Time Reversal

21. Attack on Lianhua Wu, Part 1

Two days later, Jiang Wanyin, Jiang Yanli, and a handful of their disciples begged for admission into Yunshen Buzhichu. "Wen Xu attacked at dawn," the young heir wheezed, trying to catch his breath from the rush up the mountain. "Fumu insisted I take A'Jie to safety. Muqin said I should go to her mother's. I thought Yunshen Buzhichu would be more protected.

"There wasn't even enough time to get the new wards up before at least half of the Wen cultivators were inside them. Will you watch over Jiejie? I need...."

"Of course," Lan Xichen soothed. "Stay for a while. Eat something. Rest a bit to prepare you for the flight back. I'll send some people with you."

"No. No time," Jiang Wanyin protested.

Wei Ying interjected. "We need to send messengers to every cultivation sect and clan that sent disciples to the Indoctrination Session. Those that will ally with us should go to Bujing Shi. It's easier to get to than here."

"Agreed." Lan Xichen stated firmly. "Wangji, I'm sending you to Nie Mingjue. Tell him what's going on. Wei Wuxian, you go with Jiang Wanyin."

"No." Absolutely not. "Wei Ying stays with me."

"Wangji," his brother pleaded. "Wei Wuxian is Yunmeng Jiang. He knows their defenses just as well as Jiang Zongzhu and his family. They need him."

He glared at his brother. "Wei Wuxian is Gusu Lan. And my husband."

"Really," Wei Ying tried to please everyone. "I can be the most helpful at Lianhua Wu."

Now he glared at his husband. "So Jiang Furen can whip you to death again after she determines it's all your fault that Wen Ruohan is angry at the sects? No. You will stay here or you will go to Bujing Shi. Wherever you are, I will be."

"Then we both go to Lianhua Wu," Wei Ying's voice was testy. "They need me. I owe them."

"You owe them nothing. Any obligation you held has long been paid off." You have given them your back, your skills, your dedication, and even your jindan and your life. You have paid them far more than they have ever given you in return.

Wei Ying looked at his former martial brother and sister. "I owe them, Lan Zhan. Not out of any debt. Not anymore. My shidi and shimei have done nothing wrong. They shouldn't pay for the mistakes of their elders."

Ah. I understand. "Yes."

~*~

Lan Xichen's face was an ashen study in realized horror. "Wen Zongzhu knows we conspired against him."

There was a noise and a book fell at his feet. "The journal." He looked at his husband. "Why do I remember it? I remember our conversation about not remembering it."

"I, um, adjusted the array a bit. That memory piece... It wasn't actually very useful, was it?"

He picked it up, immediately flipping to the last page. "Wen Xu retaliated against Lianhua Wu first. He strikes at dawn in two days."

Wei Ying turned and began throwing clothing into a qiankun pouch. "We'll leave immediately; get the wards up as soon as we get there."

No. You're not going to give any more of yourself to the Yunmeng Jiang. "We can send a messenger." He felt the wards being raised around Yunshen Buzhichu.

"I need to go," Wei Ying argued. "I'm the focal point of Lianhua Wu's wards. Once I'm there, I can raise them. And no one can take them down unless they kill me." He cocked his head and grinned. "With you there, who can get close enough?"

"How are you the focal point?" Lan Xichen asked. "Isn't Jiang Zongshu?"

Wei Ying's grin slid into something approaching sheepishness. "Wei Ying," he growled.