Chapter 56 Poison—Part One

He still couldn’t quite make out the name. Blood rushed to his face. His head and joints ached from the heat. The ringing in his ears continued.

When Wei WuXian woke up again, he saw not the black ceiling of the underground cave or Lan WangJi’s pale yet handsome face, but a wooden board. On the board was a series of cute kissing heads.

This is a sketch he drew on his own bed at Lotus Pier.

Wei WuXian was lying on his own bed. Jiang YanLi was reading a book, her head bowed. Seeing him awake, her delicate eyebrows immediately raised, and she put down her book, “A-Xian!”

Wei WuXian, “Shijie!”

He managed to get up from his bed. The burning sensation had stopped, but he still felt weak. His throat was also a little dry. Wei WuXian asked, “I’m back? When did I get out of the cave? Did Uncle Jiang bring anyone to rescue me? Where’s Lan Zhan? Where’s Jiang Cheng?”

The wooden door opened. Jiang Cheng entered holding a white porcelain jar, his voice hoarse, “What are you shouting about?”

After he finished speaking, he turned to Jiang Yanli, “Sis, the soup you boiled, I brought it over.”

Jiang Yanli took the jar and poured its contents into a bowl. Wei Wuxian said, “Jiang Cheng, you bastard, come here!”

Jiang Cheng, “Why did you want me to come? Do you want to kneel down and thank me?”

Wei WuXian, “You arrived here after seven whole days—do you want to kill me?!”

Jiang Cheng, “You were killed? Then who is talking to me now?”

Wei WuXian, “I bet it only takes you five days to get from Dusk-Creek Mountain to Yunmeng!”

Jiang Cheng, “Are you stupid? You only calculated the time to return and not the time to go there? Not to mention the fact that after getting there, I had to lead people and search the entire mountain for the old banyan tree, then dig out the hole that Wen Chao and his people had covered, and rescue you in seven days. Where is your gratitude?!”

Thinking about it, Wei WuXian realized that he had completely forgotten to calculate the time it would take to get there. He paused, “I guess so. But why didn’t Lan Zhan remind me?”

Jiang Cheng, “He gets upset just by seeing you, and you expect him to listen to everything you say?”

Wei WuXian, “You’re right!”

Jiang YanLi had finished the soup and handed it to him. Inside were lotus root and sliced ​​ribs, both pink like meat, their surfaces already boiled until tender. A rich aroma wafted from the steaming hot soup. Wei WuXian hadn’t eaten anything in days in the cave. He couldn’t eat anything too solid too quickly, so this was just right. After thanking his shijie, he immediately began eating, cradling his bowl. “Where’s Lan Zhan? He’s been rescued too, right? Is he here? Or has he returned to his sect in Gusu?”

Jiang Cheng, “Nonsense. He’s not from our sect, so why would he come here? Of course he’s back in Gusu.”

Wei WuXian, “He came back alone? In Gusu, his sect…”

Before he could finish, Jiang FengMian stepped in. Wei WuXian put down his bowl, “Uncle Jiang!”

Jiang FengMian, “Sit well.”

Jiang YanLi gave Wei WuXian a handkerchief to wipe his mouth, “Is it delicious?”

Wei WuXian didn’t take the handkerchief. In fact, he pouted in an exaggerated tone, “Yes!”

Jiang Cheng, “Don’t you have hands?!”

Smiling, Jiang Yanli wiped Wei Wuxian’s mouth and chin, then happily walked out with the bowl in her hand. Jiang Fengmian sat where Wei Wuxian had been sitting. Glancing at the porcelain jar, he seemed to want to try it too, but the bowl had already been taken by Jiang Yanli. 

Jiang Cheng, “Father, have the Wen Sect people still not returned the sword?”

Jiang FengMian averted his gaze, “They have been celebrating for the past few days.”

Wei WuXian, “Celebrating what?”

Jiang FengMian, “Wen Chao telah membunuh Xuanwu Pembantaian sendirian.”

Hearing this, Wei WuXian almost rolled out of bed, “The Wen Sect killed him?!”

Jiang Cheng sneered, “Or what? You think they’ll say you killed him?”

Wei WuXian, “Those Wen dogs are bullshit, they have no face. Lan Zhan was clearly the one who killed him.”

Jiang FengMian smiled at her, “Really? What a coincidence. The second young master of the Lan Sect told me that you were the one who killed him. So, who exactly is that person?”

Wei WuXian, “I think we both did something. But he was the main one. I only went inside the monster’s shell and chased it away. Lan Zhan waited for it alone outside. The monster only died after a full six hours.”

He recounted to Jiang Cheng and his father what had happened over the past few days. Jiang Cheng’s expression was complicated after he finished listening. He only spoke a moment later, “It’s pretty much the same as what Lan WangJi said. So it seems like you two have succeeded together. What’s yours is yours. Why do you have to give him all the credit?”

Wei WuXian, “No. I just feel like, compared to him, I haven’t done much.”

Jiang FengMian nodded, “Very good.”

He managed to kill a four-hundred-year-old beast at the age of just seventeen. That’s more than just ‘good work.’

Jiang Cheng, “Congratulations.”

The tone of his congratulations sounded a little odd. Seeing him fold his arms and raise his eyebrows, Wei WuXian knew that the sour feeling had returned to him. Jiang Cheng, right now, must be silently stewing, defiantly asking himself why he wasn’t the one who stayed in the cave to kill the beast. If it were him, he would have been able to do this and that too. 

Wei WuXian laughed, “It’s a shame you weren’t there. Otherwise, you could have shared some of your gratitude. You could also have chatted with me and relieved the boredom. Gosh, sitting across from Lan Zhan these days has been boring me to death.”

Jiang Cheng, “No wonder you’re bored to death. You shouldn’t be playing the hero, and you shouldn’t be bothered with such annoying things. If only you hadn’t…”

Tiba-tiba, Jiang FengMian berbicara, “Jiang Cheng.”

Jiang Cheng paused, realizing he had said too much. He immediately fell silent.

Jiang FengMian didn’t look as if he was blaming him for anything, but his expression changed from calm to more serious, “Do you know in which way what you just said was inappropriate?”

Jiang Cheng’s head bowed, “Yes.”

Wei WuXian, “He was just angry and spoke without a care.”

Seeing that Jiang Cheng’s words and heart were still at odds, and how he still felt defiant, Jiang FengMian shook his head, “A-Cheng, there are some things that can’t be said even if you’re angry. If you say them, it means you still don’t understand the Jiang Sect’s motto, you still don’t…”

A woman’s rough voice came from outside the door, “Yes, he doesn’t understand, but what does it matter, what matters is that Wei Ying understands?!”

Like a bolt of purple lightning, Madam Yu stormed in, bringing with her a cold breeze. She stood five steps away from Wei WuXian’s bed, her eyebrows raised. “‘Attempting the impossible’ is just like her, isn’t it? Joking around even though she knows it’ll bring trouble to her sect?!”

Jiang FengMian, “Madam, what are you doing here?”

Madam Yu, “What am I doing here? It’s ridiculous that I’m being asked to do such a thing! Sect Leader Jiang, do you still remember that I’m also the leader of Lotus Pier? Do you still remember that every inch of land here is my territory? Do you still remember, between the one lying there and the one standing here, which one is your son?”

He had heard such questions countless times over the years. Jiang FengMian replied, “Of course.”

Madam Yu laughed bitterly, “You do remember, but it’s no use just remembering. Wei Ying, he really can’t stand not causing trouble, right? If I had known, I would have told him to stay at Lotus Pier and not leave the house. Could Wen Chao really dare to do anything to the two young masters of the GusuLan Sect and the LanlingJin Sect? Even if he did, it would mean they’ve run out of luck. Since when is it your turn to be a hero?”

In front of Jiang FengMian, Wei WuXian had to show her some respect. He didn’t protest at all, though he thought, ”  She wouldn’t dare do anything to them, would she?” Even that wasn’t certain.

Mrs. Yu, “I’m telling you this now. Just wait. One day, he’ll definitely cause our sect big trouble!”

Jiang FengMian stood up, “Let’s talk when we get back.”

Mrs. Yu, “Talk about what? Go back to where? I’ll talk about it here. Besides, I have nothing to be embarrassed about! Jiang Cheng, come here.”

Jiang Cheng was sandwiched between his father and mother. After a moment of hesitation, he moved to his mother’s side. Holding his shoulder, Madam Yu pushed him forward for Jiang FengMian to see, “Sect Leader Jiang, it seems I have some things to say. Pay close attention—this is your own son, the future head of Lotus Pier. Even if you dislike him just because I gave birth to him, his surname is still Jiang! … I don’t believe for a second that you haven’t heard outside gossip, that Sect Leader Jiang still hasn’t forgotten a certain Sanren despite the passing of so many years, treating his old friend’s son as his own; they’re speculating whether Wei Ying is…”

Jiang FengMian berteriak, “Yu ZiYuan!”

Mrs. Yu also shouted, “Jiang FengMian! Do you think things will change just because you raised your voice?! Do you think I don’t know you?!”

The two argued outside. Halfway through, Madam Yu’s angry voice grew louder. Jiang FengMian joined in the argument, holding back his anger. Jiang Cheng stood rooted to the spot. A moment later, he glanced at Wei WuXian, then abruptly turned to leave.

Wei WuXian, “Jiang Cheng!”

Jiang Cheng didn’t answer. He had only taken a few steps before he turned the corner. Wei WuXian could only roll out of bed and chase after him, dragging his stiff and sore body. “Jiang Cheng! Jiang Cheng!”

Jiang Cheng stepped forward without a care in the world. Wei WuXian was so angry that he threw himself at him and grabbed him by the throat, “Answer me if you can hear me! Do you want to fight?!”

Jiang Cheng spat, “Go back to your bed and lie down properly!”

Wei WuXian, “I can’t do that, we have to sort things out! You absolutely mustn’t listen to that useless nonsense.”

Jiang Cheng said coldly, “What nonsense is this?”

Wei WuXian, “Those words are dirtying your mouth, even if you just say them. My parents are both real people in this world. I don’t want anyone else to place me in another household!”

Putting his arm around Jiang Cheng’s shoulders, he managed to drag him to the wooden fence across the hall. They sat down together. “Honestly, don’t hide anything gloomy in your heart. You’re Uncle Jiang’s own son, the future leader of the Jiang Sect. Of course, Uncle Jiang will be stricter with you.”

Jiang Cheng glanced at him sideways.

Wei WuXian continued, “But I’m different. I’m someone else’s son. My parents are good friends with Uncle Jiang. Of course, he’ll be more understanding. You understand that reasoning, right?”

Jiang Cheng snorted, “He’s not strict with me, he just doesn’t like me.”

Wei WuXian, “How could anyone dislike their own son? Stop thinking like that! Those nagging ones, I’ll beat them every time I see them, beating them so hard that their mothers won’t even recognize them.”

Jiang Cheng, “There is. He doesn’t like my mother, so he doesn’t like me either.”

This one is really hard to argue with.

The entire cultivation world knew that Third Miss Yu had cultivated alongside Jiang FengMian since they were young. Jiang FengMian had a gentle personality, while Yu ZiYuan had a harsh one. The two rarely interacted. Therefore, despite their similar backgrounds, no one considered them a couple. Later, ZangSe SanRen came from the mountains, passing through Yunmeng, and happened to befriend Jiang FengMian. They even went night hunting together several times. The two respected each other. People suspected that ZangSe SanRen would most likely become the next mistress of Lotus Pier.

However, soon after, the MeishanYu Sect proposed an alliance through marriage with the YunmengJiang Sect.

The then-Sect Leader Jiang was quite interested, but Jiang FengMian had no such intentions. He disliked Yu ZiYuan’s behavior and felt the two were incompatible. He had politely declined the offer several times. However, the MeishanYu Sect made various efforts, putting pressure on Jiang FengMian, who was still quite young at the time and had nothing to rely on. Furthermore, soon after, ZangSe SanRen had become a cultivation partner with Jiang FengMian’s most loyal servant, Wei ChangZe, and had ridden off into the sunset, exploring the world. Jiang FengMian finally gave in.

Although Jiang and Yu married, they have since become enemies. They have always lived apart and often engaged in unpleasant conversations. Besides strengthening their sect’s power, no one knows what other benefits they have gained.

The founder of the YunmengJiang Sect, Jiang Chi, was born a rogue cultivator. The sect’s way of life was honest and free. Madam Yu’s attitude was the opposite. Furthermore, Jiang Cheng resembled his mother in appearance and personality. He was never favored by Jiang FengMian. Since birth, he had taught him many things, but he still couldn’t change, which is why Jiang FengMian always seemed to dislike him.

Jiang Cheng pulled Wei WuXian’s hand away and stood up, venting his anger, “I know! I know I don’t have the personality he likes, I’m not the heir he wants. He thinks I’m unfit to be the Sect Leader, I don’t understand the Jiang Sect’s motto, I don’t have the Jiang Sect’s aura at all! It’s all true!”

He raised his voice, “You killed the Xuanwu of Slaughter alongside Lan WangJi, bathed in blood! How great is that?! But what about me?!”

He punched the pillar in the hall with his fist, gritting his teeth, “… I’ve also been running around for days, completely exhausted, without a single second of rest!”

Wei WuXian, “So what if there’s a motto?! Do you have to follow it just because it’s a motto? Just look at the rules of the GusuLan Sect—there are over three thousand. If people followed all of them, would they still be alive today?”

He jumped off the railing, “And, who says being a sect leader means following the sect’s style? There are so many sect leaders in the YunmengJiang Sect, I don’t believe they’re all the same. Even the GusuLan Sect has an outsider like Lan Yi, but who would deny her position and abilities? When it comes to the renowned cultivators of the Lan Sect, who can ignore her? Who can ignore her Chord Killing technique?”

Jiang Cheng fell silent, as if he had finally calmed down. Wei WuXian placed his hand on his shoulder again, “In the future, you will be the sect leader, and I will be your subordinate, just like your father and mine. So what if the GusuLan Sect has the Two Jades? The Yunmeng Jiang Sect has the Two Prides! So, shut up. Who says you’re not worthy of being the sect leader? No one is allowed to say this, not even you. If you do, you’re just looking for insults.”

Jiang Cheng snorted, “Look at how you are now? Who can you beat?”

As he spoke, he slapped Wei WuXian right in the middle of his chest. Despite the medicine and bandages already applied to the branded wound, the sudden slap still hurt like hell. Wei WuXian roared, “Jiang Cheng!!! You’re dead!!!”

Jiang Cheng dodged his attack and shouted, “You’re so injured now, but why were you acting like a hero back then?! Punishment for you! Teach you a lesson!”

Wei WuXian, “Am I playing the hero?! I had no choice, I was moving faster than I thought! Stop running, I’ll let you off this once. I want to ask you something! … I have a perfume sachet on my waist. It’s empty. Did you see?”

Jiang Cheng, “What did MianMian give you? I didn’t.”

Wei WuXian exclaimed regretfully, “I’ll look for him again later.”

Jiang Cheng frowned, “You’re at it again. You don’t really like her, do you? That girl does look fine, but she clearly doesn’t have much of a background. She’s probably not even a student. She looks like a servant’s daughter.”

Wei WuXian, “What’s wrong with the servant? I’m also the son of a servant, right?”

Jiang Cheng, “How can you compare to him? What servant like you, would have your master peel lotus seeds and cook soup for you. I didn’t even get to eat it!”

Wei WuXian, “If you want, just ask Shijie to cook for you again. By the way, we were talking about Lan Zhan. Didn’t Lan Zhan leave me a message? Has his brother been found? How’s the situation at his sect?”

Jiang Cheng, “You expected him to leave a message? Luckily he didn’t stab you. He’s back. Lan XiChen is nowhere to be found. Lan QiRen is exhausted from work.”

Wei WuXian, “What about the Lan Sect leader? How is he?”

Jiang Cheng, “He passed away.”