Backlash Part 1

Chapter 122: Interrupted Letter

Jiang Yanli settled herself at a low table in the library. She smoothed the paper in front of her. Arranged the brush and inkstone, then soundlessly began to grind the ink. Jiang Yanli's eyes drifted to the letter once more. Luo Qingyang had written Jiang Yanli a few letters since study ended at Cloud Recesses. At first the correspondence had been fun. Luo Qingyang was energetic and outspoken. Her letters were always animated and passionate, much like the way Luo Qingyang would speak.

Jiang Yanli enjoyed writing to Luo Qingyang. They had become close during studies at Cloud Recesses. Luo Qingyang was always a strong encouraging force that provided the confidence and certainty Jiang Yanli lacked. Luo Qingyang was always willing to listen, and always willing to share her opinion when asked. Jiang Yanli found she really needed someone like that. Especially someone like that who was not connected to the YunmengJiang sect.

Jiang Yanli had her hands full just trying to find an equilibrium within her own family, and she needed someone she could share that with. She needed someone who wasn't hurt by the situation to listen to her. Luo Qingyang always did, without hesitation. Jiang Yanli set her brush back down with a sigh. She wasn't certain what to write now.

Luo Qingyang had written to Jiang Yanli as soon as she returned to the WuzhouLi sect after escaping from the QishanWen sect's indoctrination. She wrote about what happened in the cave, even including that Wei Wuxian had received a burn from a branding iron that had been aimed at Luo Qingyang's face. The letter included questions, well wishes, and a warning.

Luo Qingyang heard talk of the QishanWen sect wiping out several minor sects just within the last month. Combining that with the previous attack on Cloud Recesses and several skirmishes with the QingheNie sect, Luo Qingyang felt strongly that it was only a matter of time before Lotus Pier would be attacked. Jin Guangshan had always sucked up to Wen Rouhan more than any other sect leader. Luo Qingyang felt it was likely that the LanlingJin sect would be the last of the Great sects to be attacked.

Jiang Yanli had been thinking the same thing for quite a while. She tried taking her concerns to her father again. She even offered the letter as evidence to support her arguments. She was dismissed again. With a heavy sigh Jiang Yanli took up the brush once more and began to at least write a few relevant answers.

Wei Wuxian, Jiang Wanyin, and Lan Wangji had all returned to Lotus Pier. There had been a few injuries. Jiang Wanyin had some minor cuts and was quite exhausted. Lan Wangji had practically run his body into the ground. The cuts on his hands had been infected when he arrived. They have since healed, scarring slightly. Wei Wuxian was running a fever when he arrived, but Lan Wangji had taken excellent care of him. It didn't take long for the fever to break and his wounds were mostly healed. The burn would remain as a scar, but Wei Wuxian laughed it off.

Jiang Yanli set the brush down. That had been the easy part to write. The part that was about simple things, injuries and how they were healing. Jiang Yanli wanted to write more than this, but she wasn't certain where to start. Did she start with how Jiang Wanyin had actually managed to hold a conversation with Wei Wuxian without saying anything insulting or accusatory? Or did she skip that because it lasted all of thirty minutes and had been apparently ruined after she left by the entrance of one or more of her parents?

Jiang Yanli allowed herself to gaze out the window. It was eerily quiet, something that had been happening frequently in the last two weeks. Things were always tense when Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan fought, but usually the tension would exist in small spurts near their proximity. The rest of Lotus Pier would behave normally. They almost had to, it was not as though it was rare for Jiang Yanli's parents to fight.

No, the tension in the air was only partially because of her parents fighting. It was probably the primary source of the tension, but this time there was no buffer easing the tension of the other disciples. Jiang Wanyin had taken to ignoring Wei Wuxian. He was no longer making accusatory comments about disloyalty, and bringing shame to the YunmengJiang sect. She had not even heard any disparaging comments about Wei Wuxian's betrothal.

It sounded like an improvement, except Jiang Wanyin now did not speak to or about Wei Wuxian at all. Most of the time he ignored Wei Wuxian as if he wasn't there. If someone forced Jiang Wanyin to talk about Wei Wuxian, he would say something non-committal and change the subject. Wei Wuxian had noticed, because how could he not? Wei Wuxian had given Jiang Yanli a weak smile.

'Just let him. Maybe it's better like this.' Wei Wuxian had said. He'd started spending nearly all his time in his room. Jiang Yanli was only accepting this because she knew Lan Wangji was with him. Still she hated that Wei Wuxian was practically grounding himself, just so Jiang Wanyin wouldn't have to see him wandering around Lotus Pier more than necessary.

Jiang Yanli knew it hurt Wei Wuxian to have Jiang Wanyin ignore him like this. They used to be inseparable and now even if they were in the same room Jiang Wanyin would not speak to him. Worse was that Wei Wuxian was not wrong about this being better. It probably hurt less than what Jiang Wanyin had been doing previously.

Jiang Yanli stared down at the paper. She wanted to make things better. She had talked with Jiang Wanyin many times. She had tried giving him space to talk. She had tried encouraging him. She had tried gently scolding him. At this point she wasn't sure what else she could do. Not to mention practically every night her mother's voice would carry across half of Lotus Pier, screaming at Jiang Fengmian. T

he words were not always clear, but Wei Wuxian's name was said more than once. Jiang Fengmian never shouted, so Jiang Yanli did not know what he tried to say to calm her mother. If he tried anything at all. Jiang Fengmian had been quiet and dejected all week. Normally Jiang Yanli would have stepped in by now and suggested they go shopping together. She would help her father pick out some apology presents. During the trip she'd suggest some things for her father to say. Then her mothers temper would cool for a while, until the next argument.

Jiang Yanli had not made such suggestions this time. She did not want to leave Wei Wuxian and Jiang Wanyin in Lotus Pier without her. Jiang Yanli felt like she was trying to hold her family together. Gripping pieces that were being pulled further and further apart. It felt like any moment a strong tug would come and rip her family from her grasp.

There was a sudden ruckus outside. Disciples rushing and shouting in the distance. Jiang Yanli stood and walked towards the window, hoping to see what was going on. Their voices drifted through the window and Jiang Yanli froze in alarm. Their youngest shidi had been seized by QishanWen sect soldiers? Jiang Yanli felt her blood run cold. The QishanWen sect was here. Jiang Yanli tried to hold off her worst expectations. She tried to think about other reasons they would be here, but deep in her bones Jiang Yanli could feel it. They were here to destroy Lotus Pier.