Abide With Me

The Angry Lotus

This chapter is dedicated to @WangXianLovingLotus  🤗🤗💜💜🐨🐨🤗🤗

Jiang Cheng's face wore a trademark scowl that would prevent any but the most intrepid from approaching him. Weighed down with the responsibility of rebuilding Lotus Pier after it had been razed to the ground by the Wens had taken its toll on his temperament. On the inside, Jiang Cheng was constantly battling sorrow. His A'Niang and A'Die, gone, holding hands. Jin  Xiyuan and A'Jie, gone, leaving him the additional role of Jiujiu to baby Jin Ling. The sudden loss of his parents followed by Wei Ying's defection from the Sect had left him starkly alone. The revelation of Meng Yao's deception and his bid to usurp absolute power had left him shaken and bitter towards almost every one. All of these factors had sucked the joy out of his days and he lived up to his moniker of the Angry Lotus.

The ache inside had eased somewhat after Wei Ying had been completely exonerated of any blame. But then A'Ying had married the Second Jade of Gusu and left Lotus Pier. Wei Ying, true to his cheerful, ebullient nature, often visited Lotus Pier with his husband in tow. Sometimes, their Sect Leader Lan Xichen also accompanied them.

Surprisingly, Sect Leader Lan and Sect Leader Jiang had found a lot in common. Clan responsibilities, never-ending workloads, constant public scrutiny. Lan  Xichen was always smiling. No one but Lan Xichen could make Jiang Cheng smile, er.. at least, stop scowling! Lan Xichen loved music and played the Xiao expertly. Jiang Cheng  hated the silence in Lotus Pier at night. Lan Xichen held infinite patience inside. Jiang Cheng could just about wait for Lan Xichen's arrival. Lan Xichen was calm but decisive. Jiang Cheng was quick, restless and definite. He definitely liked Lan Xichen!

After a period of seclusion and reflection following the incident at the Guanyin Temple, Lan Xichen had announced his decision to pass on the mantle of Sect Leader to Lan Shizui and take Jiang Cheng as his Partner in Cultivation. The person most shocked by this declaration was Jiang Cheng himself!  Lan Xichen and Wei Ying had exchanged mirthful glances while Lan Zhan was quietly pleased for his Xiongxiang.

Sect Leader Lan was hence a frequent visitor at Lotus Pier and today, it was Lan Xichen that Jiang Cheng was hoping to spot before the heavens opened up. As anxious purple eyes scanned the horizon for the perfection that was the First Jade of Gusu, his eyes widened. Something, no... somethings were out there!

The overcast sky, the glorious smell of petrichor, the rumbling of the thunder from the incoming storm and the absolute absence of wind: these are all familiar harbingers of one of the magnificent thunderstorms that came in from the southwest of the mainland. What had caught his eyes were the tangible ripples among the lotus pads and the streaks of purple lightning that lit the sky.

This particular shade of purple, rather, pure amethyst, held special significance to the Jiang Clan. Only the actual scions of their Clan could see this form of energy, use it and not be adversely affected by it. Jiang Fengmian, Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng, all had the gift. Madam Yu's spirit weapon Zidian, was a closely related energy form.

Wei Ying - a small smile did adorn Jiang Cheng's face for a few seconds. Wei Ying was of course, the poster boy for achieving the impossible. He had borne the brunt of Madam Yu's Zidian as a child. When Jiang Fengmian had formally inducted Wei Ying as Head Disciple of the Clan, Madam Yu had, in a fit of temper, called the Amethyst Lightning down upon him!

Wei Ying, in front of the shocked faces of the Jiang siblings had laughed, looked skywards and opened his arms wide, no hint of fear or anger in his eyes. The Lightning streaked down and Jiang Yanli screamed! As Jiang Cheng watched, numb with horror, the Lightning turned into a soft white light and entered Wei Ying's core! Wei Ying had smiled, bowed perfunctorily to Madam Yu and then genuinely to Jiang Fengmian.