Growing Pains from Growing Family (Xicheng)

Chapter 59: Prepare For Surgery

Lan Xichen wasn't a person who paced. He was a completely calm and collected person, and yet waiting outside the room where his husband was getting treatment caused him to pace the corridor. Back and forth, back and forth, as he heard the Jiang screaming at the top of his lungs. "Jin Ling! Jin Ling! Has Jin Ling been sent to Lanling yet? Don't fucking touch me unless Jin Ling has been sent away!" he was refusing treatment until his nephew was safe and sound.

What was even worse was the fact that Jin Ling hadn't been found yet. Yao Guo had come back to report that they had only found one additional person in the woods, a young Lan who had been captured and been thrown into one of the Jiang sect's holding cells for now as sect leader Lan was the one responsible for interrogating the kid, but right now he didn't care. If one of his disciples had wandered off during the ceremony, he might as well stay locked up for a while as part of his punishment. Lan Xichen was not leaving Jiang Cheng's side to go lecture a rebellious teen. Especially not one who refused to have a cordial conversation with the Lans who captured him and asked him some basic questions.

Jiang Cheng kept on loudly screaming at the disciples in charge of treating him, and though Lan Xichen wanted to go in there to try and calm him down the healers had told him to stay out for now. But unlike usual when his lover's loud screaming and barking would be cause for concern right now it was rather comforting. It gave Lan Xichen constant proof of the fact that Jiang Cheng was still alive and well.

Trying to pacify their sect leader the Jiangs lied. "Yes, young master Jin has been sent away, just like you ordered. Is sect leader Jiang going to allow us to do our job now? If we don't start the surgery soon..."

Surgery!?

"Yeah, yeah... I get it. Just inject me already" the Jiang's sweet voice said, and from then on he said no more.

After a series of loud banging and hurried footsteps from people rushing back and forth the door to the infirmary finally opened. But what Lan Xichen could see inside was a very concerning sight. Surrounding the unconscious Jiang Cheng were bright lights, tons of different-sized sharp instruments, and a large group of healers, but the most terrifying of all were the bags. Lining the walls were bags upon bags filled with spare blood.

How serious of a procedure were they preparing for?

Was it really that bad? Just a minute ago Jiang Cheng had been barking orders just like usual. He had seemed fine hadn't he? Lan Xichen didn't know. He wasn't sure how much blood the Jiang had lost with his wedding robes concealing it well. The only blood Lan Huan had seen had been a couple specks on his face, which for all he knew could've belonged to the Jiang's attacker after Shuoyue dealt with him. All Lan Xichen knew for certain was that the Jiang's spiritual energy and golden core was within reasonable levels, which he had determined when he provided his husband with additional energy to sustain him.

An old and graying man, dressed in shimmering violet robes, stepped outside and quickly closed the door behind him when faced with the Lan's concerned reactions to seeing his husband in such a state.

"Sect leader Lan, there is no need for you to worry. Sect leader Jiang is alright" He reassured the patient's husband. The Jiang was clearly a professional, having spent his entire life healing cultivators and speaking with their distressed relatives, he spoke in a soft tone and used the kindest of smiles which carried a hint of understanding what he went through. But how could he not worry after what he just saw? They had only just gotten married!! That was his husband in there, getting prepared for surgery!!!

"That's good. So what's the next step doctor? Will I be allowed inside?" Lan Xichen asked as calmly as possible. No matter how bad it might get, he didn't want his Jiang to have to face it alone.

"Haha, like I said there's no need for you to worry. The only thing we've prescribed sect leader Jiang is rest and you're more than welcome to come watch over him as he sleeps." The healer smiled.

"Rest? But you said..." Surgery.

"Well, our sect leader is a quite stubborn man and in stressful times like these he isn't usually one to listen to reason..." the man sighed, he had been here before. "So we have chosen to sedate him for now to ensure he gets enough sleep. It's just..."

"What?" Lan Xichen inquired.

The healer sighed yet again. "I'm sure sect leader Lan is aware of the injury on our sect leader's chest?" Lan Xichen nodded, he had seen the Jiang's scar many times. "And has he told you the story behind it?"

"No." Jiang Cheng hadn't told him anything and Lan Xichen didn't want to push.

"I suppose then I should try and keep it brief. Basically, he was in a similar situation to the one that happened today, except this time he wasn't actually hurt. We've looked but from what we can tell he hasn't sustained any injuries from today's incident, not even a scratch. Despite this he is acting just like he did back then, and so we chose to have him get sedated for his 'surgery' in hopes that he'll be back to normal once he wakes up." The Jiang explained.

"So he's unscathed?" Lan Xichen let out a breath he had been holding ever since hearing the news that his husband needed serious medical attention.

"Yes, sect leader Jiang is perfectly fine but he will still need to stay in the infirmary so we can monitor him until he wakes up again. So does sect leader Lan want us to prepare a seat for him as well?" The question was more rhetorical than anything, and was delivered with a knowing smile. Of course he wanted to stay by his husband's side. But before he could agree a second man entered the hall.

"Sect leader. We have received word that the captured young man's name is Ru" one of the Lan disciples in charge of guarding the captured man's cell reported.

"Please have a seat prepared for me doctor. I'll be back in just a moment."