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.”
Everyone focusing on JC while I’m just noticing that Lan Zhan is hugging, stroking, gazing, protecting Wei ying standing by his side very closely all the entire time, he really doesn’t give a damn now about what other people think, I love it. Now that JC is in a middle of his tantrum, it’s surprising that he didn’t mention how it’s so obvious now that they are together and Wei Ying denied it when he discovered it before.
Don’t worry I always realize that little lovey dovey sweet action
Ok after reading this for so many times.. Am I the only one who can’t seem to understand Jiang Cheng? I mean he’s so complicated 😂 Is he mad or gulity or happy or sad or what?
I dont think Jiang cheng himself understand.
“Is he mad or gulity or happy or sad or what?”
…Yes. To all of those, and many other feelings.
Remember – as most people, he lives life the way he was taught to, and his primary teacher was Yu Ziyuan. He was literally never taught how to express any emotions, any impulses or opinions or feelings, in a remotely healthy or positive manner. And the circumstances of the schism between him and WWX were not such as to foster communication, nor is WWX the most communicative of people – he talks a great deal, but seldom about serious stuff.
As a result of this and losing everyone he loved (except a one-month-old baby nephew), JC has spent 13 years repressing and bottling-up every feeling besides anger & hatred. Now that he’s being forced to confront them, now that he lacks the energy to feel & project anger and arrogance to conceal them, they’re spilling out all over the place.
JC feels wronged by WY and LZ. He feels that WY is giving LZ the love and devotion that should go to him. He had been counting on it, and after everything that he and his family did for WY, he feels abandoned, double crossed even. He’s extremely jealous of their relationship and hates LZ because he knows that they are truly in love and at bottom he really loves WY too. His broken heart is filled with bitterness, hatred, and malice. To top it all Jiang Chen is extremely lonely. I think he is a very tragic character, and as un-likable as he is, my heart goes out to him.
@April… what u said abt JC is really spot on 👍
Too bad Wei Ying didn’t know that and Lan Zhan didn’t care. Or else these brothers might reconcile sooner
Jiang Cheng is lonely by choice. He has his nephew, who clearly cares about him, but he’s so overprotective that it makes Jin Ling to rebel against him. Also, he could’ve found a wife by now and have some kids of his own. He just chose to focus on his bitterness and pain instead of trying to be happy and move on.
Well the poor guy is a very prideful man. But he’s always been considered less than WWX. Being continually put in his shadow and generally liked less despite his seriousness and always trying to do his best hurt him a lot. WWX tried to help out with that, but it was like putting ointment on a cancer. That hatred and envy and sadness had been bundled up for so many years and it really came out in this chapter.
Honestly, as bad as we’re all supposed to feel for Jiang Cheng, the only one I can focus on is Jin Ling. Not just because his parents died young, but the one person who raised him and he clearly looks up to the most is constantly abusing him. I just want Wei Wuxian to hug and protect him and show him what a good relative is. 😦
imagine it in all the detail that would make you happy and voila its done!
Totally agree!
nah nah, JC never actually hit him, despite all the threatens. This was probably just the first time, he has ever gotten hitten.
Excuse me? Abuse is abuse. Abuse doesn’t have to just be physical, and if anything Jiang Cheng is the perfect example of what happens when you grow up with emotional abuse and an unhealthy education. His constant envy of WWX, his inferiority complex, his choice over and over again to do what saves face rather than what is right or moral (despite all the times his father lectured him and tried to make him see how his selfishness was wrong) all led to this moment.
Do you think what Madame Yu did to Wei Ying growing up – constantly berating him, putting him down as an outsider and stirring up conflict between him and his brother, forcing him to kneel, etc. was ok since she never REALLY hit him?
Jin Ling is an orphan just as WWX was, Jiang Cheng was his ONLY parent and he was ostracized by his peers as well. And yet Jiang Cheng treats him like that in every moment, without a single thought for how harmful it is.
Honestly the abusive upbringing – both emotional and physical – is still part of so many Asian households and I feel like it’s precisely because people still excuse it since “your parents still love you and never REALLY caused permanent damage.”
I like to headcanon that JGY is the one that raised JL, I mean he is the Jin heir, of course he will live in JinlinTai, while he visits JC every once in a while and because JGY is not a cultivator JC is the one who joins him in nighthunts. I mean JGY gave JL Fairy to helpm him when he couldnt make friends and was sad because of his life, hate JGY all you want but he was a good uncle (and thats why JL cant hate him even after everything he learned) someone give JL a hug!
And i Think that its canon that wwx acts like an uncle for JL, I mean they even go nighthunting together with the other juniors
honestly, that’s like 80% of asian parents to you. That’s probs how JC was raised. JC actually cares for JL, it’s not really ‘abuse’. Besides, JC is really really broken in this scene, naturally he wouldn’t let anyone near him. It’s even stated he wouldn’t normally break down in front of people like this.
💔
Now, can someone tell me why ppl are shipping JC and the other Lan? I really don’t see it lol
Because Lan Huan’s calm and balance would make a perfect foil to JC’s volatility and passion. Ofc, it’s not going to happen, but they’d actually make a decent couple.
Also, JC’s requirements in his partner all fits Lan XiChen i guess, minus the not so high cultivation he wants his spouse to have lol. Add that to his personality, no wonder all the female cultivators blacklisted him. Its a popular headcanon ship, XiCheng. If the author chooses to include more gay couple and if both of them are not responsible for the future of their respective Sects, it could actually work out. They’re both basically alone at the end and has a bittersweer endings, they could fit each other’s puzzle. Anyways, i don’t ship anyone besides WangXian, but its really fun to see other potential ships as well like SongXiao etc. from different fans. This is the fun of MDZS. I even appreciate crack ships like NMJ and WQ, these two would actually be a formidable couple tbh. They’re both scary and tough as nails.
I don´t see it either at all o.O
I think Lan Xichen deserves someone better than Jiang Cheng. No one should have to put up with that kind of person
Hes been through a lot though.. He literally has no one in corner. I feel as though I understand JC and can relate to him
someone said its because LXC is one of the two characters that didnt openly treat JC rudely (the other one is NHS) the bar is on the ground lol
I cant see it working, for starters the things JC said about LWJ (letting him die to ‘save’ LP, blaming him for everything, his rant at LP) will surely make LXC say no, LXC cant stand people insulting or hurting his brother, even JGY and Su She know about this, even JC know about this, it was mention in the first chapters. JC morals and LXC morals are opposites to each other, they just dont match, unless JC starts behaving like a normal human being it wont work
But everyone can ship whatever they want to ship
this chapter is so heartbreaking honestly… im to upset to even say anythng else
JC grew up with alot of insecurity. Since childhood he always felt that he is lacking in his father’s eyes and that he knew that his mother wasnt love by his father too. He needs sombody to constantly remind him that he was loved, needs support all the time , he thought WWC would be it. But later on he felt betrayed by him, a blow he could not handle. He is such a pitiful character. Alone and bitter…
Word. If only he’d had insight and the courage to stand by Wei WuXian! Jin GuangYao’s critique of Jiang Cheng’s tactical naïveté was spot on.
Yes. This helps me articulate Wrc is going on in him
Honestly, he really really needs therapy…
JC might be chronically cantankerous but he has always wanted WWX to stick by his side but his efforts have been overlooked all the time including WWX. He’s never been thanked and has been emotionally uncared for the majority of his life. It’s been said many times in these chapters that he might be saying something nice but the tone doesn’t match with what he means; you can’t blame him that’s how Madam Yu always voiced her concerns. JC’s main goal in life imo was to actually be surrounded by people that loved and supported him he was straight forward during his time in the Burail Mounds that he cant protect WWX if he continued down his path; at the end of the day JC has a fragile ego but still a heart of gold.
Lol now everytime I see the notice saying “do not comment any spoilers I feel kinda relieved and excited cuz I think it’s something of lan zhan and wei
Jiang Cheng really becomes crazy when he’s emotional.
I listened to The Untamed song “Life is a stranger” while reading this chapter and omg I’m SOOOBBIIIIING…….
I’m not supposed to but I laughed so hard when Jian Cheng said, ” Why do I have to feel like I’m a fucking clown all these years?”
Tears. TT
Jiang Cheng is probably the most co Plex and close to real human character in my opinion
Complex*
Thanks for the translation by the way all the songs are beautiful thank you
okay but everytime k-san put song to the chapter and when i played it n hear a fucking sad song before start reading i just cant bear myself to face the fucking sad chapter 😥
How sweet they are now.. im really imagining everything
I dont feel sorry for Jiang Cheng at all. Look at the words he uses. Stupid guy. Why he needs WWX as his subordinate? Cant he manage by himself? Now crying cant negate loathsome words he spoke to WWX and LZ.
Bro, running a sect isn’t meant to be a one man job, especially if you’re single. Even his dad had a subordinate AND a wife. He’s broken, and you clearly don’t understand that. He’s not stupid, he’s hurt. If you’ve ever felt hurt you’d understand that you don’t think clearly, and if you’re emotionally constipated, you’ll know that when you break, you b r e a k. Everything comes out like a waterfall, even stuff you’ve meant to hold in.
Exactly. Besides ppl should let him speak and hear him out no matter they agree or not, like him or not. JC really needs to get everything off his chest and speaks his mind. Letting it all out, some of the burden will be relieved for sure. And he is seriously hurt inside. People may not like him or agree with him, but he still needs to get that off his chest, he’s been keeping it inside for so long.
I have the urge to jump in my phone and hug all those negativity out of JC. He’s an ass and all that but he deserves better T^T
it’s hard to not cry in this chapter ;(((
Jiang Cheng just needed love and support his whole life. Arghh baby come here imma shower you with love enough for 7 lifetimes T_T
JC is very human and very flawed. Not in an evil way, but in ways that make him weak. Although JC’s parents contributed a lot to his insecurities, that is no true excuse for his behavior. Lots of people just want love, but still try and behave. JC makes bad decisions all by himself. I think his parents asked WWX to watch over JC because they knew he would have a hard time without WWX.
No one should pity JC. He gets out of life what he puts into it and now he gets to see himself as he really is. He has always been jealous of WWX. Even though JC had position and a family and would inherit the Sect leadership. If he was a better man he would have been content with WWX’s support and loyalty. WWX has told him not to go and get his core stolen —WWX tried to get him to get to safety and find their sister, but JC wouldn’t listen and WWX had to give up his golden core and tragedy occurred. It wasn’t all JC’s fault, but things might have turned out differently if JC had acted more wisely all along.
This is sad but not so very bad because our heroes are in each other’s arms and that is GOOD! 🙂
JC you’re that fragile really but you’re the most complicated character on this novel you showed us many complicated feelings hatred, anger,weakness, all the emotion of humans you portrayed it well.
Everyone is so hurt…
Even with all of those outbursts of JC, deep inside he still cares for WW. He is just insecure and needs someone to appreciate him….that is what he expected from wei ying. But of course, WW is free spirited. You cannot contain him in his past life. He made a promise to himself and LWJ that he will always help those who are weak and in need of justice (this is where he and LWJ are compatible). JC cannot connect and understand this kind of character of WW. He is too bourgeois! LWJ on the other hand though he comes from a rich clan, he is not selective of whom to help like WW.