Calla Lily

Chapter 22

The war begins!

Lans + LXC

As the dawn breaks the allies gathered around for breakfast, the quiet and gloomy atmosphere was like a strangling hand around everyone's necks, as they all worked hard to remember the faces of the ones next to them not knowing if they would be seen breathing again.

"We'll be the first party to leave, has everyone got ready?" Lan Huan asked as he entered with his future self and uncle

Nodding all got up making one last check. When

"Lan Zhan?? Can I have a word with you please?" Wei Ying asked

"Mn, Xiongzhang go ahead I'll join," Lan Zhan said

"Xicheng be careful, don't overestimate yourself," Grandmaster Lan said to the younger first Jade

"And you, I know you may have already fought this war but be careful too... whatever luck you had before may not be there, be careful... look after yourself and younger" the old man continued

"Will do, Shufu" both first Jades' bowed

"Don't be too late, Wangji... young master Wei... do be careful too" Lan Huan said as he left with the older smiling at them

"Wei Wuxian... you and I may not see eye to eye but we are going to be family so please do be careful, if you need help go to Wangji... trust one another and look out for each other BUT not by letting yourself get hurt, understood?" Grandmaster Lan said looking at the men in black

"Understood Master Lan, I'll make sure Lan Zhan will be safe always," Wei Ying said bowing

"Foolish boy!! When I said it, I meant to make sure, you are safe as well as Wangji... do you think Wangji will be happy you got hurt to save him?" the man shot back as he walked away

'How odd Uncle Jiang who raised me all these years told me to look after Jiang Cheng, never did he say be careful to me but old man Lan here is telling me to be careful... this is my future? With a family that would make sure I'm safe no matter what' Wei Ying thought looking at the older man walking away

"Wei Ying should be safe... Wangji will not like to see Wei Ying anywhere close to the medical tent" Lan Zhan said eyes stern as if he's talking to a toddler

"Aiii Lan Zhan... I'll be safe, Er-gege you heard your uncle you too have to be safe!" Wei Ying said with all honesty he could muster

As the Lans were about to leave a commotion was heard near the Jins and Jiangs parties, looking at it Wei Ying was about to interfere when Lan Wangji came up to him

"Wei Ying will not interfere in this matter... this has to be done and must be understood by all, so he will not do anything," the older Lan said

"Why not, Lan Zhan? That's my family! If they need help, I should help!" the younger said

"Mn... you should but you have done enough right now they need to learn how to navigate without you. I'm not saying to give up on your family, Wei Ying but I'm asking you to let them grow up without you picking up for them..." the other said pointing at the commotion to see the older Wei speak for a minute before leaving letting the Jiangs and Jins figure out their mess.

'Wei Ying, you may not understand yet nor do I understand or know how the Jiangs completely treated you but I do know if I can have the chance to help make you feel less trapped by them I would... let you understand that they do need to grow without your help  once you marry, you then can focus on us and not on them... have time to do what you like and grow yourself too' Lan Wangji thought looking at the younger version of his beloved

Soon the Lans flew towards their base camps. Arriving at the base camp they began planning the next moves.

"So far we know that the Wens have changed their movement, instead of coming toward here 

(I can't think of a location, so just imagine Lan Huan pointed showing someplace, ok?) 

first, they are heading towards here, so we have to change our battle plan, Zewu-Jun? do you have a plan?" Lan Huan asked the older man

"Hm when we were first beginning to fight, we only thought we would be fighting living people but soon we saw and learned the hard that we have to worry about the dead more than the living. Wen Raohan will send both his living and dead men at us. This is why we thought of having the Lans and Jiangs close by and the Nies and Jins close, Wuxian's cultivation will help us in keeping the dead away and I will teach most of our troops a music score that can help in slowing the residual energies around once the dead have fallen.

"Hmm, Lan Xichen there is something I wish to know from your time?" An elder who was with them spoke up. Thankfully this wasn't someone who fought against Lan Wangji went he defended Wei Wuxian so Lan Xicheng allowed the man to speak

"Of course, elder, please"

"While I do still worry that we will be compromising our rules to fight with dark energy with dark energy how did we feel in your world? In your war how did we feel? Don't believe we stood quiet while young master Wei used his cultivation" the man asked

"Yes, we didn't approve of it, but we never outspoke it either. I'm ashamed to say but even if we knew it would be hurting young Master Wei, we still let him use it as it helped us win, we didn't care how it would affect him. We... when the war ended and later when young master Wei was accused of trying to be the next Wen Raohan, we did nothing, we stayed quiet, we didn't question anything, we believed in rumors, lies, and deception rather than trying to see the real picture. My biggest regret is that I too, overlooked the truth even when it was laid at my feet" signed Lan Xicheng

"If we are to change this time, we must follow our rules but not let them chain us, in our world there is a saying among our younger disciplines "See the truth with your own eyes, never see the world through another's" they say. I hope that it can be a light to you all to" the older jade spoke.

Understanding the man's words, the tent fell into silence many filled with horror to know just how far they forgot their rules and values. Sonn with a renewed desire to end this war and to see a brighter future the Lans worked in coordination to form their battle plan, and soon the only ones left inside were Lan Xichen, Lan Huan, Lan Zhan, and Lan Qiren.

"Wangji was the only one to see the truth, right? He said the reality but Xicheng and I didn't listen, did we?" grandmaster Lan asked, even if he knew what the truth would be

The silence that spread across the room was enough to answer.

"We want to be better than you all... no.. we will do better than you all, you have my word, your failures will be our guide lights and we will make sure not to fall," Lan Qiren said

"I know you will not. Now let's head out I think our guests must have arrived" the older first jade heading only to hear

"LAN ZHAN!!!"

breaking the nice quietness, the Lans were thankful for after spending all those days stuck with other clans. 

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