Chapter 130 One Hundred and Thirty
Chapter Summary: [Further ahead, the path is littered with talismans—sticked to the walls, thrown on the ground, crumpled into balls, torn into pieces…]
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[Further ahead, the path was littered with talismans, some stuck to the walls, some thrown on the ground, some crumpled into balls, some torn into pieces, as if someone had gone mad and scattered them haphazardly. Moreover, the further in you went, the more chaotic it became, making Jiang Cheng feel suffocated. He said, "If you dare to mess around like this in Lotus Pier, I'll burn all your things to the ground!"]
Upon entering the main cave, they found a person lying on the ground, completely covered from head to toe with talismans, only the whites of his eyes showing. It was Wen Ning. Jiang Cheng glanced at him and asked, "You live here? Where do you sleep?"
Wei Wuxian tossed the things he had just picked up into a corner and pointed to a pile of crumpled blankets in another corner, saying, "Wrap yourself up, you can sleep anywhere."
Jiang Cheng didn't want to continue discussing this matter with him. He looked down at the motionless Wen Ning and asked, "What's wrong with him?"
Wei Wuxian said, "He's a bit fierce. I was worried something might go wrong, so I sealed him off for now and told him not to move."
Jiang Cheng said, "Wasn't he a timid stutterer when he was alive? How come he can be so fierce after he's dead?"
Wei Wuxian's tone was anything but friendly. He glanced at him and said, "Wen Ning was indeed a rather timid person in life. Because of this, all sorts of emotions were hidden in his heart: resentment, anger, fear, anxiety, and pain. These things accumulated too much and only erupted after his death. You can't imagine the power of it. It's the same principle as how the better-tempered a person is in normal times, the more terrifying they are when they get angry. The more like this a person is, the more ferocious they become after death."
Jiang Cheng said, "Didn't you always say that the fiercer the better? The stronger the resentment and hatred, the greater the destructive power."
Wei Wuxian said, "That's how it is. But I don't intend to refine Wen Ning into a corpse like that."
Jiang Cheng asked, "So, what kind of refinement do you want to achieve?"
Wei Wuxian said, "I want to awaken his mind."
Ignoring Jiang Cheng's slightly sarcastic tone, Wen Qing tenderly patted Wen Ning's head.
She knew exactly what Wei Wuxian was saying. She had raised her younger brother all by herself, and she knew his personality better than anyone else.
Perhaps it was because she, as the older sister, was too domineering, making decisions in everything and always standing in front of her younger brother that Wen Ning developed such a weak personality. Even when he grew up, he couldn't change it.
But just because someone is weak doesn't mean they don't harbor resentment. Wen Ning always reports good news and hides bad news. He usually doesn't say anything when he's been bullied or given the cold shoulder. If she can tell, he'll confront those people, but if she can't, he'll just keep it bottled up.
Only now, with his death, does he dare to release the resentment he has harbored for so many years.
As for awakening minds, the people in the space subconsciously snorted, thinking to themselves that this was just wishful thinking. If minds could be awakened, why would they bother killing demons and monsters during their night hunts? They could just awaken the souls of every human being.
But seeing Wen Ning sitting upright in front of them, many people silently shut their mouths.
Forgot there was a success here.
Jiang Cheng scoffed, "You're indulging in wishful thinking again, trying to awaken his mind? What's the difference between such a fierce corpse and a human? If you could really do that, I think nobody would need to be human or seek immortality anymore; they would all just need you to refine them into fierce corpses."
Wei Wuxian laughed, "Yeah, I've also found it damn hard. But I've bragged about it to his sister a dozen times already, and now they all believe I can definitely do it. I have to master it, otherwise, where will I put my face..."
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Cheng suddenly drew his Sandu sword and aimed it straight at Wen Ning's throat, as if to sever his head in one strike. Wei Wuxian reacted with lightning speed, striking Jiang Cheng's arm to deflect the sword's attack, and shouted, "What are you doing?!"
"A Cheng!"
Jiang Yanli, who was feeling sorry for Wei Wuxian living in such a humble place, was startled by Jiang Cheng's sudden action and screamed.
Wen Qing looked at Jiang Cheng with a complicated expression, while the latter patted his sister reassuringly and then lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.
His words echoed relentlessly in the empty Demon-Subduing Cave. Jiang Cheng, without sheathing his sword, snapped, "What are you doing? I should be asking you what you're doing! Wei Wuxian, you've been quite the big shot these past few days, haven't you?!"
Even before Jiang Cheng went to the Burial Mound, Wei Wuxian had foreseen that Jiang Cheng's visit this time would not be a genuine, peaceful chat. Throughout the journey, both of them had been on edge. After so long of feigning calm and suppressing their emotions, that tension finally snapped.
Wei Wuxian said, "If Wen Qing and the others hadn't been forced into this situation, do you think I would want to be this powerful?"
Jiang Cheng said, "They were forced into a corner? Now I'm forced into a corner by you! A few days ago, a bunch of big and small aristocratic families surrounded me on Jinlintai and berated me, demanding an explanation for this matter. So, I had no choice but to come!"
Wei Wuxian said, "What explanation do you still want? This matter is already settled. Those supervisors killed Wen Ning, and Wen Ning turned into a zombie and killed them. A life for a life, a debt for a debt, let's end it here."
Jiang Cheng said, "That's the end? How could that be! Do you know how many eyes are watching you, watching your Yin Tiger Seal? If they seize this opportunity, you'll lose all your reasoning!"
Wei Wuxian said, "You've already said it, even if I'm right, I'm wrong. What other way is there but to imprison myself in this situation?"
Jiang Cheng said, "A solution? Of course there is."
He pointed at Wen Ning on the ground with his three poisons and said, "The only way to salvage the situation now is for us to end it ourselves before they make any further moves!"
Jiang Cheng's sudden attack was like a switch, allowing the two to vent all the psychological and physical grievances, frustrations, and anger they had accumulated over the past few days.
Wei Wuxian thought that by leading the Wen clan to live in seclusion and be self-sufficient, he could make the powerful clans let the matter drop, but this was just his own attempt to whitewash the situation.
Jiang Cheng wanted the Jiang clan to be safe and sound, and he didn't want the Jiang clan to become a target of criticism, so he could only go with the flow. But he also wanted to protect Wei Wuxian. So what could he do? He could only deal with the remnants of the Wen clan, who had already become the target of everyone's hatred.
They all wanted to choose, but the conflict in their positions prevented them from doing so.
Wei Wuxian asked, "What kind of settlement?"
Jiang Cheng said, "Burn this corpse immediately and hand over all these Wen faction bastards. Only then will we avoid giving anyone cause for gossip!" He then raised his sword to stab again. Wei Wuxian, however, grabbed his wrist firmly and said, "Are you kidding me! If we hand Wen Qing and the others back now, we'll only end up being wiped out!"
Jiang Cheng said, "It's questionable whether you can even clean yourself up properly, so why do you care what happens to them? Cleaning them up is none of your business!"
Wei Wuxian was furious: "Jiang Cheng! You—what are you saying? Take it back or I'll beat you up! Don't forget who helped us cremate Uncle Jiang and Madam Yu's bodies, who sent their ashes to Lotus Pier, and who took us in when Wen Chao was chasing us!"
Jiang Cheng said, "I want to fucking beat you to death! Yes, they helped us, but why don't you understand that the remnants of the Wen clan are now the target of everyone's hatred? No matter who they are, having the surname Wen means they are guilty of heinous crimes! And protecting those with the surname Wen is going against the will of the world! Everyone hates the Wen dogs and wishes they would die as miserably as possible. Anyone who protects them is going against everyone. No one will speak up for them, and no one will speak up for you!"
Wei Wuxian said, "I don't need anyone to speak for me."
Jiang Cheng retorted angrily, "What are you so stubborn about? If you can't fight, then step aside, I'll do it!"
Wei Wuxian gripped him even tighter, his fingers like iron hoops: "Jiang Wanyin!"
Jiang Cheng said, "Wei Wuxian! Do you even understand? When you're on their side, you're a maverick, a chivalrous hero, a powerful figure, a unique talent. But as soon as you voice a different opinion, you're labeled a madman, a disregard for human ethics, and a heretic. Do you think you can live a carefree life, detached from the world? There's no precedent for that!"
Wei Wuxian shouted, "There's no precedent, but I'll set that precedent!"
The two stared at each other, their eyes blazing with tension, neither willing to back down. After a long while, Jiang Cheng said, "Wei Wuxian, haven't you seen the current situation yet? Do I have to spell it out for you? If you insist on protecting them, I can't protect you."
Wei Wuxian said, "There's no need to protect me, just abandon me."
The space suddenly fell silent, leaving only the two thin figures of the boys under the shadow of the sky. Their eyes were filled with a deep helplessness in the face of life and fate.
The Jiang family members felt as if their hearts were being tightly gripped, and the dull, painful sensation spread, making it almost impossible for them to breathe.
The prejudices of the world, the jealousy and greed of people's hearts weighed heavily on these two teenagers, as if they were struggling to swim upstream in the mud. Every step they took and every effort they exerted required all their strength. It was too difficult.
“Ah Xian…”
Jiang Yanli's voice, tinged with sobs, broke the brief silence. She had barely calmed down when her reddened eyes looked like they were about to well up with tears again.
She knew that Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian had put on a show to preserve the Wen family lineage; she knew that the Jiang clan faced immense difficulties during that turbulent time.
But her two younger brothers really protected her very well. She didn't know that they had to go through such a difficult choice, and painfully wavered between the greater good and personal feelings.
Wei Wuxian wanted to preserve his sense of righteousness.
Jiang Cheng wanted to protect Wei Wuxian.
The two are destined not to coexist.
This decision can only be made by Wei Wuxian.
So, he gave up on himself.
Jiang Cheng's face contorted.
Wei Wuxian said, "Let's abandon it. Let the world know that I have defected. From now on, whatever Wei Wuxian does will have nothing to do with the Yunmeng Jiang Clan."
Jiang Cheng said, "...Just for this group of Wen family members...?"
Jiang Cheng said, "Wei Wuxian, do you have a hero complex? Will you die if you don't stick your neck out and cause some trouble?"
Wei Wuxian remained silent.
After a moment, he said, "So it's better to sever ties now to avoid future trouble for the Yunmeng Jiang family."
"..." Jiang Cheng murmured, "My mother said that you were just here to bring trouble to our family. How true."
He sneered and muttered to himself, "...'Knowing it's impossible but still doing it'? Fine, you understand the Yunmeng Jiang family motto, you understand it better than I do. You all understand it."
Jiang Cheng sheathed his three poisons, his longsword clanging as it returned to its original sheath. He said indifferently, "Then let's settle this with a duel."
From then on, Wei Wuxian became the target.
Neither overt nor covert attacks will harm the Yunmeng Jiang Clan.
"So that's how it is..." came a murmur from behind.
That challenge came unexpectedly, yet it was also perfectly reasonable.
Jiang Cheng is the ruthless head of the family who cleans up his own sect, while Wei Wuxian is the devil who goes mad and protects the wicked.
But the truth is that they compromised with reality.
To do something knowing it is impossible.
The younger generation are no longer children, and seeing this, they can't help but feel a deep respect for Wei Wuxian.
The Jiang family precepts sound simple, but who actually dares to put them into practice?
Just as Madam Yu said, Wei Wuxian is all trouble.
In Xuanwu Cave, in order to protect the young masters of the aristocratic families against the Wen clan, she went to the street to buy food and was almost discovered, which caused Jiang Cheng to lose his golden core. Now, in order to save Wen Qing's lineage, she did not hesitate to betray the Jiang clan.
But along the way, did he really do something wrong by following his heart?
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