Chapter 108

Chapter 108: Hidden Blade Part 22 (2)

If this sword strike had succeeded, even if it couldn't subdue Nie Mingjue, it would at least buy some time. However, the sword had just been overloaded with spiritual energy due to Su She's sudden outburst, exceeding its limits. Mid-swing, it shattered into several pieces with a loud "clang." Meanwhile, Nie Mingjue's palm struck Su She squarely in the chest.

Su She's moment of brilliance was short-lived. He didn't even have time to spit out blood or utter a final, dignified or fierce word before the life in his eyes extinguished.

Jin Guangyao, slumped next to Lan Xichen, also witnessed this scene. Whether it was due to the increasing pain from his severed hand and the blood gushing from his abdomen, or some other reason, his eyes glistened with tears. But there was no time for him to catch his breath or tend to his injuries. After Nie Mingjue withdrew his hand, he turned and fixed his gaze in Jin Guangyao's direction.

The cold, stern scrutiny on that rigid face was exactly the same as it had been when Nie Mingjue was alive, the very expression Jin Guangyao feared the most. Jin Guangyao was so terrified that even his tears dried up. Trembling, he cried out for help, "Er-ge..."

Lan Xichen turned his sword, while Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji quickened their tempo. However, the earlier flute melody had already been broken, and restarting its effect was far more difficult than before. Suddenly, someone nearby called out, "Wei Wuxian!"

Wei Wuxian immediately responded, "What?"

Only after responding did he realize it was Jiang Cheng who had called him, and he was slightly surprised. Jiang Cheng didn't respond directly but instead pulled something from his sleeve and tossed it over. Wei Wuxian instinctively caught it and looked down. A sleek black flute with a vibrant red tassel.

*The Ghost Flute, Chenqing!*

The moment his hand touched the familiar flute, Wei Wuxian didn't even have time to be shocked. Without hesitation, he raised it to his lips and called out, *"Lan Zhan!"*

Lan Wangji gave a slight nod, and without further words, the sounds of the guqin and the flute harmonized. *The guqin was like icy springs, the flute like soaring birds—one suppressing, the other guiding.* Under their combined influence, Nie Mingjue's body swayed, and he was half-forced to step away from Jin Guangyao.

Step by step, under the control of the guqin and flute, Nie Mingjue stiffly walked toward the empty coffin for the second time. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji followed closely. As soon as Nie Mingjue tumbled into the coffin, the two of them simultaneously kicked the heavy lid at both ends, sending it flying up and then crashing down. Wei Wuxian nimbly flipped onto the head of the coffin, tucked Chenqing back into his waist with his left hand, and swiftly bit his right finger. With fluid motions, he drew a series of intricate, blood-red talismans on the coffin lid, completing the entire sequence in one go without pause.

Only then did the beast-like howls from inside the coffin gradually subside. Lan Wangji stilled the trembling strings of his guqin, halting the music. Wei Wuxian let out a soft sigh and cautiously sensed for a moment, confirming that there was no more power beneath the coffin lid. He then stood up and said, *"He's quite temperamental, isn't he?"*

Standing on the coffin, he was much taller than Lan Wangji, who had put away his guqin and was looking up at him with pale, calm eyes. Wei Wuxian lowered his head and couldn't help but scratch his own fair face with his right hand, either accidentally or intentionally leaving a few bloody marks. Lan Wangji didn't mind and simply said, "Come down."

Wei Wuxian chuckled and jumped down, landing right in Lan Wangji's arms.

As things quieted down on their side, Nie Huaisang began to groan in pain.

"Xichen-ge! Come quickly and check if my leg is still attached to my body!" he cried.

Lan Xichen walked over and examined him, saying, "Huaisang, it's fine. Don't be so scared. Your leg isn't broken. It's just a puncture wound."

Nie Huaisang wailed in terror, "A puncture wound! How can I not be scared? Did it go all the way through? Xichen-ge, save me!"

Lan Xichen couldn't help but laugh, "It's not that serious."

Nie Huaisang continued to roll on the ground, clutching his leg. Knowing how much Nie Huaisang feared pain, Lan Xichen took out a medicine bottle from his robe and handed it to him, saying, "For the pain."

Nie Huaisang quickly took the medicine, muttering as he did, "Why am I so unlucky? I was dragged here by that Su Minshan out of nowhere, and even as he was trying to escape, he stabbed me! He could've just pushed me aside—why did he have to use a sword..."

Lan Xichen stood up and turned around. Jin Guangyao was sitting on the ground, his face as pale as paper, his hair slightly disheveled, and his forehead covered in cold sweat. He looked utterly miserable. The pain from his severed hand must have been unbearable, as he let out a couple of soft groans. He looked up at Lan Xichen. Though he didn't say a word, the sight of him clutching his severed wrist and his pitiful expression was enough to evoke sympathy.

Lan Xichen watched him for a moment, sighed, and then took out the medicine he carried with him.

Wei Wuxian said, "Family Head Lan."

Lan Xichen replied, "Wei gongzi, in his current state... he likely can't do anything. If we don't treat him soon, he might die right here. There are still many things we need to clarify."

Wei Wuxian said, "Family Head Lan, I understand. I'm not stopping you from saving him. I'm just reminding you to be cautious. It's best to silence him and not let him speak anymore."

Lan Xichen nodded slightly and said to Jin Guangyao, "Family Head Jin, you heard that. Please refrain from any unnecessary actions. Otherwise, to be safe, I won't hesitate to..." He took a deep breath and continued, "Take your life."

Jin Guangyao nodded weakly and whispered, "Thank you, Lord Ze Wu..."

Lan Xichen bent down and carefully tended to Jin Guangyao's severed wrist. Jin Guangyao trembled the entire time. Seeing his once-glorious sworn brother reduced to such a state, Lan Xichen didn't know what to say and could only sigh inwardly.

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji made their way to the corner together. Wen Ning was still slumped awkwardly over Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling. Wei Wuxian laid him flat on the ground and examined the black hole in his chest, deeply concerned: "Look at you... what should we use to plug this?"

Wen Ning said, "Young Master, is it serious..."

Wei Wuxian replied, "Not serious. You don't need the organs here. But it's unsightly."

Wen Ning said, "I don't care about looks..."

Jiang Cheng stayed silent, and Jin Ling appeared to be on the verge of speaking.

Over there, Lan Xichen tended to Jin Guangyao's wounds. Seeing Jin Guangyao in such agony that he was nearly fainting, Lan Xichen, who had originally intended to punish him, ultimately couldn't bring himself to do it and turned back, saying, "Huaisang, give me that bottle of medicine from earlier."

Nie Huaisang, who had taken two pills to stop the pain, had already tucked the bottle into his robe. He quickly responded, "Oh, right." He fumbled around and pulled it out, about to hand it to Lan Xichen, when suddenly, his eyes widened in terror, and he shouted, "Brother Xichen, watch out behind you!!!"

Lan Xichen, who had always been wary of Jin Guangyao, had always been on edge. Seeing Nie Huaisang's expression and hearing his cry, his heart sank. Without hesitation, he drew his sword and thrust it behind him.

Jin Guangyao was pierced straight through the chest, his face filled with shock.

The others were equally shocked by this sudden turn of events. Wei Wuxian sprang to his feet, demanding, "What's happening?!"

Nie Huaisang stammered, "I-I... I just saw Third Brother... no, I mean, I saw Family Head Jin reaching behind him, I don't know if..."

Jin Guangyao glanced down at the sword impaling his chest, his lips twitching as if to speak, but silenced as he was, he couldn't utter a word. Wei Wuxian sensed something was amiss, but before he could ask, Jin Guangyao coughed up a mouthful of blood and rasped, "Lan Xichen!"

He had forcefully broken the silencing spell.

Jin Guangyao was now a patchwork of wounds—his left hand scorched by poison, his right wrist severed, a gaping hole in his abdomen, and blood soaking his robes. Earlier, he could barely sit up, but now, perhaps in a last surge of strength, he managed to stand on his own and shouted again with hatred, "Lan Xichen!"

Lan Xichen appeared deeply disappointed and heartbroken, saying, "Family Head Jin, I told you. If you made any move, I wouldn't hold back."

Jin Guangyao spat viciously, "Yes! You did say that. But did I?!"

He had always carried himself with grace and refinement, but now, a raw, savage side of him emerged. Seeing this drastic change, Lan Xichen felt something was amiss and immediately turned to look at Nie Huaisang. Jin Guangyao laughed bitterly, "Enough! Why are you looking at him? Stop looking! What can you see? Even I didn't see it after all these years. Huaisang, you're really something."

Nie Huaisang was stunned, too shocked by the sudden accusation to respond. Jin Guangyao said with hatred, "To think I ended up in your hands like this..."

He struggled to walk toward Nie Huaisang, but with a sword still piercing his chest, he took only one step before showing signs of pain. Lan Xichen, unable to deliver a fatal blow or rashly pull out the sword, blurted out, "Don't move!"

Jin Guangyao indeed couldn't move anymore. He gripped the blade in his chest, steadied himself, and spat out another mouthful of blood, saying, "What a 'know-nothing'! No wonder... you've hidden it so well all these years. You must have worked hard!"

Nie Huaisang trembled, "Brother Xichen, believe me, I really saw him..."

Jin Guangyao's face twisted in rage, shouting, "You!"

He tried to lunge at Nie Huaisang again, but the sword dug another inch into his chest. Lan Xichen also shouted, "Don't move!"

Having been deceived by Jin Guangyao countless times before, Lan Xichen couldn't help but remain wary, suspecting that Jin Guangyao was deliberately countering Nie Huaisang's accusation in a desperate attempt to distract him. Jin Guangyao easily read the suspicion in his eyes and, furious, laughed bitterly, "Lan Xichen! In my life, I've lied countless times and harmed countless people. As you said, I've killed my father, my brother, my wife, my son, my teacher, and my friends. What evil deed haven't I done?"

He took a deep breath and rasped, "But I never once thought of harming you!"

Lan Xichen was stunned.

Jin Guangyao gasped for breath, gripping the sword, and said through clenched teeth, "...Who was it that saved you when Cloud Recesses was burned down and you were fleeing for your life? Who was it that helped the Gusu Lan Family rebuild Cloud Recesses? All these years, have I ever suppressed the Gusu Lan Family? Haven't I always supported you in every way? Except for this time when I temporarily suppressed your spiritual power, have I ever wronged you or your family? When have I ever asked for your gratitude?"

Hearing these accusations, Lan Xichen found himself unable to bring himself to silence Jin Guangyao again. Jin Guangyao said, "Su Minshan only repaid me because I remembered his name all those years ago. And you, Lord Ze Wu, Family Head Lan, are just like Nie Mingjue—unwilling to give me even a chance to live!"

After saying this, Jin Guangyao suddenly stepped back rapidly, pulling Shuoyue out of his chest. Jiang Cheng shouted, "Don't let him escape!"

Lan Xichen took two steps forward and effortlessly caught him again. In his current state, Jin Guangyao couldn't run fast even if he tried. Even Jin Ling could catch him blindfolded. Besides, with multiple injuries and a fatal sword wound, there was no need for further caution. But Wei Wuxian suddenly realized something and shouted, "He's not trying to escape!!! Lord Ze Wu, get away from him!"

It was already too late. The blood from Jin Guangyao's severed limb dripped onto the coffin, the trickling blood seeping over the area where Wei Wuxian had previously drawn the talismans, destroying them and flowing into the coffin through the cracks.

Nie Mingjue, previously sealed, suddenly burst out of the coffin!

The coffin lid shattered into pieces, and a pale, large hand clamped around Jin Guangyao's neck, while the other reached for Lan Xichen's throat.

Jin Guangyao wasn't trying to escape; he was using his last breath to lure Lan Xichen to Nie Mingjue's side, intending to drag them both to their doom!

Lan Wangji summoned Bichen, which shot toward them like lightning. However, Nie Mingjue was almost entirely unafraid of such spiritual swords. Even if Bichen struck him, it would likely do little to stop him from reaching Lan Xichen's throat.

Yet, just as that hand was a hair's breadth away from Lan Xichen's neck, Jin Guangyao used his remaining left hand to push Lan Xichen forcefully in the chest, sending him stumbling back.

Jin Guangyao himself was dragged into the coffin by Nie Mingjue, who held him high in the air like a ragdoll, a sight so horrifying it froze the blood in their veins. Jin Guangyao struggled desperately, his hands clawing at Nie Mingjue's iron-like grip, his hair disheveled, his eyes blazing with a fierce, unyielding fury as he screamed hoarsely, "Nie Mingjue, I curse your mother! Do you really think I'm afraid of you?! I..."

He choked out a mouthful of blood, and everyone present heard the horrifyingly clear sound of a "crack."

A faint, dying gurgle escaped Jin Guangyao's throat, a sound that echoed ominously in the silent room. Jin Ling shuddered, closing his eyes and covering his ears, unable to endure the sight or sound any longer.