Chapter 23
Chapter Summary: [Jiang Cheng said, "I never pay attention to this. Don't you remember?"]
Wei Wuxian retorted sarcastically, "That's true."
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Jiang Cheng said, "I never pay attention to that. Don't you remember?"
Wei Wuxian retorted sarcastically, "That's true."
Jiang Cheng snorted, "You have the nerve to tell me to watch my words? Do you remember last time at Dafan Mountain, were you careful with your words when you talked to Jin Ling?"
Wei Wuxian's expression froze.
Jiang Cheng turned the tables, his expression brightening with pleasure. He sneered, "'Born of a mother but raised by one,' you're quite the insult! Jin Ling is being talked about like this today entirely because of you. You're so forgetful, forgetting what you said and the oaths you made, but don't forget how his parents died!"
Wei Wuxian suddenly looked up: "I haven't forgotten! I just..."
But no matter what you say after "but", you have no idea what to follow it with.
Jiang Cheng said, "But what? Can't say it? It's alright, you can go back to Lotus Pier, kneel before my parents' spirit tablets, and tell them slowly."
Wei Wuxian calmed himself, his thoughts racing as he considered a way to escape. Although he dreamed of returning to Lotus Pier, it wasn't the Lotus Pier he longed to return to that unrecognizable place!
Jiang Yanli looked helplessly at her stubborn younger brother and said gently, "A-Cheng, if you want A-Xian to come back, why don't you talk to him properly?"
"Sister, I..."
I was just angry.
Jiang Cheng looked at the gloom in his eyes back then and gave a self-deprecating smile.
What's there to be angry about? What's there to hate?
I'm so angry that he'll just die, leaving me all alone.
He hated him for manipulating Wen Ning to commit murder, causing his family to be destroyed and his people to die.
It all seems like a joke now. How can we blame this young man who was so sincere to Lotus Pier and to his parents and sister?
Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached, and the door was pounded on. Jin Ling called from outside, "Uncle!"
Jiang Cheng raised his voice and said, "Didn't I tell you to stay put? What are you doing here!"
Jin Ling said, "Uncle, I have something very important to tell you."
Jiang Cheng said, "What important thing is it that you wouldn't tell me after I scolded you for so long, and you insist on telling me now?"
Jin Ling retorted angrily, "I only stopped talking because you kept cursing at me! Are you going to listen or not? If you don't, I won't say anything more!"
Jiang Cheng flung open the door, his face contorted with anger, and said, "Speak now and get out!"
The wooden door opened, and Jin Ling stepped in. He had changed into a new white school uniform and said, "I really encountered something tricky today. I think it was Wen Ning!"
Jiang Cheng's brow twitched, and his hand instantly pressed against his sword, his expression grim: "When? Where!"
Jin Ling said, "It was this afternoon. About several dozen miles to the south, there is a dilapidated house. I went there because I heard there were strange phenomena there, but who knew there was a fierce corpse inside."
Jin Ling spoke with great conviction, but Wei Wuxian heard nothing but lies. He knew better than anyone where Jin Ling had been that afternoon. Moreover, once Wen Ning hid, unless he actively summoned him, how could a junior so easily discover his whereabouts?
Jiang Cheng said, "Why didn't you say so sooner!"
Jin Ling said, "I can't be sure either. That fierce corpse moved extremely fast. He ran away as soon as I went in. I only saw a blurry back, but I heard the chains on him rattling at Dafan Mountain last time, so I guessed it might be him. If you hadn't given me a good scolding, I would have told you as soon as I got back. If he's escaped now and you didn't catch him, you can only blame yourself for your bad temper, not me." He wanted to peek inside again, but Jiang Cheng slammed the door shut in front of him, saying through the door, "I'll settle the score with you later. Get out!"
Jin Ling gave an "Oh," and his footsteps faded into the distance. Seeing Jiang Cheng turn around, Wei Wuxian quickly put on a complex expression that mixed "utter shock," "the secret has been exposed," and "what to do? Wen Ning has been discovered!" Jin Ling was quite clever; knowing Jiang Cheng hated Wen Ning the most, he timed his lie perfectly, making it sound incredibly smooth. Jiang Cheng knew that the Yiling Patriarch and the Ghost General often caused trouble together, and he already suspected Wen Ning was nearby. Hearing Jin Ling's words, he was already six-tenths convinced, and with Wei Wuxian's cooperative expression, he believed it even more. Furthermore, the mere mention of Wen Ning's name filled him with rage; his anger surged, and he had no time for doubt. His chest felt like it was about to burst with rage. He raised his whip and lashed it against the ground beside Wei Wuxian, filled with intense hatred: "You really take this obedient dog everywhere you go!"
Wei Wuxian said, "He's already dead, and I've died once too. What more do you want?"
Jiang Cheng pointed his whip at him and said, "What? Even if he dies a thousand or ten thousand times, it won't quell the hatred in my heart! He failed to destroy me back then, very well! Today I will destroy him myself. I'll go and burn him right now, and scatter his ashes before you!"
He slammed the door shut and stormed off, heading to the hall to instruct Jin Ling: "Keep a close eye on that person inside. Don't believe or listen to anything he says! Don't let him make a sound. If he dares to whistle or play the flute, gag him first. If that doesn't work, chop off his hand and cut off his tongue!"
Wei Wuxian knew Jiang Cheng's words were deliberately meant for him, a threat to stop him from causing trouble, and by not taking him along, he was wary that Jiang Cheng might try to manipulate Wen Ning if they were traveling together. Jin Ling nonchalantly replied, "I know. Can't I keep an eye on someone? Uncle, what are you doing locked up with that homosexual? What's he doing?" Jiang Cheng said, "That's not your business. Remember to keep a close eye on him; if he disappears, I'll break your legs!" After asking for a few more questions about the exact location, he took half his men and went to chase after the non-existent Wen Ning.
puff
Wei Wuxian couldn't stop laughing at Jiang Cheng's expression:
"Hahaha Jiang Cheng, you actually believed my exaggerated expression, hahaha..."
Jiang Cheng: ...
It's infuriating that this person is being protected and can't fight back.
Then she turned to Jin Ling, who was watching the show from the side, and slapped him on the back, angrily saying, "You still dare to lie to me? You've got some nerve."
Jin Ling covered her back, sobbing, and looked at her uncle with resentment.
Why am I always the one who gets hurt?
Wen Ning, watching this scene from behind, moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, but Wen Qing pressed his arm down.
Wen Qing shook her head, signaling him not to speak. No one could truly explain what happened back then. They had already atoned for their sins with their lives. Bringing it up now would only cause Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng unnecessary trouble.
After waiting a while, Jin Ling's arrogant voice came: "You go over there. You, go stand guard to the side. You two stand at the main gate, I'll go in and meet him."
None of the disciples dared to disobey, and all agreed. After a moment, the door was opened, and Jin Ling poked his head in, his eyes darting around. Wei Wuxian sat up, raised a finger to his lips, and gently walked in. He placed his hand on Zidian and whispered a phrase.
The purple lightning bolt recognized its master; Jiang Cheng must have recognized Jin Ling as its master. The current instantly subsided, transforming into a silver ring adorned with amethyst, which landed in Jin Ling's fair palm.
Jin Ling whispered, "Let's go."
The disciples of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan were scattered and disorganized by his random instructions. The two of them tiptoed away, climbing through windows and over walls. Once outside the inn, they made a silent, frantic run. Entering a grove of trees, Wei Wuxian heard a strange noise behind him. Turning around, he was horrified: "Why is it following us?! Tell it to go away!"
Jin Ling whistled twice, and the black-maned spirit dog, its long tongue lolling out, whimpered softly, its pointed ears twitching twice, then turned and ran away dejectedly. He said contemptuously, "What a spineless dog. Fairies never bite; they just look fierce. This is a well-trained spirit dog that only bites evil spirits. Do you think it's an ordinary dog?"
Wei Wuxian: "Stop. What did you call it?"
Jin Ling: "Fairy. Its name."
Wei Wuxian: "You named your dog like that?!"
Jin Ling said matter-of-factly, "What's wrong with this name? It was called Little Fairy when it was little, I can't call it that when it grows up."
Pfft
Jiang Yanli covered her mouth and chuckled, looking at Jiang Cheng with a teasing expression: "This way of naming really sounds like something Cheng taught you."
Jiang Cheng: ...My older sister has gone astray.
Wei Wuxian scoffed, "Of course! What 'Feifei' and 'Xiao Ai'... right?"
As he spoke, he raised an eyebrow in a provocative manner.
Jiang Cheng's forehead twitched, and he lunged forward, yelling, "Wei Wuxian, shut up!!!"
Everyone: ...
I never imagined the Jiang family members were like this.
Wei Wuxian refused: "No, no, no, the issue isn't about small or big! -- Who taught you this naming style?!" Needless to say, it was his uncle. Back in the day, Jiang Cheng also raised several puppies, naming them things like "Jasmine," "Feifei," and "Xiao Ai"—names that sounded like those of famous courtesans. Jin Ling said: "A man doesn't concern himself with such trivialities! Why are you getting hung up on this! Alright! Stop it. If you offend my uncle, you'll be half dead. Now I'm letting you go, we're even."
Wei Wuxian asked, "Do you know why your uncle arrested me?"
Jin Ling said, "I know. He suspects you are Wei Wuxian."
Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "This time it's not just 'suspicion,' he's arrested the right person." He then asked, "And what about you? Don't you have any suspicions?"
Jin Ling said, "This isn't the first time my uncle has done something like this. He always prefers to arrest the wrong person rather than let one go. But since Zidian can't extract your soul, I'll assume you're not. Besides, Wei isn't gay, yet you dare to pester me..."
Without revealing who he was harassing, he abruptly stopped talking with a look of disgust, making a gesture as if to send away a plague god: "Anyway, you have nothing to do with the Lanling Jin Clan from now on! If you have a relapse, don't come looking for my family! Otherwise, I won't let you off the hook!"
After saying that, Jin Ling turned and left. After taking a few steps, he turned back and said, "What are you standing there for? Aren't you going to leave? Are you waiting for my uncle to come and arrest you? Let me tell you, don't think that just because you saved me I'll be grateful to you, and don't expect me to say any mushy things to you."
Wei Wuxian walked up with his hands behind his back: "Young man, there are a couple of cheesy things you just have to say in your life."
Jin Ling asked, "Which two lines?"
Wei Wuxian said, "'Thank you,' and 'I'm sorry.'"
Jin Ling scoffed, "I won't say anything. What can anyone do to me?"
Wei Wuxian said, "One day you'll tell me this while you're crying."
Jin Ling spat, and Wei Wuxian suddenly said, "I'm sorry."
Jin Ling was taken aback: "What?"
Wei Wuxian said, "I'm sorry for what I said to you on Mount Dafan."
Everyone was stunned, not expecting this turn of events.
Jiang Yanli, Jin Zixuan, Jiang Cheng, and the others were all taken aback. They looked at Wei Wuxian, unsure of what to say, while Jin Ling looked particularly uncomfortable.
“Ah Xian…”
Jiang Yanli looked at Wei Wuxian, as if she wanted to say something.
"Senior sister, I should have apologized."
Wei Wuxian's smile faded, and he spoke seriously. Regardless of whether his words were unintentional or not, he had truly hurt Jin Ling, and he should apologize.
This wasn't the first time Jin Ling had been insulted as "having a mother but no one to raise her," but he had never been apologized to so solemnly before. This sudden, unvarnished "I'm sorry" hit him like that, and he felt strangely uncomfortable.
He waved his hands wildly and snorted, "It's nothing. You're not the first person to say that. I may not have been raised by a mother. But that doesn't make me inferior to anyone! On the contrary, I'll make you all open your eyes and see clearly that I'm much stronger than all of you!"
Wei Wuxian smiled slightly, about to speak, when suddenly his expression changed, and he exclaimed in astonishment, "Jiang Cheng? You!"
Jin Ling, already feeling guilty for stealing Zidian and letting the person escape, immediately turned around upon hearing the name. Wei Wuxian seized the opportunity to deliver a swift chop to his neck. He laid Jin Ling flat on the ground, pulled up his trouser leg, and examined the curse mark on his leg. He tried various methods, but none could remove it. Knowing the problem was serious, he sighed after a long while.
However, while he cannot remove some of the curse marks, he can transfer them onto himself.
Jin Ling slowly woke up after a while, touched his neck, and still felt the pain. He was so angry that he drew his sword and jumped up on the spot: "How dare you hit me! Even my uncle has never hit me!"
Wei Wuxian was surprised: "Really? Didn't he always say he was going to break your legs?"
Jin Ling retorted angrily, "He was just saying that! You damned homosexual, what exactly do you want? I..."
Wei Wuxian clutched his head and called out from behind him, "Ah! Hanguang-jun!"
Jin Ling was more afraid of Lan Wangji than his uncle. After all, his uncle was family, while Hanguang-jun belonged to someone else. He was terrified and turned to run, shouting as he ran, "You damned homosexual! You despicable madman! I'll remember this! This isn't over!"
"Ah Xian!"
Jiang Yanli knew that Wei Wuxian must have solved the curse mark, but she didn't expect it to be done in this way. She immediately tried to pull up Wei Wuxian's trouser leg.
Wei Wuxian quickly pulled his worried senior sister aside:
"Senior sister, senior sister, I'm fine. With Lan Zhan here, what's a little curse mark?"
Upon hearing this, Lan Wangji gave Wei Wuxian an ambiguous look. If it weren't for finding a way to remove the curse back then, he wouldn't know how long he would have been tormented by the evil curse mark.
But Wei Wuxian didn't want Jiang Yanli to worry, so he turned his gaze away, but tightened his grip on her arm.
Jiang Cheng, standing to the side, looked at Jin Ling's cowardly appearance with a look of exasperation: "You, the young master of the Lanling Jin Clan, have an uncle who is the Immortal Overseer and an uncle who is the sect leader of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan, yet you're still acting like this!"
Jin Ling: ...
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