Growing Pains from Growing Family (Xicheng)

Chapter 53: Fated To Find Each Other

"You know, if you want to you can stay here in Lotus Pier. If you don't want to stay in the Cloud Recesses I can have a permanent residence made for you." Jiang Cheng offered. His tears had faded long ago and now he was just tired, leaning against the shoulder of a woman he had only known for less than a couple of hours. It was strange but despite the short amount of time that had passed he trusted her completely. It almost felt like he'd known her for a lifetime. Like they were fated to find each other.

"That sounds nice, that way I can still meet A-Die without having him suffocate me at all times." She replied slightly dreamily. She too was in the floating daze that took over once the final tears had fallen. "And with Lan-da-ge around I'm sure I'll be well taken care of"

Jiang Cheng agreed. "Mm, Lan Huan is truly the best. But even he can't do everything. I will make sure you always have access to the most qualified healers in the entire world." He already had some but with a pregnant lady around it would be worth getting someone who was specifically trained to deal with pregnancy complications and childbirth.

"Thank you Jiang Cheng, you're too kind. I've actually been quite worried, this is all so new..." Sect leader Jiang couldn't even imagine how scary it must be for a single-mother to have to face this all on her own. His new sister, who went by the name of Lan Zhi, had told him about the child's father. He was a fellow wandering cultivator and a very handsome man, he was kind and caring but not the kind of person who would want to be shackled to a single place. So when she noticed her belly growing she left their group of cultivators claiming that she was homesick. By the time she had made it back to the Cloud Recesses she had already swelled up like a balloon looking like she was way farther along than she actually was. Despite looking like she had just a month or so left she presumed she still had almost half a year left before the baby arrived.

Scared beyond belief her arms shuddered as she sounded on the verge of tears yet again, but there were no more tears to cry.

"If you want to I'll have my other sister-in-law move in as well. I feel like the two of you will get along great, you two have quite a lot in common. She too used to travel the world a lot as an exceptional cultivator before she settled down. Since she's currently pregnant with her second child she can also likely answer whatever questions or worries you might have regarding the baby."

He could have Yao Guo and his entire family move into Lotus Pier for the next year or so. His brother would surely appreciate having his wife and future child live closer to the exceptional health-care personnel at Lotus Pier.

"Thank you. I would love to meet her." Jiang Cheng could not only hear the hope in her voice, he could feel it in his bones. Lan Zhi's feelings were echoing in his own body as though they were his own. Sadness, fear, hope. He felt them all. Taking his new sister's hand in his own he felt an immense connection to her as he offered her comfort. "Thank you Jiang Cheng."

"Don't worry about it. Bringing brother Yao and his family here will be really nice. The only reason I haven't done so sooner is because I feared I would get too attached to their daughter Luo Feng, whom I will surely get stuck babysitting." Jiang Cheng smiled at the thought of having a new stubborn little child follow him around. For her to shout 'uncle Jiang' at the top of her lungs whenever she got lost. For her little sponge of a brain to eagerly take in any and all of the new information he would bestow upon her.

"Without Jin Ling running around the halls of Lotus Pier, it feels so empty. This place feels so very empty. But with you and Lan Huan moving in I don't think it will feel quite so empty when they eventually move out again" He couldn't keep his brother and sister-in-law living at Lotus Pier forever, they had their own lives to live. Their own family to care for.

Jiang Cheng had felt alone for so long. His nephew was all grown up and the time for him to leave the nest had long since passed. As much as Jiang Cheng wanted to cling onto him and keep him by his side forever he needed to let go. Jin Ling had been spending more and more time in Lanling over the years, getting used to it being his new home. His sect. His place in the world.

Jiang Cheng hadn't abandoned him.

He would never abandon his boy.

His stubborn and childish little boy.

His Jin Ling.

Still exhausted from the night before Jiang Cheng was beat. After the long greetings of guests, the intense worry for his nephew, finished off with the reminder of having been abandoned for years he couldn't help but fall into a deep slumber, resting his head against Lan Zhi's shoulder. Hearing his breathing calm down she smiled affectionately at the man who so quickly had gained her heart. Placing her arm around his shoulder she ensured that he wouldn't accidentally slide off her shoulder as he rested.

Not too long after she heard the door creak open, revealing the person she expected would come to find them eventually. His face was as kind and reassuring as ever, though perhaps he looked a bit tired from the day's events. "Are you done greeting the guests brother?" she asked to which she received a simple nod in response.

"He's asleep?" Lan Xichen observed, his full focus being on his fiancé. The one he'd come to meet. He'd wanted to ask about why he'd been so adamant about suddenly needing to find Lan Sizhui, why he had looked so panicked. But he'd arrived too late, his duties of greeting the guests had taken too long, and so his sister had taken his place instead.

"Yes, I think he tired himself out. He looked very stressed when he found me and A-Die. Especially when we told him Lan Sizhui hadn't arrived yet. Apparently he missed his nephew's exam and now the boy believes his uncle abandoned him to spend time with his new boyfriend. He's very upset about the whole thing... Lan Huan, I worry for him. Are you sure he's in a good enough headspace to be able to go through with the wedding tomorrow?" she asked, concerned for the Jiang who was so tired he had fallen asleep resting on a pregnant woman's shoulder.

"He'll be fine. Jiang Cheng is a very resilient man." He assured her as he walked over to pick his beloved Jiang up in his arms. There was only one person whom Jiang Cheng should rest his sleeping head on, and that was him.

Standing up from the couch she'd been sitting in Lan Zhi said "No wonder brother Huan chose sect leader Jiang as his cultivation partner. He's a very caring person, even offered me a place to stay."

"Yeah? That's nice, perhaps then I will get to see sister more than once a decade, huh? It's really been too long since we last met. As you know I'll be quite busy this week but let's catch up soon, I can't wait to hear of your latest adventures. Preferably in person this time and not in writing. But now if you excuse me, I have a fiancé I need to take care of" Lan Xichen said as he began to walk off, but before he could his sister spoke up again.

"Lan Huan... I know it might sound weird, but I feel like fate brought me and sect leader Jiang together... I think he might be the one."

Lan Xichen froze in his step.

"Are you certain?" he asked.

"Yes"