Reunion
The atmosphere in Qishan Never Sleeps City was even more oppressive and somber than at the intellectual forum a year ago. In the vast plaza, the scions of various powerful families stood clearly separated, most with solemn expressions, daring not to speak their anger. Wen Chao sat high on the platform, arrogant and haughty, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like that of an inspector.
Xie Lin Yang followed the Gusu Lan Clan into the square, and she immediately saw that familiar purple color.
In the Yunmeng Jiang Clan's group, Wei Wuxian had his arm around Jiang Cheng's shoulder, talking about something that made Jiang Cheng raise his foot to kick him, but Wei Wuxian nimbly dodged it.
Having not seen each other for a year, the longing and worry became tangible at this moment. Xie Lin Yang almost involuntarily quickened his pace, passing the Lan Clan members and heading towards the Yunmeng Jiang Clan, his face filled with undisguised joy: "Jiang Cheng! Wei Wuxian!"
Upon hearing that familiar voice, Jiang Cheng turned his head sharply. His eyes, which always seemed somewhat impatient, suddenly shone brightly as he stared intently at Xie Linyang, as if trying to take in all the changes that had occurred in the past year.
His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but his usual awkwardness made him just hum in response through his nose. However, his slightly raised chin and the momentarily softened expression in his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.
Wei Wuxian's face immediately broke into a big smile, and he rushed over in a few steps, his tone exaggerated yet filled with genuine joy: "Lin Yang! I'm so glad to see you! You have no idea how bad Jiang Cheng's temper has gotten in the year you've been gone. He must have been missing you!"
"Wei Wuxian, what nonsense are you spouting!" Jiang Cheng's ears burned, and he immediately roared in anger, making a move to hit him.
Xie Linyang was amused by their familiar interaction and was about to speak when Meng Yao, who was right behind her, stepped forward and stood respectfully to her side, slightly bowing her head.
His movement immediately attracted the attention of Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian.
Jiang Cheng's smile vanished instantly, his gaze sharp as a knife as he scrutinized Meng Yao, sizing up the handsome, seemingly gentle and harmless young man in blue robes. His brows furrowed involuntarily. Who was this person? Why was he following Xie Lin Yang? And why was he acting so… intimately?
Wei Wuxian also dropped his joking expression, looked at Meng Yao curiously, and blinked.
Seeing that they had noticed Meng Yao, Xie Linyang smiled and introduced her, "This is Meng Yao, my disciple whom I recently took in. A-Yao, this is Young Master Jiang Cheng of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan, and this is Young Master Wei Wuxian."
Meng Yao immediately stepped forward and gave Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian an impeccable bow, her voice gentle and humble: "Meng Yao greets Young Master Jiang and Young Master Wei."
Jiang Cheng stared at Meng Yao, his tone carrying a coldness he himself didn't realize: "Disciple? When did you take on a disciple?"
A strange sense of irritation welled up inside him. In the year since Xie Linyang left, not only did her cultivation seem to have improved considerably, but she also had a "disciple" who seemed to have a close relationship with her? This kid looked so weak and frail, what qualifications did he have to be her disciple?
Seeing this, Wei Wuxian patted Meng Yao on the shoulder with a grin: "Oh, so you're Lin Yang's disciple! Then you're one of us! Don't be so polite!" He tried to ease the atmosphere, but his eyes also held a hint of inquiry.
Meng Yao straightened up as instructed, her face still bearing that gentle and harmless smile, and said to Wei Wuxian, "Thank you, Young Master Wei." Then she looked at Jiang Cheng, her tone becoming even more cautious, "Meng Yao is dull-witted, but fortunately, Master did not abandon me and took me under his wing. I will certainly study diligently and cultivate assiduously to live up to Master's kindness."
His words, though seemingly humble, actually revealed that he was "personally accepted as a disciple by Xie Linyang." Although his posture was low, it subtly brought him closer to Xie Linyang.
Hearing this, and seeing Meng Yao's submissive demeanor, Jiang Cheng felt an even greater surge of anger, yet he couldn't find a reason to lash out. He could only let out a cold snort, turn his face away, but his gaze involuntarily drifted back to Xie Lin Yang, carrying a sense of grievance and accusation that he himself was unaware of.
Just then, a voice trembling with sobs broke through the delicate and tense atmosphere:
"Brother Jiang! Brother Wei! Miss Xie! We've finally found you!"
Nie Huaisang, waving his prized folding fan, squeezed through with a "saveable" expression, saying with a pained look, "This awful place is so uncomfortable! It's so good to see you all!" His gaze shifted to Meng Yao beside Xie Linyang, and he paused for a moment before politely cupping his hands in greeting, "And this is...?"
Meng Yao politely returned the greeting and introduced herself.
Xie Linyang didn't notice their subtle movements. He only felt relieved that Jiang Cheng and Yunmeng were safe and sound. His voice was lighthearted, even though he himself didn't realize it: "It's good that you're both alright. Yunmeng... is she alright?"
"What could possibly happen?" Jiang Cheng snorted, his tone hard, but his eyes softened. "Those useless Wen clan members wouldn't dare touch Yunmeng."
"I've already heard about what happened in Gusu from Uncle Jiang. Lin Yang, thank you so much for saving Lan Zhan this time." Wei Wuxian looked at the still aloof and moon-like white-clad figure behind him and moved closer.
"Lan Zhan, it's been a long time. Have you missed me?"
Seeing that the other party ignored him, Wei Wuxian became even more shameless and pressed on, but his tone became slightly more serious: "Young Master Lan didn't come along? How is Gusu?"
Upon hearing Wei Wuxian mention Gusu and his brother, Lan Wangji finally reacted. He slightly turned his head, his cool gaze lingering on Wei Wuxian's face, which held a hint of concern. After a moment, he spoke in a low, concise voice:
"Brother, stay behind. Yun Shen... is alright."
These five short words were all he could give about the situation after that calamity. "Unharmed" meant that the foundation was intact and most people were safe, but the hardships and losses involved could not be easily dismissed with just the word "unharmed."
Wei Wuxian, being an exceptionally intelligent man, immediately grasped the unspoken meaning in his words, and the playful expression on his face softened somewhat. He looked at Lan Wangji's still upright but inexplicably lonely back, clicked his tongue, and his tone unusually serious:
"It's good that you're alright. If you need any help, just let me know. We in Yunmeng... we still have me, I'll definitely help!"
Lan Wangji did not respond, but he did not leave immediately either. He simply stood there silently, which was considered as tacit acceptance of his feelings.
Just as everyone was lost in thought, a burst of arrogant laughter came from the high platform. Wen Chao, surrounded by a group of Wen clan cultivators, swaggered onto the platform.
Two figures stood beside him. On the left was a scantily clad, alluring woman with a flirtatious look in her eyes. She wore a gaudy peach-pink dress, her hair adorned with gold hairpins, and she toyed with the jade pendant that Wen Chao had just gifted her. When she glanced at the students below the stage, a contemptuous smile always played on her lips.
On the right was a man in his thirties, wearing a gray-blue robe. His face was ordinary, even somewhat dull, but his eyes were as cold as ice. Standing there, he exuded a suffocating aura of power.
It was Wen Zhuliu, a top expert of the Wen family and the master of alchemy.
The moment he appeared, the suppressed whispers in the square vanished instantly, and even the wind seemed to stop. The disciples of each family instinctively gripped their sword hilts, but when they met Wen Zhuliu's calm, unwavering eyes, they released their grip as if electrocuted. Everyone knew that this "Core-Melting Hand" could easily cripple a cultivator's Golden Core; he was the Wen family's sharpest blade.
Wen Chaozhi surveyed the silent disciples below the stage with smug satisfaction, as if looking at a caged beast.
He cleared his throat and announced, "Now that everyone is here, let's begin! According to the rules, during the indoctrination period, to prevent swords from injuring fellow disciples, everyone must hand over their swords!"
"What?!"
A low murmur rippled through the crowd. For cultivators, especially scions of noble families, the sword was not merely a magical weapon, but a symbol of status and dignity. Wen Chao was attempting to utterly shatter their spirit!
However, under Wen Zhuliu's icy gaze and the oppressive presence of the surrounding Wen clan cultivators, most people dared not speak out in anger.
Jiang Cheng's face was ashen, and the veins on the back of his hand gripping the hilt of the Three Poisons Sword bulged. He subconsciously glanced at Wei Wuxian, fearing that this unpredictable fellow would suddenly lash out and bring about his death.
However, to his surprise, Wei Wuxian merely curled his lip, his face filled with obvious sarcasm, and decisively unfastened the "Suibian" sword from his waist, casually tossing it to the Wen Clan cultivator who came forward to collect it. He put his hands in his sleeves and even smiled at the Wen Clan cultivator who was collecting the sword: "Hold it carefully, I won't compensate you if you drop it." But that smile didn't reach his eyes; the fierceness hidden deep in his eyes was only temporarily concealed.
Seeing him like this, Jiang Cheng was furious, but he also knew that the situation was beyond his control. He gritted his teeth and handed over his Three Poisons Sword very slowly and heavily, feeling as if a piece of his flesh had been ripped out.
"Lan Wangji." Wen Chao's voice suddenly rang out, calling out his name with malice.
Lan Wangji stood at the forefront of the Lan Clan disciples, his white robes spotless. Upon hearing the name, he didn't hesitate for a moment, raising his hand to unsheathe Bichen. The jade-hilted longsword gleamed coldly in the sunlight. He gripped the scabbard, his fingertips lightly tracing the characters "Bichen," then lowered his gaze and steadily placed the sword into the box. There was no anger, no resentment, only an almost rigid calm, as if he were handing over not a sword, but merely an ordinary object. But his hand, hanging at his side, quietly clenched into a fist.
Upon seeing this, the Lan clan members all unsheathed their swords and handed them over in unison, but none of them dared to raise their heads.
"Jin Zixuan." Wen Chao's gaze swept over the Lanling Jin Clan's group.
Jin Zixuan stood ramrod straight, his gold-flecked robe standing out conspicuously in the crowd. When he heard his name called, his brows furrowed deeply, his face radiating disdain.
Wen Chao didn't even deserve to take his sword. But when he caught a glimpse of Wen Zhuliu's hand out of the corner of his eye, he ultimately didn't dare to retaliate. He slowly unfastened the Suihua sword, deliberately rubbing his fingers on the gemstone on the hilt, as if showing off the sword's magnificence, before tossing it into the box like trash, his lips curling into a sneer, his arrogance almost overflowing: "Take it, don't dirty my sword."
Finally, Wen Chao's gaze fell on Xie Linyang and Meng Yao.
Meng Yao kept her head down, inconspicuous among the group of aristocratic scions. But Wen Chao seemed to pay special "attention" to the people around Xie Lin Yang, pointing his whip at them: "You, the one in the blue robe, hand over your sword."
Meng Yao's body stiffened slightly. His Qingyang Sword hung at his waist, its tassel swaying gently.
He gripped the "Qingyang" sword so tightly that his knuckles turned white. This sword held extraordinary significance for him, not only because it was a gift from his master, but also because it symbolized his hope of shedding his past and gaining a new identity.
"Ayao." Xie Linyang's voice rang in his ear, gentle yet carrying an undeniable power, "Hand it over."
Meng Yao suddenly looked up at her. Her eyes were calm, but they seemed to be telling him to "bear with it for a moment." He took a deep breath and finally carefully presented "Qingyang" to the Wen Clan cultivator. His fingertips were trembling slightly when he handed it to him. In his lowered eyes, hatred for the Wen Clan grew wildly like weeds.
With most of the swords collected, Wen Chao clapped his hands in satisfaction. His gaze swept over the dejected crowd below the stage, finally settling on a few people in the center of the square. A cruel smile curled at the corner of his lips: "Since you've all handed over your swords, let's talk about the 'rules.' Especially for certain people—"
His gaze fell on Xie Linyang, filled with undisguised malice and a certain covetousness, his tone flippant:
"Xie Linyang... Baoshan Sanren's disciple? Hmph, just an arrogant woman who doesn't know her place! You managed to get your hands on her in Gusu last time, do you really think you can turn the world upside down? The Wen family is doing you a favor by wanting to teach you a lesson! If you dare to be disrespectful again, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Xie Linyang stood there, his back ramrod straight, his face expressionless, as if he hadn't heard a thing.
"Master!" Meng Yao subconsciously took a step forward, wanting to stand in front of Xie Linyang, but Xie Linyang gently pressed her shoulder down.
"Wen Chao!" A furious shout suddenly rang out. Jiang Cheng rushed forward two steps, his fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on his face. "Watch your mouth!" He couldn't stand anyone insulting Xie Lin Yang, especially in such an insulting tone!
"Jiang Cheng!" Wei Wuxian reacted quickly, grabbing his arm and warning him in a low voice, "Don't be impulsive!"
Jiang Cheng acted as if he hadn't heard, still glaring angrily at Wen Chao, his chest heaving violently, his eyes almost bursting with rage. If Wei Wuxian hadn't been holding him back, he would have already rushed onto the stage!
On the high platform, upon seeing this, Wang Lingjiao immediately grabbed Wen Chao's arm in a coquettish voice, "Oh, young master, this brat dares to talk back to you! Teach him a lesson!"
Wen Chao sneered, ignoring Jiang Cheng, and instead turned his gaze to Meng Yao, his tone even more vicious: "And you, little follower, what? You want to stand up for your master? Don't you even take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror! A wild brat from who-knows-where, shamelessly licking his lips as a disciple of Baoshan Sanren?"
Meng Yao's face turned pale instantly.
He suddenly lowered his head, his long eyelashes obscuring his eyes, and no one saw his expression. Only he knew that his fingernails had dug deeply into his palms, drawing blood without him even noticing.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com