Backlash Part 1

Chapter 120: Yanli's Concern

Jiang Yanli hadn't felt at ease since she heard about the attack on Cloud Recesses. She was grateful Wei Wuxian had sent a letter. News about the attack might have taken months to reach Yunmeng if Wei Wuxian had not sent news. Wei Wuxian had actually sent three letters. The letter to Jiang Fengmian detailed much about the attack and reported Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were alright. Jiang Wanyin's letter had been full of outrage over the behaviour of the QishanWen sect.

Jiang Yanli had gotten to listen to both of those letters and she appreciated them, but she liked hers the best. Her letter was filled with reassurance that Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji really were fine. Their injuries were minor. Wei Wuxian delighted in informing Jiang Yanli that they were able to evacuate the kids before the wards were breached.

Wei Wuxian shared what it was like talking to the young children about what happened. Wei Wuxian had evidently upset a few elders, but Jiang Yanli could not help but feel proud of how Wei Wuxian handled it. Jiang Yanli wasn't sure how she would have handled it, but she could tell Wei Wuxian felt strongly about how you communicate such things to kids.

Jiang Yanli resisted the urge to tease Wei Wuxian about how he had evidently taken charge of the children and included them in the clean up of Cloud Recesses. Jiang Yanli knew Wei Wuxian always enjoyed teaching the younger disciples. He always had fun with kids, but she did not recall him showing such a keen interest before. Jiang Yanli wondered if perhaps she could expect some nieces and nephews to appear sometime after Wei Wuxian's marriage.

Jiang Yanli found herself excited at the prospect of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji adopting. She was confident Wei Wuxian would be a wonderful and affectionate father. Lan Wangji, well Jiang Yanli had seen the way Lan Wangji doted on Wei Wuxian. She had no doubt Lan Wangji would show their children the same care and consideration.

Even though the letter had been full of assurances, Jiang Yanli had found herself on edge ever since learning of the attack. There was no provocation. The GusuLan sect was incredibly polite, even to those who were rude and disrespectful. Nearly the entire cultivation world held them in the highest esteem. They were neither power hungry, nor were they inconsiderate. The idea that they could have done anything to provoke such an attack was ludicrous.

Yet, an attack had occurred. No warning. No provocation. At that point Jiang Yanli felt like she might find herself waking to the sounds of fighting any day. She had even brought her fears to her fathers. She had inquired about whether their own wards might be improved. She noted that GusuLan sect had an evacuation procedure that had allowed them to ensure the safety of the children and non-cultivators. Jiang Yanli inquired whether it might be prudent for their own sect to develop something like it.

Jiang Yanli decidedly did not mention the evacuation route that Wei Wuxian had set up in secret, and she was very glad she did not bring it up. To her dismay her father seemed eager to ask her not to worry about such things. Instead of discussing plans or making improvements, her father instead seemed to think that it was better to avoid fighting. He seemed to think changes to their protections may be taken as an act of aggression and talking to the disciples about an evacuation route could cause unnecessary panic.

In the past Jiang Yanli might have accepted this, but she had changed a lot over the last handful of months. Jiang Yanli found herself feeling strangely frustrated with her father. It was a strange experience that she was not accustomed to. It wasn't often that she felt her father was wrong, but Jiang Yanli felt he was truly wrong now.

GusuLan sect had done nothing to provoke a conflict with the QishanWen sect. They had been attacked anyway. As far as Jiang Yanli was concerned, that told her everything she needed to know. There was nothing to stop the QishanWen sect from attacking any other sect. The fact that they attacked a major sect without provocation made the idea that they would do it again feel like an eventuality rather than a possibility.