Chapter 88

Chapter 88: Danxin Chapter 19, Part 10

Jiang Cheng was accusing him, and Wei Wuxian couldn't defend himself, but he also couldn't stand to see Lan Wangji being verbally attacked. Wei Wuxian said, "Jiang Cheng, listen to what you're saying. Is this really appropriate? Don't forget your status. You're a Family Head, after all. How can you insult a renowned scholar like this in front of Uncle Jiang and Lady Yu's memorial tablets? Where is your upbringing and sense of decorum?"

His intention was to remind Jiang Cheng to show at least some respect toward Lan Wangji, but Jiang Cheng, being highly sensitive, detected an implicit suggestion that he was unworthy of being a Family Head. Instantly, a dark aura spread across his face, making him resemble Lady Yu in her anger. He retorted sharply, "Who is the one insulting my parents in front of their memorial tablets?! I want you two to understand clearly whose territory this is. You can act shamelessly outside as much as you want, but don't bring that nonsense into my family's ancestral hall, in front of my parents' memorial tablets! They watched you grow up, and I'm ashamed on your behalf!"

Wei Wuxian, completely caught off guard, was both shocked and furious. He blurted out, "Shut up!"

Jiang Cheng pointed outside and said, "If you want to act recklessly, do it outside! Whether it's under a tree or on a boat, hug or do whatever you please! Get out of my house and out of my sight!"

When Jiang Cheng mentioned "under a tree," Wei Wuxian's heart skipped a beat: Had Jiang Cheng seen him throw himself into Lan Wangji's arms?

He guessed correctly. Jiang Cheng had indeed gone out to look for Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji himself. Following the directions given by the dock vendors, he had a vague feeling that Wei Wuxian would go to certain places, and after searching for a while, he caught up with them. To his shock, he saw Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji tightly embracing under a tree, refusing to let go for a long time.

Jiang Cheng felt a shiver run down his spine.

Although he had once maliciously speculated about the relationship between Lan Wangji and Mo Xuan Yu's original form, that was merely a way to embarrass Wei Wuxian, not something he truly believed. He had never imagined that Wei Wuxian would actually have any ambiguous relationship with a man. After all, they had grown up together, and Wei Wuxian had never shown any interest in men, always being fond of beautiful young women. As for Lan Wangji, he was famously ascetic, showing no interest in either men or women.

But this kind of embrace was far from normal—it didn't look like something between friends or brothers. He immediately recalled that ever since Wei Wuxian's return, he had been sticking closely to Lan Wangji, and Lan Wangji's attitude toward Wei Wuxian was completely different from how it had been in their past lives. He was almost certain that the two of them were indeed in a romantic relationship. Unable to turn back and unwilling to face them, he continued to follow them in secret, and every gesture and glance between them took on a new meaning in his eyes. For a moment, the mix of disbelief, strangeness, and slight nausea in his heart even overshadowed his hatred. It wasn't until Wei Wuxian brought Lan Wangji into the ancestral hall that his long-suppressed anger was reignited, overwhelming his reason and sense of propriety.

Wei Wuxian, suppressing something, said, "Jiang Wanyin... apologize right now."

Jiang Cheng sneered, "Apologize? For what? For catching you in the act?"

Wei Wuxian shouted angrily, "Hanguang Jun is just a friend! What do you think our relationship is? I'm warning you, apologize now, or you'll regret it!"

Hearing this, Lan Wangji's expression stiffened. Jiang Cheng laughed mockingly, "I've never seen 'friends' like you two. You're warning me? With what? If either of you had any decency, you wouldn't have come to this place..."

Seeing the change in Lan Wangji's expression, Wei Wuxian thought he had been hurt by Jiang Cheng's words and trembled with anger. He didn't dare to think too deeply about how Lan Wangji must feel after being insulted like this. His rage flared, and in a fit of impulsiveness, he flung out a talisman, shouting, "Enough!"

The talisman shot out quickly and fiercely, striking Jiang Cheng's right shoulder with a loud explosion, causing him to stagger. Jiang Cheng hadn't expected Wei Wuxian to suddenly attack, and his spiritual energy hadn't fully recovered, so he was hit squarely. Blood appeared on his shoulder, and a look of shock flashed across his face. Purple Lightning immediately flew from his fingers, crackling as it lashed out. Lan Wangji drew Bichen and blocked the strike. The three of them began to fight wildly in front of the ancestral hall. Jiang Cheng's eyes were bloodshot as he snarled, "Fine! If you want to fight, let's fight! Do you think I'm afraid of the two of you?"

After a few chaotic exchanges, Wei Wuxian suddenly came to his senses: This was the ancestral hall of the Yunmeng Jiang Family. He had just been kneeling here, praying to Jiang Fengmian and Lady Yu for their blessings, and now he was attacking their son in front of their memorial tablets alongside Lan Wangji!

It felt as if a cold waterfall had poured over his head. His vision flickered, and Lan Wangji glanced at him before suddenly turning and grabbing his shoulders. Jiang Cheng also changed his expression, retracting his whip and looking wary. Lan Wangji called out, "Wei Ying?!"

His low voice echoed in Wei Wuxian's ears, making them ring. Wei Wuxian wondered if his hearing was failing as he asked, "What's wrong?"

He felt something crawling down his face and reached up to touch it, only to find his hand covered in blood. Accompanied by waves of dizziness, blood continued to drip from his nose and mouth, falling to the ground.

This time, it wasn't an act.

Wei Wuxian clung to Lan Wangji's arm, barely able to stand. Seeing that Lan Wangji's freshly changed white robes were once again stained with his blood, he instinctively reached out to wipe it away, worrying inappropriately, "I've dirtied his clothes again."

Lan Wangji asked urgently, "How are you?!"

Wei Wuxian answered irrelevantly, "Lan Zhan... let's go."

Let's leave now.

And never come back.

Lan Wangji said, "Alright."

He had no intention of continuing the fight with Jiang Cheng. Without another word, he hoisted Wei Wuxian onto his back and began to leave. Jiang Cheng, both shocked and suspicious—shocked by Wei Wuxian's sudden bleeding from all seven orifices, and suspicious that this was another of Wei Wuxian's tricks to escape, as he had often used this method in the past for mischief—shouted, "Stop!"

Lan Wangji roared, "Get out of the way!"

At the same time, Bichen surged with a sudden, furious energy, and a streak of Purple Lightning shot out. The two divine weapons clashed, emitting a piercing screech. The sound seemed to extinguish a flickering candle flame, and Wei Wuxian's head throbbed with unbearable pain. His eyes closed, and his head drooped. Feeling the weight on his shoulders, Lan Wangji immediately disengaged from the fight to check Wei Wuxian's breathing. Without its master's control, Bichen's power waned, and Purple Lightning's attack pressed forward. Jiang Cheng, not actually wanting to injure Lan Wangji, quickly retracted his whip, but it seemed almost too late. At that moment, a figure leaped down from the side, placing themselves between the two parties.

Jiang Cheng's eyes narrowed as he saw that the unexpected visitor was none other than Wen Ning, which instantly set him off: "Who allowed you to enter Lotus Pier?! How dare you!"

He could tolerate others to some extent, but this wen dog, who had personally pierced Jin Zixuan's heart with a single palm strike, destroying his sister's happiness and taking her life, was absolutely intolerable. Just looking at him made Jiang Cheng want to kill him. He dared to step into the inner sanctum of Lotus Pier—he was practically asking for death!

Because of these two deaths and other reasons, Wen Ning felt guilty and was always afraid of Jiang Cheng, always making a point to avoid him. But now, he stood in front of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, facing him directly, taking a brutal whip strike that left a terrifying burn mark across his chest, yet he did not retreat.

After making sure Wei Wuxian was just exhausted and had passed out from rage, Lan Wangji shifted his gaze. He saw Wen Ning holding something, offering it to Jiang Cheng. The Purple Lightning in Jiang Cheng's right hand glowed so intensely it nearly turned white, mirroring the peak of his murderous rage. He laughed bitterly in his fury: "What do you want?"

The item was Wei Wuxian's sword, Suibian. Wei Wuxian had found it a hassle to carry and had carelessly tossed it aside, finally leaving it with Wen Ning to keep safe. Wen Ning held it up and said, "Draw it."

His voice was firm, his eyes steady. It was a stark contrast to his usual absent-mindedness.

Jiang Cheng said, "I warn you, if you don't want to be turned to dust again, get your feet off Lotus Pier's ground and leave now!"

Wen Ning nearly shoved the hilt into Jiang Cheng's chest, his voice raised, shouting, "Do it, draw!"

A wave of anger and a sudden racing heart overwhelmed Jiang Cheng, and as if under a spell, he actually followed Wen Ning's instruction, gripping the hilt of Suibian with his left hand and pulling it out with force.

A blindingly white blade slid out from the ancient scabbard!

Jiang Cheng looked down at the gleaming longsword in his hand, taking a moment to regain his composure.

This sword was Suibian. It was Wei Wuxian's sword. After the siege of the Burial Mounds, it had been collected by the Jin family of Lanling. It had long been automatically sealed, and no one who had seen it since could draw it from its scabbard.

But why could he draw it? Had the seal been lifted?

Wen Ning said, "The seal hasn't been lifted! Even now, it remains sealed. If you sheathe it and let someone else try to draw it, no one will be able to pull it out."

Jiang Cheng's mind and face were in turmoil, "Then why could I draw it?"

Wen Ning said, "Because this sword has recognized you as Wei gongzi."

Lan Wangji, carrying the unconscious Wei Wuxian, stood up.

Jiang Cheng shouted sharply, "What do you mean it recognized me as Wei Wuxian? How? Why me?!"

Wen Ning responded even more sharply, "Because the golden core now powering your spiritual energy is his!"