Chapter 65, Sixty-Five

Chapter Summary: [Nie Mingjue personally supervised and instructed Nie Huaisang in sword practice on the training ground, ignoring him, so he respectfully...]

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Nie Mingjue personally supervised Nie Huaisang's sword practice on the training ground, ignoring him. Nie Huaisang stood respectfully at the edge of the inner training ground, waiting. Nie Huaisang showed little interest, and the sun was scorching; his practice was extremely perfunctory. He quickly complained of being tired and happily went to see Jin Guangyao to see what gifts he had brought. In the past, Nie Mingjue would at most frown at this, but this time he was furious: "Nie Huaisang, do you want me to chop this sword down your head! Get back here!"

If Nie Huaisang could sense how high Nie Mingjue's anger was at that moment, just like Wei Wuxian, he wouldn't be so carefree. He said, "Brother, it's time to rest!"

Nie Mingjue said, "You just rested a stick of incense a day ago. Continue practicing until you master it."

Nie Huaisang was still feeling smug, saying, "Anyway, I can't learn it, so I'm not practicing today!"

He used to say this all the time, but to everyone's surprise, Nie Mingjue's reaction today was completely different. He shouted, "I've taught a pig to be taught, how come I can't teach you?!"

Caught off guard by his sudden outburst, Nie Huaisang was startled and stood frozen in place, shrinking back towards Jin Guangyao. Seeing the two of them huddled together, Nie Mingjue's anger flared even more. He said, "You haven't even mastered a set of sword techniques after a year! You complain about being tired after standing in the training ground for a stick of incense! I don't expect you to be outstanding, but you can't even protect yourself! How could the Qinghe Nie Clan produce such a piece of trash! Tie them both up and beat them every day! Move all the things out of his room!"

He spoke the last sentence to the students standing by the training ground. Seeing them leave, Nie Huaisang felt uneasy. A moment later, the row of students actually brought over all the calligraphy, paintings, porcelain, and folding fans from his room. Nie Mingjue had always threatened to burn his things, but had never actually done so. This time, however, he meant it. Nie Huaisang panicked and rushed forward, crying, "Brother! You can't burn them!"

Seeing the situation was dire, Jin Guangyao said, "Brother, don't be impulsive." But Nie Mingjue had already swung his sword, engulfing the exquisite objects piled in the center of the training ground in a raging inferno. Nie Huaisang screamed and rushed into the fire to save them, but Jin Guangyao quickly grabbed him, saying, "Huaisang, be careful!"

Nie Mingjue struck empty air with his left hand, shattering the two white porcelain pieces Nie Huaisang had snatched into pieces in his grasp. The scrolls and paintings had already instantly turned to ashes. Nie Huaisang stood there dumbfounded, watching helplessly as his beloved possessions, collected over many years, turned to ash. Jin Guangyao grabbed his hand to examine it, asking, "Are you burned?" He then turned to his disciples and said, "Please prepare some medicine."

The disciples should have left. Nie Huaisang stood there, trembling, looking at Nie Mingjue with bloodshot eyes. Jin Guangyao saw that his expression was not right, put his arm around his shoulder, and whispered, "Huaisang, what's wrong? Stop looking, go inside and rest."

Nie Huaisang's eyes reddened, and he remained silent. Jin Guangyao continued, "It's alright if the things are gone, Third Brother will find them for you later..."

Nie Mingjue said coldly, "If he moves into the house again, I'll burn it for him every time."

A flash of anger and weariness crossed Nie Huaisang's face. He slammed the knife to the ground and shouted, "Burn it!!!"

Jin Guangyao hurriedly said, "Huai Sang! Your elder brother is in a bad mood, don't..."

Nie Huaisang roared at Nie Mingjue, "Damn it! Who wants to practice that crappy stuff?! I'd rather be a good-for-nothing, so what?! Whoever wants to be the head of the family can be! I just don't know how, and I just don't like it! What's the point of forcing me?!"

He kicked his sword away and rushed out of the training ground. Jin Guangyao called after him, "Huai Sang! Huai Sang!" Just as he was about to chase after him, Nie Mingjue said coldly, "Stop!"

Jin Guangyao stopped and turned around. Nie Mingjue glanced at him and said, suppressing his anger, "You still dare to come."

Jin Guangyao said in a low voice, "Come and admit your mistake."

Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "This person's skin is even thicker than mine."

Nie Mingjue said, "You know you're wrong?"

Just as Jin Guangyao was about to speak, the disciples who had gone to fetch the medicine returned and said, "Sect Master, Venerable Lianfang, the Second Young Master has locked the door and won't let anyone in."

Nie Mingjue said, "Let's see how long he can keep him locked up. Let's see who dares to rebel!"

Jin Guangyao said to the student with a gentle smile, "Thank you for your trouble. Give me the medicine, and I'll deliver it to him later."

Nie Huaisang's forehead creased with three black lines: How come I still have scenes here? This is ruining my image!

Hearing Wei Wuxian's inner grumbling, Jiang Cheng couldn't help but retort, "Jin Guangyao isn't as shameless as you."

As he spoke, he glanced at Lan Wangji beside him.

It's like someone shamelessly sticking by someone's side and refusing to leave Cloud Recesses.

He took the medicine bottle, and after everyone else had left, Nie Mingjue asked, "What exactly did you come here for?"

Jin Guangyao said, "Brother, have you forgotten? Today is the day for playing the zither."

Nie Mingjue said bluntly, "There's no room for discussion about Xue Yang's matter. You don't need to try to please me; it's completely useless."

Jin Guangyao said, "First of all, I am not trying to curry favor with you. Secondly, since it's useless, why should I be afraid of you trying to please me, brother?"

Nie Mingjue remained silent.

Jin Guangyao said, "Brother, you've been putting more and more pressure on Huaisang lately. Is it because of the sword spirit...?" He paused, then said, "Does Huaisang still not know about the sword spirit?"

Nie Mingjue said, "Why tell him so quickly?"

Jin Guangyao sighed and said, "Huai Sang has been spoiled, but he can't be the carefree Second Young Master of Qinghe forever. He will eventually realize that you were doing this for his own good, just like I later realized that you were doing it for my own good."

Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "I admire you. I could never say such words in my two lifetimes, but Jin Guangyao managed to do it so perfectly, even in a pleasant way."

Nie Mingjue said, "If you really know, then bring Xue Yang's head to me."

To everyone's surprise, Jin Guangyao immediately replied, "Okay."

Nie Mingjue looked at him, and Jin Guangyao stared back at him, repeating, "Fine. As long as you give me one last chance, I will personally bring Xue Yang's head to you within two months."

Nie Mingjue asked, "If it wasn't done?"

Jin Guangyao said firmly, "If I fail to accomplish this, I will be at your disposal, elder brother!"

Wei Wuxian began to admire Jin Guangyao.

Although he was always terrified by Nie Mingjue, he always managed to use various intricate methods and words to persuade Nie Mingjue to give him another chance. That night, Jin Guangyao casually played the Cleansing Melody in the Unclean World.

Lan Xichen closed his eyes resignedly.

Sure enough, by this time, he had already changed Qingxinyin.

He swore an oath with great conviction, but Nie Mingjue didn't even wait two months.

One day, the Nie Clan of Qinghe held a martial arts competition. Nie Mingjue passed by a villa and suddenly heard someone talking in a low voice inside. It seemed to be Jin Guangyao. But a moment later, another familiar voice rang out.

Lan Xichen said, "Since you swore brotherhood with me back then, it means I acknowledge you."

Jin Guangyao said with distress, "But, Second Brother, didn't you hear what his sworn brotherhood poem said? Every sentence was pointed at, 'pointed at by a thousand men, torn apart by five horses,' it was clearly a warning to me. I... I've never heard such a sworn brotherhood poem before..."

Lan Xichen said gently, "He said 'if you have ulterior motives.' Do you have them? If not, why hold a grudge?"

Jin Guangyao said, "I didn't. But my elder brother is already convinced I did, what can I do?"

Lan Xichen said, "He has always cherished your talent and hopes that you can walk the right path."

Jin Guangyao said, "It's not that I don't know right from wrong, it's just that sometimes I really have no choice. I'm not doing well anywhere right now, I have to be mindful of everyone's attitude. It's fine with others, but have I wronged my eldest brother in any way? Second brother, you heard how he scolded me last time?"

Lan Xichen sighed, "It was just a moment of anger, and he spoke without thinking. My brother's temperament is not what it used to be, so please don't anger him again. He has been suffering from the torment of the sword spirit recently, and Huaisang and he had a fight, and they haven't made up yet."

Jin Guangyao choked up and said, "If he can say such things in a moment of anger, what does he think of me in general? Just because I can't choose my birth and my mother can't choose her own destiny, does that mean I have to be humiliated like this for the rest of my life? If that's the case, what's the difference between my elder brother and those who look down on me? No matter what I do, in the end, he still labels me as 'son of a prostitute' with just one sentence."

Jin Guangyao is now here complaining to Lan Xichen, but just last night he was tenderly playing the zither and conversing with Nie Mingjue. Upon hearing that he was spreading rumors behind his back, Nie Mingjue flew into a rage, kicking down the door. The flames of fury burned through his very being, and a thunderous roar exploded in his ears: "You dare, you brat!"

Xue Yang turned to Wei Wuxian and said, "See that? This is a true movie star. You should give your stage to Lianfang-zun."

Wei Wuxian disagreed: "No way, you two can act together."

Xue Yang: ...

Nie Mingjue's anger at this moment was no less than it had been back then: "Jin Guangyao! So it was all your own doing. How dare you sit here?"

Jin Guangyao remained calm at this moment: "Isn't today's opportunity a trial in itself?"

What follows will be a scene that Nie Mingjue, Nie Huaisang, and Lan Xichen will never forget for the rest of their lives.

The moment Jin Guangyao saw him enter, he was terrified and hid behind Lan Xichen. Lan Xichen was caught between them, and before he could even speak, Nie Mingjue drew his sword and struck. Lan Xichen parried with his own sword, shouting, "Run!" Jin Guangyao rushed out the door. Nie Mingjue shook off Lan Xichen, saying, "Don't stop me!" and chased after him. Turning a corner in a long corridor, he suddenly saw Jin Guangyao walking leisurely towards him. He slashed down with his sword, blood splattering everywhere. But Jin Guangyao was clearly fleeing for his life; how could he be so leisurely walking back?!

After Nie Mingjue finished his attack, he staggered forward for a while until he reached the square. He looked up, panting, and Wei Wuxian could hear his heart pounding wildly.

Jin Guangyao!

On the square, people coming and going from all directions all resembled Jin Guangyao!

Nie Mingjue has gone mad with demonic possession!

He was delirious, his only thought being to kill, to kill, kill, kill, kill Jin Guangyao. He hacked at anyone he saw, and screams filled the air. Suddenly, Wei Wuxian heard a scream: "Big brother!"

Upon hearing the voice, Nie Mingjue was startled, calmed down slightly, turned his head and finally vaguely recognized a different face among the piles of Jin Guangyao's remains.

Nie Huaisang, clutching his arm where he had been slashed and dragging one leg, struggled to move toward him. When he saw that the man had suddenly stopped moving, he cried out with tears in his eyes, "Brother! Brother! It's me! Put down the knife, it's me!"

However, before Nie Huaisang could move over, Nie Mingjue collapsed.

Before collapsing, Nie Mingjue's eyes finally regained their clarity, and he saw the real Jin Guangyao.

Jin Guangyao stood at the end of the corridor, not a single drop of blood on his body. He looked in this direction, and two streams of tears welled up in his eyes.

But the golden stars and snow-white waves blooming on his chest seemed to be smiling in his place.

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines and looked at Jin Guangyao, who was sitting in front of them, with fear on their faces.

This person is absolutely terrifying.

It was so terrifying that no one even knew what had happened to Chifeng Zun.

This is how Chifeng Zun died so suddenly on the high platform.

Nie Huaisang and Lan Xichen didn't even dare to look directly at the person covered in blood.

Even Wei Wuxian couldn't believe that this was the once majestic Chifeng-zun Nie Mingjue. No wonder Nie Huaisang pretended to be stupid for more than ten years in order to plot to kill Jin Guangyao.