Chapter 99: Hatred (Part Two)

Jin Ling glanced at Wei WuXian again. There was no dog with him, and Wei WuXian finally managed to control himself. He felt like he was getting a headache. “Kid… It’s so late. Why did you come here with your dog?”

However, he didn’t know that after Lan WangJi, Wen Ning, and he left Lotus Pier, Jin Ling had secretly gone looking for him. Upon noticing his disappearance, he threw a tantrum at his uncle, who was running around uncontrollably, drawing swords. He criticized Wei WuXian for escaping because of him, and Jiang Cheng immediately threw him to the ground. Thus, Jin Ling decided to go all out, bringing Fairy to track Wei WuXian’s tracks. Fairy didn’t disappoint, arriving precisely at the Guanyin Temple by following Wei WuXian’s scent. However, when Jin Ling knocked, Fairy sensed a murderous intent hidden behind the door and suddenly turned around, biting its owner’s clothes, and barking to scare him away. Unfortunately, there was something strange about this Guanyin Temple. Even though Wei WuXian wasn’t inside, Jin Ling felt compelled to find out what it was. In the end, he still fell into enemy hands.

Of course, Jin Ling didn’t want to tell the truth. He just snorted.

With a few people, Jin GuangYao stepped into the temple. Just before the door closed, he turned to his subordinate, “Where is the dog?”

A monk replied, “The dog was wild. It bit anyone in its path. I couldn’t subdue it, and it ran away.”

Jin GuangYao, “Find him and kill him. That dog is quite smart. It won’t do any good if he leads anyone.”

“Yes!”

The monk left with his sword, and the door finally closed. Jin Ling was shocked, and exclaimed, “You’re really going to kill her? You’re the one who gave me Fairy!”

Jin GuangYao instead asked, “A-Ling, what are you doing here?”

Jin Ling glanced at Wei WuXian, unsure of how to respond. Suddenly, Lan XiChen spoke up, “Sect Leader Jin, Jin Ling is still a child.”

Jin GuangYao turned to him, “I know.”

Lan XiChen, “He is also your nephew.”

Jin GuangYao smiled, “Brother, what are you thinking? Of course, I know Jin Ling is not only a child, but also my nephew. What do you think I would do? Silence him with murder?”

Lan XiChen didn’t say anything. Jin GuangYao shook his head, then turned to Jin Ling, “A-Ling, you heard him. If you make a fuss, I might do some scary things to you. Just do whatever you want.”

Jin Ling had always had a good relationship with this uncle of his. In the past, Jin GuangYao had doted on him greatly. Right now, he seemed as kind as ever, but in his current state, Jin Ling found it difficult to look at him the same way as before. He calmly walked toward Wei WuXian and Lan XiChen, appearing quite obedient.

Jin GuangYao turned around, “They still haven’t dug it out? Tell the people inside to hurry up!”

One of the monks replied, “Yes!” Drawing his sword, he stormed the Guanyin Palace.

Wei WuXian finally noticed the sound of earth and rock being shifted from the main palace, as if many people were trying to dig something. He thought,  What are they digging? A tunnel? A tiger seal? The thing sealed here?

Jin GuangYao, “By the way, there’s something I haven’t asked—Mr. Wei, how did you know about this place? Don’t tell me you and HanGuang-Jun just happened to be here on vacation.”

Wei WuXian, “LianFang-Zun, you hid a substantial land deed in the secret chamber of the Fragrant Palace, right next to my manuscripts. Don’t you remember?”

Jin GuangYao, “Oh, that’s my fault. I should have put them separately.”

Wei WuXian, “Right now, we won’t be able to escape your grasp no matter what. So, could you tell me what being is being suppressed in this Guanyin Temple, LianFang-Zun, and satisfy my curiosity a bit?”

Jin GuangYao smiled, “Satisfying your curiosity isn’t cheap. Young Master Wei, are you sure you want to try it?”

Wei WuXian, “Oh. Now that I think about it, never mind.”

At this moment, Lan XiChen walked toward him. Wei WuXian finally noticed that although the sword at Lan XiChen’s waist was drawn an inch, there was no light shining from it. He asked, “ZeWu-Jun, what’s going on?”

Lan XiChen, “What a shame. I was deceived by a lie and lost my spiritual power. Even if I brought Shuoyue and Liebing, they wouldn’t be of much help.”

Wei WuXian, “There’s no need to be embarrassed. After all, lying is one of LianFang-Zun’s greatest skills.”

Remembering the  Empathy scene  where Meng Yao faked suicide to stab Nie MingJue in the back as well as the news that ‘LianFang-Zun was seriously injured’, he didn’t find it too difficult to deduce how Lan XiChen lost his spiritual power.

Jin GuangYao ordered the monks, “Get into formation. When HanGuang-Jun comes, stall him for as long as you can.”

Wei WuXian, “How can you be so sure HanGuang-Jun will come?”

He was still thinking quickly about whether he should lie and lower Jin GuangYao’s guard when Jin GuangYao smiled, as if he knew what he was thinking, “Of course he came. Since Young Master Wei is suspicious of this Guanyin Temple, of course HanGuang-Jun also knows about the strangeness here. Young Master Wei, don’t tell me you think I’ll believe you if you say he didn’t come with you.”

Wei WuXian, “Bravo.”

Lan XiChen, “Young Master Wei, if WangJi is around, why isn’t he with you?”

Wei WuXian, “We act separately.”

However, Lan XiChen was stunned, “I heard you were injured when you left Burial Mound. Why would he act alone with you at a time like this?”

Wei WuXian, “Who did you hear it from?”

Jin GuangYao, “I told him.”

Wei WuXian glanced at him before turning to Lan XiChen, “It’s like this. I couldn’t sleep tonight and was wandering around outside the inn. I just came here by accident. HanGuang-Jun is in the other room. He doesn’t know I went out.”

Jin GuangYao found it strange, “You two have two rooms?”

Wei WuXian, “Who said we were guaranteed to get a room?

Jin GuangYao smiled, but didn’t say anything. Wei WuXian, “Oh, I know.” Lan XiChen told him. Wei WuXian, “You two really can talk about anything.”

However, there was no joking tone in Lan XiChen’s voice, “Young Master Wei, did something happen between you two?”

Without the friendly smile on his face, he looked even more like Lan WangJi with that serious expression. Wei WuXian couldn’t understand why he reacted so strongly. He felt guilty from the start, “Sect Leader Lan, what could possibly have happened between us? For now, let’s focus on this matter.”

He signaled to Jin GuangYao with his eyes. After being reminded, Lan XiChen replied, “I was too impatient. I’m sorry.”

However, Jin GuangYao smiled, “So it seems there is a problem. And it’s not a small one.”

Wei WuXian replied with a cold smile, “Right now, the entire cultivation world is going to war against you, LianFang-Zun, and you’re still sitting around, right? Still have the free time to worry about others? Aren’t you a man of many words?”

Jin GuangYao, “Of course not. I just wanted to comment. HanGuang-Jun has spent so many years in longing, and even to this day, he hasn’t gotten a happy ending. Not only does Sect Leader Lan have good reason to be impatient, even outsiders can’t bear to see it.”

Wei WuXian turned around, “What longing? What happy ending?”

Hearing this, Jin GuangYao and Lan XiChen looked surprised. They studied his expression carefully, as if trying to see if he was deliberately pretending not to notice anything. Wei WuXian’s heart suddenly pounded, as if something that had been dead for more than half the night had suddenly come back to life in his chest. He forced himself to calm down, “What do you mean?”

Jin GuangYao, “Young Master Wei, do you really not understand what I mean? Besides, if HanGuang-Jun hears this, it will definitely be a bit painful, right?”

Wei WuXian, “I really don’t understand. Just say it out loud!!!”

Lan XiChen was surprised, “Young Master Wei, could it be that even though you’ve been with WangJi for so long, you still don’t know his feelings?”

Wei WuXian immediately caught him, about to kneel on the ground and beg him to explain everything at once, “Sect Leader Lan, Sect Leader Lan, w-what do you mean by Lan Zhan’s feelings?! What, what…”

Lan XiChen pulled his hand away forcefully, saying in disbelief, “So you really don’t know anything. But have you forgotten how he got that whip scar? Didn’t you see the brand mark on his chest?”

Wei WuXian, “Whip scars?!” He grabbed Lan XiChen again, “Sect Leader Lan, I really don’t know. Please tell me, how did he get those scars? How could it have anything to do with me?!?”

Anger was visible on Lan XiChen’s face, “If this has nothing to do with you, could he have done all that to himself for no reason?!”

ZeWu-Jun had always been a very patient person, but now that Lan WangJi was involved, he was truly furious. However, after observing Wei WuXian’s expression, he suppressed his anger, trying, “Your memory… is damaged?”

Wei WuXian, “My memory?” He immediately tried his best to remember the things he had forgotten, “I don’t remember my memory… Yes!”

It is true that some of his memories are blurry.

Nightless City Massacre!

That night, he thought Wen Qing and Wen Ning had turned to dust. He watched the cultivation world attack him so fiercely, even watching Jiang Yanli die before his very eyes. In the end, he lost control and reunited the Sea Tiger, leaving it to be slaughtered. Those killed by the corpses under the Sea Tiger’s command became new corpses, creating an endless stream of murderous puppets to build a hell of blood.

Afterward, although Wei WuXian was able to support himself and remain standing, amidst the blurriness, he felt himself leaving a city slaughterhouse. He was unconscious for a long time, and when he woke up again, he had been sitting at the bottom of the Yiling Burial Mounds for quite some time.

Lan XiChen, “Do you remember now?”

Wei WuXian muttered, “Time in the Nightless City? I-I always thought I could somehow walk home by myself. Could it be…”

Lan XiChen nearly laughed out loud, “Young Master Wei! That night in Nightless City, how many people were you facing? Three thousand! No matter how powerful you are, could you escape unscathed in such a situation? Absolutely impossible!”

Wei WuXian, “What… What is Lan Zhan doing?”

Lan XiChen, “What WangJi did—if you don’t remember, I’m afraid he’ll never tell you in this lifetime, and you’ll never ask. Alright then. Let me tell you.” He continued, “Young Master Wei, that night, you took the two halves of the Stygian Tiger Seal and put them together. After you’d had your fill of killing, you became a spent arrow. WangJi was injured in your rampage. He’s in no better shape than you, barely able to support himself by leaning on Bichen. However, when he saw you stagger away, he immediately followed.

At that time, not many people were still conscious. I could barely move, and I could only watch as WangJi, whose spiritual power was clearly nearly depleted, staggered toward you. He took you to Bichen as soon as he caught you, and the two of you left.

Four hours later, after my spiritual power finally recovered, I hurried back to the GusuLan Sect to seek help. I was worried that if people from other sects found you first, WangJi would be considered your accomplice. At best, his name would be tarnished forever, and at worst, his life would be taken on the spot. So, together with Uncle, we selected thirty-three seniors who had always respected WangJi and searched for our swords in secret for two days. Only then did we find traces of you two in the Yiling region. WangJi hid you in a cave. When we arrived, you were sitting rooted to the spot on a rock inside the cave. Holding your hand, WangJi imparted spiritual energy to you. He kept whispering to you. But the entire time, you were repeating the same two words to him.

“‘Get out’!”

Wei WuXian’s throat was dry. His eyes were also red. He couldn’t say anything. Lan XiChen continued, “My uncle suddenly appeared before him and scolded him, demanding that he explain everything. As if he knew all along that he would be found out by us, he said that there was nothing to explain, only this. As a child, he never once contradicted Uncle and me. But as for you, WangJi not only contradicted him, he even attacked the cultivators of the GusuLan Sect with his sword. He severely injured the thirty-three seniors we had summoned…”

Wei WuXian dug his hands into his hair, “…I-I don’t know… I really…”

Besides repeating that he didn’t know, he couldn’t say anything else. Lan XiChen held back for a moment, but still continued, “Thirty-three lash marks! He was punished all at once, once for each person. You should know how painful it was when those lashes landed on your body, how long you had to rest to recover! After he went to the trouble of sending you back to Burial Mound and returning in such low spirits to receive his punishment, how long he knelt before the Wall of Rules! I told him when I went to see him, Young Master Wei has made a huge mistake, there’s no point in adding to it. But he said… that he couldn’t say for sure whether what you did was right or wrong, but no matter what, he was willing to bear all the consequences with you. It was said that those years were when he was reflecting on his mistakes, but in reality he was bedridden. Even so, when he learned that you were dead, he still dragged such a body to Burial Mound to take another look, no matter what…

The way he looked at you and spoke to you when he saved you and hid you in that cave, even a blind or deaf person could sense his feelings, which is why my uncle was so angry. WangJi was a role model for his disciples when he was young, and a leading cultivator when he grew up. Throughout his life, he was honest, upright, and impeccable—you were the only mistake he made! And you said… And you said you didn’t know. Young Master Wei, after you returned to your body, how did you pester him and confess to him? Every night… Every night, you had to… And you said you didn’t know? If you didn’t know, why did you do such things?

Wei WuXian really wanted to go back in time and kill himself. It was precisely because he didn’t know that he dared to do such a thing!

He suddenly felt terrified. If Lan WangJi didn’t know that he couldn’t remember anything about the days after the massacre in Nightless City, if Lan WangJi thought he knew about his feelings from the start, how terrible would he have been after he returned?

Initially, he had done those embarrassing and dramatic things to disgust Lan WangJi and drive him out of the Cloud Recesses so that they would never meet again and part ways. Lan WangJi must have realized his true nature. Yet, despite that… he still chose to stay by his side, refusing to give Jiang Cheng the chance to approach and make things difficult for him. He answered all his questions, granted all his requests, complied with and forgave him time and again. Even when faced with Wei WuXian’s almost cruel teasing, he still managed to restrain himself from crossing the line.

Then, back at the inn, when he pushed her away so suddenly, was it also because… he thought it was another example of spontaneous assumption?

Wei WuXian really couldn’t think any longer. He rushed to the door of Guanyin Temple, and the cultivators immediately stopped him. Jin GuangYao, “Young Master Wei, I understand your excitement right now…”

Right now, all Wei WuXian wanted was to rush back to the inn, rush to Lan WangJi’s side, and express his feelings no matter how loud he was. With one strike, he sent two monks who tried to stop him flying, roaring, “You understand what I mean!”

After the attack, the seven or eight people immediately fell to the ground. Wei WuXian felt his vision go dark. Jin GuangYao, on the other hand, was determined to finish his sentence, “… I just wanted to tell you, there’s no need to rush. Your HanGuang-Jun—he’s already here.”

An icy-blue sword flash shot from the sky, whistling as it forced back the silhouettes surrounding Wei WuXian before returning to someone’s hand. Lan WangJi landed silently in front of the Guanyin Temple and glanced at him, his expression no different from usual. However, nervously, Wei WuXian felt everything he wanted to say clump together in his stomach. His stomach cramped. He could only mutter, “…Lan Zhan.”

Just before, Jin Ling had been shocked speechless by Lan XiChen’s words. Seeing Lan WangJi here, he was initially overjoyed, but his expression immediately changed when he saw Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian looking at each other. 

Jin GuangYao sighed, “See? That’s what I said. If you were here, Young Master Wei, HanGuang-Jun would definitely come too.”

Lan WangJi twisted the wrist holding Bichen. Just as he was about to move, Jin GuangYao smiled, “HanGuang-Jun, you should take five steps back.”

Wei WuXian suddenly felt a small, sharp sting from his neck. Lan XiChen lowered his voice, “Be careful. Don’t move!”

Lan Wangji’s gaze landed on Wei Wuxian’s neck, his face slightly paled.

A nearly invisible guqin string, light and golden, was tied around Wei WuXian’s neck.