Chapter 102

Chapter 102: Hate Born Chapter 21, Part 5

Although Jiang Cheng had been stabbed in the chest, it wasn’t fatal. He was temporarily immobilized and shouldn’t use his spiritual energy. He disliked being helped and said to Jin Ling, "Get out of here."

Jin Ling knew he was still angry about him running around and felt guilty, not daring to argue. The distant howls of the black-maned spirit dog suddenly turned into a pitiful wail. Jin Ling, startled, remembered what Jin Guangyao had said earlier and shouted, "Xianzi, run! They’re out to kill you!"

In a moment, Su She rushed back through the heavy rain, furious. Jin Guangyao asked, "Didn’t you kill it?"

Su She replied with a resentful expression, "I failed. That dog is spineless. It’s fierce when someone backs it up, but as soon as it sees it can’t win, it runs away faster than anyone!"

Jin Guangyao shook his head and said, "I’m afraid it might lead others here. We need to wrap this up fast."

Su She said, "These incompetents! I’ll go in and push them along."

Jin Ling, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Jiang Cheng sitting on the ground with a grim expression, he hesitated for a moment before asking Lan Wangji, "Hanguang Jun, do you happen to have another cushion?"

Originally, the four cushions they were sitting on were all found by Lan Wangji, but there were only four in the Guanyin Hall. After a moment of silence, Lan Wangji stood up and pushed the one he was sitting on over. Jin Ling quickly said, "Thank you! But no need, I’ll just use my own..."

Lan Wangji said, "It’s unnecessary."

After saying this, he sat down next to Wei Wuxian. The two of them sat solemnly on the same cushion, and surprisingly, it wasn’t too cramped. Seeing the spot had been made for him, Jin Ling scratched his head and pulled Jiang Cheng over to sit. Jiang Cheng pressed his chest to stop the bleeding, sat down, glanced at Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, then quickly looked away, his expression dark and pensive.

At that moment, a voice filled with joy came from the back of the hall, "Family head! We’ve found it! A corner has been uncovered!"

Jin Guangyao’s expression relaxed, and he quickly walked to the back of the hall, saying, "Hurry! Be careful. We’re running out of time."

In the sky, seven or eight pale lightning bolts twisted and snaked across, followed by the rumble of thunder. Over there, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji sat together, Jiang Cheng sat nearby, and Jin Ling dragged his cushion over as well. Amid the pouring rain, an awkward silence settled, and no one broke it.

For some reason, Jin Ling seemed eager for them to talk. He glanced around and suddenly said, "Uncle, thanks for catching that string earlier, or things would have gone south."

Jin Cheng’s face darkened, and he said, "Quiet!"

If he hadn’t been emotionally unstable and failed to restrain Jin Guangyao, he wouldn’t have been captured. Besides, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji could have dodged that string themselves. Even though Lan Wangji had no spiritual power and Wei Wuxian’s was weak, their physical abilities were still sharp. Jin Ling’s clumsy attempt to defend his uncle was too obvious, making things even more awkward.

After being scolded, Jin Ling clammed up awkwardly. Jiang Cheng pressed his lips together and stayed silent. Wei Wuxian also remained silent.

In the past, he might have mocked Jiang Cheng for being easily provoked and letting others exploit him. But now, reflecting on Jin Guangyao’s words, everything made sense.

Jiang Cheng had already uncovered the truth.

At that moment, Lan Wangji softly stroked Wei Wuxian’s back twice. Wei Wuxian looked up and saw that Lan Wangji wasn’t shocked at all; his gaze was almost tender. Moved, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but whisper, "...You knew?"

Lan Wangji slowly nodded.

Wei Wuxian sighed softly and murmured, "...Wen Ning."

Suibian had originally been in Wen Ning’s hands, but now it had ended up with Jiang Cheng. And on the way out of Lotus Pier, Wen Ning had never mentioned this.

Wei Wuxian asked, "When did he tell you?"

Lan Wangji replied, "When you were unconscious."

Wei Wuxian said, "Is that how we left Lotus Pier?!"

If Wen Ning hadn’t found his way here yet, Wei Wuxian would have glared at him by now.

Lan Wangji said, "He felt very guilty."

Wei Wuxian said with a hint of annoyance, "...I told him repeatedly not to say anything!"

Suddenly, Jiang Cheng spoke up: "Don't what, huh?"

Wei Wuxian was startled and looked over with Lan Wangji. They saw Jiang Cheng holding his wound, his tone icy: "Wei Wuxian, you're so selfless, so noble. You've done so many good deeds, bore humiliation in silence, truly moving. Should I kneel down and weep in gratitude to you?"

Hearing his biting sarcasm, Lan Wangji's expression turned cold. Jin Ling, alarmed by his uncle's aggressive stance, quickly stepped in front of Jiang Cheng, fearing Lan Wangji might strike him dead, and urgently said, "Uncle!"

Wei Wuxian's face also darkened.

He never expected Jiang Cheng to reconcile with him after learning the truth, but he didn't expect his words to still be so harsh. After a moment of silence, he muttered, "I never sought your thanks."

Jiang Cheng laughed sarcastically, "Right, doing good deeds without expecting anything in return, how lofty. Not like me. No wonder my father always said you were the one who truly understood the Jiang family's teachings, embodying the Jiang family's spirit."

Wei Wuxian couldn't bear to listen anymore and interrupted, "Enough."

Jiang Cheng shouted sharply, "What's enough? You say enough and it's enough? You know everything! You surpass me in every way! Talent, cultivation, spirit—you excel in all. My level is low—so what does that make me?!"

He lunged forward, as if to seize Wei Wuxian by the collar. Lan Wangji shielded Wei Wuxian, pulling him back, and with his other hand, he struck Jiang Cheng's hand aside, his eyes already showing a hint of anger. Although this strike didn't contain spiritual power, the force was strong, causing Jiang Cheng's chest wound to burst open again, blood gushing out. Jin Ling cried out, "Uncle, your wound! Hanguang Jun, have mercy!"

Lan Wangji coldly said, "Jiang Wanyin, mind your language!"

Lan Xichen took off his outer robe and draped it over Nie Huaisang, who was shivering from the cold, saying, "Jiang family head, please remain calm. Further shouting will only aggravate your injury."

Jiang Cheng pushed away Jin Ling, who was flusteredly supporting him. Despite losing blood, his anger surged uncontrollably to his head, his face alternating between pale and red, "Why? Wei Wuxian, what gives you the right?"

Wei Wuxian, standing stiffly behind Lan Wangji, said, "Deserve what?"

Jiang Cheng said, "What has our Jiang family not given you? I am his son, the rightful heir of the Yunmeng Jiang family, yet for years, I've lived in your shadow. The gift of life, the grace of upbringing! My father, my mother, my sister, and Jin Zixuan's lives! Because of you, Jin Ling is left orphaned."

Jin Ling trembled all over, his shoulders slumping, his expression wilted. Wei Wuxian moved his lips but ultimately couldn't say anything. Lan Wangji turned around and held his hand. Jiang Cheng continued relentlessly, shouting, "Wei Wuxian, who was the first to break their oath and betray our Jiang family? Tell me, who said that in the future, when I become the family head, you would be my subordinate, supporting me for a lifetime, that just as the Gusu Lan Family has its Twin Jades, our Yunmeng Jiang family would have its Twin Heroes, never betraying me or the Jiang family? Who said that?! Tell me, who said that?! Did you fucking swallow those words?!"

He became more and more agitated: "And then what? You went to protect outsiders, ha! The Wen family. How much rice did you eat from them?! You defected without hesitation! What did you take our family for?! You take credit for the good, but the bad is always beyond your control! Forced! What unbearable hardships! Really?! You kept me in the dark, treating me like a fool!!!

"How much do you owe our Jiang family? Shouldn't I hate you? Can't I hate you?! Why does it feel like I'm the one who's wronged you?! Why should I feel like I've been a clown all these years?! What am I? Am I just meant to be dazzled by your brilliance?! Shouldn't I hate you?!"

Lan Wangji suddenly stood up. Jin Ling, terrified, blocked in front of Jiang Cheng, saying, "Hanguang Jun! My uncle is injured..."

Jiang Cheng slapped him down, saying, "Let him come! Am I afraid of Lan Er?!"

But after this slap, Jin Ling was stunned.

Not just him, Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, Lan Xichen, all froze.

Jiang Cheng was crying.

Tears streamed from his eyes as he gritted his teeth, "...Why... why didn't you tell me!"

Jiang Cheng clenched his fists, as if wanting to hit someone, as if wanting to hit himself, but in the end, he struck the ground.

He should be able to hate Wei Wuxian without hesitation. But at this moment, the golden core circulating spiritual power within him made it impossible for him to hate with a clear conscience.

Wei Wuxian didn't know how to respond.

From the beginning, it was because he didn't want to see Jiang Cheng like this that he decided not to tell him.

He remembered clearly what he had promised Jiang Fengmian and Lady Yu: to take good care of and support Jiang Cheng. Such a fiercely competitive person, if he learned of this, would be unhappy and tormented for life, unable to face himself. There would always be an insurmountable hurdle in his heart, always remembering that he achieved today's success through someone else's sacrifice. This wasn't his cultivation or achievement. He won but also lost, no longer qualified to compete fiercely.

Later, it was because Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli died because of him, making it even more shameful to let others know. Telling Jiang Cheng after that would be like shirking responsibility, eager to show that he also contributed, telling Jiang Cheng not to hate him, look, I also sacrificed for the Yunmeng Jiang family.

Jiang Cheng cried silently, tears streaking across his face.

To cry so miserably in front of others was something he would have never done in the past. However, from now on, as long as this golden core remains within him and continues to circulate spiritual energy, he will forever remember this feeling.

He choked out, "...You said that once I became the Family Head, you'd stand by me as my subordinate, supporting me for life, and never betray the Yunmeng Jiang family... You said that yourself."

"..."

After a brief pause, Wei Wuxian murmured, "I'm sorry. I went back on my word."

Jiang Cheng shook his head, his face buried deep in his hands. Moments later, he suddenly let out a muffled laugh.

He sneered mockingly, "Even now, you feel the need to apologize to me. Just how special do you think I am?"