WangXian: Reunited ✔

Chapter 31: Time Is Of Essence

'I really hope they don't come.'

~JINGYI'S POV~

Jingyi was panicking. Of course he was- his home was under attack, who wouldn't be panicking? Lotus Pier was being besieged, and here he was, like an idiot- tied up by Zidian. Jingyi was scared- so very scared. Now that wasn't anything new. He was always scared. No, what was new was how scared he was. For all his dramatics, Jingyi had never felt such soul crushing agony, such heart wrenching terror. He was scared for Lotus Pier, scared for the place he called home. He was scared for Jin Ling and himself, scared for the life that flashed before his eyes. He was scared for his friends, scared that Si Zhui would get hurt. He was scared for his Mama- oh how scared he was for his mother. 

When Jiang Cheng had pushed them away from Lotus Pier, Jingyi felt his whole world turn upside down. Was this how his mother had felt when Yu Ziyuan had told him to leave? Did his mother feel the same dread and trepidation, the same impending horror? Jingyi wasn't sure. But he knew that he had to go back. He couldn't leave like this. He was strong. He could fight. No- he needed to fight. Needed to be there, to protect Lotus Pier. He needed to see for himself that Mama was alright. He needed to hear the cries of terror from the mouths of those Jin disciples. Those filthy bastards. Jingyi felt a surge of indignation flash through him. How dare they. How dare they step foot in his Lotus Pier. How dare they attack his precious Yunmeng. How dare they taint his home with their soiled hands. Who did they think they were? Who did that Jin Guangyao think he was? Some son of a prostitute and he dared to ambush his mother?! He dared to hurt the great Sandu Shengshou?!

Jingyi scoffed, rolling his eyes at the absurdity of it all. How cowardly of that Jin Guangyao. He knew he could never beat Mama in a fair fight, so he resorted to trickery and schemes. He waited until Mama was defenseless and helpless before he striked. 'Hmph. What a bastard,' Jingyi thought, scowling. Jingyi was glad he never took the time to bother with the Chief Cultivator. Mainly because Mama wasn't very fond of him. He tolerated the man, but only for his father's sake. 

Jingyi shook his head. His mother was always a better judge of character than his father. Zewu Jun was far too trusting. It wasn't his fault though, it was just how the First Jade of Lan was. 

Jingyi remembered the way his father had found him. The war with the Wen's had just ended, and Jingyi's parents had died in the ensuing chaos. Lan Xichen had found him, crying over his parent's bodies, struggling to make sense of the situation at hand. The First Jade had taken pity on the young boy- barely a year old, and raised him up as his own. 

It took six long months before the young Jingyi had settled well enough, to start to break out of his shell. It took even longer before he uttered his first words. He still remembered the joy on Jiang Cheng's face when he finally called him 'Mama.' Since that day, Jiang Cheng has always doted on him, punishing him with harsh words- but spoiling him with soft pats on his shoulder, and gentle kisses on his forehead. Mama always said that Jingyi was a true Jiang, despite having Lan as his surname. He said that Jingyi was actually a lot like his uncle, his other uncle- the infamous Yiling Patriarch. 

Jingyi couldn't mistake the look of sadness that passed over Mama's face whenever he brought up Wei Wuxian. It was as if a part of Mama was still healing from the emotional damages Wei Ying had wrought upon his heart and soul. 

Jingyi felt tears trail down his face. Mama... Mama was still in trouble. Mama was being held captive, and Jin Guangyao was still out there. Mama had told them to go, to find Han-Guang Jun. He had left them, pushing them away with Zidian. And Jingyi would make sure that his sacrifice wouldn't be in vain. 

He turned to the young man in golden robes beside him. "Hurry! We still need to find Han-Guang Jun!" 

"No! We need to go back! Uncle is still there, we need to leave!"