Chapter 62 Crime—Part Two
His lips trembled, silently saying something. Jiang Cheng immediately stood up.
Itu Wei WuXian!
However, aside from his face, from top to bottom, this person was nothing like the Wei WuXian of the past.
Wei WuXian was clearly a cheerful and lively boy. The corners of his eyes and brows always held a smile, as if he was reluctant to walk properly. However, this person was completely enveloped in a cold and dark energy. He was handsome, but his face was pale, and his smile looked sinister.
The sight before their eyes was too shocking. The situation was still unclear, and they couldn’t act rashly. Although the two people on the roof were stunned, they didn’t rush in. They simply lowered their heads and leaned slightly closer to the gap between the roof tiles.
Inside the room, Wei WuXian, dressed in black, turned around slowly. Wen Chao covered his face. Now, only his hoarse breathing could be heard, “Wen ZhuLiu… Wen ZhuLiu!”
Hearing this, Wei WuXian’s eyes and lips curved, “Even now, you still think calling him will do any good?”
He took a few steps closer and kicked a white object near his feet. He looked down. It was the meat bun Wen Chao had thrown away.
Wei WuXian raised an eyebrow, “What, are you picky about food?”
Wen Chao fell off his stool screaming, “I don’t want to eat! I don’t want to eat! I don’t want to eat!”
Roaring, he crawled on the ground with his fingerless hands. His long black robe slid down his body, revealing his legs. They dangled from his body as if they were a burdensome accessory. Despite the bandages, his legs remained incredibly thin. Due to his violent movements, the bandages had stretched, forming gaps. Inside were ghastly white bones, crimson blood, and strands of flesh still hanging down.
All the flesh on his legs had been cut off, piece by piece. And, most likely… he had eaten all the flesh himself!
Wen Chao’s sharp scream echoed in the empty courier room. Wei WuXian appeared as if he hadn’t heard anything. Lifting the hem of his robe, he sat down at another table.
The second oil lamp lit up. In front of the bright yellow flame, half of Wei WuXian’s face was in the light, the other half in the darkness. He lowered his hand. A pale face emerged from the darkness under the table. Not long after, a crunchy chewing sound was heard.
A white-skinned child crouched at his feet. Like a young, carnivorous animal, he gnawed on something Wei WuXian had given him.
Wei WuXian withdrew his hand after patting the thin-haired white ghost child’s head. Holding the food he had fed him, the child turned around and sat down. Hugging his legs, he chewed furiously while glaring at Wen ZhuLiu with cold, gleaming eyes.
What he chewed were two human fingers.
Needless to say—it must be Wen Chao’s finger!
Lan WangJi stared at the terrifying ghost child alongside the terrifying Wei WuXian. His grip tightened on the hilt of Bichen Sword.
Wen ZhuLiu was still standing in front of Wen Chao. Wei WuXian’s head was lowered, his expression unreadable, “Wen ZhuLiu, do you really think you can protect her life from my hands?”
Wen ZhuLiu, “Better to die trying.”
Wei WuXian laughed coldly, “What a loyal dog Wen is.”
Wen ZhuLiu, “I cannot help but repay my debt for their generosity.”
Wei WuXian’s expression immediately darkened. His voice was harsh, “What a joke! Why must your debt be repaid at the expense of others?”
Before he could finish speaking, Wen Chao’s shrill wails came from behind Wen Zhuliu. Wen Chao crawled to a corner and tried his best to press against the wooden planks as if he could squeeze through the gaps. However, a red shadow suddenly fell from the ceiling. A long-haired woman in a red dress, her face blue, fell on him. Her dark face, fiery red clothes, and black hair created a terrifying contrast. Her fingers wrapped around the bandage on Wen Chao’s head and tore it off!
The bandage had just been rewrapped after Wen Zhuliu had applied ointment to Wen Chao’s face. The ointment, skin, and bandage were still stuck together. Burned skin was already weak to begin with. With the intense tearing, the scabs that hadn’t peeled off were ripped off along with a thin layer of flesh. Even his lips were ripped open. His already uneven, bald head instantly turned into a bloody mess.
Wen Chao immediately fainted. Upon hearing the scream, Wen Zhuliu turned to help him. On the rooftop, Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng also clenched their swords, preparing to attack. However, they heard another scream. The ghost child at Wei Wuxian’s feet had fallen. Wen Zhuliu’s right hand struck the ghost child’s forehead before he felt a sharp pain in his palm. The ghost child had bared its two rows of sharp teeth and was biting him.
Wen ZhuLiu couldn’t resist, so he ignored it and went straight to Wen Chao. However, the ghost child had already bitten off all the flesh on his hand and spat it out. He continued to devour the palm. Wen ZhuLiu gripped the child’s head with his left hand, as if he wanted to apply such pressure to the small, cold head that it would explode. The blue-faced woman threw the blood-soaked bandages to the ground and, like a four-legged creature, crawled to Wen ZhuLiu’s side almost instantly.
With a single swing of his arm, ten streaks of blood appeared. Two dark creatures, one large and one small, were constantly wrestling with him. Wen Zhuliu couldn’t handle both sides at once, and he was caught off guard in the chaos. When he turned to see Wei Wuxian’s cold smile, he lunged at him.
The two on the rooftop frowned. Lan WangJi slammed into the ground. The tiles shattered, and the roof collapsed. Through the roof, he descended to the second floor of the courier station and blocked Wen ZhuLiu from Wei WuXian. Taking advantage of Wen ZhuLiu’s shock, a whip flashing with purple light swept across his neck, wrapping around it three times before lifting off. Wen ZhuLiu’s large, heavy body was lifted by the whip’s undulations, and he was now suspended in midair.
Suddenly, the sound of his neck bones cracking could be heard. Simultaneously, Wei WuXian’s pupils constricted. He took out the flute from his waist, spun around, and stood up. The ghost child and the blue-faced woman who had been tearing Wen ZhuLiu apart immediately retreated to his side and stared warily at the two strangers.
Behind them, Wen ZhuLiu wasn’t dead yet. His face was flushed, and his entire body was twitching against his will. His eyes were wide open, as if they were about to pop out of their sockets. The ghost child growled at Lan WangJi and Jiang Cheng, not hiding his hostility at all. Wei WuXian raised his hand slightly for the child to retract his fangs. His gaze swept between Lan WangJi and Jiang Cheng. Among the three of them, no one spoke.
A moment later, Jiang Cheng waved his hand and threw something. Wei WuXian caught it without a second thought. Jiang Cheng, “Your sword!”
Wei WuXian’s hand slowly lowered.
He looked at Suibian and only replied after a pause, “… Thank you.”
Once again, a moment later, not a word was spoken. Suddenly, Jiang Cheng approached him and hit him, “You brat! Where have you been these three months?!”
Although the sentence itself sounded like a scolding, its tone was filled with amusement. Although Lan WangJi didn’t step forward, his gaze remained fixed on Wei WuXian. After the slap, Wei WuXian was silent for a moment. A moment later, he also hit him, “Haha, it’s a long story, a long story!”
The cold air that had been hitting him gradually subsided after the two blows. There was anger within Jiang Cheng’s joy. He hugged her tightly before pushing her back, shouting, “Didn’t we agree to meet in the shantytown at the top of the mountain? I waited for almost six days and didn’t even see a shadow of you! If you were dead, your shadow wouldn’t even be in front of my eyes! These past three months I’ve been so busy my head is getting bigger!”
Wei WuXian lifted the hem of his robe and sat back down, waving his hand, “I told you it’s a long story. Back then, Wen’s group of dogs were also looking for me everywhere. They waited for me, caught me there, and threw me into that horrible place to suffer.”
As she spoke, the blue-faced woman crawled toward him on both hands and feet. While fighting, her face was almost hideous, but now, with her dark face resting on Wei WuXian’s lap, she looked like a charming concubine, obediently pleasing her master. A giggle escaped her lips. Wei WuXian sat on his side, his right hand repeatedly stroking her long, soft hair.
As Lan WangJi watched his movements, his expression grew even colder. Although the sight made Jiang Cheng feel somewhat uncomfortable, at that moment, he was more shocked than anything else. “What kind of place is this? I’ve already carefully inquired with the people in town, so how come everyone says they haven’t seen you?!”
Wei WuXian, “Have you asked the people in town? They’re all naive peasants afraid of getting into trouble, so who would dare tell the truth? And those Wen dogs must have done something to keep them quiet. Of course, they all said they didn’t see me.”
Jiang Cheng cursed, “Those old idiots!” He quickly added, “What kind of place is this? Qishan? Nightless City? Then how did you get out? And you’ve become like this. What the… are these two creatures of yours? They actually obey your orders. Some time ago, Second Young Master Lan and I were tasked with killing Wen Chao and Wen ZhuLiu at night, but someone got ahead of us. I can’t believe it was you! You were the one who changed the talismans too?”
Out of the corner of his eye, Wei WuXian noticed Lan WangJi keeping a close eye on them. He smiled, “More or less. If I told you I found a mysterious cave somewhere, and there was a mysterious book left behind by a mysterious expert, and when I came out I was this strong, would you believe me?”
Jiang Cheng spat, “Wake up. You read too much of the legends in the picture book, huh? How could there be so many experts in this world? With secret caves and books everywhere!”
Wei WuXian raised his palm, “See? You don’t believe me even if I tell you. I’ll tell you if I have the chance.”
Jiang Cheng glanced at Lan WangJi. He knew it was probably something he shouldn’t have said in front of disciples from other sects, and wiped away the excitement on his face. “Alright then. You can tell me later. Everything’s fine as long as you’re back.”
Wei WuXian, “Yes. As long as I come back.”
Jiang Cheng muttered the words ‘as long as you come back’ a few times before hitting him again, “You really…! You’re still alive even after being captured by Wen’s dogs!”
Wei WuXian boasted, “Of course. Who am I?”
Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but scold him, “What are you so proud of?! You’re still alive and you didn’t come back sooner!”
Wei WuXian, “I just came out, okay? I heard that Shijie and you are doing well, and that you are rebuilding the YunmengJiang Sect and forming an alliance, so I went to kill a few Wen dogs first to lighten your load, and make some contributions. These three months, you have worked hard.”
Hearing the last part, Jiang Cheng remembered the past three months he had spent working day and night. He felt a little moved, but quickly put on a stern face, “Put away your shabby sword! I’ve been waiting for you to retrieve it. I don’t want to carry two swords around all the time and be asked so many questions!”
Lan WangJi suddenly spoke up, “Wei Ying.”
He stood quietly beside him. As he spoke, Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng turned to him. It was as if Wei WuXian had finally remembered to greet him. He nodded slightly, “HanGuang-Jun.”
Lan WangJi, “Were you the one who killed the Wen Sect disciples?”
Wei WuXian, “Tentu saja.”
Jiang Cheng, “I knew it was you. Why did you kill them one by one? That would be so troublesome.”
Wei WuXian, “Toying around, toying with them to death. Killing them all at once would be too easy for them. It’s much better to kill them in front of each other, one slice after another. Of course, with Wen Chao, I haven’t tortured him enough. Wen ZhuLiu, however, has accepted Wen RuoHan’s guidance and joined the Wen Sect with his surname changed, protecting Wen RuoHan’s beloved son under his command.” He laughed coldly, “He wants to protect him, but I want to let him see how in his hands, Wen Chao will become even more distorted, neither human nor monster.”
Her smile was cold, cruel, and delighted. Lan WangJi observed her expression closely. He stepped forward, “What method do you use to control such a dark creature?”
Wei WuXian’s lips curved slightly as he glanced at him. Jiang Cheng also heard the dissonance in his tone, “Second Young Master Lan, what do you mean?”
Lan WangJi’s eyes were fixed on Wei WuXian, “Answer me.”
The ghost child and the blue-faced woman began to move. Wei WuXian turned and stared at them. They slowly, reluctantly, retreated, sinking into the darkness. Wei WuXian finally turned to Lan WangJi again and raised an eyebrow, “If you want… what will happen if I don’t answer?”
Quickly, he ducked to the side, avoiding Lan WangJi’s sudden attack. He took three steps back, “Lan Zhan, we’ve only just met after so long, and you’re already trying to capture me. That’s not good, is it?”
Lan WangJi moved without a word. Wei WuXian parried whatever attack he threw. Both were fast. The third time he let go of Lan WangJi’s hand, he said, “I thought we were already quite familiar. You starting a fight with me without saying anything sounds a bit cruel, doesn’t it?”
Lan WangJi, “Answer me!”
Jiang Cheng stood between the two, “Second Young Master Lan!”
Wei WuXian, “Second Young Master Lan, your question is truly inexplicable in a short time. And it’s a bit strange. If I ask you about the GusuLan Sect’s secret techniques, will you answer me?”
Lan WangJi walked past Jiang Cheng and directly approached him. Wei WuXian crossed his flute in front of him, “Going too far, huh? Why are you so unfriendly? Lan Zhan, what exactly are you trying to do?”
Lan WangJi said one word at a time, “Come back to Gusu with me.”
Hearing this, Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng were shocked.
After a moment, Wei WuXian laughed, “Back to Gusu with you? To the Cloud Recesses? Why go there?”
He suddenly realized, “Oh. I forgot. Your uncle, Lan QiRen, hates bad people like me. You’re his most prized disciple, so of course you’re the same as him, haha. I refuse.”
Jiang Cheng looked at Lan WangJi warily, “Second Young Master Lan, we all understand the ways of the Lan Sect. However, Wei WuXian saved you in the Xuanwu cave on the Dusk River Mountain, let alone the friendship you two once fought together. Now, to mercilessly denounce him directly would be too unreasonable, right?”
Wei WuXian, “Look at you. What a Sect Leader.”
Jiang Cheng, “You can shut up.”
Lan WangJi, “It’s not that I want to criticize him.”
Jiang Cheng, “Then why do you want him to return to Gusu with you? Second Young Master Lan, at a time like this, the GusuLan Sect isn’t working together to kill the Wen-dogs and is instead still maintaining its rigid ways?”
One against two, Lan WangJi still refused to back down. He glared at Wei WuXian, “Wei Ying, you’ve finally paid the price for cultivating the evil path. There’s never been a single exception.”
Wei WuXian, “I can pay for it.”
Seeing how indifferent he was, Lan WangJi lowered his voice, “That path will not only damage your body, but also your heart.”
Wei WuXian, “Whether it’s damaged or not, or how much damage it’s caused, I know best. As for my heart, it’s my heart after all. I know what I’m doing.”
Lan WangJi, “There are some things you can’t control at all.”
Displeasure flashed across Wei WuXian’s face, “Of course I can control it.”
Lan WangJi stepped closer. He seemed about to speak again when Wei WuXian closed his eyes. “Besides, what does anyone else know about my heart? Why should anyone care?”
Lan WangJi fell silent. He suddenly felt angry, “… Wei WuXian!”
Wei WuXian was also furious, “Lan WangJi! Do you really have to make things difficult at a time like this? You want me to go to the Cloud Recesses to serve the GusuLan Sect’s imprisonment? Who do you think you are, what do you think the GusuLan Sect is?! Do you think I won’t fight back?!”
A hostile energy formed between the two of them. Behind the hilt of the Bichen sword, Lan WangJi’s knuckles turned white. Jiang Cheng’s voice was cold, “Second Young Master Lan, right now, the chaos with the Wen Sect hasn’t stopped. This is when we need strength most. The people don’t even have time to take care of themselves, so why should the GusuLan Sect care about something so distant? Wei WuXian is on our side. Do you want to punish our own people?”
Wei WuXian regained his composure, “Right. It’s all good as long as the Wen dogs are killed. Why bother thinking about how I killed them?”
The two of them had known how to continue each other’s words since they were young. Now, sentence by sentence, their argument flowed smoothly, “Forgive me for saying something so blunt, but even if we get to the bottom of it, Wei WuXian isn’t from your sect either. The GusuLan Sect has no right to punish him. Whoever he returns with, it won’t be you.”
Hearing this, Lan WangJi’s expression froze. He stared at Wei WuXian, the lump in his throat trembling, “I…”
Before he could continue, a low scream came from Wen Chao at the corner. Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng immediately turned around. Simultaneously, they walked around Lan WangJi and approached Wen ZhuLiu and Wen Chao. Wen ZhuLiu was hanging from Zidian’s body, still struggling in pain. Wen Chao was almost numb. As he slowly opened his eyelids, he immediately saw two faces staring back at him.
The faces were young, both familiar. Both showed expressions of despair, sadness, or even deep hatred. Yet, at this moment, the faces above him still displayed the same cold smiles, the same icy gazes.
Wen Chao didn’t scream anymore. He didn’t try to escape either. Hesitantly, he raised his fingerless hand and began to drool. Wei WuXian kicked him, sending him kneeling toward Yunmeng. Exposed flesh and bone rubbed against each other. Wen Chao screamed in pain, his voice incredibly loud in the empty courier room.
Jiang Cheng asked, “Why is the sound so sharp?”
Wei WuXian, “Of course if something is missing.”
Jiang Cheng felt disgusted, “You were the one who did it?”
Wei WuXian, “It’s so cruel when you think about it. Of course I wasn’t the one who cut it off. His wife broke off his bite when he got angry.”
Lan WangJi was still standing behind them, watching them. Wei WuXian suddenly remembered his presence again. He turned around and smiled, “Second Young Master Lan, this next scene might not be suitable for you. Perhaps you should avoid it.”
Although the word ‘maybe’ was used, his tone sounded completely undeniable. Jiang Cheng also spoke respectfully yet aloof, “That’s right. Second Young Master Lan, Wen Chao, and Wen Zhuliu are already in our hands. The task is complete, and it’s time for us to part ways. Whatever happens after this will be our sect’s private matter. You should return first.”
Lan WangJi’s gaze remained fixed on Wei WuXian, while Wei WuXian’s attention had been diverted by his dying enemy. His gaze on Wen Chao and Wen ZhuLiu glinted, and his grin was both eager and cruel. Jiang Cheng wore a similar expression. Both were immersed in the overwhelming pleasure of revenge, neither of them bothering to deal with outsiders.
A moment later, Lan WangJi turned and went down the stairs.
After he left the courier office, he stood in front of the door for quite a while, but didn’t leave.
He didn’t know how long had passed when the silent night was torn apart by a shrill wail.
Lan WangJi looked up behind him, his white robes and forehead ribbon fluttering in the cold wind.
The night has passed. The sun in the sky will rise soon.
And the sun on the ground is setting.