Chapter 129 One Hundred Twenty Nine

Chapter Summary: [Lan Wangji, ignoring the chaotic clamor behind him, stood up and walked out. Lan Xichen asked…]

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Despite the chaotic commotion behind him, Lan Wangji stood up and walked out. Lan Xichen, having ascertained the details of the incident and hearing their increasingly distorted account, said in a deep voice, "Everyone, the person is gone. Please be quiet."

Zewu-jun spoke up, and naturally, the others had to give him face. Inside the Dianjin Pavilion, people started arguing again, their words flying back to the Wen dogs and Wei Wuxian. A fervent, indiscriminate hatred, refusing to tolerate any rebuttal, filled the air. Taking advantage of this atmosphere, Jin Guangshan said to Jiang Cheng, "I think his trip to the Burial Mound was probably premeditated. After all, with his abilities, establishing his own sect wouldn't be difficult. So he's using this opportunity to break away from the Jiang Clan, intending to roam freely outside. You've gone through so much trouble to rebuild the Yunmeng Jiang Clan, and he already has many controversial aspects to his life, yet he doesn't know how to restrain himself, causing you so much trouble without considering your feelings at all."

Jiang Cheng forced himself to remain calm and said, "No, Wei Wuxian has been like this since he was a child. Even my father couldn't do anything about him."

Jin Guangshan asked, "Brother Fengmian, is there nothing you can do about him?" He chuckled twice and said, "Brother Fengmian, it's because you favor him."

Upon hearing the word "favoritism," Jiang Cheng's lips twitched.

Jin Guangshan continued, "Sect Leader Jiang, you are different from your father. The Yunmeng Jiang Clan has only been rebuilt for a few years now, which is the perfect time for you to establish your authority. He doesn't even know how to avoid suspicion. What will the new disciples of the Jiang Clan think if they see this? Do they all want to take him as an example and not respect you?"

He pressed on relentlessly, one question after another, striking while the iron was hot. Jiang Cheng slowly said, "Sect Leader Jin, there's no need to say any more. I will go to the Burial Mound and resolve this matter."

Jin Guangshan was satisfied and said earnestly, "That's right. Sect Leader Jiang, some people and some things cannot be tolerated."

After the gathering concluded, the clan heads felt they had gained an extraordinary topic of conversation, and they continued their heated discussion as they hurried along, their indignation undiminished. After the Venus Snow Wave Sea, the three venerable ones reunited, and Lan Xichen said, "Third brother, thank you for your hard work."

Jin Guangyao laughed, "I'm not tired, it's Sect Leader Jiang's table that's suffered. He crushed several parts of it to pieces, he must be really angry."

"A Cheng..."

Jiang Fengmian was about to speak when Jiang Cheng interrupted him.

“Father, there’s no need to say anything more. I understand now…” I should understand now.

At that time, both his father and sister praised Wei Wuxian's character, saying that he was no less capable than Wei Wuxian.

But now it seems that he has indeed fallen short; at least he listened to three or four parts of Jin Guangshan's provocative words.

Back then, teenagers were unwilling to admit they were inferior to others; now, in their thirties and forties, why shouldn't they admit it?

He both envied and resented Wei Wuxian.

Despite being a prodigy himself, he always seemed so overshadowed in front of Wei Wuxian.

After the Sunshot Campaign, Wei Wuxian became a powerful figure, feared and respected by all, and even dared not offend the newly rebuilt Yunmeng Jiang Clan.

This was supposed to be a good thing, but in Jiang Cheng's mind at that time, it was as if he had become an insignificant person. The victory was won by Wei Wuxian, and the Jiang clan relied on Wei Wuxian to establish itself. How could he, who was already proud, accept this?

But they were also his brothers who had grown up with him since childhood. He knew that Wei Wuxian had no other thoughts and was even willing to burn all his energy to protect the Yunmeng Jiang Clan.

But the human heart is so contradictory; for decades, he lived in such contradictions.

Nie Mingjue walked over and said, "It is indeed hard work to be eloquent and flattering."

Upon hearing this, Lan Xichen smiled but remained silent. Jin Guangyao knew that Nie Mingjue was seizing the opportunity to teach him a lesson, and feeling rather helpless, he quickly changed the subject, saying, "Hey, Second Brother, where's Wangji? I saw him leave early."

Lan Xichen gestured ahead, and Jin Guangyao and Nie Mingjue turned to look. There, amidst the sea of ​​golden star snow waves, stood Lan Wangji and the woman who had left the clan from the Dianjin Pavilion. The woman's eyes were still brimming with tears, while Lan Wangji's expression was solemn; the two were speaking.

After a moment, Lan Wangji bowed slightly and greeted her.

This bow was both respectful and solemn. The woman returned an even more solemn bow in return, and, wearing her plain gauze dress, gracefully descended from Jinlintai.

Nie Mingjue said, "This woman has much more backbone than the rabble in her family."

Jin Guangyao smiled and said, "Yes."

"well……"

Many people sighed, unsure whether they felt sorry for Luo Qingyang leaving such a prominent family as the Lanling Jin Clan, or regretted that the Lanling Jin Clan had lost such a woman of integrity.

Two days later, Jiang Cheng led thirty disciples to Yiling.

At the foot of the mass grave, before the collapsed cursed wall, hundreds of fierce corpses indeed roamed. Jiang Cheng approached, but they remained unmoved. However, if his disciples got too close, they would let out low, warning growls. Jiang Cheng ordered his disciples to wait at the foot of the mountain, and went up alone, traversing the dark forest. After walking a long way, he finally heard voices ahead.

Beside the mountain path were several round tree stumps, one large one like a table, and three smaller ones like stools. A woman in red and Wei Wuxian sat on two of the stumps, while several seemingly honest men were turning over the soil on a patch of land nearby.

Wei Wuxian, shaking his leg, said, "Let's plant potatoes."

The woman said firmly, "Grow radishes. Radishes are easy to grow and don't die easily. Potatoes are difficult to care for."

Wei Wuxian said, "Radishes are hard to eat."

Although I had foreseen it, seeing a group of elderly, weak, women and children building houses and cultivating the land on the mass grave still felt a bit...unbelievable.

It was beyond their comprehension.

Shouldn't they be discussing how to rise up again?

As for the Yiling Patriarch, he turned out to be a silly boy arguing with a woman about whether to plant radishes or potatoes.

Jiang Cheng snorted, and Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing turned around, not surprised to see him. Wei Wuxian stood up, came over without saying a word, and continued walking up the mountain with his hands behind his back. Jiang Cheng didn't ask any questions and followed him.

Before long, another group of men appeared beside the mountain path, busy at work in front of a frame made of several logs. They were likely cultivators from the Wen Clan, but having shed their blazing robes and donned coarse cloth garments, they carried hammers and saws, and slung timber and straw over their shoulders, climbing up and down, bustling about like ordinary farmers and hunters. Upon seeing Jiang Cheng, recognizing him as a high-ranking sect leader from his clothes and sword, they seemed still somewhat apprehensive. They stopped what they were doing, looking at him hesitantly, barely daring to breathe. Wei Wuxian waved his hand and said, "Continue."

As soon as he spoke, the group continued, reassured. Jiang Cheng asked, "What are you doing?"

Wei Wuxian said, "Can't you tell? Building a house."

Jiang Cheng said, "Building a house? What were those guys turning over the soil doing when we came up here? Don't tell me you're really planning to farm."

Wei Wuxian said, "Didn't you hear everything? They're just farming."

Jiang Cheng asked, "You're farming on a mountain of corpses? Can you even eat what you grow?"

Wei Wuxian said, "Believe me, when people are really hungry, they can eat anything."

Jiang Cheng said, "You really plan to stay here long-term? Can anyone stand in this godforsaken place?"

Wei Wuxian said, "I stayed here for three months."

After a moment of silence, Jiang Cheng asked, "Aren't we going back to Lotus Pier?"

Wei Wuxian said casually, "Yunmeng and Yiling are so close, we can just sneak back whenever we want."

Jiang Cheng scoffed, "You wish!"

He was about to speak when he suddenly felt a weight on his leg. Looking down, he saw that a small child, about one or two inches tall, had sneaked over and hugged his leg, lifting his round face and staring at him intently with his round, dark eyes.

He was indeed a lovely child, but unfortunately Jiang Cheng was heartless. He said to Wei Wuxian, "Where did this child come from? Move him away."

Wei Wuxian bent down, picked up the child, and let him sit on his arm, saying, "What do you mean 'take away'? Don't you know how to use your words? A-Yuan, why do you hug people's legs? Go away! Don't bite your nails right after playing in the mud. Do you know what kind of mud this is? Take your hands off me! And don't touch my face. Where's Grandma?"

An elderly woman with thinning white hair hurriedly approached, leaning on a wooden cane. Upon seeing Jiang Cheng, she recognized him as an important figure and appeared somewhat frightened, her hunched figure becoming even more stooped. Wei Wuxian placed the child named A-Yuan beside her and said, "Go play over there."

The old woman hurriedly limped away, leading her young grandson. The child stumbled along, constantly looking back. Jiang Cheng scoffed, "Those clan leaders probably thought you'd gathered some remnants of a rebellious party to wave your banner and seize power. Turns out it's just a bunch of old, weak, women, and children, a bunch of ugly ducklings and cracked dates."

Hearing this conversation, the Jiang family members were reminded of the pain they had experienced at the mass grave not long ago, and they couldn't help but sigh.

The appearance of A-Yuan in the film eased the atmosphere a bit.

It's a pity that Jiang Cheng doesn't know how to cherish children, which was a waste of little A-Yuan's adorable little actions.

Jiang Yanli was immediately overcome with maternal love and laughed, "This child is so cute. I didn't expect A-Xian to have the skill of raising children. As for you, A-Cheng, you clearly liked small animals when you were little, so why are you so fierce to children?"

"Sister..." Jiang Cheng called out awkwardly.

"That's right, my uncle treats me the same way. He threatens to break my legs every day. He's so mean..."

Jin Ling also chimed in with Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi, while secretly glancing at his uncle.

Lan Jingyi found it amusing, while Lan Sizhui's face flushed slightly as he looked at his silly childhood self, who used to hug everyone he met.

"I wonder how that child is doing now. No matter what, the sins of the Wen family should not be passed on to a child."

After Jiang Yanli finished speaking, everyone fell silent for a moment.

Those who didn't know the whereabouts felt a pang of shame, because after the siege of the mass grave, the Wen clan had been almost entirely wiped out, and this child... most likely wouldn't survive either.

Those who knew his whereabouts also knew that revealing Lan Sizhui's background at this moment would not be a good thing for him, so they waited for Tianying to tell the truth.

Wei Wuxian chuckled self-deprecatingly, and Jiang Cheng asked again, "Where's Wen Ning?"

Wei Wuxian asked, "Why did you suddenly decide to ask him?"

Jiang Cheng said coldly, "These past few days, countless people have been asking me about him. They're asking me who to ask? I suppose they can only ask you."

Wei Wuxian pointed ahead, and the two walked side by side. A chilling aura swept over them, and a tall, spacious cave appeared before them. After entering, they walked straight for a while, when Jiang Cheng kicked something. Looking down, he saw half a compass. Wei Wuxian quickly said, "Don't kick it! I haven't finished this yet; it's useful."

He picked it up, and Jiang Cheng stepped on something else. He looked at it and saw it was a crumpled flag. Wei Wuxian said again, "Be careful not to step on it! This is also useful. Hurry up and finish it."

Jiang Cheng said, "You littered it yourself, so you can't blame anyone else if you trampled on it."

Wei Wuxian said, "This is where I live alone. What's wrong with throwing some things away?"

The scene pans across the interior of the cave, where the group seems to see a pile of miscellaneous items.

Although the cave was originally overgrown with weeds and piled with rocks, the haphazardly scattered rags, the carelessly discarded fruit pits, and the messy talismans hanging around it all—wasn't this just too chaotic?

“A-Xian was just as unconventional back in Lotus Pier.” Although Jiang Yanli felt sorry for Wei Wuxian’s current situation, she also felt as if she were seeing that familiar young man from the past.

Everyone: ...Miss Jiang, aren't you being too biased towards your younger brother?

As they looked around, they spotted something familiar.

Jiang Cheng kicked half of a compass.

Lan Jingyi: "Sizhui, Sizhui, look, isn't this the Wind Evil Plate we use?"

Lan Sizhui: "...It seems so."

Everyone: ...

Jiang Cheng stepped on the crumpled flag.

Lan Jingyi: "Jin Ling, Jin Ling, look, this is the Ghost-Summoning Flag, isn't it?"

Jin Ling: "...Yes."

Everyone: ...No, the magic weapon we're using now was created in this garbage dump?

Lan Sizhui: I probably even chewed on it or used it as a blanket...