耽妄2
Jin Ling was pouting, still clutching half a kite string in her hand. A crooked butterfly kite, already soaked, floated on the lake.
"Uncle!" Jin Ling's eyes lit up when she saw him. She broke free from Lan Wangji's hand and ran over, hugging his leg. "It wasn't me! The kite flew into the lake by itself!"
"Oh?" Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow and looked down at him. "The kite has grown legs?"
"It just grew legs!" Jin Ling tilted her little face up, speaking with conviction. "It saw fish in the lake and jumped in!"
Wei Wuxian laughed so hard he could barely breathe: "Listen to this! Jiang Cheng, listen to this! This kid is just like you, so stubborn!"
Jiang Cheng glared at Wei Wuxian, then bent down and picked up Jin Ling: "Next time you throw things into the lake again, I'll punish you by making you copy the 'Collection of Elegant Rectifications'."
"Don't copy the 'Collection of Elegant Rectifications'!" Jin Ling immediately hugged his neck and pleaded, "I want to copy the 'Lotus Pier Rules'! Brother Xian said that one is short!"
"Wei Wuxian!" Jiang Cheng glared at him.
Wei Wuxian immediately raised his hands in surrender and hid behind Lan Wangji: "Don't look for me, Lan Zhan taught him!"
Lan Wangji glanced at him expressionlessly, then turned to Jiang Cheng and nodded slightly: "I've come today to discuss the Lanling Jin Clan's discussion meeting next month."
Jiang Cheng then noticed that Lan Wangji was also wearing casual clothes, not the Cloud Recesses school uniform, but a moon-white robe with embroidered cloud patterns on the cuffs. He was also carrying a cloth bag, which was bulging with what looked like snacks for Jin Ling.
"Wasn't it agreed that Nie Huaisang would attend the discussion?" Jiang Cheng carried Jin Ling into the courtyard. "Isn't he the one who loves to join in the fun?"
"Sect Leader Nie said the topic this time is 'Sect Morality.' As the Sect Leader of Yunmeng Sect, and the first among the younger generation to stabilize the sect, it's your turn to set the tone." Wei Wuxian followed up, winking. "Besides, don't you want to eat the osmanthus cake made by the chefs at Jinlintai?"
Jiang Cheng paused. Osmanthus cake was his senior sister's favorite; she used to make it all the time back in Lotus Pier. Later… later she got married and rarely made it anymore.
"Senior Sister is coming back today." Xie Linyang's voice came from the side. She was holding a small cloak and draped it over Jin Ling. "I received a letter this morning saying that she is coming back to have lunch with Sect Leader Jin."
"Really?" Jin Ling's eyes lit up even more, and he squirmed in Jiang Cheng's arms. "Mom's coming back?"
"Mm." Xie Linyang nodded and patted his head. "I also brought you some new clothes that I made."
The vague ripples in Jiang Cheng's heart suddenly dissipated. His senior sister was back, and so were Jin Ling, Wei Wuxian, and Lan Wangji. His parents… his parents should be coming too. This was good.
"We'll talk about the discussion this afternoon." Jiang Cheng carried Jin Ling toward the training ground. "Let's go check on those crooked disciples first."
"Hey! Wait for me!" Wei Wuxian called out as he caught up. "I'm going too! Let them see how powerful the Yiling Patriarch is!"
The Yiling Patriarch? Jiang Cheng was wondering when he saw Xie Linyang standing at the courtyard gate, watching their backs. The sunlight fell on her, warm and cozy.
The training ground was located on the east side of Lotus Pier, overlooking the lotus pond, offering a wide view. More than twenty newly accepted disciples were practicing basic sword techniques, led by several senior disciples. Their movements were fairly uniform, but their sword-riding was a bit off-target. Some flew too high and almost crashed into the willow trees, while others flew too low and grazed the water's surface, getting covered in mud.
"Stop, all of you!" Jiang Cheng put Jin Ling down and said in a deep voice.
The disciples immediately sheathed their swords and stood at attention. Upon seeing Jiang Cheng, they all became somewhat nervous, lowering their heads and not daring to speak.
Wei Wuxian jumped onto the viewing platform next to him, put his hands on his hips and shouted, "Look at you guys! You're flying on your swords like you're drunk! If we encounter a monster, you'll all fall to your deaths before the monster even makes a move!"
The disciples became even more nervous. Jiang Cheng frowned and walked to the front of the group: "Basic sword control emphasizes 'the mind follows the heart, and the qi sinks to the dantian,' not just brute force." He casually picked up a wooden sword next to him, tapped it with his toes, and the wooden sword flew up with a "whoosh," hovering in mid-air as steadily as if it were nailed there. "Watch carefully."
With a slight twitch of his fingertips, the wooden sword traced a smooth arc in the air, sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, before finally landing steadily in his hand. The movement was clean and swift, carrying the unique agility of the Jiang family's swordsmanship.
"Wow! Uncle is so amazing!" Jin Ling clapped her hands and exclaimed.
The disciples were stunned, their faces filled with admiration. Jiang Cheng tossed the wooden sword to the disciple at the front whose sword had veered the most erratically: "You give it a try."
The disciple took the wooden sword, took a deep breath, and, imitating Jiang Cheng, channeled his energy. The wooden sword wobbled as it flew up, but fell back down after only three feet.
"Idiot!" Wei Wuxian shouted from the viewing platform, "Don't get distracted! Think of the lotus pond beneath your feet. Your sword is like a lotus leaf; it should float on the water, not sink!"
The disciple hesitated for a moment, then tried again. The wooden sword was indeed more stable this time; although it was still crooked, at least it didn't fall.
Jiang Cheng didn't speak, but he was a little surprised. In the past, when Wei Wuxian taught his disciples, he would either say, "Just fly around, you'll get it after a few falls," or "What are you afraid of? I'm here." He rarely explained the key points so seriously.
“He seems to have changed quite a bit lately,” Jiang Cheng whispered to Lan Wangji beside him.
Lan Wangji glanced at Wei Wuxian, who was gesturing wildly on the viewing platform, and said, "He said he would help you guard Lotus Pier."
Jiang Cheng's heart skipped a beat, but he remained silent.
After practicing for an hour, the sun gradually rose higher. Xie Lin Yang brought over some herbal soup to relieve the heat, one bowl for each disciple. She personally handed one bowl to Jiang Cheng, and another bowl to Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji.
"Father and Mother are here," she whispered to Jiang Cheng, pointing to the entrance of the training ground.
Jiang Cheng turned his head and, sure enough, saw Jiang Fengmian and Madam Yu walking over. Jiang Fengmian was wearing a light blue casual robe and carrying a wooden sword. Madam Yu was wearing a light red dress and carrying a food box. She had a smile on her face, unlike before when she always had a tense expression.
"How's your training going?" Jiang Fengmian walked to Jiang Cheng's side, his gaze sweeping over the disciples with approval. "You're better than you were when you were a kid."
Jiang Cheng's face flushed slightly: "Father."
Madam Yu opened the food box, which contained several plates of pastries and a pot of tea: "You've been practicing all morning, take a break."
"Thank you, Mother," he said softly.
Madam Yu looked at him, then suddenly reached out and gently brushed the stray hairs from his forehead: "It was my fault before, I was always too strict with you." Her hand was soft, yet slightly cool. "Now it's all right, everything is alright."
Jiang Cheng felt a lump in his throat, turned his head away, and pretended to look at the fish in the lotus pond: "I understand."
“Go and learn swordsmanship from your father,” Madam Yu patted his back. “He has been waiting for this day for a long time.”
When Jiang Cheng walked up to Jiang Fengmian, he was waiting there with a wooden sword in his hand. Sunlight filtered through the willow leaves and fell on his face, revealing a few strands of white hair at his temples, which had appeared in the last few years.
"The finishing move of the Flowing Wave Sword Technique emphasizes 'softness within strength, and effortless control'." Jiang Fengmian raised the wooden sword and demonstrated the move. "Look, here you need to rotate your wrist, not use your arm strength..."
Jiang Cheng followed along, learning each move and stance. His father's voice was in his ears, his mother watched from afar, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were teaching their disciples swordsmanship, Jin Ling was chasing butterflies by the lotus pond, and Xie Linyang stood under the willow tree, holding his outer robe in his hand, afraid that he would catch a cold later.
The cicadas still chirped, the air was filled with mist, and the lotus flowers in the pond were in full bloom. Their pink and white petals and emerald green leaves, reflected against the blue sky and white clouds, were like a painting that would never fade.
Jiang Cheng suddenly felt that things were fine as they were.
night.
Wei Wuxian insisted on going boating on the lake with Lan Wangji, saying he wanted to collect lotus seeds for Jin Ling. Jiang Cheng didn't go; he was busy reviewing the disciples' assessment files.
Night fell upon the main courtyard of Lotus Pier. The breeze from the lotus pond carried a soft, damp fragrance, causing the bamboo blinds on the windowpanes to sway gently. Jiang Cheng had just returned to his room after handling sect affairs, still carrying the chill of the evening dew. His purple outfit accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, his back muscles still taut from days of sword practice. Yet, the moment he opened the door, he was enveloped in the warm, cozy atmosphere inside.
Xie Linyang was reclining on the edge of the bed, her blue robe hanging loosely on her body, the collar slightly open, outlining her full curves, the hem of her skirt draped over the edge of the bed, revealing a section of her fair and slender calves. When she saw him enter, her eyes lit up, like a kitten finding its owner, and she immediately pounced on him.
"Jiang Cheng! You're finally back!" Her body was so soft it felt boneless as she crashed into his arms, her green dress brushing against his purple robes, the fragrance of grass and trees mingling with the scent of lotus.
Her hands unconsciously wrapped around his waist, her fingertips tracing the firm waistline beneath his tight-fitting clothes, feeling the ruggedness unique to a young man. "I've been waiting for you for so long, my legs are numb from sitting."
Jiang Cheng was knocked back half a step by her. He subconsciously raised his hand to support her waist. His palm touched her delicate and warm skin, and he could feel the curves of her body beneath her clothes. His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
He frowned and said in a harsh tone, "How old are you? Why are you still so clumsy? Can't you just sit and wait properly?" Even as he said this, he tightened his arms around her, supporting her body steadily, as if afraid she would fall.
Xie Linyang ignored his complaints, buried her head in the crook of his neck, her warm breath brushing against his skin, her voice soft and coquettish: "No, I missed you." She deliberately snuggled closer to him, her curves under her blue dress pressing even closer to his purple robes, "You're so cold, warm me up."
Jiang Cheng's body stiffened instantly, his ears turning slightly red, but he stubbornly said, "You're a heater yourself, why do you need others to warm you? How pretentious." But he didn't push her away. Instead, he turned around and carried her to the bed, then sat down himself. The hem of his purple robe overlapped with his blue robe, like a watercolor painting.
His palm gently caressed her back, the movement carrying an unconscious tenderness. "I was dealing with sect affairs today, so I'm a little late."
"Then you have to make it up to me." Xie Linyang looked up at him, her eyelashes fluttering slightly. She reached out and hooked her arm around his neck, pulling him down a little. "Give me a hug for a while, and I want to hear you say some nice things."
She pressed her body closer, and her graceful figure made Jiang Cheng's gaze unconsciously drift downwards before quickly shifting away, his heart beating a little faster.
"There's nothing nice to hear, but a whole basket of awful ones." Jiang Cheng turned his face away, his tone still firm, but he gently pinched her cheek with his fingertips, the action full of affection. "Don't stay up this late in the future, go to sleep early."
He could clearly feel the softness of the person in his arms, a stark contrast to his own strong physique. The fragrance emanating from her body filled his nostrils, and his heart melted completely, but he refused to admit defeat, saying, "If you keep going like this, be careful you won't be able to replenish your yang energy."
Xie Linyang refused, rubbing her cheek against his palm and pouting, "No, I want to wait for you."
She reached out and touched the firm muscles on his arm, feeling the powerful touch of the young man. "Jiang Cheng, you have a great physique, even more muscular than when I first met you." Her voice was filled with straightforward admiration, her eyes sparkling, making no attempt to hide her appreciation.
Jiang Cheng's ears turned even redder from her praise, and he glared at her fiercely: "Nonsense, I didn't practice swordsmanship every day for nothing." But the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly, and his fingers gently ran along her long hair.
Xie Linyang tilted her head back and kissed his chin, the gesture carrying a touch of coquettish provocation.
Jiang Cheng's breath hitched, and he suddenly lowered his head to kiss her, his actions filled with the passion and directness of a young man, without the slightest hint of restraint.
The woman in purple and the woman in green were entangled on the bed. He could clearly feel her softness and warmth. Her figure aroused his heart, yet he also cherished her. His movements gradually slowed down, with a gentle plundering.
After the kiss, their breaths mingled, and Jiang Cheng pressed his forehead against hers, his voice hoarse but direct: "It's beautiful, but you're only allowed to show it to me."
His hand gently rested on her waist, feeling the delicate skin and the curves beneath her clothes.
Xie Linyang smiled, her eyes crinkling, and hooked her finger around his: "I know, Sect Leader Jiang."
She snuggled closer to him, finding a comfortable position. Her blue robe clung to her body, pressed tightly against his purple robe. "Then come back earlier in the future and sleep with me."
Jiang Cheng hummed in response, his voice low and gentle, no longer displaying his usual stubbornness.
He held her in his arms, feeling the warmth and softness of her embrace, and smelling her fragrance. His body, which had been tense all day, completely relaxed.
He thought, "That's fine."
It would be nice if things just continued like this.
The person in his arms stirred slightly, letting out a contented sigh. Jiang Cheng looked down at her sleeping face, and the corners of his lips couldn't help but turn up slightly.
But... why does he feel that the fragrance of lotus blossoms is stronger today than it was yesterday?
He shook his head, dismissing the strange thought.
It's not a dream.
Everything is true.
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