Ch8 – Disaster befalls the cultivation world

A few days into the visit to Lotus Pier things had fallen into a predictable routine. Jiang Cheng, Lan Zhan and Wei Ying would meet up every morning to go over what could be done that day to help the injured and try to the solve the puzzle of the illness. Jiang Cheng would ignore Wei Ying as much as possible but be polite when they had to interact, and then the three of them would go there separate ways to perform whatever jobs had been agreed on for the day. They would normally eat separately, with Wei Ying and Lan Zhan eating in there assigned room. Wei Ying had not been surprised that the room they had been given wasn't his old bedroom in the family wing but rather in the guest quarters. If he was feeling fair his old room was too small for two people anyway.

The only thing that wasn't getting any more predictable about the days at YunMeng was the illness itself. Despite all the help they had bought from Gusu neither the scholars or the healers could accurately figure out what was causing the illness, why it affected some people faster than others ot what the link to the Golden Core was. They could all agree that in some way the Golden Core was the key link to the mystery but that's where the agreement ended. Both scholars and healers had vastly different ideas in how the core was involved and neither had any proof to back up their hypothesis.

As much as the three leaders tried to guide and help this process nothing much was getting achieved, except the fraying of Jiang Cheng's temper. Then one day Wei Ying was in the healing office speaking to the Gusu healers and the ill Lotus Pier people gathered there. Some knew him from before and even held fond memories of him. He would speak to them, tell jokes, stories, anything he could think of to try and keep their spirits up. Some of course no longer wanted to speak to him, and when this happened he would acknowledge their wishes and simply walk away. Over the years he had gotten used to such treatment and it had long ago stopped bothering him.

A disciple ran into the room, almost knocking over a Gusu healer in his haste, something than earned a stern look from the healer which the disciple promptly ignored. Wei Ying couldn't help a smile appearing on his face at the scene, it would have been like something he would have done years ago. The disciple glanced about the room and then focused in on him before running over, swiftly dodging healers and the ill.

'Young Master Wei' He announced as he reached Wei Ying. 'You are needed immediately in the main hall.'

Wei Ying had to pause for a moment and get his mind to stop from swirling. It had been years and another lifetime….quite literally…..since someone from YunMeng had called him Young Master. He thought he had split from this place, only coming to help out of a sense of duty to both his past and his elder sister, but he guessed the strangest things could have an affect on someone. Nodding silently he walked out of the room before breaking into a run and heading for the main hall.

When he entered the main hall both Lan Zhan and his brother where already waiting his arrival. Jiang Cheng was pacing back and forth in-front of his Clan Leaders chair without actually sitting down, and even Lan Zhan's hand was gripped tightly around Bichen. Somthing had obviously gone horribly wrong.

'What it is?' He asked a little out of breath from his sprint to the hall.

Lan Zhan handed him a fire message.

It was from Lanling, the place where his nephew Jin Ling served as the Sect leader. The other two where silent as Wei Ying read the message…...twice…...not quite believing its contents.

'They have the same illness there' he half stammered 'How?'

Rather than answering his question Jiang Cheng waved him over to the table. Looking down at the letters on it Wei Ying nearly stumbled, it was only the sense that Lan Zhan had walked up behind him that kept him on his feet. The table was full of messages from various Sects, small ones that relied on the large Sects to survive, but there must have been hundreds!

'Its everywhere' was all he could mutter to himself 'We have quarantined Lotus Pier since this began, how did this happen?

Of course that was meant as rhetorical question as neither he or the other two in attendance had any clue where to begin to answer. Wei Ying looked almost blankly at his brother who returned the glance with one of almost complete despair. Lan zhan on the other hand stepped forward and spoke firmly to both of them.

'We need to send one healer to as many of these Sects as we can' He announced 'Maybe there will be something in one of the other illness's than can help us solve it'

Wei Ying nodded numbly. Jiang Cheng just stared at the table as if the letters would his some magical inspiration.

'Let's do that then' Wei Ying agreed.

This time it was Jiang Cheng's turn just to nod.

Wei Ying nodded to his husband to leave him and his brother alone, Lan Zhan nodded and left the hall so quietly that if Wei Ying hadn't known he was leaving he wouldn't have even noticed. Jiang Cheng was still staring at the table and was completely unaware they were now on there own.

'Jiang Cheng?' Wei Ying tried ' Jiang Cheng you need to snap out of this the Sect needs you right now'

Jiang Cheng simply continued to stare.

Wei Ying's lips curled upwards signalling he was going to do something childish.

'A-Cheng' He leaned forward and almost whispered in a childlike voice. 'Little brother?'

They hadn't addressed each other so familiarly for years so as he expected Jiang Cheng's head shot up from where it had been fixed on the table.

But Wei Ying wasn't finished yet. He let a pout come to his lips as pointedly sad down on the table twirling ChenQing.

'ahhh A-Cheng, I thought you were going to be a great Sect leader. Who would have known that at the first hurdle you curled up in Uncles seat and cried'

'SHUT UP!' Jiang Cheng shouted, the volume almost bouncing off all the surfaces in the room 'I am the Sect leader here, you are a visitor!...a member of the Lan Clan! don't you tell me what to do!'

Wei Ying had expected such an outburst and stood up smiling before bowing respectfully.

'And this is the Sect leader they need to help them through this mess'

Jiang Cheng paused having finally realised that his rise in temper had been exactly what Wei Ying had been aiming for. It had stopped him thinking about everything that had gone wrong and only got him focused on his position of being Sect leader. Wei Ying stood up from his bow and smiled, despite himself Jiang Cheng returned it. Both men took a breath.

'Lan Zhan is organising to send as many Gusu healers to the small Sects as we can, but it wont be enough. We should still stay here. This is where it began so this is where we should bas our efforts in finding the cure' Wei Ying said steadily.

Jiang Cheng nodded but said quietly.

'Jin Ling...?'

'…...Is a smart boy who takes after his mother and uncles' Wei Ying interrupted 'We will send one of the best healers to help him, I'm sure he will be fine' he paused 'Do you really think I would let anything happen to Senior Sisters son?'

Jiang Cheng looked into Wei Ying's face for a moment before shaking his head.

'No…..You wouldn't'

Far away from Lotus Pier someone was enjoying the unfolding scene. He had begun with just one Sect to see how his little project would unravel and it had been better than he imagined. Now he had hit most of the Sects in the world. Of course before they all died he would reveal himself to show them who had beaten them. Maybe next time the survivors would make sure someone was actually dead before thinking they were safe. That's if there were any survivors.