Phoenix

Part 40

                  The cultivation world was thrown into chaos again. Jin Guangshan had financially supported many Sects after the war (more like bribing). Jin Zixuan took up the spot of Sect leader and swiftly investigated all of his father's investments. He was not willing to throw money away to gain support. He had no wish to be Chief Cultivator or to own the world. All he wanted was to bring his sect to its former glory. As such, he made sure everyone knew his father was buried in disgrace along with his half-brother. 

               An emergency conference was held after the funeral was held by the Nie Sect. For once, every leader was in attendance. Madam Yu's anger was accented by the purple sparks surrounding her. Everyone noticed distastefully how she was seated in the Sect leader's spot with her son at her side. Jiang Yanli stared at the image with a sour taste in her mouth. Her little brother looked like a miserable puppet. He had tried to stand up to his mother, but she had whipped him to unconsciousness. In her eyes, her mother was a monster now.

             She sat next to her future husband while telepathically telling her sworn siblings all she had learned when she had actually managed to speak alone with her brother. Wei Wuxian's face was dark. Even though they had parted on bad terms, Jiang Cheng had been his brother for years before his mother's poison had infiltrated his head. They spent many years playing together. Jiang Cheng protected him from dogs and other people's bullying for many years. He could tell his brother was ashamed of his behavior since he refused to look him in the eye during these meetings, constantly staring at the floor.

            Lan Wangji held his husband's hand to comfort him. He had never liked Jiang Wanyin, but he knew how much his siblings still loved him. It would be against his nature not to aid them in helping a loved one. Looking across the hall, he made eye contact with Nie Huasang. The man was lightly fanning himself while his sharp eyes studied the Jiangs. Lan Wangji relaxed. If Nie Huasang had been thinking along with his Wei Ying and Yanli-jie, everything would be fine.

            The meeting felt more like an inquisition. Many Sect leaders were shouting, adamant that Jin Zixuan was covering how Wei Wuxian had murdered Jin Guangshan. The meeting got so bad that Lan Wangji unleashed the full weight of his immortal presence. "Quiet." After everyone in the hall was brought to their knees, he released the pressure. "My husband was shopping at the time, and I am sure all of your spies informed you. I was the one that killed Sect leader Jin for trying to attack my sworn sister Jiang Yanli." Everyone looked shocked between Lan Wangji and Jiang Yanli.

              She smiled placatingly before speaking. "It is true. I had offered to help A-Xian find his missing cousin. They were worried for me, so they set up an array that would teleport Wangji and Huasang to me if my body sensed danger. The trail led to the old sect leader's workroom. There, we found many men and women who had gone missing. Jin Guangshan was not happy with our interference. Isn't that right, A-Xuan?" The new sect leader nodded solemnly. "I am afraid he admitted that he would have killed me too and get one of his other children to be his new heir. We would have both died if not for Lan Wangji and Nie Huasang. Jin GuangYao had a strong vampire working for him that was helping them corner us."

              "Lies! It was that bastard that wanted Jin Guangshan out of the way to gain more power!" Madam Yu's voice was harsh and grating as she signaled Wei Wuxian out. Nie Huasang's eyes became steel as he closed his fan loudly. "Madam Yu, it's funny how you accuse Wei-Xiong of killing a sect leader for more power when you did that yourself. Are you sure you are not projecting? Wei-Xiong and Wangji are immortal. If they wanted the cultivation world, it would already be theirs. Wasn't Lan Wangji's show of power proof of that already? That was just his aura. Can you imagine both of them in a rage? All they want is to live peacefully alone, yet you keep attacking them. Talk about poking the sleeping bear."

                Many Sect leaders seemed to actually be thinking of his words. Madam Yu sputtered before shouting in rage. "How dare you accuse me of killing my husband? I should tear your useless little head apart from your body for that." Nie Huasang held his brother back with surprising strength while smirking in triumph. "Madam Yu, I never said the sect leader you killed was your husband. Since you brought it up, though... I do have a few witness reports that state exactly that, as well as his medical report. That, along with the sightings of you using your whip on your own son, who is now your sect leader, paints a very bad picture. Hmmm, what should the punishment be?"

                The hall was deathly silent. Jiang Yanli cleared her throat. "She is my mother. As such, I will decide the punishment for her. I state that since cultivation is the most important thing for her, her core should be permanently sealed. Her title as a Lady of Lotus Pier will be removed. She will have no power there. You may continue to watch A-Cheng make the Jiang Sect great again, or you can return to Maishan Yu. If you try to tell A-Cheng how to run the sect, you will be immediately returned to Meishan with an array that will not allow you to return to the Jiang Sect. You never wanted the title of Lady Jiang, so you will have nothing that goes with it. I will take over looking for a spouse for my brother." 

                  Everyone looked at her in shock. Madam Yu tried to attack her, but her whip was intercepted by a note from her lyre. She allowed her immortal presence to be felt. " I would rethink that, mother. In this room alone, there are five immortals who want your head. Are you going to give them a reason to take it?" She sat leisurely next to a stunned Jin Zixuan, who was looking at her like she had made the stars in the sky.

                   She again tried to attack, but this time, Lan Wangji cut her hand off. The other sects stared, horrified, as he walked over to the hand and took the whip. He leisurely handed it to Jiang Wanyin with a stare that stated he better make better use of it than his mother. Then he returned to the raging woman while Wei Wuxian hid his face, knowing his husband. Lan Wangji slammed a seal into her dantian, flinging Madam Yu across the room. Nie Huasang's sweat dropped, but he rushed over to draw an array in the back of her neck. He nodded before going back to his seat as if nothing happened.

                  Jiang Yanli watched with conflicted feelings. "There... it has been done. A-Cheng, run the Sect as you feel is right. You are the Sect leader, not her. She holds no power anymore. Wangji...Did you have to hit her that hard to set the seal?" Lan Wangji looked at her blankly before saying no. Wei Wuxian was fighting hard to smother his laughter. No one knew how to respond to such a straightforward answer with the man's blank face.

                  Wei Wuxian finally had enough of the staring. "Is the meeting over? I have a cousin I am still nursing back to health, my sons, and a nephew waiting for me at home." Most sect leaders grumbled but agreed to end the meeting there. Nothing had gone as they expected. Wei Wuxian rushed over to Jiang Cheng. Placing his hands on the man's shoulders, he forced the sect leader of the Jiangs to look at him. He smiled gently before squeezing his hold lightly. "Jiang Cheng, nothing can be as it was, but know that if you need help as a friend, I will be there. You have great potential as a leader, so take this opportunity to do what you think is best for the sect. I can't wait to see how great the Jiangs will be with you at the head."

               Lan Wangji walked over, pulling his husband away with a curt nod. They walked outside and transformed into the phoenix and dragon forms to fly back to their home quickly. They could finally breathe, knowing their children and family would be safe. Wei Wuxian was already a god and would have to leave his position soon. The only reason he was allowed to keep it for now was that his sons were still too young to handle the burden. It was also because the gods recognized that Wei Wuxian would go nowhere without his other half, who had not yet reached godhood. 

                For now, they would bond with their family and teach their sons and little Xuanyu everything they knew. After awakening his golden core, Xuanwu also made contact with his inner phoenix. They would make sure all their family was well. That included Nie Mingjue, whose temperament was getting worse by the day. Still, Wie Wuxian and Nie Huasang were already working on that. Jiang Yanli was finally happy with her peacock. Lan Xichen finally got the courage to court Wen Qing. Everything was perfect for now; they would live one day at a time.