Live Again, Love Anew

Chapter 4- Talking with Uncles

Summary

The Jiang Sect leader visits Cloud Recesses. Lan Zhan finds something he shouldn't.

Beginning Note

So, change of plans. This fic will be updated once a week on Mondays. My other fic is being put on hold because I've lost motivation in the fandom and need a break from it.

So, weekly updates. Yay!

Side note: Ages.
I made Wei Ying and Lan Zhan only a few months apart instead of a year. It's currently the end of August, so ages go:

Yanli- 9
Xichen- 8
Wei Ying- 5
Lan Zhan- 5
Jiang Cheng- 4

If you're wondering about anyone else's age, just put a comment and I'll reply.

Lan Qiren

It's been two months since he's taken in A-Ying. A week ago, he sent a message to Fengmian revealing A-Ying's status as a ward of Cloud Recesses and child of Fengmian's sworn brother. Today, he is to meet with the Sect Leader, and hopefully come to an agreement about the situation with A-Ying.

The current predicament with A-Ying is a little complicated, for his affiliations lie with many different parties. His status as ward, and later direct disciple, makes him a cultivator of the Lan Sect. His father's sworn brotherhood to the Jiang Sect Leader also makes him a Jiang by blood. But after marrying Cangse Sanren, Wei Changze defected from the Jiang Sect to become a rogue cultivator with his wife, so it's unclear if that blood tie still stands.

And then there's the child's mother. It's unknown if Cangse Sanren has any blood relatives, but it is known that she came from Immortal Baoshan Sanren's Sect. Ideally, since A-Ying's father defected from his sect, A-Ying would be taken to his mother's sect upon her death, but since Baoshan Sanren keeps her mountain hidden from all those outside her sect, it would be impossible to find.

Which leaves the situation as it is now; A-Ying has affiliations with two different sects, three if you count Baoshan Sanren's sect, it's unknown if he has any blood relatives, he obviously can't be put back on the streets, and it's as clear as muddied water who he rightfully belongs to.

Lan Qiren stands at the gates of Cloud Recesses, waiting for the arrival of Fengmian. It's around lunchtime, with the sun high in the sky, and most disciples at the banquet hall eating their midday meal. The wait for his guests is quiet and tranquil, something that has grown to be rare these days. The Cloud Recesses are only quiet at meal time and night nowadays, he thinks fondly. A-Ying seems to have a never ending list of things to say, only being quiet during meals and after curfew. The child has never broken the rule of yelling, but even then, Lan Qiren doubts he could force himself to discipline the child.

And he isn't the only one who has become taken by A-Ying's unique charm. The residents of Cloud Recesses pride themselves on being calm, collected, and having a firm grasp on their emotions. Someone like A-Ying is the complete opposite of what they have been honing and training for years. He's loud, and every emotion is clearly written across his face. His smiles are balms for the soul, and his tears elicit the same emotion someone would feel looking at a kicked puppy.

His nephews have also latched on to the bright child like a new sibling. Lan Qiren finds he quite likes how they all even each other out. A-Ying is a prodigy and has the natural charisma his counterparts lack, but he is also impulsive, and has little filter for his words. A-Zhan is also a natural talent for matters of the mind, with a strong foundation already for his golden core, but he barely speaks a dozen words a day, and would rather stay silent than participate in a conversation. A-Ying has taken to being A-Zhan's words for when he lacks the ability to voice his desires, but the two boys on their own lack stability and a needed peace. Which is why Xichen is the perfect older brother. He acts as the voice of reason for A-Ying, and already excels in Sect politics, being able to speak for A-Zhan while adding a little more civility to the words rather than the propriety-lacking way A-Ying would normally speak them.