple with anger at being humiliated in public, but he also knew that his choices were next to none. If he ever wanted to get his Sect back to its full strength he needed the Jiang, they didn't need him. It would be one thing if all the Sects refused this ludicrous idea and rebuilt on their own, but if even a few accepted, then by the time he managed to rebuild, the Jin Sect would be just a memory and relegated to one of the minor Sects at best. If he wanted to keep his Sects power and prestige amongst the others, then what choice did he really have? He had a choice between his own position or that of the Sect he had worked so hard to build. He would never let them humiliate him by removing his core, but neither would they let him destroy his Sect, he just had to find a way to get both.
Slowly some of the smaller Sects had begun walking to the centre of the hall, proclaiming their allegiance to Jiang Cheng and agreement with having their cores sealed in exchange for help rebuilding their Sects. After the smaller Sects came Lan XiChen, who of course already had his core sealed, but gave his allegiance all the same. Soon all the Sects had realised they were backed into a corner by the very two people they had once tried to manipulate, and all they could do to save themselves was to agree to the demands. Only Jin Guangshen stood at the side of the hall, alone, still trying to work out how to get himself out of the problem. A problem he seemed incapable of admitting he himself had created.
Almost against the wishes of his mind, his body rose and moved to the centre of the room. Looking down at the other Sect leaders kneeling on the floor he swallowed the bile that rose to his throat, looked up to the dais where Jiang Cheng still sat, and Wei Ying and Lan Zhan stood passively. His knees sank to the floor almost on their own as his head sagged in defeat. He had no more cards to play, he just needed to preserve what little dignity he had left. He was so wrapped up in his own self pity and how he could possibly turn the situation around that he didn't notice Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng moving among the knelt Sect leaders until Jiang Cheng offered him something. Taking it absentmindedly he looked at it for a moment before throwing it away as if burned. They had given him one of those damned talismans to cut off access to his core and expected him to place it on himself! What did they think he was? He was the leader of the cultivation world, and they had no right to treat him like this. Jin Guangshen's temper flared as he stood up, staring at those around him. No longer caring about needing the help of the Jiang for his Sect, he just cared about the insults he was being forced to swallow.
Couldn't swallow.
With one last glare at the other men in the room the Jin Sect Leader turned and walked out of the hall.