Backlash Part 1

Chapter 133: Wen Zhuliu's Cause of Death

Wen Qing felt like she hadn't taken a proper breath in days. She had been too anxious about Lotus Pier. There were so many ways it could turn out and Wen Qing was not even sure which set of events she was hoping for. In the original string of events Wen Qionglin had snuck ahead of her. He hid Wei Wuxian and Jiang Wanyin in Lotus Pier. Wen Qing found out, because her Er-di was miserable at lying to her. She had, with some protest, helped hide them and treated their wounds.

Jiang Wanyin had lost his golden core, suffered two broken ribs, and a litany of other injuries she didn't remember. Wei Wuxian had fresh bruises decorating his throat and petechiae under his eyes and scattered across his face like red freckles. Someone had choked him. Maybe as part of the punishment that Wang Lingjiao demanded. Something to accompany the fierce lashes from Zidian that had ripped open Wei Wuxian's back.

Wen Qing hoped she would not be treating the same injuries. She hoped things went better this time. The best case scenario might be for her and Wen Qionglin to arrive in Lotus Pier and find Wei Wuxian, Jiang Wanyin, and Lan Wangji all long gone. Preferably with no bodies of the main Jiang family present.

Selfishly, Wen Qing had some concerns about that scenario. Assisting Jiang Wanyin and Wei Wuxian had been the main evidence Wei Wuxian had cited as to why the DafanWen branch should not be treated as prisoners of war. It hadn't been enough, but it was something. If Wei Wuxian and Jiang Wanyin did not need help, is there really anything she could do to prove her family was different than Wen Rouhan?

Wen Qing hated herself for this thought. It was selfish. It was better if things went well. However, Wen Qing was paying a lot more attention to the war planning than she did in her last life. The number of cultivators being dispatched with Wen Chao was staggering. Wen Qing was worried about Wei Wuxian. The odds that Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan would insist on staying behind to fight to the end were high. They were proud, arrogant, leaders.

Wen Qing worried about Wei Wuxian a lot. She worried about both her didi, but it seemed much worse whenever one of them was out of her sight. Which is where Wei Wuxian had been for entirely too long, out of her sight. Wen Qing fiddled with the jinbu Wei Wuxian had gifted to her. The once white silk thread had become a deep maroon. Apparently this was 'normal', or at least her youngest didi had ensured Wen Qing that Wei Wuxian said this would happen.

Wen Qing trusted Wei Wuxian, but she sometimes wished he had made a second set of communication books instead of the jinbu. The jinbu would apparently offer protection. Wei Wuxian was certainly skilled at imbuing things with protective spells, but sometimes Wen Qing wouldn't mind trading that protection for the ability to check in with him. It wasn't enough to know he had survived this long in his last life. She needed to be able to see her Da-di. She needed to look at him and make sure he hadn't done something stupid, like getting himself killed.

"Wen-guniang." A disciple stepped towards her. "Wen-er-gongzi has requested your presence."

Wen Qing fought the urge to roll her eyes. He most certainly did not 'request'. Wen Chao did not understand the meaning of the word. Wen Qing stepped forward with Wen Qionglin following behind her. The disciple moved to stop Wen Qionglin and Wen Qing levelled him with an unfriendly look.

"Is there a problem?" Wen Qing asked. The disciples visibly paled.

"L-Lotus Pier hasn't been cleared yet. There may still be enemy cultivators. We've been ordered not to bring in medics yet." The disciple stuttered. Wen Qing narrowed her eyes.

"If Wen Chao wants me there, A-Ning comes with. However I am perfectly happy to wait until you are allowing in the other medics." Wen Qing said indifferently. The disciple went several shades paler. Wen Qing already knew what would happen, but she tried to keep the smugness off of her face. They hadn't even finished clearing Lotus Pier. That was perfect. If Wei Wuxian was hiding in there, they would have a chance to find him first.