Chapter Text
The war wrapped up quickly after Jingyu brought back the two heads of the demon lords. The hundreds of demons left scattered, fleeing from the cultivators or putting up a fight.
[Sub Mission: Defeat and kill both demon lords, Xuanye-jun and Jianhong-jun.
Status: Completed!]
[Wonderful job, Host! Rewards will be given soon.]
Tiredly, he sighed, walking to yet another meeting straight after cleaning up a few demons after some Huan Hua palace disciples sent off their flares in the area he was in.
Wasn’t he a wandering hermit god? Where's the wandering? Where's the hermiting? He doesn’t even act like a god.
As Jingyu contemplated his life, he entered the Cang Qiong tent in the midst of yet another debate. At least no shouting was involved.
He observed as he stayed silent.
———
800.
It's been years since the founding of Gusu Lan, since the shortest realm war. The Heavenly Official has made it back to the Heavenly realm, injured but still okay. Cloud Recesses has gained more reputation and popularity since then as well.
They had started letting a few disciples from the main sects and a few small sects to attend lectures at Cloud Recesses. Least to say they were astounded at the sheer number of rules written on the wall.
Jingyu watched the young Lan children grow up into fine men and women, becoming masters in their own specialities. The first born decided to give up his right to succession, passing it on to the second born, Lan Ping.
The child learnt at his and Lan An’s hand, sitting in multiple meetings, even going to the intersect alliance as representative. Jingyu did not have to worry about the future with Lan Ping taking up the mantle.
Gusu Lan as a clan has grown considerably, with an area near the base of the stairs that leads to his home cleared out. The sect leader’s home in the centre and his children's homes surrounding it in a circle. A few direct disciples of Lan An took the outermost homes, separating them from the full blooded Lans.
Jingyu observed from a far, counting down the days until Lan An and his wife’s ascension.
———
750.
Many of Lan An’s children have either married their lovers into the clan or married themselves out to other clans. Four of them stayed behind including Lan Ping. The other three, two of them being the daughters, have married into Cang Qiong, Yumeng Jiang, and the son married into a famed merchant family.
They have started to have children. Jingyu was there for each and every birth, though he stood outside the door. He watched as those little children grew as well.
It was ten years ago when Lan Ping became sect leader, leaving both his father and mother to go into closed cultivation. Leaving them to ascend to the Heavenly realm.
Jingyu assured Lan An that he will continue to watch over them, assuring the man that he will be able to watch them from above. He does not tell him he won't be able to descend and wander the world just like him, but Jingyu is sure that he knew already.
Zhou Xi didn’t have much to say except for the long hard gaze she gave him. He nodded in assurance.
He watched them ascend together, the beams of white light and the crackling thunder indicating the ascension and welcome of new Heavenly beings.
He watched from afar, smiling as they left the realm to the next.
———
700.
Jingyu stood in the Orchid room, watching the disciples copy down one of the many rules of the sect. These were the newest batch of guest disciples, who were learning of the Book of Righteous.
He watched from the corner of his eye as a few disciples from HuanHua and Qishan Wen made rude gestures towards each other. Lan Ping scolded them when he looked up from his book.
Lan Ping’s own children also sat amongst the sea of white robes. The only ones being the eldest son on a small mission while the youngest was babbling to its mother in their own home.
The heir was already set to be little Yize, the eldest son. Lan Yize was very kind, unlike his elder sister, Lan Yi, who is a person that follows the rules to a T. Stern yet gentle, reminding Jingyu of her grandfather, they both had an uncanny resemblance.
It was only when an elder bursted into the lecture hall huffing and puffing did Jingyu pay so much attention to every word that spilled out of their mouth.
“ The— huff.. The young master Lan has been caught in a curse! D-deadly, very deadly, we cannot break it.”
As the elder stuttered out the words, Jingyu was already on the move, speedily walking as two more people flanked his sides. Lan Ping and the elder following, all of them taking off on their swords when they reach the gates.
It didn’t take them long to reach where the group were. A flurry of white robes stood up, bowing as they explained what happened, however that all turned into mindless buzz when Jingyu saw the pale and lifeless Yize on the ground, head perched onto a disciples lap.
He will not make it. He already knew, observing the soul of Yize turn into a bleak matte grey.
This was the day where the heir of the Lan Clan died.
The entirety of Cloud Recesses went into a still silent as Lan Ping continued his teachings once they had made it back. After he had seen his son die.
Jingyu was the one who carefully guided Lan Yize’s soul into its next cycle.
He did not say a word the entire mourning period.
Instead, he watched.
———
710.
Jingyu glanced to his right side, watching as Lan Yi quickly wrote down the notes of the meeting. They were currently in an intersect alliance meeting, discussing many upcoming events and issues of the cultivation world. It had somehow dove into a discussion about a poem titled, “The Eight Winds Cannot Move Me”, authored by Su Dongpo [1] .
The man was a government official of some kingdom Jingyu can't remember the name of. He cancelled out the chatter, knowing that Lan Yi will fill him in on the important parts.
However a small snort blinks him out of his mind, allowing Jingyu to look over again towards Lan Yi. She had her mouth covered by her sleeve, and only took a deep breath to explain once he sent her a questioning look.
“ The author of the poem, Su Dongpo, sent his poem to Master Foyin, who in turn sent it back with a message. The message was ‘Fart’, which sent Su Dongpo into a furry and demanded an explanation as to why Master Foyin sent the message. He responded with, “The eight winds cannot move you, but a ninth one can move you breezily across the river”.” He huffed. How ironic.
He watched the sect leaders throw themselves into another round of arguments.
———
725.
A-Yi became the first female sect leader of Gusu Lan, something that Jingyu is proud of. She is the same as ever, even when she found a lover of her own.
They did not birth any children however, which was something that many elders from the branch families had argued over. Jingyu did not say anything in this matter but supported Lan Yi’s marriage with her wife.
Her time as sect leader, however, was not a peaceful one. This time, he did not get to watch over what had happened.
Why? Because he had ascended upon request of the Heavenly emperor. He was forced to stay and deal with matters of his domain as well as upcoming events from the diviners.
This is his only regret, to not be able to watch over the sect personally, to leave them without anyone to protect and guard their home.
It hurt.
———
300.
425 years was the amount of time he was stuck in the Heavenly realm. Four centuries he was stuck listening to whispers of his home, the horrible disappearance of Lan Yi, the Yin Iron, everything.
When he descended into his home and walked down the many stairs to the area of cottages and homes of the Lan bloodline, many of them were surprised.
Shocked even.
They had not seen their guardian for many generations, yet they still prospered without his help and protection.
His heart squeezed.
Jingyu greeted the sect leader (not A-Yi), and many of the branch families. They welcomed him home and updated him on everything that had happened while he was away.
Watching them grow made him realise that, perhaps, he had stunted their growth with his constant presence.
With this realisation, he requested a “training” period to wander the world and enlighten himself. It seemed like the sect leader already knew that he was a god, and it seems that it became an open secret only to the Lans.
And at that, he left. Silently.
———
100.
When needed, Jingyu would go back to the sect and attend the occasional meeting or checkup. This was to make sure they were fine, and in turn they made him teach the heirs personally when he stayed.
Little children waddled after him, bright eyes on their straight faces as they asked him various questions about the history of Gusu Lan. They reminded Jingyu of Lan Ping and Lan Yi.
Sometimes, he would take a child or two and let them wander with him. They struggle at first, then catch up until they manage to be able to keep up with his pace. He watched them refine themselves, to watch them discover all kinds of treasures and hidden secrets of the world. And when it's time for them to return, he guides them back home.
Our home.
Days start to feel like water to him, neverending and always flowing. It's a continuous loop.
He watches.
———
15.
He sat in a private pavilion, sipping tea as three people stared intently, analysing his actions or any twitch in his blank face.
Next to him sat Lan Qiren while across the tea table was Lan Zimo, who is also known as Qingheng-jun, and his wife, Zhang Liqi. They both sat in tattered bright red wedding robes with hair that was practically falling apart.
They all sat in tense silence when Jingyu set his half empty tea cup down. It was a fine porcelain teacup with painted clouds and swirls representing Gusu Lan, a gift from Qiren, who gave it on his birthday.
He looked up with a heavy gaze, examining Zhang Liqi who stared back unflinchingly. “…Qiren, tell me what rules they broke.”
Jingyu was brought back just for this, sent by an emergency talisman.
“Yes, Shifu.”
“Lan Zimo has broken eight rules; respect the elders; do not cause noise; do not be ill-mannered; earn trust of others; do not forget the grace of the forefathers; honour teachers and respect the elders; do not disturb female cultivators; do not fight without permission.
Zhang Liqi has broken six rules; do not fight without permission; do not take life within Cloud Recesses; do not make noise; do not use concealed weapons; do not tell lies; do not be suspicious.” Currently, Zimo was not the sect leader at the moment. He was a Lan that broke many major and minor rules of Gusu Lan, one that had to be punished.
Jingyu listened as he examined the tension on Liqi’s face. She was without a veil which showed the narrowed eyes she gave him. Liqi also sat as far away as she could from Zimo.
He had already gotten the full story. Lan Zimo fell in love at first sight with Zhang Liqi, however she did not love him at all. Somewhere in this love story, Zhang Liqi had ended up in Cloud Recesses and slew an elder whileist fighting two others. Zimo defended her against the elders, and as time went on they moved to the secluded cold springs, fighting against more elders. In total, they had killed one elder and injured eleven.
This happened because Lan Zimo had brought her back to marry, and had done so. She resisted, and killed an elder.
It was unbelievably stupid to the point Jingyu cannot believe this was a descendant of Lan An. What had happened to respect? The rules?
“For killing one elder, Zhang Liqi will take two lashes of the discipline whip.
For injuring eleven elders, eleven lashes of the discipline whip will be given to Lan Zimo and Zhang Liqi. Both Lan Zimo and Zhang Liqi will be sent into seclusion to reflect on their mistakes.
Lan Zimo will also take ten beatings of the plank.”
He spoke to a low voice, one that did not show any emotion despite his heart trembling. He did not like to hurt his family, but this was the rules. It was the only way to right a wrong as severe as this in Gusu Lan.
However, it shocked Lan Qiren, who's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. Jingyu was being very lenient. They broke major rules of the clan, and on top of that, Jingyu also added a three week period before their punishment.
This was because they had just married, Lan Qiren knew.
“Yes, Elder Wu.” Only Lan Zimo spoke.
Jingyu picked up his tea cup again, pretending he didn't see the way Qiren’s hand tightened until his knuckles turned white.
He watched.
———
14.
A little baby gurgled as he held it, smiling happily as he did.
The child was Lan Huan, first born son of Zimo and Liqi. They both are currently in seclusion with Zimo healing from his wounds and Liqi reflecting.
A year ago, when it was time for the punishment, Jingyu stood in front of a kneeling Lan Zimo as he requested for Liqi’s punishments to be passed all onto him. The reason? Liqi had gotten pregnant.
Jingyu already knew what was going to happen, so did Zimo, as he had taken the opportunity to defend his wife once more.
Now, Lan Huan was born and placed in the care of Lan Qiren and Jingyu. Perhaps this was Qiren’s way of telling him to stay in the sect.
He did exactly that.
———
8.
On January 23rd, a new child was born into the sect. Lan Zhan, Lan Huan’s now younger brother, was brought into the world after slight pestering from the elders.
Lan Huan was ecstatic even if his face didn't show it. Jingyu knew from the way he carefully held his little brother with so much love in his eyes.
The same way Lan An had done when he held each of his children.
Jingyu shook his head to rid of that thought. It wouldn’t do any good to keep comparing the past to the present.
Quietly, he watched the scene with a heavy heart but light mind.
———
0.
In Jingyu’s home, he watched Lan Zhan and Lan Huan write the rules down diligently.
The two tended to follow him around the sect like little ducklings. The Two Jades of Lan, something the elders came up with that put a weight on their shoulders from a young age.
This was one of the few moments where they can just be children of Lan, not the two jades. Perhaps he had gotten too attached to these particular children. Both of them had started calling him Shigong [2] , something that came out of blue.
He sighed lightly, eyes wandering towards the window of his home.
Today was the last day where Lan Huan would be in Gusu Lan, as he would be going out with Jingyu and a few other senior and junior disciples to Cang Qiong Mountain Sect. They were going there to study for a year and Jingyu was designated to go because he felt a little stuffy from staying in the sect for so long.
He won't say anything but he had gotten an unnatural feeling, which was very much unwanted.
It’s not like anything was going to happen there, right?