Chapter 94 Ninety-Four
Chapter Summary: [Warmth inside the door heard a "thump," startled, and quickly turned to open the door, where she saw...]
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Hearing a "thump" from inside the door, Wen Qing was startled and quickly turned around to open the door. She found Wei Wuxian kneeling on the ground. She immediately bent down to help him up.
"Kneeling won't help you, I won't help you."
Although Wei Wuxian was swaying precariously, the strength in his grip on Wen Qing's arm was exceptionally strong.
"Wen Qing, please help me. Jiang Cheng is alright, and only then will the Jiang family have hope."
Pleading, an emotion that Wei Wuxian had never seen before, Wen Qing witnessed countless times in just a few days.
Seeing this once proud young man kneeling before the Wen clan members in the Wen family's supervisory office, she should have felt contempt, thinking that even a powerful family was nothing special.
On the contrary, she admired the young man. He was flexible and adaptable. It was easy to say, but he was someone who had been proud since childhood. How could anyone actually kneel down and beg someone who was on the opposite side for the sake of his fellow disciples?
But Wei Wuxian did it, not only for Jiang Cheng, but also for his own promise.
Staring at Wei Wuxian's pale and exhausted face for a long time, Wen Qing sighed and gently helped him up.
"I really owe you something."
"Wen Qing, you said yes?"
Wei Wuxian's eyes suddenly lit up with surprise.
Wen Qing looked away and let out a long breath: "I promise you, but let's be clear, no one has ever tried the technique of changing cores before. Nobody knows what the process is like or what unexpected things might happen. I only have a 50% success rate at most."
"Fifty percent? Fifty percent is fine too, half and half."
When Wei Wuxian saw her nod, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and his body, which had been holding on, suddenly swayed.
Wen Qing quickly helped him up and said irritably, "In your current state, how can you possibly last until the pill replacement? Take good care of yourself these next few days. I also need some time to prepare."
Wei Wuxian knew his situation, so he obediently nodded and was about to go back when he suddenly turned back after taking a few steps and said:
"Sister Qing, please don't let Jiang Cheng know about this, or he'll never accept it, even if it kills him."
Wen Qing couldn't help but roll her eyes: "You know that once the pill replacement is over, how could a normal person not ask anything?"
Wei Wuxian scratched his head, put his hand down after a while, and said confidently, "Leave it to me. As long as I want to keep it from Jiang Cheng, I will definitely not let him know."
After saying that, he turned and left the warm courtyard.
Unbeknownst to her, watching his departing figure, Wen Qing stood there for a long time, unsure whether what she had done was right or wrong.
The heavenly realm was utterly silent; a pin drop could be heard.
It turns out that Wei Wuxian really did give his golden core to Jiang Cheng.
Many people recalled the scene when Jiang Cheng led the cultivators to eliminate the Supervisory Bureau.
No wonder Jiang Xiaozongzhu's spiritual power was so much stronger when he reappeared after the incident at Lotus Pier.
"Too reckless, absolutely too reckless!" A physician sitting in the back stroked his beard and sighed. "To dare to change the pill without any testing, based solely on a few words written in ancient books... If an adverse reaction occurs, the consequences..."
"Where did this test subject come from?" Wen Qing couldn't help but interrupt the doctor. "Is there another person in this world as foolish as Wei Wuxian, who would willingly give up his golden core, which he had painstakingly cultivated for decades, just to save someone... someone who doesn't even know if he has any hope of living?"
To speak so presumptuously about others' actions without any experience is an insult to Wei Wuxian.
Wen Qing's words left Jiang Cheng no room for embarrassment. His eyes were bloodshot, yet he managed a bitter laugh: "Wei Wuxian... indeed, from childhood to adulthood, anything you've kept from me, I've never known."
Three days later, Wei Wuxian bid farewell to Wen Ning, carried Jiang Cheng on his back, walked for a while, and borrowed a small house from a forest ranger.
He closed the door and removed the silver needle from Jiang Cheng's head. A long time passed before Jiang Cheng opened his eyes.
He was awake, but he wouldn't move at all, not even bothering to turn over or ask, "Where am I?" He wouldn't drink water or eat, as if he wanted to die.
Wei Wuxian asked, "Do you really want to die?"
Jiang Cheng said, "Since we can't avenge ourselves while we're alive, we might as well die. Maybe we can even become vengeful ghosts."
Wei Wuxian said, "You were a person who received the soul-pacifying ceremony from childhood, so you will not become a vengeful ghost after death."
Jiang Cheng said, "Since we can't get revenge no matter what, what's the difference between being alive or dead?"
After saying that, he never spoke again.
Wei Wuxian sat by the bed, watched him for a while, patted his leg, stood up, and began to busy himself with chores.
As evening approached, he finally finished preparing a meal, set it on the table, and said, "Get up. Time to eat."
Jiang Cheng naturally ignored him. Wei Wuxian sat down at the table, picked up his chopsticks, and said, "If you don't replenish your strength, how are you going to get your golden core back?"
Upon hearing the words "Golden Core," Jiang Cheng finally blinked.
Wei Wuxian continued, "Yes, don't doubt it, you heard me right. I said 'take back your golden core'."
Jiang Cheng moved his lips, his voice hoarse: "...Do you have a way?"
Wei Wuxian calmly replied, "I have a way."
He turned around and said, "Didn't you already know that my mother, Cangse Sanren, was a disciple of Baoshan Sanren?"
This short sentence, just a few dozen words, instantly ignited Jiang Cheng's previously lifeless eyes.
Baoshan Sanren is a legendary immortal master who has lived for hundreds of years and is said to be able to bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded.
He said in a trembling voice, "You mean...you mean..."
Wei Wuxian said clearly, "I mean, I know which mountain 'Baoshan' is referring to. In other words, I can take you to find Baoshan Sanren."
Jiang Cheng said, "...But...but didn't you forget what happened when you were little?!"
Wei Wuxian said, "I don't forget everything. There are some fragments that have been repeated many times, but I still remember them. I always remember a woman's voice repeating to me, telling me a place and some other things. The voice said that if I ever encounter a desperate situation in the future, I can go to that place, go up that mountain, and ask the immortals on the mountain for help."
Jiang Cheng rolled off the bed in an instant.
He rushed to the table, and Wei Wuxian pushed the bowl and chopsticks in front of him, saying, "Eat."
Jiang Cheng leaned against the table, excitedly saying, "I..."
Wei Wuxian said, "Let's eat. We'll talk while we eat. Otherwise, I won't talk."
Jiang Cheng had no choice but to climb onto the stool, pick up his chopsticks, and start shoveling rice into his mouth haphazardly. He had been utterly despondent, but suddenly found himself in a state of unexpected hope. Overwhelmed with excitement, he felt as if he were on fire, unable to sit still, and didn't even realize he was holding his chopsticks upside down. Seeing him eat absentmindedly, Wei Wuxian said, "I'll take you to find it in a few days."
Jiang Cheng said, "Today!"
Wei Wuxian said, "What are you afraid of? A celestial being who has lived for hundreds of years, do you think he will die in just a few days? The reason we need to wait a few days is because there are many taboos involved, and I need to explain them to you slowly. Otherwise, if we break any taboos and anger our master, then we will both be finished."
Jiang Cheng stared at him with wide eyes, hoping he would say more. Wei Wuxian continued, "After you get up the mountain, you can't open your eyes and look around aimlessly. Remember the scenery on the mountain and look at other people's faces. Remember, whatever they ask you to do, you must do it without hesitation."
Jiang Cheng said, "Okay!"
Wei Wuxian said, "And one more thing, the most important thing. If you are asked who you are, you must say that you are the son of Cangse Sanren. You must never reveal your true identity!"
Jiang Cheng said, "Okay!"
It's likely that no matter what Wei Wuxian asks for right now, he'll agree with tears in his eyes. Wei Wuxian said, "Alright, let's eat. We need to recover our strength and get some rest. I need to make some preparations these next few days."
Jiang Cheng finally realized he was holding his chopsticks upside down, switched them, ate a few more bites, his eyes reddening from the spiciness, and still couldn't help but mutter, "...This is awful!"
After being repeatedly questioned for several days about the details of Baoshan Sanren, Wei Wuxian took Jiang Cheng and set off, trekking through mountains and rivers, until they arrived at the foot of a deep mountain in Yiling.
The mountain was lush and verdant, its peaks shrouded in mist, truly possessing an ethereal quality. However, it still fell short of the sacred mountain in the hearts of mortals. Jiang Cheng had been plagued by suspicion these past few days, sometimes doubting whether Wei Wuxian was lying, sometimes wondering if Wei Wuxian had misheard or misremembered as a child, and sometimes worrying about whether he could even find it. Seeing this mountain, his doubts returned: "Is this really the place where Baoshan Sanren lives?"
Wei Wuxian said with certainty, "It's definitely here. What good would it do me to lie to you? Would lying make you happy for a few days, only to be met with an even bigger blow later?"
The two had repeated similar conversations countless times. Wei Wuxian accompanied him to the halfway point of the mountain and said, "Alright, we've come this far. I can't go any further with you."
He took out a cloth and blindfolded Jiang Cheng, repeatedly instructing him, "Whatever you do, never open your eyes. There are no wild beasts on the mountain. It's better to walk slowly than to fall and pull off the cloth. Absolutely no curiosity. Remember, stick to the story that you are Wei Wuxian. You know how to answer any question, right?"
Since this matter concerned whether he could re-form his Golden Core and avenge his blood feud, Jiang Cheng naturally dared not be careless and nodded nervously.
He turned around and slowly walked up the mountain. Wei Wuxian said, "I'll wait for you in that town we met before!"
After watching Jiang Cheng's slowly moving figure for a while, he turned around and took another mountain path.
Upon seeing this, Xiao Xingchen couldn't help but shake his head: "Master travels all over the world, how could he be found so easily in Yiling? Moreover, it is the sect's ancestral rule that those who leave the mountain never return, unless there is absolutely no other choice..."
As he spoke, Xiao Xingchen looked up and met Song Lan's gaze.
Yes, everyone knows that Wei Wuxian's words must be false, but how could he not sense anything amiss at that time and believe it so easily?
As Jiang Cheng pondered, he unconsciously bent his knees, burying his face, which he couldn't quite describe, between his knees, leaving only his white-knuckled fists exposed.
Wei Wuxian strolled up another mountain path at a leisurely pace, chasing a pheasant along the way.
When he arrived at the cabin on the mountaintop, he saw Wen Ning standing at the door. Upon seeing him, Wen Ning nervously rubbed his hands together and came to greet him.
Behind him, through the wide-open door, he could see Wen Qing bustling around at the table.
Wei Wuxian knew that Jiang Cheng had already been settled by Wen Qing and her brother.
He patted Wen Ning on the shoulder: "Go help your sister. Get ready and we'll get started."
Wen Ning nodded, then glanced at him again with pity. Seeing Wei Wuxian's resolute expression, she had no choice but to turn around and run inside to help Wen Qing.
Wei Wuxian took a deep breath, turned around, and suddenly drew the sword he had borrowed from Wen Ning, swinging it horizontally.
Draw, carry, lift, parry, strike, stab, point, collapse, stir, press, split, cut, wash.
He swung the sword harder and harder, stirring up fallen leaves on the mountaintop, and then thrust it out again as the leaves drifted down.
If a member of the Jiang family were to witness this scene, they would certainly recognize it as the Jiang family sword technique.
Wei Wuxian always liked to innovate. He modified the complete Jiang Family Sword Technique countless times. After mastering it on his own, he never properly practiced the Jiang Family Sword Technique again.
But at this moment, every move he made was the simplest movement he had ever thought possible.
He had never performed the Jiang family sword technique so earnestly and completely as he was now.
I don't know if I'll ever have another chance.
After the dance, Wei Wuxian stared blankly at the sword in his hand, which gleamed silver in the sunlight. He suddenly remembered Suibian and wondered which member of the Wen family had it.
After standing there for a long time, he finally gave a bitter laugh, sheathed his sword, and turned around.
But then he saw Wen Qing standing at the door, watching him for who knows how long.
He stepped onto the stairs, about to enter the house, when he heard a warm voice:
"If you can't bear to part with it, why do it in the first place?"
Wei Wuxian chuckled: "Since I made a promise, I must keep it."
"Let's begin with warmth; I don't want to regret it."
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