Call On Me

16

After a night's rest, I met up with Lan Zhan and Baoshan outside for breakfast. Baoshan's place was beautiful. Peach blossoms, plum blossoms, and cherry blossoms. So many beautiful flowers and trees. She has a large and beautiful wisteria tree. The purples, pinks, and whites. Her main house was also very nice. It was bright and open, but comfortable. It was a large building, which means that she has a lot more in this house and she has a lot of knowledge.

I did get lost at first on my way outside and ended up in a library. A large room, and a big glass dome ceiling. There were books and scrolls and even some artifacts within the room. As much as I wanted to explore this enchanted space, I left as I needed to find the others. I did eventually find my way to the main hall and a door leading outside. I saw Baoshan and Lan Zhan sitting there talking.

"Good morning," I greeted.

"A'Ying, how are you feeling?" Baoshan asked as I sat at the table. She even set a plate of food in front of me.

"I'm doing alright," I answered, "I'm guessing you want to know everything that happened for me to lose my golden core?"

"Yes, but I can run a quick session of empathy if that is alright. It will allow me to see everything for myself," she said.

"I have no problem with it," I said.

"Good," Baoshan said, "and if you sacrificed your core for someone else, why suddenly need it again?"

"I am running a small sect of innocent people who are just trying to live without getting involved in a war that is going on. Everyone I look after is just healers, a young child, and teenagers who have barely begun cultivating. I go through treatments to keep the little spiritual energy I have left but if I want to really protect those people, I need to be at my full strength again," I answered.

"Do you like running this sect?" She asked.

"It has its rewards," I said.

"But you are missing something?" She asked, "why did you give up your cultivation? You said this person doesn't know what you did for him, why?"

"He is too proud. He was to rebuild his sect and he couldn't without a core. I'm only now realizing that he and his family may have not actually accepted me as a person, just a servant," I told her.

"Servant?" She asked appalled, "who dares make you a servant?"

"They are long dead but Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan," I replied.

Baoshan scoffed, "if only you knew what really made your father leave that sect."

"Why?" I asked, "no one ever talks to me about my parents. Every time I go looking for some kind of answers, they get shut down. All Jiang Fengmian kept telling me was that my father was his friend and most loyal companion. As for my mother, all I get is that I am too much like her when it comes to my personality. They see me and they automatically see her. They all know my parents but they won't tell me anything," I was in tears and I slammed my fist down on the table.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I saw that Lan Zhan moved to sit closer to me, "Wei Ying, it is alright. If you want answers, I can help you find them."

"You don't need to look far. I can tell you what I know. If you want," Baoshan said.

"Really?" I asked her.

"Of course," she said.

After that conversation, and breakfast, I let Baoshan run empathy. She seemed angry by the time she finished. She now understood why I was so upset about not knowing anything about my parents. She saw me being used by the Jiang's, being abused and gaslighted for so long. She saw how Lan Qiren treated me, she saw how my relationship started with Lan Zhan, and she saw the fall of Lotus Pier and how I became the one to blame. She also saw my new life at San Bao. She seemed very happy about it.

"A'Ying, would it be okay if I helped you with San Bao?" She asked.

"Of course, but how?" I asked.

"Once I help restore your core, I will place protection over the sect for you. I think you should go not only help with the War but also, be by Lan Wangji. You two, I will not only help A'Ying her his core back, but I will help you to immortality. You two will have to rely on each other more though. Once I grant you immortality, you'll have to be bound. You two can marry anytime but once I help set your bond, you will find it better to help and protect each other. The abilities you obtain at the next level will help you win this war," Baoshan explained.

Lan Zhan and I exchanged a look before agreeing to it. I handed her the two ingredients we have already gotten and she was already impressed by our achievements.

"The reason why this elixir will work is because not only does it help restore cultivation, but it is used to achieve immortality. The fact that you found my book is quite intriguing," Baoshan said as she began to make the elixir, "this will make enough for two so you two can both share. Just remember, this process will be a bit different for each of you. Wangji has a core already so he might feel a bit of pain while the elixir works its magic, as for you, A'Ying, you will end up unconscious because your body won't be able to handle the process of building a new foundation."

I nodded, "so do you want us to lay down somewhere before we take that?"

"Yes," she said, "Wangji how are you with meditation?"

"I meditate all the time," he answered.

"It will be helpful while your foundation changes. So as soon as you take the elixir, move into a meditative state. It will help you relax," she explained.

With that, I laid down on a nearby bed, and Lan Zhan sat down beside me on a mat beside the bed. Once we took the elixir, Lan Zhan started meditating and I passed out immediately.