He never had a plan, he just went with the flow

Chapter Ten

 Maybe there are some deep-rooted biases and stigmas against the people living in Qishan because, damn, the towns that remain there are in bad condition. It was so bad that the adults, who had heard some rumors by this point, were begging him to take their kids away to a place where they could live better lives. Unable to say no or anything, he contacted Jiang Cheng.

He told him to bring the children with him to Lotus Pier so they could discuss what could be done.

This was perfect timing because he had some questions that needed to be answered, like the rumors and the prayers, among other things. And so, Wei Ying was riding to Lotus Pier again for the first time in a few months. They were a few minutes away when he saw something in the distance; it looked like a large building.

What is that?

When they got there, the building towered over Lotus Pier and its market. Was this the thing they were building around the orphanage?

He activated his moth, "I'm here with the children...what's that large building on the other side of the Pier?"

"I'll meet you there with some others."

He once again refused to answer his question. "Okay, we're going to that large building there." They quietly nodded, too scared of being sent away to speak. Wei Ying sighed. He had hoped they would have relaxed by now, but they were still too nervous. As they got closer to the orphanage and the large building, a sense of dread filled him. That building looks like a temple...it couldn't be a temple, right?

"Fairy statue?" They stood at the gate. In the center of the courtyard, there was a large statue of him when he was human. They could see the temple behind the statue. While he couldn't see what was inside, he could see a flame brazier in the center and something colorful behind it. "Finally, I thought I had aged ten years waiting for you to get here."

"Jiang Cheng...what is this?" He pointed at the statue. Jiang Cheng smirked as some disciples he had brought with him guided the children to the orphanage. "Well, you started the orphanage and kept bringing children from all over. We had to find a way to bring in enough funds and needed to renovate a bit to keep up with the influx of orphans."

"I- why Jianyi-zun?"

"Why not?" Wei Ying had no counter to that, so he gave up. Where are we going to talk about the issues plaguing Qishan?" Jiang Cheng pointed at the temple. "There, we had soundproofed it so that no one could peek in if we closed the doors."

When they got inside, Wei Ying was greeted by two paintings of him in both his female and male forms. "Did you know they started saying that your male and female form means different things?" Does he even want to know what they're saying about him?

They say that the Yiling Patriarch was righteous above all else, and after his unjust death, he returned as a river spirit to guide both the living and the dead. They believe that your male form represents a gentle but stern father who will teach you anything you want. Following his guidance will lead you down the path of righteousness. While your female form is the mother of all children who will unleash her wrath on those who mistreat kids. But, will guide those who have lost themselves and strayed from the righteous path."

"How ironic!" Wei Ying muttered. At the time of his death, he was seen as the embodiment of everything unrighteous. They even went as far as representing their beliefs about his two forms in the paintings. His male form proudly welded Suibian—he missed his sword, but Jiang Cheng said the Jins had it—while his female form was holding a lantern while riding MingFu.

People have a strong imagination if that's what they believe. He wonders if he should tell them that his forms are due to him no longer having a set gender since he's water. No, it's good to let people have something to believe in and turn to during hard times.