Jade Dragon [Lan Xichen x Reader]

Chapter: 19

The next day, around noon Wei (Y/n) was walking towards the main hall of the Nie sect. Jiang Cheng had some matters to attend to so she volunteered to inform Nie Mingjue of their departure and thank him for his hospitality. She carried herself with elegance, her face calm. The disciples she passed greeted her with respect and she acknowledged them with a slight nod of her head.

She entered the hall and saw Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue inside. She walked further inside and saluted them both. "Mingjue-xiong, Zewu-Jun." Both the males nodded to her greeting. "Hexia-zun. How have you been? And how is Childe Wei's condition?" Lan Xichen asked smiling and (Y/n)'s lips curved up slightly. "He is well....so am I." She answered his question and Nie Mingjue observed the exchange with a knowing look in his eyes before he spoke.

"What brings you here? Is something wrong?" He asked and Wei (Y/n) turned to face and shook her head lightly. "Not at all. Everything is fine. I was just here to inform you." She spoke respectfully and Mingjue raised a brow. "Inform me? Of what?" He inquired and Wei (Y/n) looked at him with a small smile. "Since Lotus Pier has been reclaimed and Madame Jiang is already there. We would like to head back and rebuild Lotus Pier to its former glory." She explained and Mingjue nodded.

"If you have decided to go, I won't stop you. But what about the injured disciples?" He questioned and (Y/n) looked at him expectantly, "The ones that are able to return can go with us. The others we hope Mingjue-Xiong would allow them to stay here until they recover fully." She bowed her head lightly at the end. "Of course, I'll allow them to stay here...." Nie Mingjue said and continued, "When are you planning to leave?" He asked.

"An hour or two at most. We want to return as soon as possible." Wei (Y/n) answered and Mingjue vaguely nodded thinking of something. "Xichen," He called Lan Xichen who was silently listening to their conversation. "Yes?" He questioned why he was called and Mingjue looked at him pointedly. "Why don't you go with them? You did say that you had some matters to see near Yunmeng." Nie Mingjue asked and Lan Xichen looked at him dumbfounded but replied anyway.

"I have no problem. If it isn't a bother to them." He answered and Wei (Y/n) shook her head. "Not at all. Zewu-Jun is welcome to come with us." She answered and Lan Xichen smiled nodding. "Thank you." He said and Wei (Y/n) shook her head, "There's no need to thank me." She said and turned to Nie Mingjue. "Thank you for your hospitality Mingjue-Xiong. I must prepare for leaving, please excuse me." She said saluting and Mingjue nodded. "I wish you a safe journey." He said and (Y/n) smiled slightly left.

When she left Lan Xichen turned to Nie Mingjue, "Mingjue-Xiong I told you that I would leave for the village tomorrow. Why did you ask for me to go with Hexia-zun?" He questioned and Mingjue looked at him for a moment before answering, "A day earlier will do no harm to anyone." The answer was vague but Lan Xichen didn't press further, "Then please excuse me. I have to prepare." He said saluting and Mingjue nodded.

When Lan Xichen was almost out Nie Mingjue called him."Good Luck Xichen, I wish you do well." Lan Xichen was confused and shocked at the statement but merely nodded with a smile making his way out.

-------------

The members of the Jiang Sect reached Lotus Pier the next morning, only taking a break in the night. Lan Xichen had separated from them at the village he had some business to attend to. From that village they had all used boats to reach Lotus Pier.

When the docks of Lotus Pier came into view, Wei (Y/n) smiled. She remembered the first time she came here with Su and her father. When her thought crossed her mind she made a note to go visit Su and her family. They had been very kind to her and helped her much. Nodding her head to her thoughts she smiled again. A smile not seen by anyone but her brother.

"Why are you smiling like that?" He questioned standing next to her on the boat. His voice was not loud, just enough to be heard by (Y/n). "I remember the first time I came here." She said with a forlorn look in her eyes. Wei Ying didn't question just stood there in silence beside his sister looking forward.

But along with those memories also came the memory of her deceased uncle. It hit with a feeling of nostalgia but she shook her head lightly to clear her thoughts.

When they got off, the vendors seemed to be just as cheerful before the whole war and all. They seemed to buzz with more enthusiasm when they saw the siblings get off the boats. They stood up and started shouting and smiling greeting them. But they still made a clear path for them to walk forward.

When they were halfway through a small girl of about three ran forward. Her clothes were tattered but she still held a beautiful smile on her face and a bright pink flower in her tiny hands. She neared Wei (Y/n) and tugged on her clothes. Everyone stood watching with wide eyes as the poor girl pulled on Hexia-zun's clothing, afraid of what the famed cultivar would do if she got angry. An older woman stepped to take the child back but stopped in her tracks when (Y/n) bent down to the child's height.

The girl gave her the flower in her hand. (Y/n) stared at it briefly before smiling lightly and gently taking the flower from her frail fingers. The girl's smile brightened if it was possible. "Is this for me?" (Y/n) asked in a soft voice and the girl nodded her head with the never fleeing smile on her face. Wei (Y/n) looked at the girl up and down and frowned at her state. "Where are your parents?" (Y/n) questioned and the girl tilted her head as if not understanding what she meant.

Everyone stood watching her interaction with the small girl. Wei Ying smiled sadly, he remembered his own childhood before he was taken in by Jiang Fengmian. Jiang Yanli had a soft smile almost guessing what the younger girl was thinking. Jiang Cheng just looked at the scene quietly with admiration for his older sister, how she could be so soft when she was so fierce in battle?

"Where are her parents?" This time she directed the question to the older woman. She shook her head "No one knows. She doesn't speak. She knows nothing not even her own name." The woman answered and Wei (Y/n) frowned. No child should live like this. No one knows what kind of trauma she went through for her to be like this.

(Y/n) tucked the flower in the girl's hair and smiled at her. "Come now little one.." She spoke softly and stood up holding the girl's hand and leading her alongside herself. The trio followed after her with soft smiles along with the disciples and the people dispersed.

When (Y/n) saw the gates of the main residence, her thoughts flashed back again. The first time she met Jiang Fengmian. She smiled sadly and waited for a bit for the three others to catch up with her. In the meantime (Y/n) glanced at the little girl who was looking around with amazement. Wei (Y/n) chuckled at her wonder but still couldn't help but think about what happened to her parents.

When all of them entered Madam Yu was waiting for them in the main hall. "Madam Yu," "Mother," They greeted and she smiled standing up and walking towards them. She hugged all of them one by one, Her smile was genuine clearly relieved that all of them had made it back. "How was the trip?" She asked and Jiang Yanli replied, "It was well, we had no difficulties."

Madam Yu noticed the little girl and bent down a bit to see her, The little girl clutched Wei (Y/n)'s robes and hid behind her legs afraid of the new person. Madam Yu smiled "Who is she?" She asked (Y/n) and she told her what she knew about her. "So what about her now?" She questioned again and (Y/n) looked down at the girl who looked back at her with her dark brown irises.

"I'm going to take her in." She answered with no wavering in her voice. The three had seen her interaction with the girl before so they were not so surprised. It was not wrong to say that the girl made her way into her heart in a few moments. Madam Yu stayed silent for a few minutes before sighing, "Alright. But taking care of her will not be easy." She warned (Y/n) and smiled slightly. "I'm sure I can manage." She replied. "What is her name then?" Asked Wei Ying. (Y/n) thought for a moment before looking at the girl clutching her robes. "Wei Lifen"

Lifen: Fragrant Flower