Spread out
The journey back to the Alliance headquarters was agonizingly silent. Jiang Cheng completely shut himself off, refusing to communicate with anyone except for necessary orders.
Xie Linyang tried several times to break the deadlock, but even in ordinary business exchanges, he only received a cold, hard profile or a brief "hmm" or "I understand."
His cold, aloof attitude extinguished the courage she had finally mustered, deepening her sense of grievance and helplessness. She could only devote all her energy to researching the Yang Sha Marrow and closely monitoring Meng Yao, using her busyness to numb her chaotic thoughts.
Meng Yao, on the other hand, behaved unusually well. His injuries were severe, and he spent most of his time in a coma or resting. When he woke up, he was meek and obedient, expressing his deep gratitude for Xie Linyang's care, as if the person who had made the crazy confession and whose mind was twisted in the ruins was just an illusion.
But Xie Linyang could clearly feel the fleeting heat in his eyes when she approached, as well as the subtle yet undeniable dependence and possessiveness emanating from the Soul Binding Pact.
This made her feel uneasy, yet she had no choice but to maintain a calm facade.
Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang tried to mediate, but Jiang Cheng remained unmoved, and Xie Linyang was unable to be honest due to his secret, so the situation remained deadlocked. Lan Xichen watched with concern, but was at a loss for what to do.
Finally, the group, carrying the Yang Sha Marrow, returned to the Longtan Ferry camp, weary from their journey.
Their return, especially the successful retrieval of the Yang Sha Marrow, which could counteract the Yin Iron's power, caused quite a stir within the sluggish alliance. Jiang Fengmian, Qinghengjun, Nie Mingjue, and other sect leaders personally came out to greet them.
However, this joy did not last long before it was shattered by the undercurrents that followed.
After Jiang Cheng gave a concise report on his experience at the ruins to his father and the other sect leaders, he spoke in a cold, emotionless voice under everyone's watchful eyes:
"Now that the Yang Sha Marrow has been retrieved, I have no further involvement in its refining and application. The Jiang Clan of Yunmeng is busy with military affairs at the front lines, so I cannot stay any longer. Farewell."
After saying that, he didn't even look at Xie Linyang's instantly pale face. He gave a slight bow to Jiang Fengmian and the other sect leaders, turned around and left without the slightest hesitation.
He actually wanted to return to the Yunmeng front line immediately! He didn't even want to rest for a moment!
"Acheng!" Jiang Fengmian frowned, speaking as if to ask him to stay.
"Father, the situation at the front is critical, and I am worried about you." Jiang Cheng's voice came from afar without stopping, carrying an undeniable determination.
Xie Linyang stared blankly as his purple figure disappeared around the corner of the tent, his heart feeling as if it had been ripped out, a cold wind whistling through him.
He... he just left like that? Without even giving her a chance to explain? He wouldn't even look at her again?
The overwhelming sense of loss and hurt made her almost unable to stand. She couldn't understand why things had turned out this way. Was their camaraderie, forged in battle together, so fragile? All because of a baseless misunderstanding?
“Young Master Jiang…” Lan Xichen sighed softly, his tone filled with regret.
Wei Wuxian was so angry he jumped up and down: "That Jiang Cheng! His stubbornness is acting up again! I'm going to go and bring him back!"
"Wei Ying." Lan Wangji stopped him, shaking his head slightly. Jiang Cheng was in a fit of anger at the moment; forcing him to chase after him would only deepen the conflict.
All eyes were once again focused on Xie Linyang, filled with sympathy, doubt, and curiosity.
Just then, Meng Yao, supported by her disciple and standing a short distance away, suddenly spoke weakly. Her voice was soft, but it reached everyone's ears clearly: "Master... please don't be too sad. Sect Leader Jiang... perhaps it was just a momentary outburst. It's all my fault. If it weren't for saving me, you wouldn't have developed a grudge against Sect Leader Jiang..."
His tone was full of self-blame and guilt, but his eyes looked timidly at Xie Linyang, filled with dependence.
These words, seemingly meant to comfort, were actually like a drop of cold water into a frying pan, instantly igniting Xie Linyang's suppressed emotions and drawing everyone's attention back to her and Jiang Cheng. The root of the problem, however, was Meng Yao!
Xie Linyang looked at Meng Yao, his eyes flashing with a clear anger for the first time! Was he reminding her, or was he demonstrating his power? Or was he confirming their "ambiguous" relationship in front of everyone?!
But she couldn't refute it! Was she supposed to publicly admit that she had no choice but to do this in order to monitor him, this future demon?!
"You..." Xie Linyang's fingertips trembled with anger, but he couldn't utter a single word.
Seeing this, Lan Xichen gently smoothed things over, saying, "Meng Yao, your injuries haven't healed yet. Speak less and rest more." He gestured for his disciples to help Meng Yao down.
Meng Yao obediently lowered her head and was helped away. As she passed Xie Linyang, she whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Master, it's just the two of us left..."
Xie Linyang closed his eyes, forcefully suppressing the urge to completely detonate the soul-binding contract.
Jiang Cheng walked extremely fast, with a resolute air of wanting to get away from this place as soon as possible. He didn't even return to his temporary camp at Longtan Ferry, but went directly to the ferry, where a fast boat belonging to the Yunmeng Jiang Clan was ready, and he was about to step onto it.
"Jiang Cheng!"
A rapid, panting voice, carrying an undeniable authority, rang out from behind him.
Jiang Cheng paused, his back stiffening, but he didn't turn around. Under the moonlight, he gripped the hilt of the Three Poisons Sword tightly.
Xie Linyang quickly caught up, circled around to his side, and blocked his path. She had run fast, her cheeks were slightly flushed, her hair was a little messy, but her eyes were surprisingly bright, with a kind of do-or-die determination.
"Get out of the way." Jiang Cheng's voice was as cold as ice, his gaze fixed on the void, refusing to look at her.
"No!" Xie Linyang said resolutely. She took a deep breath and looked directly at his cold profile. "Jiang Cheng, let's talk, right now. We need to make things clear!"
"There's nothing to talk about," Jiang Cheng said, trying to bypass her.
Xie Linyan suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist. Her fingertips were icy cold and trembling slightly, but her grip was strong. "Yes! We must talk!"
Her voice rose in agitation, "How dare you leave like that? How dare you not even give me a chance to explain? Just because of that one out-of-context remark you heard, you conclude that Meng Yao and I have something going on?!"
Jiang Cheng froze when she grabbed his wrist, as if he had been burned. He tried to shake her off, but his movements stopped when he met her eyes, which were filled with a mixture of grievance, anger, and a deeper pain.
He finally turned his gaze to her, his eyes, which always held sharpness and pride, now brimming with suppressed anger and hurt: "Taking things out of context? Xie Linyang, I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears! How else do you want to explain?!"
"Fine! You want an explanation? I'll give you one!" Xie Linyan was desperate. She had had enough of this heavy secret and the damned misunderstanding. "But whatever I'm about to say, whether you believe it or not, once it leaves my mouth and enters your ears, it must never be known to a third person! Especially regarding Meng Yao!"
Her seriousness and resoluteness made Jiang Cheng frown, and the anger in his heart was replaced by a trace of doubt. He still had a cold face, but he no longer tried to break free. He just silently looked at her, gesturing for her to continue.
Xie Linyang released his wrist, as if he had used up all his strength. His voice lowered, carrying an indescribable weariness and heaviness: "Jiang Cheng, do you remember when I told you that I dreamed of Lotus Pier being burned down and your golden core being destroyed?"
Jiang Cheng's eyes flickered slightly, and he nodded. He naturally remembered that she had said these words when she woke up injured in the Qishan Maze. She said it was a dream.
“No! That wasn’t a dream. It was something that would happen in the future, including the burning of the Gusu Lan Clan. But I informed Qingheng-jun in advance, which prevented this disaster. As for Meng Yao—” Xie Linyang’s voice was hoarse, “I saw his future—”
Jiang Cheng's pupils contracted slightly.
“I saw… murder. A lot of murder, very serious murder.” She closed her eyes, as if trying to dispel the bloody images. “In the future… he might do something… irreparable. Kill many people, including… people he cares about and people he doesn’t care about.”
Jiang Cheng gasped, staring at her in disbelief. Although he disliked Meng Yao's scheming, the words "murder" and "causing the deaths of many people" were still beyond his imagination.
"When my master descended the mountain, he entrusted me with the task of defying fate and protecting all living beings." Xie Linyang raised his head, his eyes filled with clear responsibility and pain. "Through the Image-Recording Grass, I can foresee future events. This is my natal magic weapon, and also my secret. Now that I've seen it, I can't just stand by and do nothing! Meng Yao is still my disciple, and he calls me Master! I have a responsibility to watch over him, guide him, and even... stop him when necessary!"
Xie Linyang took off the "photo-remembering grass" hanging around her neck, looking dejected.
She finally revealed her biggest secret, her voice choked with emotion: "When I told him I 'care,' it wasn't for the reasons you're thinking! It was because I wanted to keep him in check! I wanted to use those words, the teacher-student relationship, and every method I could think of to keep him by my side, watch over him, and control him! I couldn't let him out of my sight, I couldn't let him have the chance to go down that path! Do you understand?!"
Xie Linyang practically roared out her last few words, the pent-up pressure, grievances, and fear finally erupting at that moment. Tears welled up uncontrollably, swirling in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall, glaring at him intently as if that would prove her innocence and resolve.
She is not someone who likes misunderstandings, especially with Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Cheng was completely stunned. All his anger, jealousy, and resentment were shattered by this shocking truth.
So that's how it is...
It wasn't an ambiguous master-disciple relationship, nor was it favoritism or protection. It was a heavy premonition, a responsibility to save the world, the hardship of bearing a secret alone, and an attempt to forcibly pull someone who might fall into the abyss back... a desperate gamble.
He recalled Xie Linyang's seemingly caring but actually distant actions towards Meng Yao, and the deep wariness and complex emotions hidden in her eyes when she occasionally looked at Meng Yao... It turned out that none of it was an illusion.
She felt like a blind person, like a fool! While she was bearing all of this alone, he not only did not share her burden, but also, out of ridiculous jealousy and misunderstanding, repeatedly hurt her with his words, isolated her with indifference, and even left in a huff, leaving her alone in the center of that whirlpool!
A tremendous wave of regret and heartache suddenly gripped Jiang Cheng's heart, burning hotter and more painful than his previous anger.
It felt like someone had slammed a blunt object into his chest, making it hard for him to breathe. He looked at her as she struggled to hold back her tears, her reddened eyes, her slightly trembling lips, her feigned strength that only made her more vulnerable... all of this pierced his eyes like needles, aching in his heart.
"I..." He opened his mouth, but his throat felt like it was blocked by sand and gravel, so dry that he couldn't make a complete sound.
All his questions and anger vanished, leaving only a heart full of guilt that almost overwhelmed him and an unprecedented, intense urge to get close to her and comfort her. But he was tongue-tied and even less adept at dealing with tears, especially hers.
Just as he was at a loss, not knowing what to do, Xie Linyang finally couldn't hold back. A tear broke free and slid down her pale cheek, reflecting a faint but dazzling light in the moonlight.
Almost instinctively, without thinking, he suddenly reached out and pulled the person in front of him into a tight, forceful embrace.
His movements were somewhat stiff, even a little reckless. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, drawing her into his own territory. His chest was broad and warm, carrying the scent of travel-worn air and his unique lotus fragrance.
Xie Linyang was stunned by his sudden action, her body stiffened instantly, and she even forgot to cry.
Jiang Cheng held her in his arms and could clearly feel the trembling of her thin shoulders and the fragility she was trying so hard to maintain.
His heart softened terribly; all his awkwardness, pride, and inexplicable emotions transformed into a primal protective instinct at that moment.
He awkwardly tightened his arms around her, as if that would shield her from all her troubles and dangers. His chin rested gently on the top of her head, his voice low and husky, carrying an unprecedented, almost tender awkwardness:
"Don't...don't cry."
He paused, as if feeling that wasn't enough, and added a dry sentence, but with an undeniable firmness in his tone:
"I'm sorry... From now on... with me, you won't be alone anymore..."
These simple words were like a warm current, slowly flowing into her heart.
Her stiff body slowly relaxed, feeling the warmth of his embrace and his strong heartbeat; her tense nerves seemed to have found a safe haven.
She didn't push him away; instead, she buried her face deeper into his clothes, silently letting more tears soak his front.
Jiang Cheng felt the dampness in his arms, and his body stiffened for a moment. Then, as if he had made up his mind, he relaxed and let her lean on him. He was still not good at comforting people, but he used this clumsy way to convey his apology, his heartache, and his newly clarified determination to share everything with her.
The embrace at the ferry was brief yet profound. When Xie Linyang lifted his head from Jiang Cheng's embrace, both of them felt a little awkward, but the heavy barrier had dissipated, replaced by a silent understanding.
Jiang Cheng released his grip, his ears turning slightly red. He turned his face away, cleared his throat, and his tone regained seven or eight tenths of its usual coldness:
“Since that’s how it is… I understand.” His gaze swept across the silent camp, finally settling on Xie Linyang’s face, with an undeniable determination. “Meng Yao is a cunning and treacherous man. Keeping him in the Alliance will only create a threat. I trust you to keep an eye on him. But if there are any suspicious movements…” His eyes sharpened. “No need to hesitate, kill him if necessary. The Yunmeng Jiang Clan can bear the consequences.”
He didn't say he would do it himself, but his support was clear.
"I understand." Xie Linyan nodded, a huge weight lifted from her heart. His words seemed to lighten the burden on her shoulders. She looked at him, "You...you still want to go back to Yunmeng?"
"Hmm." Jiang Cheng frowned, his expression grave as he mentioned the front lines. "Wen Ruohan has obtained the Yin Iron and is now extremely arrogant. I'm worried that he might launch a surprise attack on Lotus Pier while the Alliance's attention is focused here. My mother... has a strong personality, and I need to go back and keep an eye on her."
He paused, looked at her, and said in a tone that carried a hint of admonition, "While you are here, study the Yang Sha Marrow, and... be careful. If you encounter any difficulties, send me a message."
"Okay." Xie Linyang agreed, a warm feeling rising in her heart. This feeling of being understood, supported, and even clumsily cared for was wonderful.
Jiang Cheng eventually left by boat overnight, but this time, he did not leave in a fit of anger. Instead, he returned to the battlefield he had to protect, carrying with him the secret he shared with Xie Linyang and a heavy sense of responsibility.
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