Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Three Poisons Chapter Twelve Part 3

Lady Yu signaled behind her with a glance, and Jin Zhu and Yin Zhu understood. They each drew their swords and moved around the hall, striking swiftly and fiercely. In an instant, they had killed all the Wen family disciples. As her turn approached, Wang Lingjiao, in a last desperate attempt, threatened, "You... think you can kill me and cover it up? Do you think Young Master Wen Chao doesn't know where I am today? Do you think he'll spare you when he finds out?"

Yin Zhu sneered, "As if he's sparing us now!"

Wang Lingjiao said, "I'm the closest person to Young Master Wen Chao! If you dare touch me, he will..."

Lady Yu slapped her again, mocking, "Oh, should I cut off your hand or leg? Or burn down the Immortal Mansion? Or send ten thousand men to level Lotus Pier? Maybe set up a surveillance house?"

Jin Zhu approached with her sword, and Wang Lingjiao, filled with terror, scrambled backward, screaming, "Help! Save me! Wen Zhuliu!"

Lady Yu stepped on her wrist and drew her sword. Just as the blade was about to fall, there was a loud clang as it was knocked away.

Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng turned to look. The main doors of the hall had burst open, and a tall, dark-clad figure with a grim face stormed in. It was Wen Zhuliu, the formidable personal guard of Wen Chao.

Lady Yu dropped her sword and held Purple Lightning across her chest, saying, "Alchemy Hand?"

Wen Zhuliu coldly replied, "Purple Spider?"

Wang Lingjiao, her arm still firmly stepped on, screamed, "Wen Zhuliu! Wen Zhuliu! Save me! Quick!"

Lady Yu snorted, "Wen Zhuliu? Alchemy Hand, your original name was Zhao Zhuliu, wasn't it? Clearly not surnamed Wen, yet you desperately changed it. One after another, you fawn over that surname. Is the Wen surname so precious? Betraying your ancestors, how laughable!"

Wen Zhuliu remained unmoved, indifferently saying, "We serve different masters."

As they exchanged a few more words, Wang Lingjiao couldn't bear it and screamed, "Wen Zhuliu! Can't you see what's happening to me?! If you don't kill her right now, what are you babbling about?! When Young Master Wen Chao ordered you to protect me, is this how you protect me?! Be careful, I'll report you and make sure you pay!"

Lady Yu viciously stomped on Wang Lingjiao's arm, and she cried out in pain. Wen Zhuliu frowned slightly. Assigned by Wen Ruohan to protect Wen Chao, he already found Wen Chao's character distasteful. To make matters worse, Wen Chao had also assigned him to protect Wang Lingjiao. This woman's pretentiousness, foolishness, and viciousness disgusted him greatly. Yet, despite his dislike, he couldn't disobey Wen Ruohan's and Wen Chao's orders. Fortunately, Wang Lingjiao also disliked him and only allowed him to follow from a distance, keeping him out of sight. However, with her life now at risk, if he stood by, Wen Chao would surely be furious and relentless. And if Wen Chao was relentless, Wen Ruohan wouldn't let it go either.

Wen Zhuliu said, "Pardon me."

Purple Lightning lashed out, and Lady Yu shouted, "Faking concern!"

Wen Zhuliu boldly grabbed Purple Lightning!

When Purple Lightning transformed into a whip, it carried spiritual currents. These currents could be powerful or gentle, lethal or benign, all controlled by the wielder. Lady Yu, intent on killing these Wen dogs, was also quite wary of Wen Zhuliu, so the spiritual currents were extremely fierce from the start but were effortlessly grabbed!

Purple Lightning, undefeated for years, had never encountered such an opponent. Upon being grabbed, Lady Yu was momentarily stunned. Seizing the opportunity, Wang Lingjiao scrambled out, pulling a signal rocket from her bosom and shaking it. A streak of fire shot out from the tube, piercing through the wooden window with a sharp, shrill sound, exploding in the night sky outside. In a panic, she fumbled for a second and third rocket, screaming incoherently, "Come... come... all of you, come here!"

Wei Wuxian, gritting through the pain, shoved Jiang Cheng and said, "Don't let her send any more signals!"

Jiang Cheng let go of Wei Wuxian and struck at Wang Lingjiao, but just then, Wen Zhuliu moved to confront Lady Yu, seemingly about to succeed. Jiang Cheng shouted, "Mother!"

He abandoned Wang Lingjiao and rushed over. Without looking back, Wen Zhuliu struck out with his palm, declaring, "You're no match!"

Jiang Cheng was hit on the shoulder and spat blood immediately. At the same time, Wang Lingjiao had sent out all her signal rockets, the night sky filled with brilliant lights and sharp shrieks.

Seeing Jiang Cheng injured, Lady Yu roared in fury, and Purple Lightning's spiritual glow blazed intensely, nearly blinding.

Wen Zhuliu was blown back by the sudden surge of Purple Lightning and crashed into the wall. Jin Zhu and Yin Zhu, who had trained closely with Lady Yu since childhood, made a formidable team as they joined the battle with Wen Zhuliu. With this opportunity, Lady Yu grabbed Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian, who were momentarily stunned, and rushed out of the hall. Outside, there were still many disciples surrounding the training ground, and Lady Yu commanded, "Arm and form ranks immediately!"

She carried them to the dock. In front of Lotus Pier, there were always seven or eight small boats, used by the younger members of the Jiang family for boating and lotus picking. Lady Yu tossed them onto a boat, leaped aboard herself, and took Jiang Cheng’s hand to help steady him. Jiang Cheng had only spat a mouthful of blood and wasn't seriously injured as he asked, "Mother, what should we do?"

Lady Yu said, "What to do? Can't you see they came prepared? A battle is unavoidable today. A large group of Wen dogs will arrive soon; let's leave first!"

Wei Wuxian said, "What about Elder Sister? She left for Meishan two days ago. What if she comes back..."

Lady Yu snarled, "Shut up! This is all your fault!"

Wei Wuxian had no choice but to stay quiet. Lady Yu removed the purple ring, Purple Lightning, from her right index finger and slipped it onto Jiang Cheng's right index finger. Jiang Cheng looked surprised and said, "Mother, why are you giving Purple Lightning to me?"

Lady Yu said, "Once it's given to you, it's yours from now on! Purple Lightning has already recognized you as its master."

Jiang Cheng looked confused and said, "Mother, aren't you coming with us?"

Lady Yu gazed at his face, then suddenly pulled him into her arms, kissed his head twice, and held him tightly, murmuring, "Good kid."

Her embrace was so strong, as if she wished she could turn Jiang Cheng back into a baby and keep him safe from all harm. Jiang Cheng had never been held like this by his mother, nor had he ever been kissed in such a manner. He buried his head in her chest, his eyes wide open, feeling utterly lost and confused.

Holding Jiang Cheng in one arm, Lady Yu suddenly grabbed Wei Wuxian's collar with her other hand, as if she wanted to strangle him. Gritting her teeth, she said, "You damned boy! Hateful! So hateful! Look what trouble you've brought upon our family!"

Wei Wuxian's chest heaved, but he had no words to respond. This time, it wasn't out of stubbornness or secret complaints, but because he truly had nothing to say.

Jiang Cheng urgently asked, "Mother, aren't you coming with us?"

Lady Yu let go and pushed him toward Wei Wuxian.

She leaped onto the dock. The small boat swayed slightly on the water. Jiang Cheng finally understood. Jin Zhu, Yin Zhu, all the disciples, and all the treasures and artifacts of the Yunmeng Jiang family were still in Lotus Pier. They couldn't be evacuated immediately, and a major battle was sure to come. As the lady of the household, Lady Yu couldn't leave alone, but she feared for her son's safety, so she sent them away first.

Knowing that this separation would be fraught with danger, Jiang Cheng was filled with panic. He stood up, wanting to get off the boat, but Purple Lightning suddenly transformed into an electric current, binding them both tightly to the boat, rendering them completely immobile. Jiang Cheng said, "Mother, what are you doing?!"

Lady Yu said, "Don't make a fuss. It will release you once you're in a safe place, and if anyone attacks you on the way, Purple Lightning will automatically protect you. Don't come back; go directly to Meishan and find your sister!"

After saying that, she turned to Wei Wuxian and said sternly, "Wei Wuxian! Listen carefully! Protect Jiang Cheng with your life, even if it means dying for him, understand?"

Wei Wuxian said, "Lady Yu—"

Lady Yu angrily said, "Did you hear me? I don't want to hear any other nonsense. I'm asking you, did you hear me?"

Wei Wuxian, unable to break free from Purple Lightning, could only nod heavily. Jiang Cheng shouted, "Mother, Father hasn't come back yet. Can't we face whatever's happening together?"

At the mention of Jiang Fengmian, Lady Yu's eyes seemed to redden for a moment.

But immediately after, she cursed loudly, "If he doesn't come back, then so be it. Do I really need him to get by?"

After scolding them, she slashed her sword through the rope tethering the small boat. She kicked the boat's side hard. The river was swift, and with the strong wind and her kick, the boat immediately drifted several feet away. It spun a few times, then smoothly and swiftly glided toward the middle of the river. Jiang Cheng screamed, "Mother!"

He called out dozens of times, but Lady Yu and Lotus Pier grew smaller and smaller, eventually disappearing from sight. After the boat drifted away, Lady Yu, holding her long sword, disappeared into the main gate of Lotus Pier with a flash of her purple robe.

The two struggled with all their might, but Purple Lightning remained unyielding, cutting into their flesh without loosening at all.

Jiang Cheng let out a wild scream, struggling as he shouted, "Why won't it break! Break! Break!"

Wei Wuxian, still sore from being whipped by Purple Lightning earlier, knew that struggling was futile. Seeing that Jiang Cheng was still injured, he endured the pain and said, "Jiang Cheng, calm down. Lady Yu might not lose to that Alchemy Hand. Didn't she just hold off Wen Zhuliu?"

Jiang Cheng shouted back, "How can you expect me to calm down?! How can I calm down?! Even if we kill Wen Zhuliu, that despicable Wang Lingjiao has already sent signals. What if the Wen dogs see it and send a large force to surround our home?"

Wei Wuxian knew that it was impossible to stay calm, but one of them had to keep a clear head. Just as he was about to continue speaking, he suddenly brightened and shouted, "Uncle Jiang! It's Uncle Jiang! He's back!"

Sure enough, another large boat was approaching on the river.

Jiang Fengmian stood at the bow of the boat, with over a dozen disciples behind him. His robes fluttered in the river breeze as he gazed toward Lotus Pier. He seemed slightly surprised and said, "Ah Cheng? Ah Wuxian? What's going on with you two?"

The young disciples of the Jiang family often played strange games, sometimes lying in the water covered in blood to mimic corpses. Therefore, Jiang Fengmian couldn't immediately tell if they were involved in some new game and didn't realize the severity of the situation. Jiang Cheng, however, was so relieved that tears fell from his eyes. He said urgently and anxiously, "Father, please untie us!"

Jiang Fengmian said, "That's your mother's Purple Lightning. It has recognized its master and probably won't allow me to—"

He reached out to touch Purple Lightning, but to his surprise, it obediently retracted and transformed into a ring, slipping onto one of his fingers.

Jiang Fengmian was instantly frozen in shock.

Purple Lightning was Yu Ziyin's top-tier spiritual artifact, which followed her commands first and foremost. While it could recognize multiple masters, it adhered to a strict hierarchy. Lady Yu was the indisputable primary master, and her command—to bind Jiang Cheng until he was safe—prevented him from breaking free from its restraints.

At some unknown time, Jiang Fengmian had been acknowledged as the secondary master. In his presence, Purple Lightning deemed it safe and thus released its bind.

However, Lady Yu had never mentioned that she had also made Purple Lightning recognize Jiang Fengmian as a master.

Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian finally separated, falling to opposite sides. Jiang Fengmian asked, "What's going on? Why were the two of you bound by Purple Lightning, sitting in the boat?"

Grabbing him desperately, Jiang Cheng said, "Father, the Wen family attacked our home today. Mother confronted them and fought with the Alchemy Hand! I'm afraid Mother might be at a disadvantage. Someone sent a signal; there might be more enemies coming soon. Father, we need to go back and help her! Let's go!"

These words visibly shook all the disciples. Jiang Fengmian said, "Alchemy Hand?"

Jiang Cheng replied, "Yes, Father! We—"

Before he could finish, a flash of purple light bound Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian once more, sending them back into their original positions. Jiang Cheng stammered, "...Father?"

Jiang Fengmian said, "I'll go back. You two must leave and not return to Lotus Pier. Once you're ashore, head to Meishan and find your elder sister and grandmother."

Wei Wuxian shouted, "Uncle Jiang!!!"

After the initial shock, Jiang Cheng kicked the boat's side frantically, causing it to rock violently. "Let me go! Let me go!"

Jiang Fengmian said, "I'll go back and find Third Miss."

Jiang Cheng glared at him. "Why can't we go back together and find her?"

Jiang Fengmian looked at him steadily, then reached out, his hand hovering in the air before slowly resting on Jiang Cheng's head. "A Cheng, you need to stay safe."

Wei Wuxian said, "Uncle Jiang, if something happens to you, he won't be okay."

Jiang Fengmian shifted his gaze to him. "Wei Ying, A Cheng... you need to take care of him."

He returned to his large boat. As the two boats passed each other, Jiang Cheng screamed desperately, "Father!!!"

The small boat drifted downstream.

After what felt like an eternity, Purple Lightning finally loosened, transforming into a silver ring that slipped onto Jiang Cheng's finger.

Their throats raw from shouting the entire way, they said nothing once freed, beginning to row back. Without oars, they used their hands to paddle against the current.

Lady Yu had said the whipping would keep him in pain for a month, but Wei Wuxian felt that aside from the stinging and numbing pain in the areas struck, his movements weren't significantly hindered. With a desperation akin to fighting for their lives, they paddled furiously. After more than an hour, they finally managed to row back to Lotus Pier with their bare hands.

By then, it was deep into the night.

The gates of Lotus Pier were tightly closed, but outside, the area was brightly lit. The water's surface shimmered with fragmented moonlight, and dozens of large lotus-shaped lanterns floated quietly by the dock.

Everything looked the same as usual. But this very normalcy only deepened their unease.

They stopped the boat far out in the lake, anchoring in the water, their hearts pounding. They didn't dare approach the dock or rush to the shore to see what was happening inside.

Tears welled up in Jiang Cheng's eyes, his hands and legs trembling. After a long while, Wei Wuxian whispered, "Let's not enter through the gate."

Jiang Cheng nodded hastily. Silently, they rowed the boat to the other side of the lake. There, an old willow tree stood, its roots deep in the mud, its thick trunk slanting over the water, its branches hanging into the lake. In the past, the young disciples of Lotus Pier often walked along this willow's trunk to its top to fish.

They anchored the boat behind the willow’s drooping branches and, using the cover of night and foliage, quietly made their way ashore. Wei Wuxian, used to climbing walls, pulled Jiang Cheng and whispered, "This way."

Jiang Cheng was filled with shock and fear, to the point that he could barely distinguish east from west. He followed Wei Wuxian as they stuck close to the wall, and after a while, they cautiously climbed up onto a wall. A row of beast heads lined this section of the wall, making it a perfect spot for spying. In the past, it had always been outsiders secretly climbing the wall to spy on them inside, but now it was they who were secretly spying in.

Wei Wuxian leaned forward to take a look inside, and his heart immediately sank.

The training ground at Lotus Pier was lined with neat rows of people.

All of them were dressed in fiery robes, with flame patterns on their collars, cuffs, and hems as vivid as fresh blood.

Besides those standing, there were also those lying on the ground. The fallen had all been moved to the northwest corner of the training ground, haphazardly piled together. A person with their back to them was examining the pile of Jiang family members, who were either dead or alive.

Jiang Cheng was frantically searching with his eyes for Yu Ziyin and Jiang Fengmian, while Wei Wuxian's eyes welled up with tears.

Among these people, Wei Wuxian recognized many familiar figures.

His throat was dry and painful, his temples throbbed like they'd been hit by hammers, and his entire body felt cold. He didn’t dare to think too much about Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyin. As he tried to get a better look at the skinny boy on top, wondering if it was the sixth junior brother, the person in the northwest corner, who had his back to them, sensed something and turned around.

Wei Wuxian immediately pressed Jiang Cheng’s head down.

Although he had dodged in time, he got a good look at the person’s face.

It was a tall and slim young man around their age, with refined and handsome features, black eyes, and a pale face. Although he was dressed in fiery robes, he didn't have a commanding presence; he looked too refined and scholarly. Based on the sun emblem on his robe, he was likely one of the Wen family's young men.