"Zewu Jun..." Jiang Cheng whispers, his eyes inadvertently falling on the older Lan's lips.

This action doesn't go unnoticed by XiChen, his eyes widen slightly. 'Perhaps there is something on my lips.' The older Jade wonders. He moves closer to Jiang Cheng, "Is there something on my lips?"

'Fuck!' Jiang Cheng thinks, looking away, 'The fuck did I look there. What the fucking fuck!!?'

"Clan leader Jiang?" XiChen stresses pulling Jiang Cheng out of his thoughts.

"Yes, there is something on your lips." Jiang Cheng lies.

"Really?" XiChen questions and backs away a little. Embarrassment colors his cheeks. He tries to wipe the invisible thing with his thumbs making Jiang Cheng's eyes once again land on XiChen's beautiful lips.

"Is it gone?" XiChen asks innocently and Jiang Cheng looses his mind for a second. The young clan leader leans  in and lifts the other's face and traces the older Lan's lips with his thumb.

XiChen's breath hitches in his chest at Jiang Cheng's unexpected move, but before he can say anything, someone clears their throat and Jiang Cheng realizes what is doing... what he had almost done. He looks at the one who had interrupted their little moment, hoping that it wasn't someone who harboured ill will against him.

Luckily, it's Yenay.

"Come in." Jiang Cheng orders and the old lady walks in.

She looks between the two men with solemn expression before saying, "Clan leader, you are needed at the central courtyard."

"What's the matter Aunty?" Jiang Cheng asks, his brows knitting.

"A Cheng, it's the kids, it seems that most of the heirs of the clans have gone missing." Yenay informs.

"What!?" Jiang Cheng exclaims, leaving his seat and walking towards Yenay. Lan XiChen follows them close behind, as the three make their way to the central courtyard.

*Central Courtyard*

As soon as Jiang Cheng and Yenay, arrive at the courtyard, they are greeted by distressed faces. He looks behind to where XiChen was supposed to be, but there is no one following him. 'Where did Zewu Jun go?' Jiang Cheng wonders.

He looks around to find most of the guests that had arrived a few hours ago, chatting among themselves.
Meng Yao and Su She are the only ones missing.

"I hear that some kids have gone missing." Jiang Cheng says, without beating around the bush.

One of the clan leader who is dressed in green robes speaks with an urgent tone, "I have received news that my son has disappeared from his chambers an hour ago."

"Are you sure that he has not left on his own?" Jiang Cheng enquires.

"No, no one saw him leave. And I had left strict instructions that no one is to leave the palace till we have captured Yiling patriarch."

Before Jiang Cheng can say more, other clan leaders come forward stating the same thing.

Jiang Cheng feels a sense of uneasy and asks Yenay to check on Jin Ling.

"It looks like someone has indeed taken the young heirs without their will." Jiang Cheng concludes.

"What do you mean by someone Clan leader Jiang, it's obvious that the one who has taken our kids is none other than your senior brother." Someone says.

Jiang Cheng's hand moves to Sando, "Clan leader Ming, you are well aware that Jiang clan has disowned Wei Wuxian long ago. Have you perhaps forgotten that it was I who had stabbed him at Evernight?" Jiang Cheng asks rhetorically, his face fuming with anger.

"Calm down Clan leader Jiang." A silky voice floats over to the crowd.

'Meng Yao.' Jiang Cheng realizes. 'What is he up-to now?' He wonders.

Meng Yao puts a reassuring hand on Jiang Cheng's shoulder, "They are stressed. You don't have children... oh,  I am being inconsiderate...Sorry, Jin Ling is like your son right?"

Jiang Cheng is about to answer when Yenay comes running towards him.
"A Cheng, Jin Ling is not in his chamber!"

"Damn it!" Jiang Cheng bites out grinding his teeth. 'I know it's your doing you bastard.' Jiang Cheng says under his breath.

"Jin Ling!" Meng Yao exclaims, "No... Tell me that's a lie." He adds and pretends to sway on his spot.

He is about to fall when a strong arm snakes around his waist steadying him.

'Zewu Jun... what the hell. Let Meng Yao fall, hit his head and bleed to death. Get your hands away from him.' Jiang Cheng's mind supplies as his thoughts turn bitter.

"A Yao, hold yourself together," XiChen says in a concerned tone and adds, "You are the chief cultivator. Other leaders depend on you."

Meng Yao leans into XiChen's towering body, "Are Ge, it's Jin Ling, he is missing...if anything happens to my Jin Ling, how will I face my dear departed brother in heaven...Are GE..."

"I will not let anything happen to your nephew." XiChen says, his eyes catch Jiang Cheng's and hold them. He smiles and nods at Jiang Cheng.

The smile is mesmerizing and Jiang Cheng curses himself for the years he has wasted in hating the one he should have loved.

XiChen's smile conveys to Jiang Cheng, what words can't, 'Stay strong, I am here for you always.' XiChen's eyes say to the young clan leader.

The two finally look away when Meng Yao steps away from Zewu Jun and addresses the crowd, "I have recently received some distressing news, Yiling patriarch is raising an army. And I have been informed that he is planning to attack all the clans one by one with his undead corps army."

As expected, immediately the crowd erupts into murmurs, all cursing one name, Wei Wuxian.

One clan leader comes forward, "Clan leader Jin, what do you suggest we do?" he asks and others join him.

"I am just one man, how can I go up against a vicious army." Meng Yao says, acting like a victim of circumstances.

"We will do anything. It is after all a matter of saving our children." One of the clan leader says and others nod in agreement.

Meng Yao looks at the crowd and walks to the centre, drawing everyone's attention towards himself, "There is a way....but it's..." Meng Yao stops and turns his back towards the crowd, "Nevermind." he says shaking his head like a defeated man.

Su She walks towards Meng Yao and holds his wrist, "Please, we will do anything...anything is better than loosing our children." Then he looks at the crowd, "What do you all think?"

"Yes. We agree. Anything." Everyone agrees.

"Ok, but please remember, I myself am ashamed to suggest this method... but it's the only method that I can think of that can save our children." Meng Yao says looking heartbroken.

Then there is silence for a few seconds.

Lan XiChen is the first one to speak, "A Yao, what is this method?"

"We will need fire, to combat fire Zewu Jun, and since it's demonic cultivation that Yiling patriarch is using, we too will have to stoop to his level, if we are to defeat him." Meng Yao says resolutely.

*Some distance away from Burial Mounds*

After walking in uncomfortable silence for over an hour, Wei Ying can't take it anymore. The way Lan Zhan's lips are pursed in a thin line with a slight crease marring his usually smooth forehead is making the second Jade of Lan look irresistible in Wei Ying's eyes. Also during their walk, Wei Ying's mind had kept itself busy and he had tried to think of various scenarios of how their encounter could go down.

It's one such scenario, that makes Wei Ying who has been walk a few steps behind his husband, to catch up to him and holds his wrist. "Lan Zhan," Wei Ying calls, stopping his husband and turing him towards himself.

"Mn." Lan Zhan asks without making eye contact with his husband.

'Looks like Fuddy Duddy is still upset. He sure can hold a grudge.... I am glad that he is on my side... My lion.' Wei Ying thinks trying to catch Lan Zhan's eyes.

Wei Ying looks at Lan Zhan lovingly and cups his face, "Lan Zhan, I am sorry that I hurt you."

"Mn."

"Won't you look at me Hanguang Jun?" Wei Ying says, bitting his lower lip.

Lan Zhan is not strong enough to resist that... he has never been strong enough to resist Wei Ying's pout or the way he bits his lower lip. Lan Zhan's eyes fall on Wei Ying's lips and stay there. 'Mine....Only mine.' Lan Zhan thinks and leans in a little.

Wei Ying smiles mischievously. 'Mission accomplished.' the younger man thinks before placing a finger on his husband's lips, "Hanguang Jun, as much as want your lips on mine right now, as you once told me 'This is not the time or the place.'"

Lan Zhan's eyes widen when he realizes what he had almost done, he leans away, "I agree." He says, expressionlessly.

Wei Ying looks at Wen Ning who is walking ahead without bothering to see if the two cultivators are following him. It's almost like the Ghost General knows that he had interrupted something earlier, when he had knocked on the brothel's window.

"Lan Zhan... " Wei Ying whispers, he can't take Lan Zhan being upset and distant.

"Mn?" Lan Zhan asks without looking at his husband. "Ah!" the light bearer yelps, when Wei Ying pulls him off the path and drags him behind a three.

"Wei Ying!" Lan Zhan exclaims, as his back hits the bark of the tree.

{Note :- That's it for this update. Hope it was to your liking.

I have updated the next chapter of The Accidental Pet, a few minutes ago, please chk it out if you are in a mood to read something sweet and innocent... And that's not YiZhan / WangXian related. 😅😅😅
Those who have already added this book to their reading list, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤

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Thank you for reading.
Have a nice day.}