It was impossible to protect everything. No matter what, Jiang Yanli knew she did not have the time or ability to take every scroll and every relic. No matter what, the YunmengJiang sect was going to suffer a heavy hit to their resources. Even if they reclaimed Lotus Pier later some of those resources would never be returned. They might be used or taken back to Nightless City. Even if the sects all banded together and defeated the QishanWen sect, it wasn't like they'd be able to prove how much gold was taken from them or which relics belonged to them.

Jiang Yanli focused her efforts. Three places were the most vital to visit. There was the treasury, which held the YunmengJiang sect's wealth. They would need money to feed and arm their disciples. They would need money to reclaim their home. The other two locations housed spiritual tools. Two locations, because not all spiritual tools were created equal. The most dangerous and most revered relics were in a special vault. The entrance was in the ancestral hall, sealed so only those of the Jiang Clan could enter it. In an emergency the seal could be strengthened, and this was an emergency.

Jiang Yanli's first stop was to the ancestral hall. As the oldest child of Sect Leader Jiang, Jiang Yanli had naturally been taught how to open this vault and how to seal it. The intention was that in an emergency she was supposed to take her brother and hide inside of it. It had been years ago that she was given such instructions. Jiang Yanli had no intention of hiding in a vault while the rest of their people were slaughtered.

Jiang Yanli made a small cut on one of her fingers. Just enough to let a few drops of blood begin to gather. The process required only a tiny amount of spiritual energy, even as a child with little cultivation she could have done it. She bent down and touched the floor of the ancestral hall. A pale lavender glow passed across the floor in a wave before vanishing from sight. Jiang Yanli nodded her head in satisfaction. Their most dangerous relics would not be falling into the QishanWen sect's hands.

Jiang Yanli turned on her heels and made her way to the armoury of spiritual tools. Jiang Yanli did not waste time. She began to grab as many of the powerful tools as she could and pack them swiftly into the qiankun pouch. Jiang Yanli was still at it when she saw a bright purple light shoot into the sky. She moved towards the door and saw a glowing pillar of light reaching into the air, creating a purple dome that covered the sky with a distinctive glow.

'They've raised the barrier.' Jiang Yanli realized. Jiang Yanli had only seen the barrier of Lotus Pier activated a handful of times. Unlike Cloud Recesses, the barrier of Lotus Pier was not constantly active. It was raised only in defence and fuelled by the spiritual energy of several senior disciples. The times Jiang Yanli had seen it raised previously, had been training exercises. There was a flash of light as something impacted the barrier. One bright flash was soon followed by another. Each flash of light was accompanied by a sound, a distant hollow thud from the impact against the barrier. The attack had begun.

Jiang Yanli began making her way through Lotus Pier. There was a list in her head of all the places she should look for stray kids and servants that might be hiding. They had an evacuation plan and she wanted to make good use of it. An evacuation plan only helped if you actually evacuated. If they had informed the entire sect of the evacuation plan, Jiang Yanli might have been less worried. As is, only three people knew about the evacuation route and two of those three would most definitely be fighting on the front lines if the barrier fell.

'When.' Jiang Yanli corrected solemnly. Wei Wuxian was confident they would not hold off the QishanWen sect, and she had no reason to doubt his assessment. The QishanWen sect had been the most powerful cultivation sect in the world for a long time. Why else would they have willingly sent their disciples to the QishanWen sect's indoctrination?

"Jiang-guniang. D-do you know what's happening?" A scared voice drew Jiang Yanli's attention. She found a middle aged woman with two young servants huddled behind her. They were huddled in the kitchens nervously. Jiang Yanli took swift, calm steps over to them.

"Lotus Pier is under attack. You can come with me. I am having all the non-cultivators and young children gather at a safe location. If the barrier is breached there is an evacuation route I can guide you all too." Jiang Yanli explained calmly. Despite the alarming confirmation of the attack, the servants seemed calmer now. Jiang Yanli gave them a small reassuring smile before she began to guide them towards the area she'd asked the rest to gather. They stopped in several buildings along the way. By the time they reached their destination Jiang Yanli had almost a dozen people following behind her.

"Is everyone here?" Jiang Yanli asked. "Any kids missing?"

There was some mumbling as people checked to see if they noticed anyone absent who should be preparing to evacuate. Jiang Yanli was now realizing a problem she had not considered. The sheer number of people. There was no way a group this large could travel without drawing attention. They would need to divide up into smaller groups and meet in Gusu. Far enough away that the QishanWen sect would not be in the area.

An idea started to take shape in Jiang Yanli's mind. She wasn't completely certain how viable it was, but it was the best idea she had. Jiang Yanli spotted the kitchen staff and made her way directly to them. Jiang Yanli spent a fair bit of time in the kitchen. As such she knew the staff in the kitchens very well. She also knew that they worked together extremely well because when you cook food for over a thousand people it is most definitely a team effort.

Suddenly everything got a bit darker. The pillar of light that supported the barrier had vanished. The barrier itself looked as though it were fading. Then suddenly the perimeter of the barrier began to glow more brightly. The brightened light from the base began spreading upwards until the entire barrier was glowing with renewed force. Jiang Yanli noticed several people frowning at the barrier. People who had been here long enough to see the barrier activated before, and knew that this was not how the barrier was designed to work.

'Not how it was originally designed to work.' Jiang Yanli thought quietly. Suddenly she knew exactly what was going on. Wei Wuxian had done something to the barrier. Jiang Yanli found herself smiling. Whatever had happened to the barrier previously, it was clear to Jiang Yanli that some precautionary measure had been activated. Wei Wuxian had been working on much more than the evacuation route during his visit. Jiang Yanli was overwhelmed by the desire to find WeI Wuxian and hug him. With a deep breath she focused on her task. If Wei Wuxian had created or modified this version of the barrier, then there was a chance he had designed it with the evacuation route in mind.

Jiang Yanli gathered the kitchen staff together and began to explain what she wanted to do. Anxious eyes and nervous fidgeting gave way to thoughtful expressions and determination. Soon Jiang Yanli was leading the group to the evacuation route. With Jiang Yanli leading the way they began walking across the water, lotus flowers lining their path. Jiang Yanli was thrilled to realize the barrier extended across the water. Jiang Yanli was even more surprised to find that the cache was just inside the line of the barrier on the other shore.

Did the barrier always extend this far? Jiang Yanli had to admit she had never checked. She hadn't expected it to extend into the woods. Jiang Yanli shook her head. All that mattered was that it did extend this far and they would be able to get people across the water and hand out supplies before leaving the safety of the barrier. With surprising efficiency the kitchen staff began sorting the surprise, readying themselves to distribute it among those evacuating. Jiang Yanli returned to the gathered people.

"Everyone should divide into smaller groups. No more than five or so in a group. Each group will be given supplies. Make your way towards Gusu." Jiang Yanli explained in a clear calm voice.

"Will the GusuLan sect even help us?" A voice asked in a nervous cry.

"They can't possibly shelter this many people." Another voice protested nervously. Jiang Yanli gave them a warm smile.

"They don't need to provide for all of us. It is a good place for us to gather. They will be able to offer some assistance and the QishanWen sect probably won't go that far away to search for us." Jiang Yanli said with more confidence than she really felt. She didn't know what would happen when they reached there. She just knew Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had felt the best choice was to have refugees from Lotus Pier travel towards Cloud Recesses. Jiang Yanli might not always have confidence in herself, but she had complete confidence in Wei Wuxian.

Soon she was ushering groups of people to cross the river. On the other side a member of the kitchen staff waited to direct them to the supplies. After the first few groups crossed another servant who worked in the kitchens took Jiang Yanli's place in guiding people when to cross. They did not want a giant line stretching across the water. Even if this was the furthest point from where the attack originated, Jiang Yanli intended to take every possible precaution.

Jiang Yanli left the evacuation in capable hands and headed back to search for anyone else who might be missing. Wei Wuxian had also made it clear that more disciples would need to evacuate eventually. Jiang Yanli intended to make sure there was someone around to show them where to go.