Growing Pains from Growing Family (Xicheng)

Chapter 56: Ceremony

Stepping outside the first thing which washed over Jiang Cheng was the scent of lotus flowers. Unlike usual days when the lakes were the only things that would be decorated by the lovely flowers today was different, today they were everywhere. In order to ensure the flowers would still be in mint condition during their ceremony Jiang disciples had gathered together earlier that morning to decorate the entire stage as well as any surrounding thing which you could physically attach a flower to. Doors, chairs, the hair of guests. Everything was covered. The flowers were stunning, capturing Jiang Cheng's heart as he took it all in. But there was one flower more beautiful than the rest and that was the flower carried by a very special Lan.

Wearing the most expensive of red silk Zewu-jun had transformed from being the most handsome man alive to the most handsome man of all time. He truly had no equal. His amber eyes shone like the sun in the sky. The same sun which reflected in the Lan's jewelry and provided him with an aura of pure light as if the heavens were informing the mere mortals of earth that an angel walked among them.

The only thing grounding Jiang Cheng, reminding him that Lan Xichen was still human, was the tiny red mark which peeked out from underneath his collar. The bite mark he had obtained two days ago. Jiang Cheng's mark. It was none other than Sandu Shengshou that had been the one to claim this ethereal beauty.

"You look spectacular, I can't believe you're all mine." he gasped as Lan Xichen approached, turning the Lan's jade-white ears as red as his robes. He wasn't used to receiving such direct compliments from his lover, not publically in front of other people like this. There were dozens if not hundreds of people who had overheard the groom's awestruck compliment.

But said embarrassment would not stop him from responding back in turn. "You better believe it, because from now on you're stuck with me. It's no longer just you and me, it's we. Me and my handsome Jiang who's got lips sweeter than honey" Putting his flower away in order to free up his hands Lan Xichen reached out for his Jiang, who instantly froze unsure of what to do. Usually in these kinds of public settings the man was supposed to lead his lady, but Jiang Cheng wasn't a lady.

His brother always chose to walk however. He had never adhered to proper etiquette anyway so his 'sometimes being the lady sometimes being the dead weight dragging down the previously respected Hanguang-jun' wasn't of much help. Was he supposed to let Lan Xichen lead him? That's probably what he was supposed to do. But before he had placed his hand upon his lover's arm a soft hand had already been placed on his.

"Would you do me the honor of leading me?" Lan Xichen asked with a gentle smile. He knew how much Jiang Cheng wanted to keep up his image of being strong, and yet being strong felt so very wrong in this moment.

"I don't believe sect leader Lan is in need of someone to lead him" Jiang Cheng replied. Taking Lan Xichen's hand in his own, he entwined their fingers. There was no longer anyone leading or being led, just two people, side by side, both choosing to walk in the same direction. "Ready?"

"Mn" Lan Xichen hummed in response before turning his head towards the stage upon which they were going to make their vows, to be unified in this life as well as in any future to come. He honestly couldn't contain how happy he was, letting his smile go as far as showing a row of perfectly straight jade-white teeth to the audience.

His sister smiled back at him from where she sat beside uncle Qiren who nodded in acknowledgement, even his nephew was there happily cheering him on. Three people, that was all he had left with him. Three. So many people had been lost over the years, and yet he was certain that if it is possible for his sworn brothers to attend from beyond their graves they were definitely here today.

He could imagine Nie Mingjue's stern expression as he silently with just the twinkle in his eye expressed the happiness he felt on his brother's behalf. Before the wedding he would have questioned his choice of partner, warning him to think things through as choosing a man would lead to no offspring, but after hearing Zewu-jun's plans he would have affectionately shaken his head and congratulated him on having found the one.

Meng Yao wouldn't have been as critical, he would've instantly jumped for joy that his sworn brother had found the person he wanted to spend his life with. He would've been so supportive... right? But perhaps sect leader Jiang joining forces with the Lan sect wasn't part of his plan... Pushing the uncomfortable what ifs to the back of his mind Lan Xichen focused on the here and now.

All his brothers were here, supporting him in spirit. Sadly that also included the one who was still alive. Lan Wangji wasn't present, sitting with the rest of the Lans. But with his brother-in-law also being nowhere to be seen it wasn't hard to guess where they might be... really!? Today of all days?

But the disappointment he felt over his brother's absence could not compare to that of his partner. Having lost even more loved ones than the Lan he too only had three people left. One who had disappeared with Lan Wangji, one who may or may not be hidden inside the woods, and a third whom stood ready on the stage to protect the man he had sworn to protect. It wasn't much support to speak off.

But today that would change, from now on they would have each other and Lan Xichen would work hard to make sure his Jiang's life was filled with happy memories of them together. Squeezing Jiang Wanyin's hand, he tried to offer the younger man the comfort he was searching for out in the crowd and if the squeeze he received back was an indicator of anything, it helped.

As they stepped up on the stage, elevated for all to see, Jiang Cheng was fiddling with the Lan's fingers. Unsecure and uncertain if he was doing the right thing to marry without his nephew being there. But it wasn't like he had a choice not to go through with it. This was it, ready or not, nephew or not, it was time.

From the corner of his eye Lan Xichen spotted a black-clad individual emerging from the woods, waving his hands up in the air before giving his brother a big thumbs up which instantly relieved the tension from Jiang Cheng's shoulders. He was ready. Whatever Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had been doing out in the woods it had helped him calm down. Confidently letting go of his lovers hand he turned to face the audience and thanked them all for coming before holding a speech about how this day was not only unifying two people, but two sects.

"...And though the Jiang sect and the Lan sect will remain as separate entities just as before, we hope that our bond will encourage our people to look beyond that separation..." Jiang Cheng got distracted. Over on his side of the stage, the one closest to the forest was movement. One of the nearby bushes had moved. But when one of the Jiang disciples who stood guard went to check it out Jiang Cheng dismissed him as to not scare the Jin away.

"... and see that in times of need as well as in times of prosperity we will stand side by side and support one another." Lan Xichen finished his husband's speech, after which it was time to finalize their wedding. Getting down on their knees the two cultivators made a bow in honor of the heavens, turning slightly to the west, whilst Lan Xichen turned to the east to face their families' resting places they both made a bow in honor of their ancestors, before turning towards each other.

Lan Xichen met his gaze one final time. The next time he looked at those honey-colored eyes they would belong to his husband. And so Jiang Cheng lowered his head yet again, this time in honor of the man who had captured his heart, body, and soul. May they live a long and happy life together.

The rustling of the bushes had gotten even closer than before. It wasn't uncommon for Jin Ling to come running to his side whenever they made up and so Jiang Cheng turned to greet his bawling nephew only to find that the man jumping out from the bushes was not the young Jin, but a man dressed in all black carrying a heavy sword which was raised above his head.

"Death to the Yunmeng cutsleeves!!!" he viciously screamed as he swung his blade towards the unprepared sect leader. And though Jiang Cheng tried to dodge the attack, he was on his knees. He wasn't in a position to make a quick escape. Combined with the fact that he had previously been moving to approach his attacker left him very vulnerable.

Not a second later had the man swung his blade than Jiang Cheng felt the overwhelming pain and agony associated with having his chest cleaved open yet again. Clutching his injury, he fell backwards no longer able to sit up straight. Somewhere in the distance was a loud and shrill scream of pure agony, but Jiang Cheng did not have either time nor energy to identify whom it may have belonged to before it all turned black.