Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Three Poisons 12

Wei Wuxian was stunned for a moment and said, "Dead?"

A vivid image of Lan Zhan's tear-stained face illuminated by firelight flashed through his mind, and he blurted out, "What about Lan Zhan?"

Jiang Cheng replied, "He went back home. Father initially said he would send someone to escort him back to Gusu, but he refused. From the look of it, he had probably anticipated this day. With the current situation, no family is better off than the others."

The two sat down on the wooden railing again. Wei Wuxian asked, "What about Lan Xichen?"

Jiang Cheng said, "The Wen family was going to burn down their library, right? There are tens of thousands of ancient books and musical scores. The Lan family managed to salvage some and probably handed them over to Lan Xichen to take away and protect as much as possible, or else they'd lose everything. That's what everyone is guessing."

Wei Wuxian looked up at the sky and muttered, "Disgusting."

Jiang Cheng agreed, "Yes, the Wen family is too disgusting."

Wei Wuxian said, "How long will they keep acting like this? With so many families, can't we join forces and..."

At that moment, a bunch of young disciples dressed in short tunics came running up the corridor, yelling, "Senior Brother!!!"

The sixth junior brother exclaimed joyfully, "Senior Brother! You're alive!"

Wei Wuxian retorted, "What do you mean I'm alive? I wasn't dead!"

"Senior brother, we heard you killed a four-hundred-year-old monstrous beast?! Is that true?! Did you really kill it?!"

"What I want to know is, did you really not eat for seven days?"

"Did you secretly fast without telling us?!"

"How big was the Tortoise of Slaughter? Can Lotus Lake even contain it?"

"The Tortoise of Slaughter is just a giant turtle, right?!"

"Senior brother, you spent the entire seven days with Lan Zhan from Gusu? How come he didn't beat you to death?!"

The previously serious mood instantly turned chaotic.

Wei Wuxian's injuries weren't severe, but because he didn’t get medicine on time and was exhausted from not eating, he was weak. However, his strong physical foundation allowed the iron wound on his chest to stop burning after medication, and he was back to his lively self in just a few days. After the chaos at Moxi Mountain with the Tortoise of Slaughter, the "Teaching Hall" set up by the Wen family at Qishan was completely disbanded, and the young nobles from various clans returned to their homes. Wen Chao didn't pursue the matter for the time being. Lady Yu seized the opportunity to scold Wei Wuxian, ordering him not to step out of Lotus Pier, not even for boating on the lake. So, he spent his days flying kites with the Jiang family disciples.

Even the best game becomes boring if played every day, so after half a month, the group of young disciples became increasingly disinterested. Wei Wuxian also lost his enthusiasm, shooting randomly and, for the first time, letting Jiang Cheng win several times.

That day, after the last round of shooting, Wei Wuxian put his hand to his brow like a visor and watched the setting sun, saying, "Pack it up, we're done. Time to head home for dinner."

Jiang Cheng asked, "So early today?"

Wei Wuxian threw down his bow, sat on the ground, and said with a sigh, "It's boring. I’m done shooting."

A young disciple said, "Senior brother, that's unfair. You always make others pick up the kites. So sneaky."

Wei Wuxian waved his hand and said, "I can't help it. Lady Yu won't let me leave. She's probably at home, and Jin Zhu and Yin Zhu might be hiding in a corner somewhere, ready to report me. If I go out, Lady Yu will whip me until I lose a layer of skin."

The disciples with the worst scores joked a bit and then went out laughing to pick up the kites. Jiang Cheng stood, and Wei Wuxian sat on the ground. After a casual chat, Wei Wuxian said, "Uncle Jiang went out early this morning but hasn't returned yet. Do you think he'll make it back for dinner?"

This morning, Jiang Fengmian and Lady Yu had another argument. It wasn't quite an argument, as it was more like Lady Yu venting while Jiang Fengmian maintained some composure. Jiang Cheng said, "It's probably because of our swords again. He went to the Wen family. Just thinking about my Three Poisons possibly being in the hands of some Wen dog makes me sick."

Wei Wuxian said, "It's a pity our swords aren't smart enough. If they could seal themselves, no one could use them."

Jiang Cheng said, "Maybe if you cultivate for another eighty years, it might be possible."

Suddenly, several young men rushed into the training ground of Lotus Pier, shouting in panic, "Big trouble! Senior brother, we're in big trouble!!!"

These were the same disciples who had gone out to retrieve the kites earlier. Wei Wuxian stood up immediately. "What happened?"

Jiang Cheng said, "Where's the sixth junior brother? Why is one person missing?"

Indeed, the sixth junior brother had been the first to run ahead when they went out, but now he was nowhere to be seen. One of the young men, gasping for breath, said, "The sixth junior brother was captured!"

"Captured?!"

Wei Wuxian picked up his bow, holding a weapon in his hand, and said, "Who captured him? Why did they take him?!"

The young man said, "I don't know! I don't know why they took him!"

Jiang Cheng also became anxious. "What do you mean you don't know?"

Wei Wuxian said, "Don't panic. Tell me everything clearly."

The young man said, "Just now, when we went out to retrieve the kites, one of them fell far away over there. When we found it, there were about a dozen people, all from the Wen family, including disciples and household servants. The leader was a young woman, dressed in the Wen family's distinctive attire. She held the kite with an arrow sticking out of it and asked whose it was."

Another young man said, "That kite belonged to the sixth junior brother, and he admitted it was his. The woman suddenly changed her expression and said, 'How dare you!' Then she ordered her subordinates to capture the sixth junior brother!"

Wei Wuxian said, "That's all?!"

The young disciples all nodded and said, "We asked why they were capturing the sixth junior brother. The woman kept saying he was committing treason and harboring evil intentions. She shouted for her subordinates to take him away. There was nothing we could do, so we bolted back here."

Jiang Cheng cursed and said, "They captured someone without any reason! Are the Wens trying to take over the world?!"

"Exactly! It's completely absurd!"

Wei Wuxian said, "Everyone, be quiet. The Wen family's people are probably about to arrive soon. Don't let them catch any excuses. Tell me, did she not have a sword on her? Was she pretty, with a mole on her upper lip?"

The junior brothers said, "Yes! That's her!"

Jiang Cheng growled, "Wang Lingjiao! That—"

At that moment, a cold female voice came from behind them. "Can't I get a moment's peace around here?!"

Lady Yu, dressed in a purple gown, glided over. Jin Zhu and Yin Zhu, fully armed, followed closely on her left and right. Jiang Cheng said, "Mother, the Wen family's people are here, and they've captured the sixth junior brother!"

Lady Yu said, "You're making such a fuss over someone being captured and not killed? I heard you shouting from inside. Is this how a future family head should behave? Compose yourself!"

She then turned to face the main entrance of the training ground. A dozen Wen family cultivators, dressed in their fiery robes, entered in an orderly line. Behind them, a colorfully dressed woman swayed lightly as she stepped in.

The woman had an alluring figure and a seductive appearance, with eyes that sent waves of charm and lips as fiery red as flames. A tiny black mole on her upper lip made her a rather striking beauty. However, her ornaments were so extravagant that it seemed she wanted to wear an entire jewelry shop and the favor of the nobility all at once, which greatly diminished her elegance. This was none other than Wang Lingjiao, who had been knocked down and spat blood by Wei Wuxian at Qishan last time.

Wang Lingjiao smiled faintly and said, "Lady Yu, I'm here again."

Lady Yu remained stone-faced, as if talking to her would sully her tongue. Wang Lingjiao walked down the steps of the main gate, and only then did Lady Yu say, "Why did you capture my Yunmeng Jiang family's disciple?"

Wang Lingjiao said, "Capture? You mean the one we captured outside just now? That's a long story. Let's sit down and talk about it slowly after we go inside."

Without announcing herself or asking for permission, a household servant had the audacity to step into the premises of another prominent family and even demanded to be seated inside, saying they would "talk after sitting down." Lady Yu's expression grew increasingly cold, and the fingers of her right hand, adorned with the Purple Lightning ring, twitched slightly, with the veins on her fair hand becoming slightly visible.

She said, "Talk after going inside?"

Wang Lingjiao said, "Of course. Last time I came to deliver orders, I didn't have the chance to sit down. Please."

At the word 'orders,' Jiang Cheng scoffed, and Jin Zhu and Yin Zhu bristled slightly. However, Wang Lingjiao was a favored confidante of Wen Chao, and for now, she couldn't be offended. Therefore, although Lady Yu's face was filled with mocking laughter and sarcasm, she still said, "Fine, go ahead and come in."

Wang Lingjiao smiled charmingly and, as if she owned the place, indeed went inside.

However, despite saying she wanted to sit inside, she didn’t rush to do so. Instead, she strolled around Lotus Pier, pointing here and there, acting like she owned the place, and offering her comments with great interest:

"Lotus Pier is pretty decent. It’s huge, but the houses are a bit run-down."

"The wood is all dark, and the color is really ugly, not vibrant at all."

"Lady Yu, you’re not much of a lady of the house, are you? Don’t you know how to arrange and manage things? Next time, hang some red gauze curtains. That would look much better."

She walked along, pointing her finger here and there, as if this place were her own garden. Lady Yu’s brow twitched uncontrollably, to the point that Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng suspected she might lash out and kill her at any moment.

After her tour and commentary, Wang Lingjiao finally sat down in the main hall. Without waiting for an invitation, she plopped herself down in the main seat. After sitting for a while and seeing that no one had come to attend to her, she frowned, slammed the table, and said, "Where's the tea?"

Though she was adorned with glittering jewelry, her manners were atrocious, and her behavior was cringe-worthy. By this point, everyone had become unsurprised by her actions. Lady Yu took a seat in the secondary position, her wide purple robes spreading out, making her waist appear even more slender and her posture graceful. Jin Zhu and Yin Zhu stood behind her, smirking faintly. Yin Zhu said, "There's no tea. If you want some, pour it yourself."

Wang Lingjiao’s eyes widened in surprise and she exclaimed, "Don’t the Jiang family’s servants do anything?"

Jin Zhu replied, "The Jiang family’s servants have more important things to do. Serving tea isn’t one of them. We’re not helpless."

Wang Lingjiao looked them over and asked, "Who are you?"

Lady Yu replied, "My personal maids."

Wang Lingjiao said contemptuously, "Lady Yu, your Jiang family is really unruly. This won't do. Even your maids dare to interrupt in the hall. Servants like these would be slapped in the Wen family."

Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "Isn't she just a servant herself?"

Lady Yu remained unmoved and said, "Jin Zhu and Yin Zhu are not ordinary servants. They’ve been by my side since they were young and only serve me. No one else can slap them. They can’t, and won’t be, slapped."

Wang Lingjiao said, "Lady Yu, what you’re saying isn’t right. In noble families, the hierarchy needs to be clear to avoid confusion. Servants should know their place."

Lady Yu deeply agreed with the phrase "servants should know their place" and, after giving Wei Wuxian a meaningful look, she said proudly, "Indeed."

She then immediately questioned, "Why did you capture that member of my Yunmeng Jiang family?"

Wang Lingjiao replied, "Lady Yu should distance herself from that boy. He has evil intentions, and I caught him red-handed. He’s been sent for punishment."

Lady Yu raised an eyebrow and said, "Evil intentions?"

Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but say, "What evil intentions could the sixth junior brother possibly have?"

Wang Lingjiao said, "I have evidence. Bring it!"

A Wen family disciple presented a kite, and Wang Lingjiao shook it. "This is the evidence."

Wei Wuxian scoffed, "This kite is a very common one-eyed monster. How is that evidence?"

Wang Lingjiao said coldly, "Do you think I’m blind? Take a closer look."

Her fingers, adorned with bright red nail polish, gestured back and forth on the kite as she pontificated, "What color is this kite? Golden. What shape is the one-eyed monster? Round."

Lady Yu said, "So?"

Wang Lingjiao continued, "So? Lady Yu, haven’t you realized it yet? Something that's golden and round—what does that resemble? The sun!"

To the astonishment of everyone present, she said smugly, "There are so many kite designs. Why did he choose a one-eyed monster? And why gold? Couldn’t he have picked something else? Any other color would’ve worked! This person did it on purpose. By flying this kite, he’s actually implying that he wants to 'shoot the sun'! He wants to bring down the sun! This is a great disrespect to the Wen family of Qishan. Isn’t that harboring malicious intentions?"

After her self-satisfied and far-fetched performance, Jiang Cheng could no longer hold back and said, "Sure, the kite is golden and round, but it looks nothing like the sun. What’s the connection? There isn’t one!"

Wei Wuxian said, "If that's what you're saying, then you can't eat oranges either. Oranges are also gold-colored and round. But I seem to recall you've eaten them more than once, haven't you?"

Wang Lingjiao shot him a venomous glance. Lady Yu coldly said, "So, you came here for this kite?"

Wang Lingjiao said, "Of course not. This time, on behalf of the Wen family and Young Master Wen, I have come to punish someone."

Wei Wuxian's heart sank.

Sure enough, Wang Lingjiao pointed at him and said, "This brat, on Moxi Mountain, spoke disrespectfully and caused trouble several times while Young Master Wen was bravely battling the Tortoise of Slaughter. He exhausted Young Master Wen, nearly causing him to lose his grip and even lose his sword!"

Listening to her distort the truth and fabricate lies, Jiang Cheng laughed out of sheer anger. Wei Wuxian, however, thought of Jiang Fengmian, who had left that morning. He thought, "They deliberately chose this time to come. Or maybe they deliberately lured Jiang Shu out!"

Wang Lingjiao continued, "Fortunately! Heaven was on Young Master Wen's side. Even though he lost his sword, he still managed to defeat the Tortoise of Slaughter without any real danger. But this brat cannot be let off! Today, on Young Master Wen's orders, I ask Lady Yu to severely punish this person as an example to the rest of the Jiang family of Yunmeng!"

Jiang Cheng said, "Mother..."

Lady Yu said coldly, "Silence!"

Seeing Lady Yu's reaction, Wang Lingjiao was quite pleased and said, "This Wei Ying, if I remember correctly, is a household servant of the Jiang family of Yunmeng, right? With the Jiang family head not here, I trust Lady Yu knows how to weigh the situation. If the Jiang family tries to protect him, it might really make people doubt... whether certain rumors... are true... hehe."

Sitting in the head seat that Jiang Fengmian usually occupied, she laughed behind her hand. Lady Yu's expression darkened as her gaze shifted towards her. Jiang Cheng, hearing the implication, said angrily, "What rumors?!"

Wang Lingjiao giggled and said, "What rumors? It's just some old romantic debts of the Jiang family head..."

Hearing this woman dare to slander Jiang Fengmian right to his face, Wei Wuxian's anger flared, and he said, "You..." but before he could finish, a sharp pain erupted in his back, and his knees buckled involuntarily. Lady Yu had suddenly struck him with her whip.

Jiang Cheng exclaimed, "Mother!"

Lady Yu had already stood up, Purple Lightning transforming into a whip that crackled between her cold, jade-like hands. She shouted, "Jiang Cheng, move aside, or you'll be kneeling next!"

Wei Wuxian, struggling to get up, also said, "Jiang Cheng, step aside! Don't get involved!"

Lady Yu lashed out again, sending Wei Wuxian back to the ground, gritting her teeth as she said, "...I've said it before, you... you, disobedient brat! You'll bring big trouble to the Jiang family!"

Wei Wuxian shoved Jiang Cheng aside, gritted his teeth, and endured the pain without a word or movement. Although Lady Yu had always been harsh with him, she had never really struck him this hard before. At most, she would whip him two or three times and order him to kneel as punishment, which Jiang Fengmian would lift shortly after. This time, though, he received dozens of brutal lashes, his back burning and his body numb and painful, yet he had no choice but to bear it. If he didn't receive enough punishment to satisfy Wang Lingjiao and the Wen family of Qishan, this matter would never end!

Wang Lingjiao watched with a satisfied smile. After Lady Yu finished, Purple Lightning retracted, and Wei Wuxian, kneeling on the ground, swayed forward as if he was about to fall. Jiang Cheng wanted to help him, but Lady Yu barked, "Stand back. You're not to help him!"

Jiang Cheng was firmly held back by Jin Zhu and Yin Zhu. Wei Wuxian held on for a while but eventually fell heavily to the ground, not moving anymore.

Wang Lingjiao said in surprise, "That's it?"

Lady Yu snorted, "What else?"

Wang Lingjiao said, "Is that all?"

Lady Yu raised her eyebrows and said, "What do you mean 'is that all'? Do you think Purple Lightning is just any ordinary spiritual weapon? He'll be suffering for a month, you'll see. He has plenty to endure!"

Wang Lingjiao said, "But he'll still recover eventually!"

Jiang Cheng said angrily, "What more do you want?!"

Wang Lingjiao chided, "Lady Yu, if we're punishing someone, it should be a lesson they remember for life, something they'll regret forever and never dare to repeat. If it's just a whipping, he'll recover after some time and be up and about again. What kind of deterrent is that? Boys his age quickly forget their pain once the wound heals; it won't serve as a deterrent."

Lady Yu said, "What do you suggest? Should we cut off his legs so he can't run around anymore?"

Wang Lingjiao said, "Young Master Wen is kind-hearted and wouldn't do something as brutal as cutting off his legs. As long as we chop off his right hand, he'll have no more complaints."

This woman was clearly using her position to exact revenge on Wei Wuxian for the slap he gave her in the cave on Moxi Mountain!

Lady Yu glanced sideways at Wei Wuxian and said, "Cut off his right hand, you say?"

Wang Lingjiao replied, "Exactly."

Yu Ziyuan stood up and began to slowly circle around Wei Wuxian, as if considering the suggestion. Wei Wuxian was in so much pain that he couldn't even lift his head. Jiang Cheng broke free from Jin Zhu and Yin Zhu, dropped to the ground, and shielded Wei Wuxian, saying, "Mother, please don't... It's not as she claims..."

Wang Lingjiao raised her voice, "Young Master Jiang, are you saying I'm fabricating things?"

Wei Wuxian, unable to even turn over, thought, "What does she mean by 'making things up'? 'Du Yi'?" Suddenly, it dawned on him, "She meant 'Du Zhuàn'! This woman was originally a maidservant to Wen Chao's wife. She's barely literate but pretends to be cultured, misusing words and mispronouncing them." Even in this dire situation, his mind wandered, and he found the situation almost amusing. Wang Lingjiao, oblivious to her mistake, continued, "Lady Yu, think carefully. The Wen family of Qishan must pursue this matter. Cut off his hand and let me bring it back as a token. As long as the Yunmeng Jiang Family complies, all will be well. Otherwise, when Young Master Wen inquires again, it won't be so simple!"

Lady Yu’s eyes flashed with a chilling light as she spoke in a cold voice, "Jin Zhu, Yin Zhu, go and close the door. We can't let anyone see the blood."

At Lady Yu's command, the twin maids obeyed without question, closing the hall doors firmly.

Hearing the doors close and seeing the light disappear, Wei Wuxian felt a wave of fear. "Are they really going to cut off my hand?"

Jiang Cheng, terrified, clung to his mother's leg, saying, "Mother, please don't cut off his hand!"

After the initial shock, Wei Wuxian gritted his teeth and thought, "If losing a hand can bring peace to the family, then so be it. I'll just have to learn to use my left hand!!!"

Wang Lingjiao clapped her hands and said, "Lady Yu, I knew you were the Wen family's most loyal follower! Someone, hold this boy down!"

Lady Yu replied, "There's no need for you to do it." Jin Zhu and Yin Zhu approached. Wang Lingjiao said, "Oh, so you're going to have your maids hold him down, that works too."

Jiang Cheng pleaded, "Mother, please listen to me! I beg you, don't cut off his hand! If Father finds out..."

At the mention of Jiang Fengmian, Lady Yu's expression darkened. She shouted, "Don't mention your father to me! What can he do, kill me?!"

Wang Lingjiao exclaimed, "Lady Yu, I truly admire you! I'm sure we'll get along well at the Inspection Office!"

Lady Yu pulled her leg and the hem of her purple skirt away from Jiang Cheng, then turned around, raising an eyebrow. "Inspection Office?"

Wang Lingjiao smiled and said, "Yes, the Inspection Office. This is the second reason I came to Yunmeng. The Wen family has established Inspection Offices in every city. I now declare that Lotus Pier will be the Wen family's Inspection Office in Yunmeng."

It was clear why Wang Lingjiao had been acting as if she owned Lotus Pier; she had already claimed it as her base in Yunmeng.

Jiang Cheng, with red eyes, shouted, "What Inspection Office?! This is my home!!!"

Wang Lingjiao frowned and said, "Lady Yu, you must teach your son properly. For hundreds of years, all clans have been subservient to the Wen family. How can he speak of 'my home' in front of a Wen family envoy? I was initially uncertain if Lotus Pier, being so old and having produced some rebels, could bear the responsibility of being an Inspection Office. But seeing how obedient you are and how well your temperament suits me, I've decided to bestow this honor..."

Before she could finish, Lady Yu slapped her with such force that the sound echoed through the hall. Wang Lingjiao spun several times before crashing to the ground, blood streaming from her nose, eyes wide with shock.

Several Wen family disciples drew their swords, but Lady Yu waved her hand. Purple Lightning emitted a dazzling purple glow, incapacitating them all.

Lady Yu, with graceful composure, walked over to Wang Lingjiao and looked down at her. She grabbed Wang Lingjiao's hair, yanked her up, and delivered another furious slap. "You dare, lowly servant!"

Lady Yu had endured enough and, with a ferocious expression, shouted, "Even when beating a dog, one must consider its owner! You barge into my home and dare to punish my family in front of me? Who do you think you are, behaving so wildly?"

She threw Wang Lingjiao's head aside and, as if disgusted, wiped her hands with a handkerchief. Jin Zhu and Yin Zhu stood behind her, their faces wearing the same contemptuous smile. Wang Lingjiao, with trembling hands and tear-stained face, stammered, "You... how dare you... The Wen family and the Yingchuan Wang Family will not let you get away with this!"

Lady Yu threw the handkerchief on the ground and kicked Wang Lingjiao over. "Shut up! You lowly servant, my family, the Meishan Yu family, has been a prestigious clan in the cultivation world for hundreds of years. I've never heard of the Yingchuan Wang Family! What gutter did this lowly family crawl out of? How dare you speak of status in front of me? I'll teach you what true status is! I am high, and you are low!"

Jiang Cheng had helped Wei Wuxian to his feet. Both were left speechless by the scene unfolding before them.