Chapter 125 One Hundred and Twenty-Five

Chapter Summary: [Jin Guangshan hurriedly said, "Zixun!"]

Wei Wuxian said, "Enough with the nonsense, I presume everyone..."

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Jin Guangshan hurriedly said, "Zixun!"

Wei Wuxian said, "Enough with the nonsense. As you all know, my patience is limited. Where are you? I've wasted so much time with you, I'll only give you three shouts. Three!"

Jin Zixun initially wanted to grit his teeth and endure it, but a glance at Jin Guangshan's expression sent a chill down his spine. Wei Wuxian then said, "Two!"

Jin Zixuan shouted, "...Enough! Enough! They're just a few Wen dogs. If you want to use them, take them. If you don't want to get entangled with me today, go find them yourself at Qiongqi Path!"

Wei Wuxian sneered and said, "You could have said so earlier."

He came like the wind, and he left like the wind. As soon as his figure disappeared, the gloom in many hearts dissipated. In the banquet hall, those who had been restless earlier gradually sat down, most of them already drenched in cold sweat. Jin Guangshan stood there dumbfounded for a long time, then suddenly erupted in fury, kicking over the small table in front of him. Gold cups and silver dishes tumbled down the steps. Seeing his outburst, Jin Guangyao tried to smooth things over, saying, "Father..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jin Guangshan had already turned and left. Jin Zixun also felt deeply embarrassed for having backed down in front of everyone, and filled with anger and resentment, he wanted to leave as well. Jin Guangyao quickly said, "Zixun..."

Jin Zixun, still furious, didn't think twice and smashed the cup of wine he hadn't yet offered, hitting Jin Guangyao squarely in the chest. A splash of wine instantly erupted onto the snow-white robe, which was a messy sight. But the scene was too chaotic, and no one paid much attention to this highly inappropriate act of rudeness. Only Lan Xichen said, "Third Brother!"

Jin Guangyao quickly said, "It's alright, it's alright, Second Brother, please sit down."

Lan Xichen, not wanting to comment on Jin Zixun, simply handed him a snow-white handkerchief and said, "Go and change your clothes."

Jin Guangyao took the handkerchief, wiping his face as he said with a wry smile, "I can't leave."

"The strong bully the weak and fear the strong."

Sitting upright, Song Lan uttered eight words that perfectly summarized Jin Zixun's true nature.

Upon seeing Wei Wuxian, he tried to suppress him by relying on the Jin clan's past power. But when he realized that Jin Guangshan couldn't help him, he quickly said whatever he wanted.

But when he saw Wen Ning and his group of elderly, weak, women and children, he revealed his contemptuous and vicious appearance.

However, Jin Zixun was spoiled by the Jin family, while Jin Guangyao, who was hardly raised by the Jin family, had to clean up the mess for his blood cousin and biological father in the end.

Looking at Jin Guangyao, who was letting Jin Zixun and Jin Guangshan vent their anger, he looked like a clay figure.

In order to become a member of the Kim family and to be recognized as a member of the clan, he was willing to give up all dignity.

Lan Xichen watched and sighed silently.

He was left alone to clean up the mess and figure out how to extricate himself from the situation. While trying to calm everyone down, he exclaimed in exasperation, "Sigh, this Young Master Wei is so impulsive. How could he speak like that in front of so many people?"

Lan Wangji said coldly, "Is he wrong?"

Jin Guangyao paused almost imperceptibly, then laughed and said, "Haha. Yes. Yes. But it's precisely because it's right that I can't say it to your face."

Lan Xichen seemed to be deep in thought, and said, "This Young Master Wei has truly undergone a great change in temperament."

Upon hearing this, a hint of pain flickered in Lan Wangji's light-colored eyes, beneath his tightly furrowed brows.

The question and answer left everyone stunned.

Yes, is Wei Wuxian wrong?

He's right about everything.

Don't the people present understand this in their hearts?

They all understood.

But as Jin Guangyao said, it is precisely because it is right that it cannot be said to someone's face.

They weren't unaware of these things, nor did they want to say them; they simply dared not say them.

People live in this world and are connected by all sorts of things. For example, they are gathered here because they just went to the Wen family's residence.

At the same time, different levels of power exist depending on the extent of relationships, and the law of the jungle prevails over the law of survival in this world.

The four great families protected their respective regions due to their strength and influence. They were also small families under the protection of the Jin family, so no one would dare to say such things to them.

Moreover, Jin Guangshan is different from Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren in his uprightness and propriety, Jiang Fengmian in his approachability, and Nie Mingjue in his integrity and reason. Most of them have to act according to his likes and dislikes.

But that's how these people live.

To some extent, they envied Wei Wuxian, envying his courage to speak the truth and his willingness to do what he wanted.

Even if they knew it was the right thing to do, they wouldn't dare to do it because it wasn't the mainstream.

Those who follow the crowd will find it difficult to tolerate someone who is different, even if that person is doing something righteous.

But for Wei Wuxian, wherever the path leads, he will go, even if it means facing thousands of people.

After leaving Jinlintai, Wei Wuxian wandered through Lanling City, turning several times until he entered a small alley. He said, "Found it. Let's go."

Wen Qing had been sitting anxiously in the alley for a long time, and rushed out immediately upon hearing this. She was weak and dizzy at the moment, and twisted her ankle. Wei Wuxian supported her with one hand and suggested, "Do you want me to find you a place to rest? I can go by myself. I will definitely bring Wen Ning back."

Wen Qing quickly grabbed him, saying, "No need! No need! I want to go, I must go!"

After Wen Ning disappeared, she practically ran from Qishan to Yunmeng on foot, without closing her eyes for days. Upon seeing Wei Wuxian, she frantically pleaded with him, her lips pale and eyes glazed over, almost unrecognizable. Seeing her on the verge of collapse and not having time to feed her slowly, Wei Wuxian bought some steamed buns from a street vendor and gave them to her. Wen Qing knew she was nearing her limit and needed to eat. With her disheveled hair, red eyes, and fierce teeth as she gnawed on the buns, her appearance reminded Wei Wuxian of his own and Jiang Cheng's escape. He assured her again, "It's alright. I will definitely bring Wen Ning out."

Wen Qing choked back tears as she ate, saying, "I knew I shouldn't have left... but I had no choice. They forcibly transferred me to another city, and when I came back, Wen Ning and his whole family were gone! I knew I couldn't leave him alone!"

Wei WuXian said, “He can do it.”

Wen Qing broke down and said, "He's no good! A-Ning has been timid and cowardly since he was a child. He doesn't even dare to hire people with a strong temper under his command. They're all timid and submissive like him! He has no idea what to do if something happens without me!"

When Wei Wuxian carried Jiang Cheng away to say goodbye to her, Wen Qing said, "No matter the outcome of this battle, from now on, you and we are even. We're even." Her haughty expression is still vivid in my mind. However, last night, she clung tightly to Wei Wuxian's hand, almost kneeling before him, pleading, "Wei Wuxian, Wei Wuxian, Young Master Wei, please help me! I really can't find anyone else to help me. You must help me save A-Ning! I have no other choice but to ask you!"

The pride I once had has vanished.

The woman who had acted so wildly before seemed like a completely different person from the one who now sat upright on the ground.

This is a far cry from the medical master who once wore a fiery red robe.

Even at this critical moment between life and death, she did not use her past kindness to blackmail Wei Wuxian.

Wen Qing sought out Wei Wuxian simply because he was the only person she believed would do everything in his power to save innocent lives.

This is not foolish kindness, but rather a genuine commitment to righteousness.

However, the person being saved was someone who had been a benefactor in the past.

Qiongqi Path is an ancient path nestled in a valley. Legend has it that this is the place where Wen Mao, the ancestor of the Qishan Wen clan, rose to fame in a single battle. Hundreds of years ago, he fought a ferocious ancient beast here for eighty-one days, finally slaying it. This ancient beast was Qiongqi, a divine beast that punishes the good and promotes the evil, disrupts the wicked, and delights in feeding on the upright and loyal, while bestowing gifts upon those who have committed numerous evils. Of course, whether this legend is true or an exaggeration by later generations of the Qishan Wen clan to deify their ancestor is impossible to verify.

Over the centuries, this valley has transformed from a treacherous passage into a scenic spot for celebration and tourism. After the Sunshot Campaign, various factions divided up the former Qishan Wen clan's territory, and Qiongqi Road fell into the hands of the Lanling Jin clan. The original mountain walls on both sides of the path were carved with the life and achievements of the great sage Wen Mao. Now, the Lanling Jin clan, having taken over, naturally couldn't let these glorious tales of the Qishan Wen clan remain untouched and is undertaking a reconstruction. This reconstruction means completely erasing the murals on both sides of the mountain and replacing them with new symbols. Of course, ultimately, a new name must be chosen to highlight the valor of the Lanling Jin clan.

Such a massive project naturally required a great deal of hard labor. And of course, there was no better candidate than the Wen family prisoners of war who had become homeless dogs after the Sunshot Campaign.

When the two arrived at Qiongqi Path, it was already night, and a cold drizzle was falling from the dark sky. Wen Qing followed closely behind Wei Wuxian, shivering uncontrollably, as if she were chilled to the bone. Wei Wuxian had to help her up every now and then. There was a row of makeshift huts at the foot of the valley, for the prisoners of war to rest in at night. Wei Wuxian, leading Wen Qing, saw a hunched figure in the distance, drenched in rain, carrying a large flag and walking slowly. As they drew closer, they saw that the flag bearer was a frail old woman, with a bewildered young child strapped to her back, earnestly biting her fingers. The old woman and the child walked back and forth on the path. The old woman struggled to carry the tall flag, taking a few steps, resting, and putting it down. Seeing this, Wen Qing, her eyes reddening, cried out, "Grandma! It's me!"

The old man, whose eyesight and hearing were probably failing, neither saw nor heard who was approaching. He only knew that someone was calling out as they drew near, so he quickly hoisted the flag back up, his face filled with fear, as if afraid of being discovered and scolded. Wen Qing rushed forward, snatched the flag from him, and asked, "What is this? What are you doing!"

The large banner, once adorned with the massive sun emblem of the Qishan Wen clan, was now marked with a blood-red cross, and its surface was torn to shreds. Since the end of the Sunshot Campaign, countless people had been branded as "remnants of the Wen dogs," and countless methods had been used to torment them, all under the guise of "self-reflection." Wei Wuxian knew that this old woman was simply too old to do manual labor like the others, so the person in charge here devised this way to torment her, forcing her to carry the tattered Wen clan banner back and forth, subjecting her to self-humiliation.

The old woman was startled and shrank back at first. After she could barely make out who it was, she opened her mouth wide and said gently, "Grandma, where is A-Ning? Where are Fourth Uncle and the others? Where is A-Ning?!" The old woman looked at Wei Wuxian behind her and dared not speak. She just looked towards the valley. Wen Qing didn't care about anything else and ran away.

Torches were erected on both sides of the wide valley, their flames flickering slightly in the light rain, yet still burning brightly to illuminate the hundreds of figures carrying heavy loads along the mountain path.

Seeing this scene again, Wenqing involuntarily clenched her hands, only realizing she had to loosen them after her nails dug into her flesh and she felt a sharp pain.

Originally the place where our ancestors slew evil beasts, it is now being used to oppress the good.

It's incredibly ironic.

"this……"

Lan Jingyi and the others were seeing this situation for the first time. Having grown up in the Lan Clan, they knew that prisoners or people of bad character were usually sent to be educated and taught to understand reason. At the very least, they would be given some work that would allow them to support themselves.

They wouldn't do something like this, with insults and curses, disrespecting other people's lives, and indiscriminately killing innocent people.

Lan Sizhui frowned and lowered his head to avoid these cruel scenes.

He was young then, and perhaps every drop of rain that fell on his face, the blood that splashed on his body, and his grandmother's not-so-warm and spacious back and embrace were his deepest memories. But after the Guanyin Temple, he could only recall a few scenes.

Now, Tianying is gradually filling in his memories.

It turns out that back then, Grandma Wen, uncles, and elders went through such hardship and suffering in order to survive and protect him.

At this point, the Wei Wuxian he saw was no longer just a childhood playmate, nor a senior who taught them experience during night hunts.

He seemed to gradually understand why Wen Qing, Wen Ning, and the Wen family members at Burial Mound were willing to die for Wei Wuxian.

Because these were the people who had rescued them from despair and given them dignity.