Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Cunning Youth Part 10

Wei Wuxian had finally confirmed which scene he was witnessing before his eyes.

Back then, Nie Mingjue received intelligence and launched a surprise attack in Yangquan.

The Crimson Frost Duke took the initiative and had always been unstoppable. However, whether it was a flaw in the intelligence or just the unpredictability of fate, no one expected that this surprise attack would collide head-on with Wen Ruohan, the family head of the Wen family of Qishan.

Misjudging the strength, the Wen family of Qishan turned the tables, capturing all the cultivators who had come to attack and taking them back to the City of Buye Tian.

Meng Yao knelt down beside Nie Mingjue and said, "I really didn’t expect that you would have such a humiliating day."

Nie Mingjue only said two words: "Get lost."

With a hint of pity in his laughter, Meng Yao said, "Do you still think you're the King of Hejian? Wake up, this is Yanyang Hall."

A nearby cultivator spat and said, "What Yanyang Hall? It’s just a den of Wen dogs!"

Meng Yao’s expression changed, and his sword flashed out.

A line of blood spurted from the cultivator’s neck, and he fell without a sound. His fellow disciples screamed and rushed to his side. Nie Mingjue was furious. "You!"

Another cultivator shouted, "Wen dogs! Have the guts to kill me too..." Without even raising an eyebrow, Meng Yao slashed again, sending a spray of blood across the cultivator's throat, and smiled. "Sure."

Meng Yao stood before the pool of blood, his long sword in hand, and smiled faintly. "Is there anyone else who wants to use that word?"

Nie Mingjue coldly said, "Wen dogs."

Knowing that falling into Wen Ruohan’s hands meant certain death, he was not afraid. If it were Wei Wuxian in this situation, he would have cursed out loud before anything else, since death was inevitable either way. However, Meng Yao merely smiled and did not get angry. With a snap of his fingers, a Wen family cultivator crawled forward and presented a long box to him with both hands. Meng Yao opened the box and took out an item. "Lord Nie, why don’t you see what this is?"

It was Nie Mingjue’s saber, Baxia!

Nie Mingjue angrily said, "Get out of here!"

But Meng Yao had already taken Baxia in his hand. "Lord Nie, Baxia has been in my hands many times before. Aren’t you a bit late to get angry now?"

Nie Mingjue said word by word, "Take your hand off!"

But Meng Yao seemed intent on provoking him. He weighed the saber and commented, "Lord Nie, your saber is considered a first-grade spiritual artifact. However, compared to your father’s saber, the late Lord Nie’s weapon, it still falls short. Why don’t you guess how many times the Wen family head will tap it before it breaks?"

In an instant, Nie Mingjue’s blood boiled with rage. Wei Wuxian was also shaken by this sudden surge of anger, thinking, "How vicious."

The most hated and unforgettable event in Nie Mingjue’s life was the death of his father.

Back when Nie Mingjue was only a teenager, and the Lord of the Nie family of Qinghe was still his father, someone presented a treasure saber to Wen Ruohan. Wen Ruohan was pleased for a few days and asked the scholars around him, "What do you think of this saber?"

He was known for his unpredictable temper, so naturally, everyone flattered him, praising the saber as unparalleled. However, one scholar, whether because of a grudge with the old Lord Nie or just wanting to stand out with a different answer, said, "Your saber is indeed unmatched. However, there’s someone who might not agree—the Lord of the Nie family of Qinghe. He always boasts that his saber is unparalleled and unrivaled. Even if he admits it verbally, he would never do so in his heart."

Wen Ruohan was displeased and asked who it was. The scholar replied, "The Lord of the Nie family of Qinghe."

Wen Ruohan laughed and said, "I’ll see for myself." He immediately summoned the old Lord Nie from Qinghe, took his saber, examined it, and said, "Indeed, a fine saber," before sending him back.

At the time, there was nothing unusual, and the old Lord Nie, not understanding what had happened, was only displeased by the summons. A few days later, during a night hunt, his saber suddenly broke into pieces while slaying a beast. The beast then gored him with its horns, causing fatal injuries.

Nie Mingjue, who was hunting alongside his father, saw this happen with his own eyes.

After being rescued, the old Lord Nie could not swallow the humiliation. His injuries did not heal, dragging on for half a year before he finally passed away. It was unclear if he died from anger or illness. Nie Mingjue and the entire Nie family of Qinghe harbored deep hatred for the Wen family of Qishan because of this.

And now, in front of Wen Ruohan, Meng Yao held his saber and brought up the bitter memory of his father’s death by broken saber—a truly malicious act!

Nie Mingjue struck out with his palm, sending Meng Yao staggering backward as he spat out a mouthful of blood. Seeing this, the figure on the jade seat leaned forward slightly, as if about to intervene. But before he could move, Meng Yao quickly got up, rushed over, and kicked Nie Mingjue squarely in the chest. Exhausted from the force of his previous blow, Nie Mingjue was sent crashing to the ground, the pent-up blood in his chest finally erupting. Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian watched in stunned disbelief.

There were so many versions of the rumors, but he never expected that one of them would include the shocking detail of the Concealing Fragrance Duke kicking the Crimson Frost Duke!

Meng Yao firmly stomped on Nie Mingjue's chest and shouted, "You dare act wild in front of Lord Wen!" He stabbed downward with his sword, but Nie Mingjue slapped out with his palm, shattering the sword into pieces. The force of the slap sent Meng Yao tumbling away. Nie Mingjue was about to deliver a second palm strike when his body was suddenly dragged in another direction by an unusual suction.

The pull was toward Wen Ruohan's jade seat. Nie Mingjue was dragged across the jade stone floor, leaving a long, bloody trail nearly 30 feet long, and still he was dragged further.

Nie Mingjue grabbed a kneeling Wen family disciple and threw him toward the jade seat. With a loud bang, blood sprayed into the air like a burst watermelon, splattering everywhere. Wen Ruohan casually struck out with his palm, shattering the disciple’s head. The distraction gave Nie Mingjue a brief respite. Fueled by rage, he found new strength. He leaped up, cast a spell with a wave of his hand, and his blade, Baxia, flew toward him. Meng Yao warned, "Lord, be careful!"

A voice laughed maniacally, "It's fine!"

It was the voice of a young man. Wei Wuxian wasn't surprised. Wen Ruohan's cultivation was extremely high, and his body was kept in peak condition. As soon as Nie Mingjue grasped Baxia's hilt and swung it, dozens of Wen family cultivators who had surrounded him were cut down at the waist.

The black jade stone floor was littered with broken bodies. Suddenly, a cold shiver ran down Wei Wuxian's spine.

In an instant, a figure appeared behind Nie Mingjue. He swung his blade horizontally, and the force of his spiritual energy shattered a long stretch of the ground. But he struck at nothing, and before he could react, he was hit heavily in the chest, crashing into a golden pillar inside the hall. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, and more blood began to flow from his forehead, blurring his vision. Sensing someone approaching, he swung his blade again but was struck in the heart by a fist, causing him to sink several inches into the jade stone floor.

Wei Wuxian, sharing Nie Mingjue's sensations, felt a deep mental shock.

Wen Ruohan's power was overwhelmingly terrifying!

Wei Wuxian had never directly confronted Nie Mingjue, so he didn't know the outcome of their fight. But from what he had observed, Nie Mingjue's cultivation could easily rank in the top three among those he had seen. Yet even so, in front of Wen Ruohan, Nie Mingjue had no chance to fight back. Even if Wei Wuxian were in Nie Mingjue's place, he couldn't say for sure that he would fare any better under Wen Ruohan's hands...

Wen Ruohan stepped on Nie Mingjue's chest, and Wei Wuxian felt darkness cloud his vision, the smell of blood rising in his throat.

Meng Yao's voice drew closer. "I am incompetent and have to trouble the Lord."

Wen Ruohan laughed. "You're useless."

Meng Yao also laughed. Wen Ruohan asked, "Was it Nie Mingjue who killed Wen Xu?"

Meng Yao replied, "Yes, it was him. Lord, do you wish to kill your enemy with your own hands now, or should we drag him to the Hellfire Hall?" He personally suggested, "Dragging him to the Hellfire Hall would be better."

The "Hellfire Hall" was Wen Ruohan's playground, a place where he had collected thousands of torture devices specifically designed to torment people. Meng Yao's suggestion implied that he didn't want to give Nie Mingjue a quick death. Instead, he wanted to drag him to Wen Ruohan's torture chamber and slowly torment him to death.

Hearing the two casually discuss his fate, Nie Mingjue's anger surged, and blood boiled in his chest. Wen Ruohan said, "Why drag a half-dead man?"

Meng Yao replied, "You can't say that. With Lord Nie's robust physique, he might be back to his formidable self after a couple of days of rest."

Wen Ruohan said, "Do as you see fit."

Meng Yao said, "Yes."

But as he said this "yes," an extremely thin, cold light flashed across the room.

Wen Ruohan suddenly fell silent.

Warm blood splashed onto Nie Mingjue's face. He struggled to lift his head to see what had happened, but his severe injuries overwhelmed him, and his head drooped as his eyes closed.

After what seemed like an eternity, Wei Wuxian finally saw a glimmer of light, and Nie Mingjue gradually opened his eyes.

As soon as he woke up, he found himself being half-dragged and half-carried by Meng Yao, who had his arm over his shoulder.

Meng Yao said, "Lord Nie?"

Nie Mingjue asked, "Is Wen Ruohan dead?"

Meng Yao stumbled, trembling as he replied, "It should be... over."

He was still holding something in his hand.

Nie Mingjue said in a low voice, "Give me the blade."

Wei Wuxian couldn't see the expression on Meng Yao's face and could only detect a bitter smile in his voice. "Lord Nie, at a time like this, you're not still thinking of cutting me down with a blade, are you...?"

Nie Mingjue was silent for a moment, gathered his strength, and snatched it away. Although Meng Yao was extremely quick-witted, brute force overcame skill, and he couldn't hold his ground, quickly jumping back and saying, "Lord Nie, you're still injured."

With the long blade in his hand, Nie Mingjue said coldly, "You killed them."

The several cultivators who had been captured alongside Nie Mingjue.

Meng Yao said, "Lord Nie, you should understand that in the situation back then... I had no choice."

Nie Mingjue, who hated such excuses the most, felt a surge of anger in his heart. He slashed with his blade and shouted, "No choice? Whether to act or not is up to you, whether to kill or not is also up to you!"

Meng Yao dodged and argued, "Is it really up to me? Lord Nie, if we were in each other's positions..."

Nie Mingjue had already anticipated what he was going to say and interrupted, "No!"

Meng Yao also seemed completely drained, dodging repeatedly, barely managing to avoid the blows, his footing almost slipping, revealing a disheveled state. After catching his breath, suddenly, as if bursting out, he shouted, "Crimson Frost Duke! Do you truly understand? If I hadn't killed them, it would have been you lying dead on the ground!"

This sentence essentially meant "I saved your life, so you can't kill me or you'll be unjust," but Jin Guangyao, true to his reputation, managed to convey a sense of restrained grievance and dignified sorrow. Sure enough, Nie Mingjue's movements faltered, his forehead veins bulging, as he stood rigidly for a moment. Gripping the blade's hilt, he shouted, "Fine! After I cut you down, I'll kill myself!"

After shouting, Meng Yao immediately shrank back, seeing the deadly swing of Baxia and fleeing in terror. The two of them, one chasing and one fleeing, were both covered in blood, staggering. Wei Wuxian, caught in this ridiculous situation, laughed inwardly while cutting down the future Cultivation Supervisor with his hand. He thought that if Nie Mingjue weren't badly wounded and low on spiritual energy, Meng Yao would have been killed by now. Amidst the chaos, an astonished voice suddenly said, "Brother Mingjue!"

A figure in pristine white robes flashed out from the forest. Upon seeing the person, Meng Yao, as if seeing a savior, scrambled and crawled behind him. "Lord Ze Wu! Lord Ze Wu!!!"

Nie Mingjue, still filled with anger, didn't even bother to ask why Lan Xichen had appeared. He shouted, "Xichen, move aside!"

With Baxia coming fiercely, Shuoyue had no choice but to be drawn. Lan Xichen both supported and blocked him, saying, "Brother Mingjue, calm your anger! Why go to such extremes?"

Nie Mingjue said, "Why don't you ask him what he's done?!"

Lan Xichen turned to look at Meng Yao, who appeared frightened and stammered as if too scared to speak. Nie Mingjue said, "After escaping from the chaos at Langya, I searched everywhere but couldn't find him! So he became a lackey of the Wen family, aiding the tyranny in the City of Unyielding Heaven!"

Lan Xichen said, "Brother Mingjue."

Rarely interrupting others, his words caused Nie Mingjue to pause slightly. Lan Xichen continued, "Do you know who it was that delivered the battle formations of the Wen family of Qishan to you several times?"

Nie Mingjue said, "You."

Lan Xichen said, "I was merely the messenger. Do you know who the true source of the intelligence was?"

The implication in his words, given the current situation, could not have been clearer. Nie Mingjue looked at Meng Yao, who was standing behind Lan Xichen with his head bowed, his brow twitching uncontrollably, clearly finding it hard to believe.

Lan Xichen said, "There's no need for doubt. I only came to receive him because of his message. Otherwise, why would I have appeared here just in time?"

Nie Mingjue was rendered speechless.

Lan Xichen continued, "After the incident at Langya, Ah Yao felt remorse. He didn't dare to face you, so he found a way to infiltrate the Wen family of Qishan, get close to Wen Ruohan, and secretly sent messages to me. At first, I didn't know the identity of the messenger, but by chance, I discovered the truth and recognized him." He turned to Meng Yao and said in a low voice, "You didn't tell Lord Nie about this?"

"..." Meng Yao, holding the wound on his arm, bitterly smiled and said, "Lord Ze Wu, as you can see, even if I had spoken just now, Lord Nie wouldn't have believed me."

Nie Mingjue remained silent. Baxia and Shuoyue were still locked in a stalemate. Meng Yao, his eyes filled with fear as he watched the clash of blades, finally stepped forward and knelt before Nie Mingjue.

Lan Xichen said, "Meng Yao?"

Meng Yao said in a low voice, "Lord Nie, earlier in the Flaming Sun Hall, although it was to deceive Wen Ruohan and prevent him from discovering the truth, I hurt you and spoke disrespectfully. Knowing that the late Lord Nie was a pain in your heart, I deliberately picked at your wounds... Though it was necessary, I sincerely apologize."

Nie Mingjue said, "The ones you should be kneeling before are the cultivators you killed with your own hands."

Meng Yao said, "Wen Ruohan's nature is brutal. He would fly into a frenzy if anyone so much as defied him slightly. I had to pretend to be his confidant. How could I stand by and do nothing when others insulted him? So..."

Nie Mingjue said, "Very well, it seems you've done plenty of this sort of thing in the past."

Meng Yao sighed and said, "Living in Qishan..."

Lan Xichen did not back down and sighed, "Brother Mingjue, he was undercover in Qishan for some time and had to do certain things... It was unavoidable. When he did those things, his heart was also..."

Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "Lord Ze Wu is still... too kind-hearted." But then he considered that he was already on guard because of the various suspicions surrounding Jin Guangyao. However, to Lan Xichen, Meng Yao appeared as a man who endured humiliation, had no choice but to act, and went undercover alone. Their perspectives were different, so how could their feelings be compared?

After a moment, Nie Mingjue still fiercely raised his blade. Before Lan Xichen could finish speaking, the silver blade slashed down heavily, splitting a stubborn stone in two.

Meng Yao flinched slightly at the sound of the stone splitting and turned to look. The giant stone had been cleaved from top to bottom.

In the end, Nie Mingjue couldn't bring himself to strike the blow. Baxia was sheathed, and he turned and left without looking back.

From that point on, with Wen Ruohan dead, the remnants of the Wen family of Qishan were no longer a significant threat, their defeat certain.

And thus, Meng Yao, the undercover agent in the city of Bu Ye Tian for several years, became famous in one battle.

Wei Wuxian had often wondered why, after Meng Yao's betrayal of the Nie family of Qinghe, Nie Mingjue's relationship with him was no longer the same. So why did they end up sworn brothers? In his observation, apart from Lan Xichen's hope that the two would reconcile, the most important reason was probably Nie Mingjue's gratitude for being saved and for the intelligence relayed through Meng Yao. In previous battles, he had indeed relied on the intelligence Meng Yao relayed through Lan Xichen. He still considered Jin Guangyao to be an exceptional talent and had the intention to guide him back to the right path. Jin Guangyao was no longer his subordinate, and only after becoming sworn brothers would he have the identity and standing to urge him, much like how he would admonish his younger brother Nie Huaisang.

After the conclusion of the Sunshot Campaign, the Jin family of Lanling hosted a multi-day flower banquet, inviting numerous cultivators and families to celebrate together.

At Jin Lingtai, people came and went. From Nie Mingjue's lofty view, the crowd parted, bowing to him on both sides, calling out "Crimson Frost Duke." Wei Wuxian thought, "What a grand spectacle. These people both fear and respect Nie Mingjue. Many might fear me, but few show me respect."

Jin Guangyao stood beside the Sumeru throne. After becoming sworn brothers with Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen and being officially recognized by his ancestral family, he now bore a red mark of determination on his forehead. He wore a white robe with golden edges, a black hat, looking refreshed and much more distinguished than before. His cleverness remained, but his demeanor was now composed, far from what it used to be.

Beside him, Wei Wuxian even saw a familiar figure.

Xue Yang.

Though his face still had a youthful look, he was already quite tall. Dressed in the same Jin star snow robe, he stood beside Jin Guangyao like a spring breeze gently swaying a willow branch, radiating youthful charm. They seemed to be talking about something interesting. Jin Guangyao smiled slightly, made a gesture, and they exchanged glances. Xue Yang burst into laughter, his eyes casually sweeping over the passing cultivators with disdain, as if they were mere garbage. When he saw Nie Mingjue, instead of showing any fear, he bared his tiger fangs. Jin Guangyao, noticing Nie Mingjue's displeasure, quickly suppressed his smile, whispered something to Xue Yang, who waved his hand and swaggered away to the other side.

Jin Guangyao approached and respectfully addressed him, "Brother."

Nie Mingjue asked, "Who is that person?"

After a moment of hesitation, Jin Guangyao cautiously replied, "Xue Yang."

Nie Mingjue frowned. "Xue Yang of Kuizhou?"

Jin Guangyao nodded. Xue Yang had been notorious since his youth, and Wei Wuxian clearly saw Nie Mingjue's frown deepen. He said, "Why are you associating with someone like him?"

Jin Guangyao said, "The Jin family of Lanling has recruited him."

Not daring to offer further explanations, Jin Guangyao quickly excused himself to attend to other guests, swiftly moving away. Nie Mingjue shook his head and turned around. As he turned, Wei Wuxian's eyes lit up, as if frost and snow had descended, casting a silvery glow over the hall. Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji walked up side by side.

The two jewels of the Lan family stood together, one with a flute, the other with a guqin; one gentle and elegant, the other cold and aloof. Both were equally striking in appearance, each with their own distinct elegance. Truly, one hue, two styles of grace, drawing the admiration and attention of those around them.

At that moment, Lan Wangji still carried a hint of youthful immaturity in his features but remained the same cold and distant expression that kept people at a distance. Wei Wuxian's eyes stuck to his face, unable to look away. Whether or not Lan Wangji could hear him, Wei Wuxian happily shouted, "Lan Zhan! I've missed you so much! Hahahahahaha!"

Suddenly, a voice said, "Lord Nie, Lord Lan."

Hearing this familiar voice, Wei Wuxian's heart gave a jolt. Nie Mingjue turned his head to look again. Jiang Cheng was striding forward in purple clothes, his hand on his sword.

The person standing next to Jiang Cheng was none other than Wei Wuxian himself.

He saw himself dressed in black, hands clasped behind his back, with a jet-black flute tucked into his waistband, its red tassel swaying. He had no sword on him. Standing next to Jiang Cheng, he nodded in their direction, his posture arrogantly aloof, exuding an air of superiority. Seeing his younger self acting so pretentiously, Wei Wuxian felt a twinge of annoyance and wished he could go over and give him a piece of his mind.

Lan Wangji noticed Wei Wuxian beside Jiang Cheng. His brow furrowed briefly before his pale eyes returned to their usual calm, dignified gaze. Jiang Cheng and Nie Mingjue exchanged nods with serious expressions, not much else to say. After a brief greeting, they parted ways. Wei Wuxian saw that his black-clad self looked around, his eyes landing on Lan Wangji. Just as he was about to speak, Jiang Cheng walked over and stood next to him. They exchanged a few serious words, and Wei Wuxian laughed out loud, walking off with Jiang Cheng, the crowd instinctively parting to create a wide path for them.

Wei Wuxian thought carefully. What exactly did they say? At first, he couldn’t remember, but from Nie Mingjue’s gaze, he caught their lip movements and recalled. At that time, he had said, “Jiang Cheng, Lord Crimson Frost is much taller than you. Haha.”

Jiang Cheng retorted, “Shut up. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

Nie Mingjue’s gaze returned, and he asked, “Why isn’t Wei Ying wearing his sword?”

Lan Zhan replied matter-of-factly, “He probably just forgot.”

Nie Mingjue raised an eyebrow and said, “How can you forget that?”

Lan Zhan replied, “Not surprising.”

Wei Wuxian thought, “Tsk, talking bad about me behind my back and I caught you.”

Smiling, Lan Xichen remarked, “Wei gongzi once said he couldn’t be bothered with formalities.”

Hearing his own brash words repeated by someone else was an oddly uncomfortable experience. Wei Wuxian felt a bit embarrassed and helpless. Just then, he heard Lan Wangji quietly murmur, “So arrogant.”

He said it so quietly, as if only to himself. Those words struck Wei Wuxian’s ears, causing his heart to skip a beat.

Lan Xichen looked at him and said, “Oh? Why are you still here?”

Lan Wangji, slightly puzzled, replied seriously, “Brother is here, so am I.”

Lan Xichen said, “Why aren’t you going to talk to him? They’re getting far.”

Wei Wuxian wondered, “Why is Lord Ze Wu bringing this up? Does Lan Wangji have something to say to me right now?”

Before he could see how Lan Wangji would react, a commotion suddenly arose from the other end of the platform. Wei Wuxian heard his own angry shout from over there, “Jin Zixuan! Have you forgotten everything you’ve said and done? What does this mean now?!”

Wei Wuxian remembered. It was this moment!

From the other side, Jin Zixuan also shouted angrily, “I’m asking Lord Jiang, not you! The person I’m asking about is your sister, what does it have to do with you?”

Wei Wuxian retorted, “Well said! What does my sister-in-law have to do with you? Who had their eyes on top of their head?”

Jin Zixuan said, “Lord Jiang—This is my family’s banquet, and this is your family’s matter! Are you going to handle it or not?”

Lan Xichen said, “How did it get to arguing again?”

Lan Wangji’s gaze shifted to that side, but his feet stayed rooted. After a moment, as if having made up his mind, he took a step forward. Just then, Jiang Cheng’s voice came over, “Wei Wuxian, shut up. Jin gongzi, apologies. My sister is fine, thank you for your concern. We can discuss this later.”

Wei Wuxian scoffed, “Later? There won’t be a later! He doesn’t need to care about whether it’s good or not! Who does he think he is?”

As he turned to leave, Jiang Cheng shouted, “Come back! Where are you going?”

Wei Wuxian waved, “Anywhere but here! I don’t want to see his face. I didn’t want to come in the first place. You handle this.”

As Jiang Cheng’s face darkened like a gathering storm, Wei Wuxian left him behind. Jin Guangyao, who had been busy attending to matters on the field with a smile for everyone, appeared again as trouble arose. “Wei gongzi, wait!”

Wei Wuxian strode away with his hands behind his back, his face grim, unnoticed by those around him. Lan Wangji took a step toward him but before he could speak, they passed each other by.

Jin Guangyao could not catch up with Wei Wuxian and stamped his foot in frustration. "Alas, he's gone. Head of the Jiang family, what should we do now?"

Jiang Cheng cleared the stormy expression on his face and said, "Don't bother with him. He's been wild at home for too long and is used to being unruly." He then began to converse with Jin Zixuan.

Watching the two of them, Wei Wuxian sighed deeply to himself. Fortunately, Nie Mingjue soon lost interest in the situation and shifted his gaze away, no longer able to see them.

The Nie family of Qinghe's immortal estate, the Unclean Realm.

Nie Mingjue was seated on a mat, with a yaoqin placed horizontally before Lan Xichen. After playing a tune, Jin Guangyao laughed and said, "Alright, after hearing second brother's qin, I'll go back and smash mine."

Lan Xichen said, "Third brother's qin skills are already quite excellent outside of Gusu. Were they taught by your mother?"

Jin Guangyao replied, "No. I learned by watching on my own. She never taught me these things, only how to read and write, and bought some expensive sword manuals and cultivation techniques for me to practice."

Lan Xichen was surprised. "Sword manuals and cultivation techniques?"

Jin Guangyao said, "Second brother, you've never seen them? Those small booklets sold among the common folk, with crudely drawn figures and a lot of pretentious text. They are all fraudulent, meant to deceive women and ignorant children like my mother. They won't harm you if you practice them, but they won't benefit you either."

He sighed, "But how would my mother know these things? No matter how expensive they were, she would buy them, saying that when she sees father again in the future, she must meet him with some skills and not fall behind others. She spent all her money on these."

Lan Xichen plucked the strings of the qin and said, "To learn to this extent just by watching shows great talent. With proper guidance, you could advance rapidly."

Jin Guangyao laughed. "A master is right before me, but I wouldn't dare to trouble you."

Lan Xichen said, "Why not? Please, have a seat, young master."

Jin Guangyao then sat properly across from him, adopting a posture of humble learning. "What will Brother Lan teach?"

Lan Xichen said, "How about the *Qingxin Sound*?"

Jin Guangyao's eyes lit up, and before he could speak, Nie Mingjue looked up and said, "Second brother, the *Qingxin Sound* is one of the secret techniques of our Gusu Lan Family. It shouldn't be leaked."

Lan Xichen, unconcerned, smiled and said, "The *Qingxin Sound* is different from the *Poison Sound*. It is a technique for calming the mind and spirit. Why should we keep such a healing skill to ourselves? Besides, how can teaching it to your third brother be considered a leak?"

Since Lan Xichen was confident in his judgment, Nie Mingjue said no more.

One day, upon returning to the Unclean Realm, Nie Huaisang was seen in the main hall with a dozen or so opened gilded folding fans laid out in front of him. He was caressing each one lovingly, muttering to himself as he compared the inscriptions on them. Nie Mingjue's veins throbbed visibly on his forehead as he shouted, "Nie Huaisang!"

Nie Huaisang immediately dropped to his knees in terror.

Trembling, he crawled back up and stammered, "B-b-big brother."

Nie Mingjue asked, "Where is your saber?"

Nie Huaisang mumbled, "I-it's… in my room. No, in the training grounds. No, I… let me think..."

Wei Wuxian could sense Nie Mingjue's desire to chop him down. "You carry around a dozen fans but don't know where your sword is?!"

Nie Huaisang hurriedly said, "I'll go find it!"

Nie Mingjue said, "No need! Even if you find it, you won't be able to train properly with it. Burn all of them!"

Nie Huaisang was horrified and frantically pulled the fans into his arms, saying, "No! Big brother, these were given to me by others!"

Nie Mingjue slammed his palm on a table, cracking it, and shouted, "Who gave them to you? Tell him to come out here!"

A voice said, "I gave them."

Jin Guangyao stepped into the hall from outside, and Nie Huaisang, seeing his savior, exclaimed in relief, "Third brother, thank goodness you're here!"

It wasn’t that Jin Guangyao could calm Nie Mingjue down. It was just that once Jin Guangyao arrived, Nie Mingjue would direct his anger solely at him, leaving no time to scold others. So, it was no exaggeration to say he was Nie Huaisang's savior. Nie Huaisang was overjoyed, repeatedly calling out "Third Brother!" while hastily gathering the array of fans from the table into his arms. Seeing his younger brother like this, Nie Mingjue found his anger turning into amusement. He said to Jin Guangyao, "Stop giving him all that junk!"

Nie Huaisang was in a fluster, dropping two fans on the ground. Jin Guangyao picked them up and placed them back into Nie Huaisang's arms, saying, "Huaisang has a penchant for elegance, indulging in calligraphy and paintings, without any bad habits. How can you call these miscellaneous trash?"

Nie Huaisang nodded vigorously, "Yes, Third Brother is right!"

Nie Mingjue said, "A family head doesn’t need those things."

Nie Huaisang replied, "I'm not going to be the family head. You keep being the family head. I'd rather not!" At his elder brother's glare, he immediately fell silent. Nie Mingjue turned to Jin Guangyao and asked, "What are you here for?"

Jin Guangyao said, "Second Brother mentioned he gave you a qin."

Lan Xichen had given that qin to Nie Mingjue to play *Qingxin Yin* and help him calm down. Jin Guangyao continued, "Recently, the reconstruction of Cloud Recesses by the Gusu Lan Family is at a critical stage. Big Brother wouldn't let him come, so Second Brother taught me the *Qingxin Yin*. Even though I’m not as skilled as Second Brother, I can still help calm you down."

Nie Mingjue said, "Just focus on your own tasks."

Nie Huaisang, showing great interest, asked, "Third Brother, what song is it? Can I listen? You know, that rare edition you found for me last time..."

Nie Mingjue barked, "Get back to your room!"

Nie Huaisang quickly scurried away, not to his room but to the living room to retrieve the gifts Jin Guangyao had brought him. Seeing Nie Huaisang's antics, Nie Mingjue's anger gradually subsided. Looking back at Jin Guangyao, seeing the slight weariness on his face and the dust on his *Jinxing Snow Waves* robe, Nie Mingjue realized he had likely rushed over from Jin Lingtai. After a pause, he said, "Sit down."

Jin Guangyao nodded slightly and sat down as requested. He said, "Since you're concerned about Huaisang, it's better to advise him gently. There's no need to be so harsh."

Nie Mingjue said, "Even if I put a blade to his neck, he'd still be useless."

Jin Guangyao replied, "Huaisang isn't useless. He just has different aspirations."

Nie Mingjue said, "You seem to know exactly what he's interested in."

Jin Guangyao smiled and said, "Naturally, isn't that something I'm good at? The only person I can't figure out is you."

Understanding people's likes and dislikes and dealing with them accordingly made things easier and more efficient. In this regard, Jin Guangyao was an expert. However, when it came to Nie Mingjue, Jin Guangyao could never gather any useful information. Back when Meng Yao was under Nie Mingjue’s supervision, Wei Wuxian had already seen this. Nie Mingjue had no interest in women, alcohol, or wealth. To him, calligraphy, paintings, and antiques were just ink and mud, and fine brews and tea dregs from street stalls tasted the same. Meng Yao had tried everything but couldn’t figure out any interests Nie Mingjue had beyond his daily sword practice and killing Wen dogs. Hearing Jin Guangyao's self-mockery, Nie Mingjue was less repulsed. He said, "Don't encourage his behavior."

Jin Guangyao smiled slightly and asked, "Big Brother, where is Second Brother's qin?"

Nie Mingjue pointed in the direction.

From then on, every few days, Jin Guangyao would travel from Lanling to Qinghe to play the *Qingxin Yin* for Nie Mingjue, helping him break through illusions and calm his mind, with utmost dedication and not a single complaint. The *Qingxin Yin* was indeed powerful and effective. Wei Wuxian could clearly sense that Nie Mingjue’s rage was being suppressed. During these moments of qin playing, the conversations and interactions between the two actually regained some of the peace they had before their falling out. Wei Wuxian began to think that perhaps the excuse of the reconstruction of Cloud Recesses keeping Lan Xichen away was just that—an excuse. Maybe Lan Xichen just wanted to give them a chance to patch things up.

However, just as he thought this, a surge of even greater anger rose up.

Nie Mingjue pushed past two disciples who didn't dare to stop him and barged into Zhan Garden. Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao were discussing something seriously in the study, various diagrams spread out on the table before them, marked with different symbols. Seeing him barge in, Lan Xichen was slightly startled and said, "Big Brother?"

Nie Mingjue said, "Don't move." Then, coldly to Jin Guangyao, "Come outside."

Jin Guangyao looked at him, then at Lan Xichen, and said with a smile, "Second Brother, please help me organize this thread. I'll be back shortly after discussing some private matters with Big Brother, and then I'll ask for your explanation."

Lan Xichen looked worried, but Jin Guangyao stopped him. Following Nie Mingjue out of Zhan Garden, as they reached the edge of Jin Lingtai, Nie Mingjue suddenly struck out with his palm.

Several disciples nearby were startled. Jin Guangyao deftly dodged the attack and gestured for them to stay back. He said to Nie Mingjue, "Big Brother, there's no need for this. Let's talk it out."

Nie Mingjue said, "Where is Xue Yang?"

Jin Guangyao replied, "He has been imprisoned, with a life sentence and no possibility of release..."

Nie Mingjue said, "Is that what you told me before?"

Jin Guangyao fell silent. Nie Mingjue continued, "I want his blood to repay his blood debt, but you've only given him a life sentence without release?"

Jin Guangyao cautiously said, "As long as he is punished and unable to commit further crimes, a life sentence and blood debt aren't so different..."

Nie Mingjue scoffed, "Your esteemed guest official has really outdone himself! And yet you still dare to protect him after all this!"

Jin Guangyao defended himself, "I'm not protecting him. I was just as shocked about the incident with the Chang family of Liyang. How could I have known that Xue Yang would slaughter all fifty members of their family? But my father insists on keeping this person..."

Nie Mingjue said, "Shocked? Who recruited him? Who recommended him? Who put him in a position of power? Don't use your father as an excuse. Would you not know what Xue Yang is up to?!"

Jin Guangyao sighed and said, "It was my father's command. I couldn't refuse. Now you want me to deal with Xue Yang. How do you expect me to explain that to him?"

Nie Mingjue said, "No more nonsense. Bring Xue Yang's head to me."

Jin Guangyao was about to say something more, but Nie Mingjue had already lost his patience and said, "Meng Yao, don't play your tricks in front of me. None of your tactics work anymore!"

For a moment, a look of embarrassment flashed across Jin Guangyao's face, as if a person with a hidden ailment had been exposed in front of a crowd, unable to hide, utterly humiliated.

He said, "My tactics? What tactics? Big brother, you always scold me for being too calculating and inferior. You claim to walk upright and stand tall, fearing neither heaven nor earth, and as a great man, you don't need to resort to schemes. Fine, you come from a noble background and have high cultivation. But what about me? Am I the same as you? I don't have your high cultivation or stable foundation. Who taught me anything as I grew up? I don't have a family background either. Do you think I stand very firmly in the Jin family of Lanling? Do you think I rose to power after Jin Zixuan's death? Jin Guangshan would rather bring back an illegitimate child than let me take the position! You talk as if you have no burdens, but it's easy for the full to mock the hungry."

Nie Mingjue said coldly, "In the end, you just don't want to kill Xue Yang and risk your position in the Jin family of Lanling."

Jin Guangyao said, "Of course I don't want to!"

He raised his head, a strange flame flickering in his eyes, and said, "But big brother, there's something I've always wanted to ask you. You've taken more lives than I have, not fewer. Why is it that when I was forced by circumstances to kill a few cultivators, you keep bringing it up to this day?"

Nie Mingjue laughed angrily and said, "Fine! I'll answer you. Countless lives have fallen by my blade, but I've never killed for selfish reasons, and I would never kill to climb higher!"

Jin Guangyao said, "I get what you're saying, big brother. Are you implying that everyone you've killed deserved it?"

With a sudden surge of courage, he laughed and took a few steps closer to Nie Mingjue, his voice rising somewhat aggressively, "So tell me, how do you decide who deserves their fate? Is your judgment always right? Suppose I kill one person to save a hundred others. Does the merit outweigh the crime, or do they deserve their fate? To achieve great things, there always has to be some sacrifice."

Nie Mingjue said, "Then why don't you sacrifice yourself? Are you more noble than them? Are you different from them?"

Jin Guangyao looked at him steadily for a long while, as if he had finally made up his mind or given up on something, and said calmly, "Yes."

He raised his head, his expression a mix of pride, calmness, and a hidden madness, and said, "Of course I am different from them!"

Nie Mingjue was infuriated by this look and these words.

He kicked out, and Jin Guangyao, who had not been defending or dodging at all, was squarely hit and rolled down the steps of Jin Lingtai.

Nie Mingjue shouted down, "You son of a whore, no wonder you turned out this way!"

Jin Guangyao rolled down more than fifty steps before landing, and he didn't even stay down for long before getting up. He waved away the household servants and disciples who had rushed over and brushed the dust off his robes. Slowly, he looked up and met Nie Mingjue's gaze. His expression was calm, even somewhat indifferent. Nie Mingjue drew his blade just as Lan Xichen, worried that no one had returned, came out from the inner chamber to see what was happening. Upon seeing the scene, Lan Xichen also drew his sword immediately and asked, "What’s going on between you two now?"

Jin Guangyao said, "It's nothing. Thanks for the advice, big brother."

Nie Mingjue said, "Don't stop me!"

Lan Xichen said, "Brother, sheathe your sword. You’re not thinking clearly!"

Nie Mingjue said, "I'm not clouded. I know exactly what I'm doing. He's beyond saving. If we let him continue, he'll only bring harm to the world. It's better to end him now!"

Lan Xichen was taken aback and said, "Big brother, is this really what you should be saying? Third brother has been working hard traveling between Qinghe and Lanling these past few days. Does all that effort amount to nothing more than being called beyond saving?"

Dealing with someone like Nie Mingjue, mentioning favors or grudges were both effective strategies. Nie Mingjue's movements faltered slightly as he looked at Jin Guangyao. Blood flowed from his forehead, revealing an old wound wrapped in bandages that had been hidden under his soft gauze hat. At this moment, both the new and old wounds opened up, but he simply removed the bandages, wiped away the blood, making sure his clothes didn't get stained, and threw them on the ground. He stood there silently, deep in thought. Lan Xichen turned back and said, "Third brother, you should go back. Let me speak with Brother."

Jin Guangyao bowed in respect and left. Sensing that Nie Mingjue's grip had loosened, Lan Xichen sheathed his sword and led him to the side.

As they walked, Lan Xichen said, "Big brother, you probably don't know, but third brother's situation is really difficult right now."

Nie Mingjue said in a cold voice, "From his perspective, he's constantly in a state of turmoil."

Although he said this, he slowly sheathed his blade. Lan Xichen said, "Did he just talk back to you?"

Indeed, he hadn't. It was indeed abnormal. Jin Guangyao was not someone who couldn't hold his ground. He knew how to deal with Nie Mingjue and understood the necessity of concessions. The outburst just now, filled with resentment, was truly unlike him.

Lan Xichen said, "His mother never liked him, and after Zixuan's death—his father's passing—she would beat and scold him at every turn. His father recently stopped listening to him as well, rejecting all the proposals he submitted."

Wei Wuxian, recalling the stack of blueprints on the table, said, "It's about those watchtowers."

In the end, Lan Xichen said, "Let's ease up on him for now. I believe he knows what he's doing. Just give him a bit more time."

Nie Mingjue said, "Let's hope so."

Wei Wuxian had thought that after being kicked by Nie Mingjue, Jin Guangyao would stay low for a while. However, a few days later, he still showed up at the Unclean Realm as if nothing happened.

Nie Mingjue was personally overseeing Nie Huaisang's sword practice on the training grounds, paying him no mind. Jin Guangyao stood respectfully at the edge of the inner training ground, waiting. Nie Huaisang, lacking interest and with the harsh sun, was practicing half-heartedly. After a few perfunctory attempts, he complained of fatigue and happily went to see what gifts Jin Guangyao had brought this time. Usually, Nie Mingjue would just frown, but this time he was livid. "Nie Huaisang, do you want me to chop your head off with this blade?! Get back here!"

If Nie Huaisang could feel the intensity of Nie Mingjue's rage, like Wei Wuxian did, he wouldn't be acting so carefree. He said, "Brother, it's time to rest!"

Nie Mingjue said, "You just took a break. Continue practicing until you get it right."

Nie Huaisang, still in a daze, said, "I can't get it anyway, so why bother practicing today?"

He had often said this in the past, but this time, Nie Mingjue's reaction was completely different. He shouted, "I could teach a pig to learn, but I can't teach you?!"

Startled by the sudden outburst, Nie Huaisang stood frozen, shrinking back toward Jin Guangyao. Seeing the two together only fueled Nie Mingjue's anger. "After a whole year, you still haven't mastered these basic sword techniques. You complain about standing on the training ground for a stick of incense. I don't ask you to excel, but you can't even protect yourself! How did the Nie family of Qinghe produce a waste like you?! Maybe we should tie both of you up and beat you every day! Clear out his room!"

He said the last sentence to the disciples standing by the training ground. Watching them leave, Nie Huaisang grew increasingly nervous. After a while, the disciples brought out his paintings, porcelain, and folding fans from his room. Nie Mingjue had always threatened to burn his things before but had never actually done it. This time, he was serious. Panicking, Nie Huaisang said, "Brother! You can't burn them!"

Seeing the situation was turning for the worse, Jin Guangyao also said, "Brother, don't act impulsively." But Nie Mingjue had already swung his blade, and a raging fire engulfed the exquisite items piled in the center of the training ground. Nie Huaisang screamed and rushed into the fire to save his things, but Jin Guangyao quickly pulled him back, saying, "Huaisang, be careful!"

With an empty palm strike, Nie Mingjue crushed the two white porcelain pieces Nie Huaisang had managed to save, while the scrolls and paintings had already turned to ash. Nie Huaisang stood there, dumbfounded, as the cherished items he had collected over the years turned to dust. Jin Guangyao examined his palm and asked, "Are you burned?" He then turned to several disciples and said, "Please prepare some medicine."

The disciples responded and left. Nie Huaisang stood there, trembling, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Nie Mingjue. Jin Guangyao, noticing his expression, put his arm around his shoulder and whispered, "Huaisang, are you alright? Don't look anymore. Go rest in the room."

Nie Huaisang's eyes turned red, and he remained silent. Jin Guangyao said again, "It's alright if things are gone. I'll find more for you later..."

Nie Mingjue said coldly, "If he brings those things into the family home again, I'll burn them again."

A flash of anger and weariness crossed Nie Huaisang's face. He threw his blade to the ground and shouted, "Burn them then!!!"

Jin Guangyao hurriedly said, "Huaisang! Brother is in a fit of anger, don't..."

Nie Huaisang shouted at Nie Mingjue, "Sword, sword, sword! Damn it, who wants to practice that crap?! I'm happy being a waste, so what?! Whoever wants to be the family head can be! I won't learn it if I don't want to, and I don't like it if I don't like it! What's the point of forcing me?!"