Phoenix

Chapter 21*Revised*

*Sorry took so long I've been sick*

         Qingheng-Jun stood on the roof of the ancestral chamber, looking imposing while holding his bloodied sword. The mob was completely still. It had been years since the elusive real leader of the Lan Sect showed himself to the world. 

            Lan Qiren was amongst the first to get his wits back, unfortunately. "Brother, your son has the gall to claim he married the spawn of that demon Cangse Sanren. That boy is trouble and needs to be returned to the Jiang sect for discipline immediately."Qingheng-jun waited patiently for Qiren's rant to end before sending out a wave of power to shut everyone else up so he could speak. The children were not the only ones training that last week.

             "You mean to tell me that the Wen Sect attacked Cloud Recesses, and all of you high-standing important cultivators are more worried about two teens being soulmates? Has the cultivation world really fallen so low while I was in Seclusion? Isn't the motto of the Lan Sect to be fair and righteous, being unbiased? I am disappointed in all the elders standing before me. As Lan Sect leader retaking my position, you all shall be stripped of your position for a year to consider your priorities. 

              While you are here fighting two boys, did anyone check on the injured? Did any of you take stock of the damage to the sect? Did you find out how they got through our barrier? No? I expected better of the elders in charge of our people. Now, since all sect leaders are here except for Wen Rouhan, let's discuss what all this means for the Sects. I have been gathering information since last week... A-Zhan, take your husband home. We will talk to the elders tomorrow." He turned on his heel and walked to a meeting room, making sure all the sect leaders followed him.

              Baoshan Sanren and Lan Yi used their intimating auras to force the elders into leaving the boys alone. Lan Yi went further and spoke of how sad she was to have been a representative of this sect. Baoshan made a few threats while smiling sweetly at them, making them consider going into isolated meditation just to get away from the crazy immortal whose grandson they had just insulted. Once they were sure everything was safe, the two teleported back to Baoshan's mountain, leaving the rest up to Wen Li and Lan Junjie. They were the ones designated as their mentors. 

           Lan Wangji let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He had been worried. That transformation had taken a lot of energy, and he felt he wouldn't be able to protect his mate as he promised. Wei Wuxian finally finished passing out in his arms, knowing that it was safe. Nie Huasang, Jiang Yanli, and Xichen were whispering to each other, looking around calculatingly. 

            Lan Junjie grabbed Lan Wangji's arm and helped him walk back to the newly fortified Jingshi with Wei Wuxian in his arms. He was so exhausted that when he got into his room he placed Wei Wuxian on the bed and collapsed beside him. In the back of his mind, he vaguely registered someone placing a warm blanket over them before everything went dark.

              Lan Junjie made his way back to Wen Li after making sure both boys were safe and comfortable. He grabbed her hand squeezing it gently to make her stop worrying and led her back to her home.  She was restless he could feel some of her flames dancing over his skin gently. " A-Li don't worry they are strong. Actually, they don't know how lucky they got that our boys were so tired. A-Zhan has been looking forward to turning the Jiangs into ice cubes. So relax. With a little rest, their energy will be fully replenished by tomorrow. Let us rest as well so we can be at the meeting tomorrow to support them." 

               She gave him a shaky smile before kissing his cheek and dispelling the fire she had unknowingly created. It had been surprising to her when her inner phoenix reacted to Lan Junjie at that first meeting. Like her great-grandson, she had accidentally marked him as her mate. That night, when the boys lost control, she had used her flames to try and protect him. They had done as she wanted, but they also marked him. There were many awkward conversations after that, especially with A-Ying's constant teasing.

               "Thank you, Junjie. Would you stay with me tonight? We still haven't fixed your house." "Mn." Her smile was blinding as she led him back to her house, making plans for what they could do the next day without outright interfering. He allowed her to talk with a fond expression.

            Nie Huasang didn't waste any time at all. As soon as the leaders were in the meeting he put his plan into motion. He had asked Lan Xichen for the most used places in Cloud Recesses and even enlisted Jiang Yanli's help. Xichen wouldn't be able to help since Nie Huasang's plan went against the no gossiping rule. He made sure to help Jiang Yanli take supplies to the infirmary using those paths. 

           The plan was simple, get the word out that Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had used their soulmate blessing to protect the Lan Sect. That Wei Wuxian drained all his energy so that his beloved's sect family was safe passing out immediately after needing an energy transfusion. Also that the elders planned to hide what he did so they could ban him from the sect. They thought he was not good enough for their second young master. Lastly, how could anyone be better for Lan Wangji than someone who is willing to put himself in harm's way to protect people he doesn't know just because they are his husband's family?  

                Gossip and information had always been Huasang's best weapons. He knew how to best use them to his benefit. The Lan sect had a strict no-gossiping rule. Did that truly eliminate it from their Sect? No, of course not. The members were just better at hiding it or clamoring it as gathered intelligence. They also had a strong sense of righteousness that just needed to be ignited and directed. He also made sure to mention the meeting of their fate the next day in passing trying to console a very emotionally afflicted Jiang Yanli. 

               Nothing got people's understanding more than an older sister worried sick that her brother would be unjustly ripped away from his soulmate. He could see the indignant stares in the different courtyards he had stopped to comfort her in as well as the infirmary. He hid a smirk behind his fan that matched the one Yanli had behind the sleeve she was using to hide her 'teary' face. Everything was going according to plan. 

                 Inside the meeting hall, Qingheng-jun was presenting the names of smaller sects that had already been wiped out by the Wen sect within that year. He ensured they knew that the Lan sect might have been first but for how long? Nie Mingue stood to support the observation with his own facts. " Actually, Sect Leader Lan, the reason it took me until today to arrive after being told my brother was missing was that the Wens attacked Qinghe before I had left. So of course I had to stay and fight off those vermin. Fellow sect leaders it has already started and we need to stand together or fall." 

                 Some sect leaders just wanted to see what would happen but Nie Mingue managed to rally the majority speaking of how the survivors of the sects were treated as slaves or sex toys. The only one really on the fence was the Jin sect leader but Qingheng-Jun kicked him out stating that if he did not participate fully he will get nothing in the end. A furious Jin Sect leader sputtered as he was forced to leave. 

            The Jiang sect wanted to speak about Wei Wuxian, but Qingheng-jun shut that topic down immediately. He stated that Wei Wuxian was, for now, Lan Sect's problem, and the matter would be settled the next day. Most left the meeting hall grumbling about missing out on the gossip while going to the guest rooms. 

              Qingheng-jun smirked. Most of the elders against the marriage were now removed from their posts. Others were too wounded to attend. He hoped this was enough to pass a favorable ruling on the boy's behalf. He didn't want a repeat of what happened with his wife. He would try his best to make sure his son was happy, just like his mother would have wanted. His gut told him that his son was a better man than he was. If push came to shove Lan Wangji would disappear with his mate from the cultivation world completely.