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It's a pity Wen Qing insisted on splitting off, but it's not like Wei Ying doesn't understand having to protect your little brother. Even if hers ended up coming along after all. Whatever, between her and Lan Zhan it's not like they can't take whatever crosses their path.
And Yueyang is lovely! Mm, free samples of tasty alcohol--hey! Mrrg, that Lan Zhan, she never waits up.
"Hey! Hey Lan Zhan, where are you going?"
"Oh Lan-jiejie I love you so much, wanna marry you, wanna have a million babies and night-hunt together for the rest of our lives."
Haaaaaaappy snuggling. Contented--man there really has to be a sexier word than "sniffing," doesn't there?
Sniffing is welcome.
This continues to be the best possible way to fall asleep.
It really is.
The next day there is still no further word about Lotus Pier. Jiang Cheng gets increasingly antsy as the day goes by; there aren't even any active engagements for him to take his frustrations out on. Wei Ying spends a chunk of the day teasing him to give him a safe outlet.
If they don't hear anything by tomorrow, it might be best to go to Lotus Pier anyway.
"Okay. Good. Thanks."
It may or may not be less that he needed to ask and more that he needed to do something.
It makes sense that Jiang Cheng would have feelings about his sister deciding to marry another girl, and that he is working on figuring out those feelings, but Lan Zhan feels no need to figure them out for him.
Do they get any news today?
The Jiang disciples don't need to re-pack or anything, they're just ready to go.
Lotus Pier, when they get there, is...
structurally speaking, it's in a lot better shape than Cloud Recesses was. More of the buildings are intact. More of the damage that does exist is breakage as opposed to burning.
But there are bloodstains, and Wen banners. Jiang Cheng grips Sandu's hilt hard enough it looks like he's going to injure himself.
Hug.
It's extremely upsetting, the blood and the Wen banners. She clenches her fist around her own sword. "We must be careful."
"Yes. ...Lan-guniang, you have--relevant experience. If you have--advice--I would appreciate it."
"Get the survivors out. Have them carry the injured. Kill as many Wens as you can."
"Sounds good to me."
Scouring the countryside for survivors yields a much larger number of children than survived the burning of Cloud Recesses--at Lotus Pier, children are encouraged to make their environs a playground, and there are so many places to hide. Most of them are hungry or dehydrated or both.
Very, very few adults are to be found. Less than ten in total.
They tell him that Jiang Fengmian held off the Wens as long as he could. His current status is unknown. He's probably dead but he could be a prisoner.
Jiang Yanli wasn't there when it happened. She was in Meishan visiting maternal relatives. Jiang Cheng comes very, very close to breaking down in relieved tears when he hears this.
Madam Yu's whereabouts and status are unknown.
Wei Ying fusses over children who address her as "Shijie" and makes sure they get food and water but don't make themselves sick. She distracts them from their discomfort and grief with outrageous stories and games that are carefully designed not to draw outside attention. When A-Cheng looks like he might be about to cry she invents something he needs to take a look at urgently and leads him off so if it happens it won't happen in front of people who--will probably need to be looking to him as Sect Leader sooner rather than later.
Children surviving is good. Very good. There is little else good about this entire situation.
Lan Zhan hangs back from all interaction with the survivors, except to give children water and bandage scrapes. The devastation horrifies her, but it isn't - hers. It feels intrusive to be here witnessing the fresh grief of the Jiang Sect.
She has no comfort for anyone. She doesn't believe that there can be comfort, for this. Lan Zhan sticks to handing out water and playing her qugin for those who need to be calmed.
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