Chapter 102: Hatred—Part Five
Although he was pierced right through the chest, Jiang Cheng wasn’t so weak as to have died right then. It just wasn’t the best for him to move or conjure up his spiritual powers. He didn’t like it when others tried to help him, turning to Jin Ling he said, “Fuck off.”
Jin Ling knew Jiang Cheng was still mad at him for running around. He felt guilty and didn’t dare defend himself. The dog’s barks came from afar, followed by a sudden wail. Jin Ling shuddered as he remembered what Jin GuangYao said, shouting, “Fairy, run! They’re gonna kill you!”
Soon, Su She rushed through the storm, furious. Jin GuangYao, “You didn’t kill it?”
Su She’s expression darkened, “I couldn’t. Can’t believe the dog’s so spineless. It’s wild when somebody’s there to help it, but as soon as it’s at a disadvantage, it runs away faster than anyone!”
Jin GuangYao shook his head, “It might lead someone else over. We should finish things quickly here.”
Su She, “Those good-for-nothings! I’ll go make them hurry.”
Jin Ling, on the other hand, let out a sigh of relief. Seeing Jiang Cheng sit on the ground, still dark-faced, he turned to Lan WangJi after some hesitation, “HanGuang-Jun, are there any more sitting mats?”
The four mats that they’d been sitting on were all gathered by Lan WangJi. However, there were only four within the temple. After some silence, Lan WangJi stood up and pushed over the one he’d been sitting on.
Jin Ling hurried, “Thank you! It’s fine. I’ll just give him mine…”
Lan WangJi, “There is no need.”
As soon as he finished, he sat down beside Wei WuXian. Even as the two sat so seriously on the same sitting mat, they didn’t seem too cramped. Now that the mat was handed over already, Jin Ling scratched his head before dragging Jiang Cheng over. Jiang Cheng first pressed onto an acupoint at his chest, stopping the blood flow. After he sat down, he looked up and glanced over at Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi. He soon looked down again. His face was gloomy, disclosing nothing of what he was thinking.
Right at this point, an ecstatic cry came from behind the palace, “Sect Leader! We got it! A corner is out already!”
Jin GuangYao’s expression relaxed quite somewhat. He quickly walked back behind the palace, “Press on! Please be careful. There’s not much time left.”
Over a dozen streaks of lightning twisted their way across the edge of the sky. They were soon followed by a series of roaring thunder. Over there, Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi sat together while Jiang Cheng sat at the side. Jin Ling dragged his own mat over as well. Amid the pounding of the rain, there was a long while of dead, awkward silence. Nobody spoke up.
But for some reason, Jin Ling seemed as if he really wanted to talk to them. After some glancing around, he suddenly began, “Uncle, good thing you stopped that guqin string earlier on, or else things would be pretty bad.”
Jiang Cheng’s face darkened, “You can shut up!”
If not for him leaving Jin GuangYao with a chance for a sneak attack due to his own unstable emotions, he wouldn’t have landed in the enemy’s hands either. On top of that, in reality, Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi could’ve completely dodged the attack on their own. Even though, right now, Lan WangJi had no spiritual powers and Wei WuXian’s were low to begin with, their skills were still there. They couldn’t attack, but they were still able to dodge. Clumsily, Jin Ling was trying to speak for his uncle, yet the deliberation made the situation even more awkward.
After being scolded, Jin Ling stopped talking, embarrassed. Jiang Cheng sealed his lips together and didn’t speak again.
Wei WuXian didn’t say anything either. In the past, he’d definitely laugh at Jiang Cheng for being so easily-provoked that he gave the opponent an opportunity. But now, recalling what Jin GuangYao said, he understood everything.
Jiang Cheng knew the truth already.
Lan WangJi stroked Wei WuXian’s back a few more times. Wei WuXian looked up. Lan WangJi didn’t seem at all surprised. His eyes were almost gentle. Wei WuXian felt his heart skip a beat. He couldn’t help but whisper, “… You knew?”
Lan WangJi nodded slowly.
Wei WuXian let out a light breath, “… Wen Ning.”
Wen Ning had originally been keeping Suibian, but now it was in Jiang Cheng’s hands. And on their way back from Lotus Pier, Wen Ning said nothing of such a matter.
Wei WuXian, “When did he say it?”
Lan WangJi, “While you were unconscious.”
Wei WuXian, “This was how we left Lotus Pier?!”
If not that Wen Ning hadn’t found them yet, Wei WuXian would definitely have begun glaring at him already.
Lan WangJi, “He always felt sorry for you.”
Wei WuXian’s tone was tinged with anger, “… I told him so many times not to say it!”
Out of the blue, Jiang Cheng spoke up, “Not to do what?”
Wei WuXian paused in surprise, turning to him along with Lan WangJi. Jiang Cheng covered his wound with one hand, his voice chilly, “Wei WuXian, you’re such a great, selfless person. You did the best things possible, and you swallowed all the suffering and didn’t let anyone know. What a touching story. I should kneel down and cry in gratitude, shouldn’t I?”
Hearing the mocking tone that lacked any courtesy, Lan WangJi’s face grew cold. Jin Ling saw the displeased expression and immediately stood in front of Jiang Cheng, scared that Lan WangJi would kill him with one strike, “Uncle!”
Wei WuXian’s expression worsened as well. He never expected Jiang Cheng to make up with him after he found out the truth, but he didn’t think his tone would be as unkind as ever, either. With a moment of silence, he replied, voice muffled, “I never asked you to thank me.”
Jiang Cheng let out a hah, “Of course. Giving without expecting anything in return. What a high level. Unlike me, of course. So that’s why my father always said you were the one who truly understood the Jiang Sect’s motto and did things the Jiang way, back when he was alive.”
Wei WuXian couldn’t keep on listening any longer, interrupting him, “Enough.”
Jiang Cheng’s voice harshened, “What do you mean, enough? It’s enough as long as you say so? You know everything! You’re better than me at everything! Whether it be talent or cultivation or spirituality or personality, you guys knew everything while I was much lower—then what am I?!?!”
He suddenly reached out, as if to seize Wei WuXian’s collar. Lan WangJi grabbed Wei WuXian’s shoulder with one hand, letting Wei WuXian stand behind him, and with his other hand he forcefully pushed away Jiang Cheng’s hand. Rage could be seen hidden within his eyes. Although his push held no spiritual energy, it was quite powerful in terms of strength. The wound at Jiang Cheng’s chest ripped apart again. Blood surged.
Jin Ling cried, “Uncle, your wound! HanGuang-Jun, spare some mercy!”
However, Lan WangJi’s voice was cold, “Jiang WanYin, spare some virtue!”
Lan XiChen took off his outer robe and lay it over the shivering Nie HuaiSang, “Sect Leader Jiang, please do not be so agitated. Your injury will worsen.”
Jiang Cheng shoved Jin Ling, who’d been holding him up helplessly, out of the way. Even though he was losing blood, it rushed to his head unceasingly. His face switched between white and red, “Why? Wei WuXian, just fucking why?”
Behind Lan WangJi, Wei WuXian replied stiffly, “Why what?”
Jiang Cheng, “Just how much did we the Jiang Sect give you? I’m supposed to be his son, I’m supposed to be the heir of the YunmengJiang Sect, yet all these years I’ve been outdone by you at every single thing. You paid for your bringing-up with life! The lives of my dad, my mom, my sister, and Jin ZiXuan! Because of you, all that’s left is a parentless Jin Ling!”
Jin Ling trembled. His shoulders sunk, and his face sagged as well. Wei WuXian moved his lips, but he couldn’t say anything. Lan WangJi turned around to hold his hand.
On the other hand, Jiang Cheng refused to give up, shouting, “Wei WuXian, who was the one who broke his promise and betrayed the Jiang Sect first? Tell me. That I’d be the sect leader and you’d be my subordinate, that you’d help me your whole life, that so long as the GusuLan Sect had its Two Jades, the YunmengJiang Sect would have its Two Prides, that you’d never betray me or betray the Jiang Sect—who was the one that said these?! I’m asking you—who was the one that said all these?! Did you eat all your fucking words?!”
He got more agitated as he ranted on, “And in the end? You go and protect outsiders, haha! The Wen Sect’s people, even. How much of their rice did you eat?! Defecting with such resolution! What did you take our sect to be?! You did all the best things, yet every time you do the worst ones, it’s involuntary! Forced! With some unspeakable grievances! Grievances?! You told me nothing, you played me for a fool!!!
“Just how much do you owe the Jiang Sect? Am I not supposed to hate you? Can I not hate you?! Why is it that now it’s like I’m supposed to have wronged you?! Why do I have to feel like I’m a fucking clown all these years?! What am I? Do I deserve to be blinded by all your dazzling splendor?! Am I not supposed to hate you?!”
Lan WangJi shot up. With panic, Jin Ling stood in front of Jiang Cheng, “HanGuang-Jun! My uncle’s hurt…”
Jiang Cheng slapped him onto the ground, “Let him come! Am I scared of him?!”
But after the slap, Jin Ling froze. Not only him, Wei WuXian, Lan WangJi, and Lan XiChen all stopped moving.
Jiang Cheng was crying. Tears poured from his eyes as he forced through his teeth, “… Why… Why didn’t you tell me?!”
Jiang Cheng clenched his fist, like he wanted to hit someone, like he wanted to hit himself. In the end, he still slammed it onto the ground. He should’ve been able to loathe Wei WuXian without a care. But right now, the golden core revolving within him took away all that confidence.
Wei WuXian didn’t know what to say.
In the beginning, it was precisely because he didn’t want to see such a Jiang Cheng that he decided not to tell him.
He remembered every single thing he promised Jiang FengMian and Madam Yu—to help and take care of Jiang Cheng. If someone as unhealthily competitive as him found out about this, he’d be dispirited his whole life, too tortured to face himself. There’d always be something he could never overcome, reminding him that he could only reach where he was because of another’s sacrifice. It wasn’t at all his cultivation and his achievement. No matter if he won or lost, he’d long since lost the right to compete.
Afterwards, it was because Jin ZiXuan and Jiang YanLi died for him that he had no face to let others know. To tell Jiang Cheng after what happened then would be like shirking responsibility, hurrying to demonstrate that he’d contributed as well. It’d be like telling Jiang Cheng, don’t hate me, look I’ve contributed to the YunmengJiang Sect too.
Jiang Cheng cried soundlessly, but tears had already streaked across his face. To cry in such an unsightly way in front of others was almost impossible for him in the past. But every single moment that passed from now on, as long as the golden core remained in his body, as long as it could still revolve, he’d forever remember this feeling.
He choked, “… You said I’d be the sect leader and you’d be my subordinate, you said you’d help me your whole life, you said you’d never betray the YunmengJiang Sect… You said so yourself.”
“…” After a moment of silence, Wei WuXian replied, “I’m sorry. I broke my promise.”
Jiang Cheng shook his head, burying his face deep into his palms. A second later, he suddenly burst out with a laugh. His muffled voice mocked, “It’s such a time already, and I still need you to say sorry to me. What a fragile person I am.”
LWJ telling JC to have some virtue is the best part of this chapter lol
Thank you for the translation!!
Thank you 😘
JC was such an emotional mess now. Can’t blame him at the same time, I still feel for WWX.
Thank you so much for the update 😭😭😭
thx K. love u very much
JC, my heart bleeds for you 😭. It’s so different to see what WWX did from JC’s point of view. Neither brother is right nor wrong to feel what they feel. LWJ & JL are great because they love these two so much. Thanks for another wonderful chapter to this beautiful novel.💜
Thank you for your hard work on this chapter!
Ahhhhh I already kind of understood JC’s feelings, but actually reading them is a whole other story. I feel so bad about it and it’s just ugh making me feel too many things
I’d say after all the deaths Wei WuXian caused, to give Jiang Cheng his golden core, especially along with the fact that Wei WuXian went on to break all his promises and betray the sect that raised him…. that doesn’t even make them even. I’d say it’s a start but I’d also say that if Jiang Cheng’s only desire is to see Wei WuXian die over and over, he’s pretty justified.
Jiang Cheng’s parents… his whole sect… his sister… his brother in law. Sorry but wwx has caused too many innocent deaths to be a sympathetic character. I don’t know what Lan Zhan sees in him.
Don’t be so rough on him.
FIRST OF ALL, WWX isnt the type of person to sit around and watch injustice happen. Everything he’s done is to protect the innocent. The real cause of his sects death was the Wen Sect. Blame not the one who stood up but the people that made him have to stand up to begin with. One of the reasons He even gave up his powers and became a world-renowned butcher and devil was to make up for his hand in killing his step-parents. I will not take this slander towards WWX when the root of the problem wasn’t him. He is merely the Effect the Wen Sect Caused.
And if we’re to be honest his step parents probably would of ended up dead at some point they weren’t going to become dogs of the Wen’s.
Way harsh.
It’s not WY’s fault most of those people died. Wen Sect is to blame for the Jiang sect massacre, not Wei Ying. And even though he holds some responsibility for Jiang YanLi’s death, it was someone else who tried to kill Wei Ying and YanLi who chose to protect him.
And honestly, I have grave suspicions about just what happened to cause Jin ZiXuan’s death, seeing as it was such a huge benefit to our main villain.
Well it’s not entirely his fault. The demonic aura pushed him into being a demonic cultivator. When the heart is at it’s lowest isn’t that when we feel like we are all alone? Just like Wei Wu Xian being drowned in his own fears and wanted revenge on Wen Sect, he has been engulfed by sorrow that it surrounds his heart turning him evil. I get Jiang Cheng if I was in his situation I would react like that too. But Wei Wu Xian still provides his role as a subordinate.. gave his golden core to Jiang Cheng as if he does not value his own just to have the only family he has left have the brighter future ahead even if it means he would suffer. His atonement after he gone berserked and killed innocent people still goes on but the mere fact is that he reflects on it he regrets everything and wants forgiveness. Wei Wu Xian is a human too in this novel as much as we are in real life. If I was Lan Zhan I’d absolutely love Wei Ying too. You know why? Because a heart that is golden no matter what won’t fade even if time passes.
JC cant shrink responsibility either, he wasnt by WWX side when everybody kept saying bad things about him and planting seeds of hate in their brotherhood… He didnt try to understand why WWX turned into demonic cultivation, nor if he was ok using it… WWX didnt tell him either, so both of them drifted apart
Youre mind and views are exactly the same as the whole mob mentality that Lanling Jin sect instilled on everyone. Take some reading comprehension courses. This story was never meant to paint WWX as a savior/hero. Its him finding happiness despite all misfortunes (whether in his hand or out of his hands). He never intended to cause harm, harm is caused no matter his choices in the past. When confronted with the choices head-on, he chose the one that felt most right at the time. No one is can predict the future. Now pls get your head out of such narrow-minded views
JC’s parents death is totally wen chao’s fault, WWX just helping LWJ and JZX (is helping other people a wrong thing to do?) and JYL’s died because she protect WWX. and for JZX’s death u will know about it soon in the future chapters. And of course we sympathetic towards our WWX, he’s suffering so much because his beloved shijie died protecting him, I’m sure he will never forgive and blaming himself for the rest of his life. and u ask what LWJ sees in him? are u sure you have read the entire chapters?
ok hopefully u can understand what Im talking about with my poor english
Believe me, I really understand and I wonder the same thing as you.
So odd to see negative comments about WWX like this… maybe it’s cuz I have read the whole novel in Chinese so there’s still more left untold at this point… but I find that his only fault is that he acts a bit too careless or carefree at times. In fact, the way he handles being blamed for things/deaths that he actually did not singlehandedy cause, is admirable IMO. He doesn’t react how most people would if they were wrongly accused. When he was gonna have a hand cut off, he figured if one hand could bring peace to Yunmeng, he would just bite the bullet. He’s really quite selfless when it comes to big things, even though he may act selfish or full of himself in trivial daily things. When you look deeper, you see who he really is, not just the WWX who acts totally carefree like nothing is a big deal to him – I feel he acts like this sometimes so that he doesn’t trouble others. I think LWJ sees the true WWX, so he fell in love, and it makes sense to me. Of course most outsiders just see a total idiot running around laughing without a care in the world, but he’s much more and much better than that.
Thank you for the new chapter! 🙂
When Wei Ying betrayed JC’s sect? When he protected the Wen’s innocent people?
Yes he killed but he didn’t killed Jian Cheng’s parents. It was not his fault if Wen Chao invaded Lotus Pier. His sister (shigi??) gave her life to save him.He didn’t killed get neither her husband but yes he was indirectly involved. Yes he created the ultimate weapon the tyget seal. Lan Zhan knows him , his strength ,his weakness. I can understand why he is in love with him if you go back what they shared (good and bad) since their first meeting
Love is not a decision. You can’t predict it, you can’t force it and you can’t deny it. It simply happens. Love is chemistry, it doesn’t follow reason. Lan Wangji was struck by love the moment he laid eyes on Wei WuXian, he tried his hardest to pretend & avoid his fate, until he understood there is no escaping.
Wei WuXian never tried to suppress his urge to be around Lan Wangji, he simply didn’t put much thought into it as he can be quite shallow minded, hence realization kicked him in the teeth much later.
@Atsuko, wtf, I can’t believe I just read this!!
That’s just wow, just wow (if there’s a dislike button, I would have disliked this comment x100000)
Why is Wei Ying not sympathetic?! He sacrificed his GC for Jiang Cheng… Your comments is just so bias against Wei Ying I just *urgh*
And lastly, so going by your comment, I supposed Wei Ying saving an innocent and standing up against the Wen Dogs is wrong?! Where is your justice here?!
I guess some people actually cant understand having good morals *shrugs*. I just hope its a troll, but if not…., you know what they say, idiots are harder to talk to than intelligent people
The only thing I wanted to drop here is that, justice, although highly worshipped, differs from person to person, conditions, responsibilities, priorities, and many things. That’s why it’s actually very difficult to pinpoint.
Sure helping people out is moral. That’s what even a preschooler knew, a common sense. But see, if the economic in your country is falling, and you’re a father who’s supposed to feed 5 children back at home and you had no food except 1 bread for a whole month, you see a homeless parentless child in the street begging for food, and God asked us to help the less fortunates, then what will you do? There’s two options, one for the idealist and the other for the realist.
And y’know what, both options are neither right nor wrong. Just how it’s always been with everything in life. So what I’m trying to say, I can say with confidence WWX is right. But with the same amount of it, I can say that he’s wrong too. Why, you may ponder? Because he’s smart, which means he should know there are times to restrict oneself and know one’s limitations. Except maybe, he’s a leader sect himself, which means he’s got ACTUAL power. I really hope you got what I meant coz boy, you’re in serious trouble if you went around helping everyone you see without regarding the plus minus of the situation (i’m not even talking about profit with the ‘plus’ here, you can take it as doing good deeds like WWX which of course doing good deeds make us, the doers, feel good too)
Omg I even read someone who said: “Isn’t it Madam Yu’s fault for talking back to (I forget her name)?” Boy, with your logic which doesn’t even blame the Wens, WWX is at fault too then 😂
Btw bro, why are you asking the last question in a romance novel where the ML clearly never hate the MC sheesh (except for the foolish things he did in the beginning) are you starting a war 😂 (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
Thanks for the chapter. While I happy to see LZ protecting WWX, the JC part makes me sad, and sorry for him have this feelings all this time.. .
So much emotion, I can’t bear it ! 😀
This novel is really a master piece.
Thanks for your work. I’m waiting for the next chapter.
I understand JC so much. Poor soul. His whole life can be said he played the fool. Father didn’t show him a fair amount of love, mom made him feel inadequate, then both parents end up dead, sister dies later, loses entire clan….
And the one person who can be said is responsible for it all he can’t even hate at all because that person made such a great sacrifice for him. In the end he ends up feeling like he wronged WWX despite all the pain WWX caused him.
Damned if he do, damned if he don’t. With all these torrent emotions JC must feel like if he knew this was how life was going to do him he wouldn’t have crawled out the womb.
WWX had his reasons though, he has a strong heart and while he does love to “play the hero” and inadvertently cause greater harm, it was all from a good place. Even if all the good he did amounted to nothing since in the end the wen clan remainders that the Jiang sect died to protect also died…. And consequently cause WWX also to die….
…….
Anyway, both WWX and JC were wrong and right in some ways.
“he did amounted to nothing” i don’t think so, A yuan is still alive.
Such a complicated situation. With such things, who could possibly try to keep score of rights or wrongs.
All things are pain too great to compensate.
Thanks for the great translation ♥️
Thanks for the update!!!
This chapter was so sad… I honestly don’t like Jiang Cheng a lot but I do feel bad for him, he’s capable of so many things but he keeps comparing himself with wwx… I don’t expect them to be besties again but I hope at least they find a neutral ground with this conflict.
Also, lwj standing up for his wife was everything I needed www
SO MUCH FEELS. Reading JC’s side kinda justified the way he treated WWX. He must have felt immensely betrayed and suffered a lot since he expected WWX to stay and protect with him the sect. But WWX indirectly caused the one he should be protecting their demise. I still hope for them to make up.
WWX only desire is to save and help those he loves but that life is not so simple.
This chapter is one of my favorite. It gives us a new perspective of the characters. Thanks so much K-san!
😭😭😭
JIANG CHEEENG HHHNNNGGG YOU CINNAMON ROLL I WANT TO HUG YOU RIGHT NOW HUHUHUH
Thanks you for the chapter ~
Oh baby!!! T.T thx for the update!
The world is at fault. Not you guys.
Wow I still hate Jiang Cheng, I thought now he’d stop being a dick but guess I was wrong, because I still hate him. I just might be bias though.
Someone give Jiang Cheng a hug please. My poor angsty child. It hurts to be in his position the most I would say. It really stings when he repeated how WWX promised to stay by his side as his subordinate and him as the sect leader twice. I don’t think he blames the man for the death of his parents, sister and brother in law as much as him breaking his promise. He expected his brother to be by his side till the end, the poor poor guy. :'(
the harsh part is, WWX cant hug him right now even if he wants to, because JC will reject him, and he is terrified of such a rejection
Not sure if it’s the time period in which this story is based on or Wei WuXian’s habit of becoming stiff when someone is crying, probably both, makes me doubt he even thinks of hugging him.
Thank you for this chapter.
I almost cried with Jiang Cheng.
Have all this hate, pain and jealousy hidden deep inside him. Now, knowing that most of his strength to rebuild his sect came from Wei Ying sacrificing his golden core without being warned …. Of course, he felt betrayed by Wei Ying, but his pain is largely due to the fact that he lost his friend, his brother, his support. Because of his suffering, he put the death of his family and the destruction of Lotus Pier on the shoulders of Wei Ying. He does not know how strong he is. For example, back in the Wuxian cave, he saved all the disciples by finding a way under the water and bringing them out. He ran for help and saved Wei Ying and Lan Zhan.
For 13 years, he was alone but was able to rebuild Lotus Pier and emerged as a great sect leader.
What can Wei Ying do now? What can he answer? Jiang Cheng cries and he cries with him deep in his heart, feeling very bad and sad for him. Wei Ying always had good intentions but in the end, these intentions turn against him. He will be there for Jiang Cheng if he needs him, but he will never come back to Lotus Pier. He chose his life, his love. He chose Lan Zhan (long time ago without realizing it, which is why he was only teasing Lan Zhan and saved him when they were teenagers and young adults) and will stay by his side whatever come. The two will stay together, choosing one another. This can be considered a treachery in the eyes of Jian Chang.
The fact that Lan Zhan knew the true about Golden Core is a good thing. It’s a little less weight for Wei YIng and the fact that Lan Zhan accepts his weakness in spiritual powers.
Nobody can put our finger on Wei Ying. Lan Zhan protects him. Lan Zan can now touch Wei Ying at will and in front of others since their common feelings have been revealed. He proved it by stroking Wei Ying’s back a more than one time.
Lin Jing is divided in two, he loves both of his uncles. I hope that Jiang Chang will find love and happiness. Someone who will heal his heart, understand it and accept it as it is.
i want to cry but have no tears…im so conflicted…
Thank you for the update K! This one definitely got me in the feels
16 years later and for every bit that he hates Wei Wuxian he also just misses having his brother by his side.
Thank you
Although it is an emotional rollercoaster, this chapter is the best out of all (not counting the LW, WW moments). The character development is so good and relatable.
Thanks for the translation!
Jiang Cheng (TдT)
this nephew and uncle are both so precious, ahhh how can a reader reach out inside the novel and hug them both!
Tbh, this is like some family drama ehehehehe (*´ω｀*)
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TRANSLATING 💕 YOU GUYS ARE SOO GOOODDD!!!!