Chapter 98: Hatred (Part One)

Carrying Wen Ning, Wei WuXian immediately sped off to the Guanyin Temple in the city. That afternoon, he and Lan WangJi had already scoured the area. They had originally planned to inspect the place more thoroughly and break the arrays in the temple to see what creature was sealed there, and whether it would be helpful in dealing with Jin GuangYao. However, he slept through the journey until seven in the evening, and then something like  that  happened. Naturally, the plan failed. 

Right now, Wei WuXian felt dissatisfied with everything, which was why he came looking for trouble with Jin GuangYao in the middle of the night.

Everything was silent. The lights were out, and the doors of the Guanyin Temple were tightly shut. From behind the high walls, the courtyard looked pitch-black, but when Wei WuXian leaped over the wall, before even reaching the roof, he suddenly stopped  . Something was wrong.

Wen Ning also froze, whispering, “There’s a barrier.”

Wei WuXian gestured with his hand. The two landed silently and left the main entrance. They went to the corner on the other side of the Guanyin Temple and carefully climbed up. After hiding behind the gargoyle statue on the roof, they finally peeked into the courtyard.

And both of them gaped in shock.

Inside the Guanyin Temple, it was crowded with people and candlelight. Half were monks, and the other half were cultivators in Snow-Spark robes. The two groups stood intermingled, all carrying bows and arrows on their backs and swords in their hands, as if guarding something, ready to fight at any moment. Occasional whispers could be heard. However, thanks to the special camouflage barriers that had been set up on all four sides of the Guanyin Temple, from the streets outside the walls, everything appeared dark and silent inside. No sound or light could be heard.

However, what surprised Wei WuXian wasn’t the barrier, nor the fake cultivators and monks. Instead, it was the white-robed man standing in the middle of the courtyard.

Lan XiChen.

Lan XiChen was unfettered. Even his sword and xiao, Liebing, were slung at his waist. He stood majestically amidst the crowd, and the monks and cultivators respected him, even fulfilling his every request.

Wei WuXian observed for a moment before turning to Wen Ning, his voice low, “Return to the inn immediately. Bring HanGuang-Jun here as soon as possible!”

Wen Ning nodded and disappeared. Wei WuXian didn’t see Jin GuangYao. He didn’t know if Jin GuangYao was there or if he was holding the Tiger Seal. After thinking for a moment, he bit his finger and moved his bleeding fingertip toward the Spirit-Locking Pouch at his waist. He wanted to use those few little ghosts to secretly summon some dark creatures for him. However, at that moment, a series of barks sounded from the end of the street outside the Guanyin Temple.

Wei WuXian immediately felt his soul floating.

Almost petrified, he resisted the urge to leave immediately, trembling as he tightly hugged the statue on the roof. Listening to the barking that was getting closer, his chest filled with fear, and he subconsciously muttered to himself, “  Help me, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, help me!”

After that, he seemed to gain courage from the name, and he continued to tremble while forcing himself to calm down. Wei WuXian prayed desperately that the dog was a stray dog ​​without an owner, so that it would quickly get lost. However, fate was clearly not on his side. 

Amidst the barking, a young man’s loud voice could be heard shouting, “Fairy, shut up! Are you going to wake up everyone on this street in the middle of the night?!”

Jin Ling!

Lan XiChen’s expression changed. Most of the LanlingJin Sect cultivators recognized their young master’s voice. They exchanged glances and nocked arrows to their bows. 

Jin Ling’s voice sounded a bit fast. Soon, he arrived at the door of Guanyin Temple, “Shhh! Shhh! I’ll cook you if you keep barking! … Where do you want me to go?”

Wei WuXian’s heart sank amidst the terror,  Jin Ling, you wretch! Quick, get out of here!!!

But Jin Ling was forced to stop right outside the Guanyin Temple. The fairy barked repeatedly, as if going around in circles, digging at the ground and walls. Jin Ling pondered, “Is that all?” After a moment of silence, he knocked, “Is anyone here?”

In the center of the courtyard, all the cultivators held their breath. Leaning on their bows, their arrows pointed towards the door, they awaited orders. Lan XiChen lowered his voice, “Don’t hurt him!”

His voice couldn’t penetrate the barrier around Guanyin Temple. The others didn’t relax or lower their bows either. It seemed Jin Ling had also noticed something was wrong. Even though no one was on night watch, he slammed the door so hard that it should have woken anyone sleeping. After all, it shouldn’t have been this quiet. So, still outside the door, he stopped saying anything. Before Wei WuXian could feel relieved, the barking of dogs suddenly rang out again from outside the wall. 

Jin Ling grumbled, “Hey, why did you run back?!”

Wei WuXian smiled widely, “Good Fairy!!!”

Jin Ling, “Fairy! Come back! Fuck off!”

Wei WuXian,  son, please just make it disappear as soon as possible!!! I beg you!!!

However, a moment later, Wei WuXian heard the almost inaudible sound of dust and crumbs falling to the ground. He didn’t know what it was at first, but a split second later, he suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, ”  Oh my, that brat climbed the wall!”

On the other hand, Jin Ling saw the courtyard filled with arrows aimed at him as soon as he arrived. His pupils constricted. One of the monks might not have seen Jin Ling before, or perhaps he was determined to eliminate any intruders. He released the arrow, and it shot straight at Jin Ling!

As soon as Wei WuXian heard the sharp whistle, he knew the archer was extremely skilled. If Jin Ling were to be shot, his chest would definitely be pierced. There was only one thing he could use to ward it off. In an emergency, Wei WuXian jumped onto the wall and threw something, shouting, “Run, Jin Ling!”

What he threw was the bamboo flute he had carried with him since his rebirth. The flute deflected the brutal attack, and the arrow missed its target. The flute shattered into pieces. Jin Ling’s figure disappeared around the corner of the wall. He should have fled. However, because of this, Wei WuXian’s hiding place was revealed. Hundreds of arrows shot out like a rainstorm, shooting the statue where Wei WuXian was hiding into a hedgehog. Wei WuXian silently commented on the near miss. 

None of these people were bad at archery. Their cultivation bases were certainly high as well. It was still unknown whether Jin Ling would be able to escape. He jumped down from the wall. Just as he was drawing a circle with his fingers, about to whistle, a smiling voice suddenly sounded behind him, “I think Young Master Wei should stop here. It’s fine if your flute breaks, but if you lose your tongue or your fingers, it would be a real shame.”

Wei WuXian immediately removed his hand and agreed, “You do make sense.”

The person said, “May I ask to accompany you?”

Wei WuXian nodded, “You are too polite, Sect Leader Jin.”

Jin GuangYao smiled, “With pleasure.”

As if nothing was wrong, they walked in a circle until they reached the main entrance of the Guanyin Temple. Wei WuXian fell silent.

The doors of Guanyin Temple were already wide open. As expected, Jin Ling was unable to escape. With several monks pointing their swords at him, Jin Ling looked at them and was still the first to speak, albeit after a moment’s hesitation, “Uncle.”

Jin GuangYao, “Halo, A-Ling.”