Chapter 88: Loyalty—Part Ten

When Jiang Cheng accused him, Wei WuXian couldn’t defend himself at all, but he couldn’t stand such words being directed at Lan WangJi. 

Wei WuXian, “Jiang Cheng, listen to yourself. What are you saying? Is it appropriate? Don’t forget who you are. After all, you’re the leader of a sect. Insulting a renowned cultivator in front of Uncle Jiang and Madam Yu’s spirits—where is your discipline?”

Her original intention was to remind Jiang Cheng to show at least a little respect to Lan WangJi. However, Jiang Cheng was the most sensitive. From his words, he managed to catch the impression that he wasn’t fit to be the sect leader. Instantly, darkness crept over his face, bearing a chilling resemblance to Madam Yu’s expression when angry. His voice was hoarse, “Who insulted my parents in front of their spirits?! Can you two understand which sect you belong to? I don’t care if you act so shamelessly outside, but don’t you dare mess around inside our ancestral hall, in front of my parents’ spirits! After all, they were the ones who raised you—even I feel ashamed of you!”

Wei WuXian never expected such a heavy blow to befall him. He was shocked and furious at the same time, then shouted, “Shut up!”

Jiang Cheng pointed outside, “Feel free to play around outside as much as you like, whether under a tree or on a boat, hugging or whatever! Get out of my sect, get out of anywhere I can see!”

Hearing him mention ‘under the tree’, Wei WuXian felt his heart pound—could Jiang Cheng have seen the scene where he fell into Lan WangJi’s arms?

His suspicions were correct. Jiang Cheng had indeed gone to look for Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi. He chased after them in the direction the street vendors had pointed. A voice in his heart seemed to tell him where Wei WuXian would definitely go. He caught up with them in no time. However, he happened to see Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi hugging each other tightly under a tree, unwilling to let go even after so long.

Goosebumps immediately spread all over Jiang Cheng’s body.

Although he had speculated about the relationship between Mo XuanYu and Lan WangJi before, it was merely a jab at Wei WuXian, not a genuine suspicion. He never expected Wei WuXian to have an ambiguous relationship with a man, because after all, when they grew up together, Wei WuXian had never shown such interest. He had always passionately loved beautiful girls. On the other hand, it was even more impossible for Lan WangJi. He was known for his asceticism, seemingly uninterested in both men and women.

However, hugging like that still felt strange. At least, they didn’t seem like ordinary friends or brothers. He immediately remembered that Wei WuXian had been clinging to Lan WangJi ever since his return. Lan WangJi’s attitude toward him was also different from before his rebirth. Instantly, he was almost certain that the two of them did indeed have that kind of relationship. He couldn’t turn around and leave, but he didn’t want to say a word to the two of them, so he continued to hide as he followed them. Every glance and movement they passed seemed different in his eyes. For a moment, the shock, absurdity, and slight disgust he felt combined to overcome his hatred. It wasn’t until Wei WuXian brought Lan WangJi to the ancestral hall that the long-suppressed hatred resurfaced, devouring his propriety and rationality.

Wei WuXian held something back, “Jiang WanYin, you… apologize now.”

Jiang Cheng scoffed, “Apologize? For what? Because we confessed our feelings to each other?”

Wei WuXian raged, “HanGuang-Jun is just my friend—what do you think we are?! I’m warning you. Apologize right now—don’t let me beat you up!”

Hearing this, Lan WangJi’s expression froze for a moment. Jiang Cheng laughed, “Then I’ve never seen such a ‘friend’ before? You’re warning me? Warning me against what? If you two still had even a shred of integrity, you shouldn’t have come here and…”

Seeing Lan WangJi’s change in expression, Wei WuXian felt insulted by Jiang Cheng’s words. He was so angry that his entire body trembled. He didn’t dare think about what Lan WangJi would think after being humiliated like this. The anger in his heart overflowed as he threw a talisman, “Is that enough?”

The talisman was both swift and powerful. It exploded on Jiang Cheng’s right shoulder, causing him to stagger. Jiang Cheng hadn’t expected Wei WuXian to attack so suddenly. His spiritual power hadn’t fully recovered yet, so the talisman hit its target. Blood seeped from his shoulder, and disbelief spread across his face. Zidian instantly slipped from his fingers, shooting out in a blinding flash. Lan WangJi drew Bichen to block the attack. The three of them began to fight inside the ancestral hall. 

Jiang Cheng’s voice was as terrifying as the look in his eyes, “Fine! Then, it’s a fight! You think I’m afraid?!”

However, while fending off a few attacks, Wei WuXian suddenly remembered. This was the ancestral hall of the YunmengJiang Sect. Just moments ago, he had been kneeling here, begging for the Jiang couple’s blessing, yet now, he was attacking their son alongside Lan WangJi, right before their eyes!

As if doused by an icy waterfall, he felt the light in his eyes flicker between light and darkness. Lan WangJi glanced at him before turning and grabbing his shoulder. Jiang Cheng’s expression changed. He stopped his whip as his eyes flashed with alarm. 

Lan WangJi, “Wei Ying?!” His low voice echoed in Wei WuXian’s ears, relentlessly. 

Wei WuXian began to doubt whether something had happened to his ears, “What’s wrong?”

He felt something trickle down his face, but only grabbed a handful of red blood. Accompanied by a throbbing headache, blood continued to drip from his nose and mouth onto the ground.

This time, he finally stopped pretending.

Wei WuXian was barely able to stand, holding on tightly to Lan WangJi’s arm. Seeing that the white clothes that Lan WangJi had just worn were stained red again by his blood, he couldn’t help but wipe them away, worried that at the wrong time,  I would make his clothes dirty again.

Lan WangJi, “How do you feel?!”

Wei WuXian didn’t answer the question, “Lan Zhan… Let’s go.”

Go. Right now.

Never come back again.

Lan Wangji, “Ya.”

He had completely lost the urge to continue fighting with Jiang Cheng. Without a word, he picked Wei WuXian up and turned to leave. Jiang Cheng was filled with both surprise and doubt. He was shocked that Wei WuXian was suddenly in such a bad state, but he doubted this might just be a ruse by Wei WuXian to escape. After all, Wei WuXian had often used this to play pranks on him in the past. 

Seeing the two of them about to leave, he shouted, “Stop!”

Lan WangJi seethed, “Go away!”

Bichen also arrived, its power surging out. Zidian also lashed out, and the two clashed, producing a deafening crash. The impact of the sound nearly split Wei WuXian’s head in two. Like a candle about to go out, he closed his eyes, and his head drooped. Feeling the weight on his shoulders, Lan WangJi stepped back from the fight to catch his breath. Without its owner’s help, Bichen was slowly being defeated by the approaching Zidian. Jiang Cheng didn’t want to hit Lan WangJi, and immediately pulled back his whip, but it was too late. However, just then, a figure jumped down from the side and blocked the two of them.

Jiang Cheng looked and discovered that the uninvited guest was Wen Ning. He was immediately furious, “Who gave you permission to enter Lotus Pier?! How dare you!”

He could tolerate others, but definitely not Wen Ning, the dog Wen who stabbed Jin ZiXuan in the heart and ended his brother’s happiness and life. Just one look at him, and he immediately felt like killing him. How dare he set foot in the world of Lotus Pier—he was truly courting death!

Because of those two lives and many other reasons, Wen Ning had always felt guilty, so he had always been somewhat afraid of Jiang Cheng, consciously avoiding him all the time. However, right now, he was blocking Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi as he faced him, receiving the harsh lash. A terrible burning sensation spread through his chest, but he remained undaunted.

After realizing that Wei WuXian had only fainted temporarily due to extreme exhaustion and anger, Lan WangJi finally looked away. He saw Wen Ning holding something in his hand and handing it to Jiang Cheng. The Zidian, in Jiang Cheng’s right hand, was shining so brightly it was almost white, its light surging with the murderous intent within him. He laughed out loud, “What do you want?”

It was Wei WuXian’s sword, Suibian. On the way, Wei WuXian had thrown it away because it was too cumbersome. Finally, he entrusted it to Wen Ning. Wen Ning held it and said, “Just pull it out.”

His tone was firm, and his gaze sharp. His previous blank stare was gone.

Jiang Cheng, “I’m warning you. If you don’t want to be reduced to ashes again, immediately remove your feet from the ground of Lotus Pier. Go!”

Wen Ning nearly stabbed the sword hilt into his chest. His voice was shrill, “Do it. Pull it!”

Frustration filled Jiang Cheng’s heart. His heart was pounding for no reason. For some reason, he completely obeyed Wen Ning’s orders. He grabbed the handle of Suibian with his left hand and pulled hard.

A striking white blade had been drawn from its plain hilt!

Jiang Cheng stared at the gleaming sword in his hand. It took him a moment to realize what it was.

The sword was Suibian, Wei WuXian’s sword. After the siege at Burial Mound, it was collected as a battle trophy by the LanlingJin Sect. It had been sealed for a long time. Of those who saw it later, none had managed to pull it out.

But how could he do it? Did the sword lift the seal?

Wen Ning, “That doesn’t mean the sword has lifted its seal! Even now, the seal is still intact. If you put it back in its sheath and ask someone else to open it, no one will be able to pull it out.”

The confused mess within Jiang Cheng was clearly visible on his face, “Then why was I able to pull it out?”

Wen Ning, “Because that sword made you Young Master Wei.”

Carrying the unconscious Wei WuXian on his back, Lan WangJi stood up.

Jiang Cheng shouted, “What do you mean the sword took me as Wei WuXian? How did that happen?! Why did it have to be me?!”

Wen Ning’s voice was even louder, “Because the golden core revolving within you right now belongs to him!”