Chapter 90 Ninety

Chapter Summary: [Wei Wuxian shouted, "Uncle Jiang and Madam Yu told me to look after you, to make sure you're well!"...]

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Wei Wuxian shouted, "Uncle Jiang and Madam Yu told me to take care of you, to make sure you're well!"

"Shut up!" Jiang Cheng shoved him hard and roared, "Why?!"

Wei Wuxian was shoved into the bushes by Jiang Cheng, who pounced on him, grabbed him by the collar, and shook him violently: "Why?! Why?! Why! Are you happy now?! Are you satisfied now?!"

He grabbed Wei Wuxian by the neck, his eyes bloodshot: "Why did you save Lan Wangji?!"

Overwhelmed by grief and rage, Jiang Cheng had lost his senses and was completely unable to control his strength. Wei Wuxian tried to pry his wrist open: "Jiang Cheng..."

Jiang Cheng pinned him to the ground, roaring, "Why did you save Lan Wangji?! Why did you have to stick your neck out?! How many times have I told you not to cause trouble! Not to take action! Do you really enjoy playing the hero?! Have you seen what happens to heroes?! Huh?! Are you happy now?!"

"Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan are dead, so be it! Let them die! What does their death have to do with us?! What does it have to do with our family?! Why?! Why?!"

"Die! Die! All of you die! Die!!!"

Wei Wuxian, his face flushed red, shouted, "Jiang Cheng!!!"

The hand that was gripping his neck suddenly loosened its grip.

Jiang Cheng stared intently at him, tears streaming down his face. From deep within his throat, he managed a dying moan, a painful whimper.

He cried out, "...I want my parents, my parents..."

He asked Wei Wuxian for his father and mother. But no matter who he asked, he couldn't get them back.

Because Jiang Cheng was also gripping Wei Wuxian's neck with all his might, everyone in the space was also suffocating, their faces turning red as they kept pounding their necks and chests, trying to relieve the feeling of suffocation.

It wasn't until Wei Wuxian roared from the sky that Jiang Cheng released his grip, and everyone finally caught their breath.

Once they regained their breath, everyone's reason returned.

Recalling the last few words Jiang Cheng shouted in his dazed state, the space suddenly fell into an eerie silence, deathly still.

Although Jiang Cheng had just lost his parents and witnessed the tragedy at Lotus Pier, and seemed to be speaking recklessly and acting like a madman, every word he uttered was indeed very jarring.

Lan Qiren, Madam Jin, and the others all frowned in unison.

Jiang Fengmian and Jiang Yanli looked at Jiang Cheng in disbelief, unable to utter a sound for a moment.

Back then, A-Cheng actually resented A-Xian for saving Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan?

Jiang Cheng naturally heard his own roar, and felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

He was so overwhelmed by the disaster at Lotus Pier that he couldn't remember what he had shouted after losing his mind. But in the Heavenly Shadow, everything was laid bare.

He didn't want Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan to die, he just...

Just what?

He didn't know, he really didn't know.

Deep down, I just hoped Wei Wuxian wouldn't get involved in these things, maybe...

In the silence, Nie Huaisang suddenly spoke up: "Brother Jiang, looking back now, you should understand that since the Cloud Recesses were burned down and the Nie family was only in power by my elder brother's generation, the biggest threat to the Wen family was the Jin and Jiang clans. Given Jin Guangshan's opportunistic nature, the next family the Wen family would eliminate was the Yunmeng Jiang clan. Brother Wei was just an extra in Wen Chao and Wang Lingjiao's revenge."

Jiang Cheng lowered his head, his hoarse voice ringing out: "It's not that I don't know all this, but I always feel that if these things hadn't happened... if Wei Wuxian hadn't provoked Wang Lingjiao and Wen Chao... perhaps everything wouldn't have happened so quickly, perhaps... there would still be room for things to turn around." Perhaps... his parents wouldn't have died.

Nie Huaisang shook his head: "It was just wishful thinking. But Brother Jiang, back then Brother Wei even sacrificed his own future for the safety of the Jiang family, and later... In short, whether then or now, Brother Wei is definitely not someone you should be angry at. Brother Jiang, do you really feel any guilt?"

Jiang Cheng opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

After a while, he stood up and bowed to Jin Zixuan and Lan Wangji respectively.

"Jiang Cheng's words were inappropriate back then, and I hope you two won't take offense."

Jiang Cheng stood frozen in place, staring at Wei Wuxian who was looking down, seemingly lost in thought. He didn't know what to say or how to respond. He truly didn't know.

After a few breaths, Wei Wuxian seemed to sense the lingering tension, looked up at Jiang Cheng, and smiled:

"Jiang Cheng, what are you still standing there for? You're deliberately blocking my view!"

All his emotions were shattered by those words. Jiang Cheng suppressed the urge to roll his eyes and sat down.

Nie Huaisang, seeing that things had settled down, was about to continue looking at Tianying when he suddenly noticed a gaze on his side.

Nie Mingjue looked at his younger brother thoughtfully.

Nie Huaisang: ...

Brother, don't look at me like that, it's making me nervous.

Wei Wuxian was also crying. The two of them collapsed into the grass, looking at each other and weeping bitterly.

Jiang Cheng knew perfectly well that even if Wei Wuxian hadn't saved Lan Wangji after the massacre at Xuanwu Cave in Muxi Mountain, the Wen Clan would eventually find a reason to come knocking on his door. But he always felt that if it weren't for Wei Wuxian's involvement, things might not have happened so quickly, and there might still be room for maneuver.

This painful stroke of luck filled him with unvented regret and rage, leaving him heartbroken.

As dawn broke, Jiang Cheng was almost completely dazed.

That night, he actually managed to sleep a few times. Firstly, he was so exhausted from crying that he unconsciously drifted off to sleep. Secondly, he still clung to the hope that this was all a nightmare, eagerly anticipating waking up to find himself back in his room at Lotus Pier. His father was sitting in the hall reading and polishing his sword, his mother was venting her anger and scolding the winking and gesturing Wei Wuxian, his sister was squatting in the kitchen, racking her brains for a meal, and his junior brothers were skipping their morning lessons, running around and jumping around instead of doing their morning exercises.

Instead of waking up with a splitting headache in the weeds after being exposed to the cold wind all night, only to find yourself curled up on a desolate and remote hillside.

Wei Wuxian moved first.

He supported his legs and struggled to his feet, saying in a hoarse voice, "Let's go."

Jiang Cheng remained motionless. Wei Wuxian reached out and pulled him, saying, "Let's go."

Jiang Cheng asked, "...Where are we going?"

His throat was dry and hoarse. Wei Wuxian said, "Go to the Yu Clan in Meishan and find your senior sister."

Jiang Cheng brushed away his outstretched hand. After a moment, he sat up on his own and slowly stood up.

The two set off in the direction of Meishan, walking.

Throughout the journey, the two of them forced themselves to stay alert, their steps heavy, as if they were carrying an immense burden.

Jiang Cheng would always lower his head, clutching his right hand, the Zidian sword on his index finger pressed against his heart, touching this last remaining memento of his loved one again and again. He would frequently look back towards Lotus Pier, gazing at what was once his home, now a den of demons. Time and again, it seemed he could never tire of looking, always clinging to that last glimmer of hope, yet tears would always inevitably well up and spill over.

The Heavenly Shadow actually reproduced Jiang Cheng's dream perfectly, and everyone in the Jiang Clan was moved to tears.

If Jiang Yanli hadn't been waiting for them in Meishan, would these two young men have had the motivation to rebuild Lotus Pier on their own?

They had fled in haste, without any provisions, and their strength had been severely depleted since yesterday. After walking for half a day, they were all starting to feel dizzy and lightheaded. They left the desolate wilderness and entered a small town. Wei Wuxian looked at Jiang Cheng and saw that he looked extremely tired and unwilling to move. He said, "You sit down. I'll go get something to eat."

Jiang Cheng neither responded nor nodded. On the way here, he had only spoken a few words to Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian repeatedly told him to stay seated and not move before leaving. He often tucked some loose change into various pockets, which came in handy this time, ensuring he wasn't short of money. After walking around and buying a bunch of food and some dry rations for the long journey, they quickly returned to where they had parted ways in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

However, Jiang Cheng was nowhere to be found.

Wei Wuxian, carrying a pile of steamed buns, flatbreads, and fruit, felt a pang of panic. He forced himself to remain calm and searched the nearby streets, but still couldn't find Jiang Cheng. He finally panicked completely, grabbing a nearby cobbler and saying, "Uncle, there was a young man about my age sitting here just now. Did you see him go anywhere?"

The cobbler smoothed a thick thread and asked, "The one who was with you just now?"

Wei Wuxian said, "Yes!"

The cobbler said, "I was busy with work and didn't see him clearly. But he was staring blankly at the people on the street, and when I looked up at that spot again, he suddenly disappeared. He must have left."

Wei Wuxian murmured, "...gone...gone..."

They've probably gone back to Lotus Pier to steal the body!

Seeing Jiang Cheng disappear, everyone couldn't help but sigh: misfortunes never come singly.

Upon hearing Wei Wuxian's last words, Jiang Cheng couldn't help but smile self-deprecatingly, but he didn't offer any explanation for himself.

Wei Wuxian, so in your heart, I really am such an impulsive person.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Yanli recalled the whip marks on Jiang Cheng's body later and suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Acheng, where did you go? Did you really go to..."

Jiang Cheng: "Sister, I..." He thought for a moment and then didn't finish his sentence.

Fine, let my sister think I acted impulsively.

Unexpectedly, Wei Wuxian suddenly spoke up from the side.

"Jiang Cheng, you don't need to hide it from us anymore. We grew up together. Even if I didn't think of it at the time, looking back now, do you think I would still believe that you only went back to steal the body?"

Jiang Cheng's pupils contracted: "You..."

Wei Wuxian chuckled softly, closed his eyes, and seemed to be imagining the scene from that time:

"You saw that Wen Gou... was about to find me, so you came out to distract them, right?"

It's not a question, it's an affirmative sentence.

Jiang Cheng suddenly raised his head.

Seeing him like this, everyone around knew that what Wei Wuxian said was true.

Wei Wuxian slowly exhaled:

"Jiang Cheng, we both have a secret we haven't told each other, so neither of us owes the other anything."