Unrestrained Heart

Chapter 7

The three of them don't dare enter Lotus Pier through the town of Yunmeng, it is swarming with Wen disciples and soldiers. Instead, they come up on the dock side behind Lotus Pier moving as quietly as possible on a small sampan. Just in case they are spotted, Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian are dressed as Wen Ning's servants. People seldom pay attention to servants.

They pull the small boat up to the dock and Wen Ning tells them to stay there while he goes to find out what the situation is. As soon as he is out of sight, Wei Wuxian slips onto the dock, Jiang Cheng immediately realizes what he is up to and quietly follows him. There is a large willow tree that they used to hide in as small children and watch the disciples at their training. It's easy to climb and is located in an isolated corner outside the wall just beyond the training yard of Lotus Pier that makes it hard to see from the inside.

As soon as Wei Wuxian gets a good look at the inside of Lotus Pier he tries his best to push Jiang Cheng back, but it's too late. It's only by putting his hand over Jiang Cheng's mouth does he stifle the alpha's cry of horror.

There are dozens of dead Jiang disciples and servants laid out in the training yard. These are people they have known almost their entire lives. Even the little one, Liu-Shidi, is there. Wei Wuxian remembers the last time they had met he had told the boy to practice his archery more. Now the child isn't going to get a chance to improve.

There is no sign of Jaing Fengmian, Madam Yu or Jiang Yanli but Wei Wuxian sees those two battle maids that had been raised by Madam Yu laid out at the end of the row.

Jiang Cheng makes a move as if he is going to jump over the wall into that courtyard. Wei Wuxian pushes him back so violently he is shoved out of the tree. He jumps down after the alpha. "Are you so eager to join those bodies on the ground?" Wei Wuxian whispers fiercely.

Jiang Cheng is stunned enough by the fall to let Wei Wuxian drag him back to the docks.

Wei Wuxian watches Jiang Cheng closely, prepared to use a binding talisman on him if necessary. The alpha just turns his face in the direction Wen Ning had gone. His face is paler than Wei Wuxian has ever seen it and his jaw is clenched as if he is afraid if he opens his mouth he will cry or scream.

Wei Wuxian feels the same, he is shivering uncontrollably even though the night is warm. He wishes Wen Ning would hurry back with news.

He is gone long enough that Wei Wuxian begins to wonder if he was found out or has betrayed them. Just as Wei Wuxian is considering what to do next, they see Wen Ning coming towards them. He looks back over his shoulder once before approaching the boat.

"What?" Wei Wuxian starts to ask, but Wen Ning immediately takes up the oar and pushes away from shore.

"We can't stay here," He explains, "I snuck out while my cousin was in a meeting with his generals, but they will miss me soon enough."

While he rows, he explains more about the attack on Lotus Pier. After the disciples were taken to Qishan a decree had been made that all clans were to be completely under the rule of the Wen Clan.

It seemed that the children of the clans were to actually be used as hostages so that the clans would surrender their freedom to the Wen's quietly.

However, three days ago a white-faced Wen Chao had returned to Qishan and proclaimed all the visiting disciples had died in the cave of the Xuanwu of Slaughter even though he had heroically tried to save them. Wang Lingjiao and the Wen disciples had backed up this ridiculous story.

As soon as the message had been delivered to Lotus Pier, Madam Yu retaliated by having the Wens that were there to build the Overwatch Office executed. Wen Xu had been close by and when one of the Wens had managed to send off a signal flare he had attacked Lotus Pier. Lotus Pier had been quickly overrun by the Wen soldiers.