Loyalty - Part 10

When Jiang Cheng accused him, Wei WuXian couldn't defend himself at all, but he just couldn't bear it when such words were being directed at Lan WangJi.

Wei WuXian, "Jiang Cheng, just listen to yourself. What are you saying? Is it appropriate? Don't forget who you are. After all, you're the leader of a sect. Insulting a renowned cultivator in front of Uncle Jiang and Madam Yu's spirits—where is your discipline?"

His original intention was to remind Jiang Cheng to at least hold some respect for Lan WangJi. However, Jiang Cheng was the most sensitive. From those words, he managed to make out the notion that he wasn't fit to be a sect leader. Immediately, darkness crawled up his face, bearing an eerie similarity to how Madam Yu looked when she was angry. His voice was harsh, "Who's the one insulting my parents in front of their spirits?! Could you two please understand whose sect you're in? I don't care if you act so shamelessly outside, but don't you dare fool around inside our ancestral hall, before my parents' spirits! After all, they were the ones who brought you up—even I feel ashamed for you!"

Wei WuXian never expected such a huge blow to crash down on him. He was both shocked and furious, blurting, "Shut up!"

Jiang Cheng pointed outside, "Mess around outside however you want, whether under a tree or on a boat, hugging or otherwise! Get out of my sect, get out of anywhere my eyes can see!"

Hearing him mention 'under a tree', Wei WuXian felt his heart skip a beat—could Jiang Cheng have seen the scene where he crashed into Lan WangJi's arms?

His guess was not wrong. Jiang Cheng did indeed go out to find Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi. He chased after them in the direction that the street vendors pointed at. A voice in his heart seemed to tell him to which places Wei WuXian would definitely go. He caught up to them in just a while. Yet, he just so happened to see Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi enveloped in a tight embrace under a tree, unwilling to let go of each other even after so long.

Goosebumps immediately ran down Jiang Cheng's body.

Although he'd made guesses at the relationship between Mo XuanYu and Lan WangJi before, they were only attacks trying to offend Wei WuXian, not that he really doubted anything. He'd never thought that Wei WuXian would have ambiguous ties with a man, for after all, when they grew up together, Wei WuXian had never expressed any such interest. He'd always loved good-looking girls with a passion. On the other hand, it was even more impossible for Lan WangJi. He was famous for his asceticism, seemingly interested in neither men nor women.

But hugging like that seemed abnormal no matter what. At least, they didn't seem like normal friends or brothers. He immediately recalled that Wei WuXian had always stuck to Lan WangJi ever since he came back. Lan WangJi's attitude toward him was also different from what it was before he was reborn. At once, he was almost certain that the two really were in that kind of relationship. He couldn't turn around and leave, yet he didn't want to say a single word to the two, so he continued to hide himself as he followed them. Every single look and movement that passed between them seemed different in his eyes. For a while, the shock, absurdity, and slight disgust that he felt combined to overpower his hatred. It was only after Wei WuXian brought Lan WangJi into the ancestral hall that the long-suppressed hatred was awakened again, devouring his courtesy and rationality.

Wei WuXian was holding something back, "Jiang WanYin, you… apologize right now."

Jiang Cheng mocked, "Apologize? For what? For exposing your thing for each other?"

Wei WuXian raged, "HanGuang-Jun is only my friend—what do you think we are?! I warn you. Apologize right now—don't make me beat you up!"

Hearing this, Lan WangJi's expression froze for an instant. Jiang Cheng laughed, "Well, then I've never seen 'friends' like that before? You warn me? Warn me against what? If you two had the slightest trace of integrity left, you shouldn't have come here and…"

Seeing the change in Lan WangJi's expression, Wei WuXian thought he felt insulted by Jiang Cheng's words. He was so angry that his entire body was shaking. He didn't dare think about what Lan WangJi would think after being shamed like this. The rage from his heart rushed to his head as he threw out a talisman, "Have you had enough yet?"

The talisman was both fast and powerful. It exploded at Jiang Cheng's right shoulder, causing him to stagger. Jiang Cheng didn't expect Wei WuXian to attack so suddenly. His spiritual powers hadn't recovered completely yet, either, and so the talisman hit its target. Blood seeped from his shoulder as disbelief flashed across his face. Zidian immediately unravelled from his fingers, lashing out with sizzling light. Lan WangJi unsheathed Bichen to block the attack. The three began to fight inside the ancestral hall.

Jiang Cheng's voice was as hideous as the look in his eyes, "Very well! A fight it is, then! You think I'm scared?!"

Yet, as he fended off a couple of attacks, Wei WuXian suddenly remembered. This was the YunmengJiang Sect's ancestral hall. Just a short while ago, he was kneeling here, asking for the Jiang couple's blessings, yet now, he was attacking their son with Lan WangJi, right in front of their eyes!

As though doused in an icy waterfall, he felt the light in his eyes flicker between light and dark. Lan WangJi glanced at him before whirling around and grabbing his shoulders. Jiang Cheng's expression changed as well. He stopped his whip as his eyes gleamed with alertness.

Lan WangJi, "Wei Ying?!" His low voice rang within Wei WuXian's ears, echoing endlessly.

Wei WuXian was starting doubt if something happened to his ears, "What's wrong?"

He felt something streak down his face, but reached up only to retrieve a handful of scarlet. Accompanied by throbs of dizziness, blood continued to drip down his nose and his mouth, onto the ground.

This time, he finally wasn't faking it anymore.

Wei WuXian could barely manage to stand, holding onto Lan WangJi's arm. Seeing that the white clothes that Lan WangJi had just changed into were dyed red by his blood again, he couldn't help but reached out to wipe them, worried in an ill-timed way, I made his clothes dirty again.

Lan WangJi, "How do you feel?!"

Wei WuXian didn't answer the question, "Lan Zhan… Let's go."

Go. Right now.

Don't ever come back again.

Lan WangJi, "Yes."

He'd completely lost all intention to continue the fight with Jiang Cheng. Without saying anything, he picked Wei WuXian up and turned to leave. Jiang Cheng was full of both shock and doubt. He was shocked that Wei WuXian was suddenly in such a terrible condition, yet doubtful that this might be a pretense Wei WuXian came up with to escape. After all, Wei WuXian had often used this to pull pranks on him in the past.

Seeing that the two were about to leave, he shouted, "Stop!"

Lan WangJi seethed, "Leave!"

What came as well was Bichen, the force of which immediately flung out. Zidian also lashed, and the two struck, sending out an ear-piercing clash. Impacted by the noise, Wei WuXian's head almost split into two. Like a dying candlelight that was finally blown out, he closed his eyes, and his head drooped as well. Feeling the weight on his shoulder, Lan WangJi retreated from the fight to feel his breathing. Without the help of its owner, Bichen was slowly being overpowered by the approaching Zidian. Jiang Cheng didn't really want to hit Lan WangJi, and immediately retracted his whip, but it was already too late. Just now, however, a figure leaped down from the side and blocked between the two.

Jiang Cheng looked to find that the uninvited guest was Wen Ning. Immediately, he raged, "Who let you inside Lotus Pier?! How dare you!"

He could manage to tolerate others, but definitely not Wen Ning, the Wen-dog who put his hand through Jin ZiXuan's heart and ended both his sister's happiness and her life. Just a look, and he felt the urge to kill him right there. How dare he step foot on the earth of Lotus Pier—he really was looking for his death!

Because of the two lives and many other reasons, Wen Ning had always felt guilty, and so he'd always been somewhat scared of Jiang Cheng, consciously avoiding him all the time. Right now, however, he blocked Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi as he faced him, taking the hard lash. A gruesome scorch climbed across his chest, but still he didn't flinch.

Having come to the conclusion that Wei WuXian was only in a temporary state of unconsciousness due to extreme fatigue and anger, Lan WangJi finally tore his gaze away. He saw that Wen Ning held something in his hands and passed it to Jiang Cheng. Zidian, in Jiang Cheng's right hand, glowed so bright that it was almost white, its light surging alongside the killing intent within him. He laughed from the rage, "What do you want?"

The object was Wei WuXian's sword, Suibian. On the way, Wei WuXian tossed it everywhere due to it being too much of a hassle. In the end, he left it in Wen Ning's care. Wen Ning held it as he spoke, "Pull it out."

His tone was firm, and his eyes determined. He had nothing of his previously blank look left.

Jiang Cheng, "I warn you. If you don't want to be turned to ashes once more, then immediately move your feet off of Lotus Pier's soil. Leave!"

Wen Ning was almost thrusting the sword hilt into his chest. His voice soared, "Do it. Pull it out!"

Annoyance swelled in Jiang Cheng. His heart pounded without a reason. For whatever reason, he really did do as Wen Ning said. He held Suibian's hilt with his left hand and pulled on it hard.

A white, glaring blade was removed from its plain hilt!

Jiang Cheng stared down at the glimmering sword in his hand. He only realized after a few moments.

The sword was Suibian, Wei WuXian's sword. After the siege at Burial Mound, it was collected as a battle trophy by the LanlingJin Sect's people. It'd long since sealed itself. Of those who saw it later, not a single one was able to pull it out.

But why could he do it? Did the sword lift its seal?

Wen Ning, "It's not that the sword lifted its seal! Even now, it's still sealed. If you put it back into its sheath and ask someone else to unsheath it, nobody would be able to pull it out."

The chaotic confusion within Jiang Cheng could be seen shown on his face, "Then why could I pull it out?"

Wen Ning, "Because the sword took you as Young Master Wei."

Carrying the unconscious Wei WuXian on his back, Lan WangJi stood up.

Jiang Cheng shouted, "What do you mean the sword took me as Wei WuXian? How?! Why would it be me?!"

Wen Ning's voice was even harsher, "Because the golden core that is revolving inside you right now is his!"