XiChen looks between Meng Yao and Jiang Cheng before asking, "What are you talking about Clan leader?"

Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes dramatically before answering in his trademark irritated way, "It doesn't concern you Clan leader Lan." Then he turns his gaze on Meng Yao and adds, "Please follow me. This is as good a time as any."

With that said, Jiang Cheng turns away and starts walking towards the eastern part of Louts cove. Meng Yao looks at Lan XiChen apologetically before following Jiang Cheng.

XiChen smiles affectionately. His smile is for Jiang Cheng, 'Finally, he believes my heart.' The older Lan whispers, before going to find his disciples.

*Eastern part of Lotus Cove*

Jiang Cheng stops a few meters away from the door of Wei Ying's room. The room where Su She had planted the demon in his absence.
"Clan leader Jin, this is the room where the two unfortunate deaths happened. I wanted to burn it to the ground, but I was not sure how the sinister creature would react to it." Jiang Cheng explains.

Meng Yao nods and walks across a few feet ahead. He turns to Jiang Cheng and asks in a curious tone, "How do you know that it's a demon?"

"That's just a guess. After I was informed of the deaths, I had entered this jingshin. I could feel a sinister force. My Zidian sparked too. It does that only when it senses possession or demonic energy." Jiang Cheng pauses before pressing on, "I wanted to believe that it was not Wei Wuxian's doing since he truly did love my sister Yanli and he would not want to taint her maternal home this way... but after I saw how he killed your wife and tried to blame you... I am not so sure." Jiang Cheng shakes his head and turns away from Meng Yao, "I guess...he doesn't have any love for this place after all." A long tear leaves Jiang Cheng's eyes. He wipes the tear away and says humbly, "You have learnt the calming music. You used it to help clan leader Nie before he passed away...." Jiang Cheng doesn't complete his sentence. He looks at Meng Yao expectantly.

Meng Yao is a little taken aback by this admission. He doesn't understand how to react. He plasters a fake sympathetic smile on his face, "Clan leader Jiang, I can't imagine what you must be going through. I am sorry but I can't bring back your family. But I can help you with this problem. " Meng Yao pretends to hesitate a little before adding, "But there is something that I want to ask you, please don't take it the wrong way, ok?"

Jiang Cheng nods his head, signalling Meng Yao to ask whatever was bothering him.

"After Yiling patriarch fell off the cliff, you and your men when down to find his remains, correct?"

"Yes, we did." Jiang Cheng answers confidently.

"Did you happen to find any anything?"

"If you mean his remains, then no, we didn't find any. But I did come across his flute. That cursed thing." Jiang Cheng mutters, before adding, "As soon as I held it, I could feel a sinister force. I brought it back to Lotus cove. But I was not comfortable with keeping it here. So one day, I went to burial mounds and attacked it with Zidian." Jiang Cheng chuckles as if remembering something funny, "Can you believe it, I took a fucking flute to that God forsaken place thinking that if I tried to destroy it at Lotus cove, it might harm my home... " Jiang Cheng sighs, "Anyway, in the end it didn't matter, Zidian broke that cursed thing."

Meng Yao's features cloud with anger, 'This stupid fool! He destroyed a perfect weapon. Anyway, if the demon is still here, that would mean that what Wei Wuxian did not come here. Also, I can't feel Chenqing's presence in lotus cove.... Did Yiling patriarch really die?'

When Meng Yao remains silent Jiang Cheng clears his throat dragging Meng Yao's attention towards him.

"Ah, sorry Clan leader, I was just thinking about how horrible you must have felt then." Meng Yao lies. He turns to Su She and adds, "Clan leader Su, please accompany me inside. I may need your help."

Su She nods at Meng Yao and follows his master. Jiang Cheng tries to follow them but Meng Yao stops him, "Clan leader Jiang, please remain outside. I don't want any harm to come to you." Meng Yao says politely.

A look of irritation crosses Jiang Cheng's face. It's fake. He is pretending.

'That is what I had expected Meng Yao, not take care of the demon you planted.' Jiang Cheng thinks, chuckling internally.

Meng Yao and Su She enter the room and close the door. A few minutes later, screams start filling the air in and around Wei Ying's room. Jiang Cheng bangs on the door to show mock concern, "Clan leader Jin! Please open the door. Are you ok? Clan leader!"

Of course, Jiang Cheng knows that that snake will surly not open the door till he has taken care of the demon. Jiang Cheng continues to bang the door until Meng Yao opens the door looking a little dishevelled.

"Oh my God Clan leader!" Jiang Cheng exclaims and pulls him out of the room. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, Clan leader. I am fine. It was as you had suspected. It was a demon. I am glad I could help." Meng Yao says. 'I guess there is no point in blaming Jiang Cheng for conspiring with Yiling patriarch... I need to come up with something else.'

"Thank you Clan leader." Jiang Cheng says, bowing respectfully.

'I need to modify the the plan.' Meng Yao thinks and subtly gestures Su She to come closer and looks at Jiang Cheng, "Clan leader, I am a little drained. I would like to take rest now." Su She walks closer still and supports Meng Yao.

"I will send my physician to.. " Jiang Cheng starts but Meng Yao shakes his head, "Not necessary, Clan leader Su is aware of my needs. Could you please send Second brother to my chamber?"

Anger flashes across Jiang Cheng face, 'Not a fucking chance! I can't let my Zewu Jun get any closer to this snake than he has to.'
"Clan leader Jin, I think you should take proper rest. You have taken care of the demon that was terrorising my people, I promise that I will be civil to Zewu Jun." Jiang Cheng says, squeezing Meng Yao's shoulder gently. "Moreover, if Jin Ling comes to know that I am not taking good care of his favorite uncle, he will be upset with me."

Meng Yao smiles. An evil plan starts to form in his mind. "You are quite right. I can't let my nephew worry." he looks at Su She, "Su She, please escort me to my temporary chamber please." Meng Yao gives a small courtesy bow to Jiang Cheng and leaves with Su She.

'He is definitely up-to something. The way he smiled before leaving is still giving me the creeps.... Zewu Jun, why did he want you in his chamber.' Jiang Cheng thinks feeling irritated.

He realizes that he has a lot of things to sort out, thanks to the impromptu meeting scheduled by Meng Yao. He swiftly walks to his chamber and calls his older disciples. He asks to get the guest rooms in the eastern side cleaned. He calls for Yenay and asks her to make a list of all the clan leaders that had arrived.

Yenay gets to work and within half and hour Jiang Cheng has the list. He is about to start assigning the rooms when he hears a knock on the door.

"Enter." He orders without looking at the door. He presumes it to be one of his disciples. Jiang Cheng doesn't look up when he hears the footsteps walking towards him.

"I am very busy, make it quick and leave." He says, immersed in making arrangements for the guests. He hears as the footsteps walk closer still and the disciple crouches down next to him.

He hears a small chuckle and looks up from his papers. Jiang Cheng's face flushes and his heart skips a few beats when he realizes how close the man who has entered his chamber is.
The man is none other than the very person Jiang Cheng's heart has been longing to see... It's none other than...
His, Zewu Jun....and the older Jade is smiling... It's the most beautiful thing Clan leader Jiang has ever seen.

"Jiang Cheng." Lan XiChen whispers leaning in closer, "I thought you didn't hate me anymore... but it looks like I have to do more... to make you accept me as your confidant."

{Note :- Yes, XiCheng...because they deserve happiness too 😭😭😭
(My cinnamon roll and my angry lotus 😍)
Please let me know if you guys ship them too.

For those who may have missed it, I updated MINE a couple of days ago.
I will try and update it soon.
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