Chapter 62, Part Sixty-Two

Chapter Summary: [Just as Meng Yao was about to speak, Nie Mingjue shouted, "Don't lie to me!"]

Meng Yao jolted, swallowing the words she was about to say.

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Just as Meng Yao was about to speak, Nie Mingjue shouted, "Don't lie to me!"

Meng Yao jolted awake, swallowing her words, and knelt on the ground, trembling all over, her right hand gripping the soil tightly.

After a long pause, Nie Mingjue slowly sheathed his sword and said, "I won't touch you."

Meng Yao suddenly raised her head, and Nie Mingjue said again, "Go and confess your crimes yourself. Deal with them as you see fit."

After a long pause, Meng Yao said, "...Lord Chifeng, I cannot perish at this step."

Nie Mingjue said coldly, "You've taken the wrong step."

Meng Yao said, "You're trying to kill me."

Nie Mingjue said, "If what you said is true, then it's no good. Go and repent properly."

Meng Yao whispered, "...My father hasn't seen me yet."

Jin Guangshan did see him.

She simply pretended not to know he existed.

Finally, under Nie Mingjue's pressure, Meng Yao managed to say "yes" with difficulty.

In truth, Jin Guangyao understood everything, but he was unwilling to accept it.

As for making a mistake, Jin Guangyao was already wrong when he embarked on this path because of his father's neglect and contempt.

However, he fled that very night.

He obediently admitted his mistake and promised to accept his punishment in front of everyone, but then disappeared without a trace. This was probably the first time Nie Mingjue had ever seen such a shameless person, and he was furious.

Just then, Lan Xichen also went to Langya to lend his support. Upon arriving, he was met with Mingjue's fury. He laughed and said, "Brother Mingjue, you have quite a temper. Where is Meng Yao? Why didn't you come to put out your fire?"

Nie Mingjue said, "Don't mention this person!"

He recounted to Lan Xichen the story of Meng Yao's murder and framing, repeating it verbatim without embellishment or omissions. After listening, Lan Xichen was stunned and asked, "How could this be? Is there some misunderstanding?"

Nie Mingjue said, "I caught you red-handed, what misunderstanding could there be?"

Lan Xichen said, "Judging from what he said, the person he killed was indeed wrong, but he really shouldn't have killed him. In extraordinary times, it's hard to judge. I wonder where he is now?"

Wei Wuxian realized that among the three, Lan Xichen was the one who tried to smooth things over. Nie Mingjue, suppressing his anger, said, "He'd better not get caught by me!"

Lan Xichen: ……

So, in Wuxian's eyes, I'm just a peacemaker?

Nie Mingjue turned to Lan Xichen, who was looking helpless, and angrily said, "Xichen, look at this! What kind of person did you trust so implicitly back then?!"

Lan Xichen's lips, which had been showing in response to Wei Wuxian's inner thoughts, pursed slightly in an instant.

The eldest brother is intolerant of any wrongdoing, so naturally he can't stand Jin Guangyao's behavior. But... can things in this world really be so black and white?

Everyone has a scale in their heart, but this scale is not always fair. When they feel they are right, everything they do is right, just like the massacre at Nightless City, where all the cultivators present felt that killing the Yiling Patriarch was righteous. But what if the roles were reversed?

He once regarded Jin Guangyao as a confidant and elder brother. Now, stepping out of that role and looking at his own conscience as an observer, he doesn't know whether his judgment is fair or not.

The more he had admired and valued this man before, the more he now loathed him, vowing to make this cunning fellow his victim. However, when he actually captured Meng Yao, Nie Mingjue found himself unable to bring himself to strike.

In the final battle, he faced Wen Ruohan directly and was seriously injured. In his critical moment, Wen Ruohan's attendant drew a soft sword hidden at his waist.

A flash of cold light slashed across, severing Wen Ruohan's throat.

The campaign to shoot down the suns thus came to an end.

Meng Yao was caught by Nie Mingjue killing his superior in Langya and was forced to flee his aristocratic family. Unexpectedly, he changed his appearance, hid his identity, and joined the Qishan Wen Clan. He rose through the ranks smoothly and eventually turned misfortune into fortune, sending back countless messages and intelligence, and successfully assassinating the Wen Clan patriarch, thus saving Nie Mingjue's life.

He rose to fame in one battle.

Wei Wuxian was thinking to himself: He used to think that Jin Guangyao was wise but foolish, infiltrating behind enemy lines. But now he thought that Jin Guangyao had a lot of selfish motives. Whether he won or lost, he could use it as a stepping stone to become someone superior.

But no matter how much selfishness Jin Guangyao had, this life-saving grace was ultimately genuine.

On the Golden Scales Platform, people came and went, constantly parting before Nie Mingjue's expansive view. People on both sides bowed to him and addressed him as Lord Chifeng.

Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "This spectacle is incredible. These people both fear and respect Nie Mingjue. Many fear me, but few respect me."

By this time, the Sunshot Campaign should have ended. To celebrate, the Lanling Jin Clan held several flower banquets, inviting countless cultivators and families to attend.

Jin Guangyao stood beside the Sumeru pedestal. After recognizing his ancestors and returning to his clan, he now had a cinnabar dot on his forehead, wore a black hat, and donned a robe with gold stars and snow waves. He looked completely transformed, exceptionally handsome. His cleverness remained, but his demeanor was composed, far surpassing what he had been before.

Beside him, Wei Wuxian saw a familiar figure.

Xue Yang.

At this time, Xue Yang was extremely young. Although his face still showed signs of immaturity, he was already quite tall. He was wearing a robe with gold stars and snow waves, and standing next to Jin Guangyao, he was like a willow swaying in the spring breeze, exuding youthful charm.

They seemed to be talking about something interesting. Jin Guangyao made a gesture, and the two exchanged glances. Xue Yang laughed loudly, casually glancing at the cultivators walking around, his eyes filled with contempt and indifference, as if they were all walking trash.

He saw Nie Mingjue and, without any fear of the others, bared his tiger teeth in their direction. Jin Guangyao also noticed this and, seeing Nie Mingjue's unfriendly expression, quickly whispered something to Xue Yang, who then swayed and walked away in the other direction.

Jin Guangyao walked over and respectfully greeted, "Big Brother."

The way they addressed each other had changed, and by this time, the three should have already become sworn brothers.

Nie Mingjue asked, "Who is that person?"

After hesitating for a moment, Jin Guangyao cautiously answered, "Xue Yang."

Nie Mingjue frowned: "Xue Yang of Kuizhou?"

Jin Guangyao nodded. Wei Wuxian clearly felt Nie Mingjue's brows furrow even more.

When everyone saw that Jin Guangyao and Xue Yang had colluded together, they immediately started whispering among themselves again.

Xue Yang raised an eyebrow: "I still have scenes to film? That's surprising."

Jin Guangyao was always exceptionally timid in front of Nie Mingjue, never daring to argue, because Nie Mingjue wouldn't fall for his sweet talk. He could only make an excuse to receive guests and hurriedly escape to the other side. Nie Mingjue shook his head and turned around. As soon as he turned around, Wei Wuxian's eyes lit up, as if frost and snow had descended from the sky and the moonlight had filled the room.

Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji walked up side by side and bowed to Nie Mingjue. Nie Mingjue returned the bow, and when he looked up again, Wei Wuxian's gaze was immediately fixed on Lan Wangji's face, and he couldn't look away no matter what.

At this time, Lan Wangji's features still had a touch of immaturity, and his expression was very serious, but his face still conveyed the message "Don't come near me" and "Don't talk to me."

Regardless of whether anyone could hear him, Wei Wuxian continued to shout happily to himself, "Lan Zhan! I missed you so much! Hahahaha!"

Everyone: ...

This is such an unexpected dose of PDA.

Upon hearing the last sentence, Lan Wangji suddenly lowered his head and said, "Me too."

Wei Wuxian: "...Huh?"

Lan Wangji lowered his head slightly and whispered in his ear, "You've only been gone for a few hours, but I'm already missing you terribly."

Wei Wuxian: ...!!

My heart was instantly filled with joy. If we weren't in front of everyone, I would have loved to give him a big kiss.

However, his friends and family members, who all have excellent hearing, said: ...

Miss Niangui, please give these two shameless people some space.