Chapter 73: Recklessness—Part Two
On that night, an extreme crisis flooded the cultivational world.
At midnight, in the Golden Pavilion on Koi Tower sat over fifty sect leaders from sects of all sizes. Jin GuangShan sat in the foremost seat. Jin ZiXuan was away, while Jin ZiXun didn’t have enough experience, so Jin GuangYao was the only one who stood beside him. In the front row sat sect leaders and famed cultivators like Nie MingJue, Jiang Cheng, Lan XiChen, and Lan WangJi. All of their expressions were solemn. The next row sat sect leaders of lesser importance.
They seemed as if they were confronted with a formidable enemy, at times whispering things like, “I knew it.”
“It would’ve been like this sooner or later.”
“Let’s see how they intend on dealing with this.”
Jiang Cheng was the center of everyone’s gaze. Sitting in the front, his face was clouded. Along with the others, he was listening to Jin GuangYao explaining things, his expression respectful and his tone soft.
“… Four inspectors were harmed. Around fifty of the remaining Wen Sect members escaped. After Wei WuXian led them into Burial Mound, he summoned hundreds of fierce corpses to patrol the base of the mountain. Our people still can’t get any further.”
When he finished, silence filled Golden Pavilion.
Jiang Cheng only spoke after a few moments, “What he did was indeed a bit too much. Sect Leader Jin, I apologize to you in place of him. If there’s any way at all to help the situation, please let me know. I’ll definitely compensate for things however I can.”
What Jin GuangShan wanted, however, wasn’t his apology or his compensation, “Sect Leader Jiang, at first, for your sake, the LanlingJin Sect didn’t intend on saying anything. However, some of these inspectors weren’t from the Jin Sect. There were a few from other sects as well. This makes it…”
Jiang Cheng’s brows were knitted. He rubbed the vein that throbbed at his temple and soundlessly took in a deep breath, “… I apologize to all of the Sect Leaders. Everyone, I’m afraid you don’t know that the Wen cultivator whom Wei WuXian wanted to save was called Wen Ning. We owe him and his sister Wen Qing gratitude for what happened during the Sunshot Campaign.”
Nie MingJue, “You owe them gratitude? Isn’t the QishanWen Sect the ones who caused the YunmengJiang Sect’s annihilation?”
Within these few years, Jiang Cheng insisted on working late into the night every day. That day, just as he decided to rest early, he had to rush to Koi Tower overnight because of the thundering news. He’d been suppressing some anger under his fatigue since the beginning. With his natural competitiveness, he was already quite agitated since he had to apologize to other people. When he heard Nie MingJue mention the incident of his sect again, hatred sprouted within him.
The hatred was directed at not only everyone who was seated in this room, but also Wei WuXian.
Lan XiChen responded a moment later, “I have heard of Wen Qing’s name a few of times. I do not remember her having participated in any of the Sunshot Campaign’s crimes.”
Nie MingJue, “But she’s never stopped them either.”
Lan XiChen, “Wen Qing was one of Wen RuoHan’s most trusted people. How could she have stopped them?”
Nie MingJue spoke coldly, “If she responded with only silence and not opposition when the Wen Sect was causing mayhem, it’s the same as indifference. She shouldn’t have been so delusioned as to hope that she could be treated with respect when the Wen Sect was doing evil and be unwilling to suffer the consequences and pay the price when the Wen Sect was wiped out.”
Lan XiChen knew that because of what happened to his father, Nie MingJue abhorred Wen-dogs more than anything, especially with how intolerable he was toward evil. Lan XiChen didn’t say anything else.
One of the sect leaders spoke up, “What Sect Leader Nie said is quite right. Besides, Wen Qing is one of Wen RuoHan’s most trusted people. You’re telling me she never participated? Well I don’t buy it. Is there any Wen-dog without a single drop of blood on their hands? Maybe it’s just that we haven’t found out about it yet!”
As soon as the Wen Sect’s past cruelties were mentioned, the crowd boiled over, surging and chattering. Jin GuangShan wanted to talk, but he grew displeased, seeing this.
Jin GuangYao noticed his change in expression and raised his voice at once, “Everyone, please calm down. This isn’t the focus of what we’re discussing today.” As he spoke, he let the servants carry out chilled slices of fruits to divert the people’s attention. Eventually, Golden Pavilion managed to quiet down.
Taking this opportunity, Jin GuangShan spoke, “Sect Leader Jiang, this was supposed to be a matter of your sect. It wouldn’t have been appropriate for me to barge in. But now that things are like this, I’ll have to caution you on the topic of Wei Ying.”
Jiang Cheng, “Sect Leader Jin, go ahead.”
Jin GuangShan, “Sect Leader Jiang, Wei Ying is your right-hand man. You value him a lot. All of us know this. However, on the other hand, it’s hard to tell whether or not he actually respects you. In any case, I’ve been a sect leader for so many years and I’ve never seen the servant of any sect dare be so arrogant, so proud. Have you heard what they say outside? Things like how during the Sunshot Campaign the victories of the YunmengJiang Sect were all because of Wei WuXian alone—what nonsense!”
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng’s face was already quite dark. Jin GuangShan shook his head, “In an event as important as the Flower Banquet, he dared throw a fit right in front of you, leaving however he pleased. He even dared say something like ‘I don’t care about the sect leader Jiang WanYin at all!’ Everyone who was there heard it with their own ears…”
Suddenly, an indifferent voice spoke up, “No.”
Jin GuangShan was in the middle of his fabrication. Hearing this, he paused in surprise, turning along with the crowd to see who it was.
Lan WangJi sat with his back straight, speaking in a tone of absolute tranquility, “I did not hear Wei Ying say this. I did not hear him express the slightest disrespect towards Sect Leader Jiang either.”
Lan WangJi rarely spoke when he was outside. Even when they debated cultivation techniques during Discussion Conferences, he only answered when others questioned or challenged him. With utmost concision, he overcame, without fault, the lengthy arguments of others. Apart from this, he almost never spoke up. And thus, when Jin GuangShan was interrupted by him, he experienced a far greater shock than annoyance. But after all, his fabrication was exposed right in front of so many. He felt a bit awkward.
The good thing was that, not long after he felt awkward, Jin GuangYao came to save the day, exclaiming, “Really? That day, Young Master Wei bursted into Koi Tower with such force. He said too many things, one more shocking than the next. Perhaps he said a few things that were along those lines. I can’t remember them either.”
His memory could only be equal to Lan WangJi’s, if not better. As soon as he heard it, Nie MingJue knew that he was fibbing on purpose, frowning slightly.
Jin GuangShan followed the transition, “That’s right. Anyhow, his attitude has always been arrogant.”
One of the sect leaders added, “To be honest, I’ve wanted to say this since a long time ago. Although Wei WuXian did a few things during the Sunshot Campaign, there are many guest cultivators who did more than him. I’ve never seen anyone as full of themselves as him. Excuse my bluntness, but he’s the son of a servant. How could the son of a servant be so arrogant?”
With him having brought up the ‘son of a servant’, naturally there’d be some who connected it to the ‘son of a prostitute’ standing in the hall. Jin GuangYao clearly noticed the unkind stares. Yet, his smile remained perfect, not at all faltering. The crowd went with the flow and voiced their complaints.
“In the beginning, Sect Leader Jin asked Wei Ying for the Tiger Seal with nothing but good intentions, worried that he wouldn’t be able to control it and lead to a disaster. He, however, used his own yardstick to measure another’s intents. Did he think that everyone is after his treasure? What a joke. In terms of treasures, is there any sect that doesn’t hold a few treasures?”
“I knew that something would eventually happen if he continued on the ghostly path—look! His killing intents are being revealed already. Killing indiscriminately those from our side just because of a few Wen-dogs…”
Suddenly, a careful voice interjected, “It’s not killing indiscriminately, is it?”
Lan WangJi seemed to have entered a realm of zen that blocked all of his senses. Hearing this, however, he moved, looking over. The one who spoke was a young woman with a fair space, standing beside one of the sect leaders. Her out-of-place comment immediately became the target of the other cultivators nearby, “What do you mean?”
The woman seemed as if she was scared. She was even more careful, “No… I don’t mean anything more. There’s no need to be so agitated, everyone. I just feel that the words ‘killing indiscriminately’ isn’t really suitable.”
Someone else spat, “How is it unsuitable? Wei WuXian has been killing indiscriminately ever since the Sunshot Campaign. Can you disprove this?”
The woman tried hard to protest, “The Sunshot Campaign is a battlefield. In the battlefield, would it mean that everyone is killing indiscriminately? Let’s consider this as it stands. I really don’t think it’s right to say that he killed indiscriminately. After all, there is a reason. If the inspectors really abused the prisoners and killed Wen Ning, it wouldn’t be called killing indiscriminately anymore, but rather revenge…”
One of them raged, “You’re almost laughable! Don’t tell me you think he’s right to have killed our people! Don’t tell me you’re going to praise that it was an act of justice!”
Another one of them mocked, “We still don’t know whether or not the inspectors really did those things. It’s not like anybody saw it with their own eyes.”
“That’s right. All of the inspectors who lived said that they definitely didn’t abuse the prisoners. Wen Ning died because he himself accidentally fell from a cliff. They even went so far as to take back his corpse and bury him, yet they received such revenge. How disappointing!”
The woman said, “The other inspectors are scared that they’d be responsible for abusing the prisoners and killing people. Of course they’d insist that he fell off on his own…”
Suddenly, someone sneered, “You can stop arguing. We don’t want to hear the comments of someone who has other motives.”
The woman’s face flushed. She raised her voice, “Explain things. What do you mean I have other motives?”
The person replied, “There’s no need for me to say anything. You know, deep down, and we know too. You fell for him back in the cave of the Xuanwu just because he flirted with you? You’re still arguing for him, calling white black no matter how irrational it is. Ha, women will always be women.”
The incident of Wei WuXian saving a damsel in distress in the cave of the Xuanwu was indeed once a topic of conversation. Thus, many people realized immediately that this young woman was ‘MianMian’.
At once, somebody murmured, “So that’s why. Explains how she’s so desperate as to speak up for Wei WuXian…”
MianMian fumed, “Irrational? Calling white black? I’m just being considerate it as it stands. What does it have to do with the fact that I’m a woman? You can’t be rational with me so you’re attacking me with other things?”
Someone jeered, “Tsk, tsk tsk. Look at how innocent you make yourself to be. Even your heart has grown sideways—how could you consider things as they stand?”
“Stop wasting your time on her. How could someone like her be from our sect? And she even found her way into Golden Pavilion. I’m embarrassed just standing beside her.”
Many of those who spoke against her were from the same sect as her. MianMian was so enraged that her eyes grew red. Holding in her tears, she shouted a moment later, “Fine! Your voices are louder! Fine! You’re the rational ones!”
She clenched her teeth and took off the crested robe she wore with force, slamming it onto the table with a loud bang. Even the sect leaders in the front rows, who weren’t paying attention to this side, turned around to see what happened. The ones beside her were indeed surprised. What she did meant that she was ‘leaving the sect’?
Saying nothing, MianMian turned around and left. A while later, someone laughed, “If you’re taking it off, then don’t put it on again, if you’re so capable!”
“Who does she think she is… leaving as she pleases? Who cares? What’s she doing this to prove?”
Soon, some began to agree, “Women will always be women. They quit just after you say a few harsh words. She’ll definitely come back on her own, a couple of days later.”
“There’s no doubt. After all, she finally managed to turn from the daughter of a servant to a disciple, haha…”
Ignoring the rioting voices behind him, Lan WangJi stood up as well and exitted. After Lan XiChen understood what happened a few moments ago, hearing how the direction of their discussion worsened, he spoke up, “Everyone, she is gone already. Let us settle down.”
Now that ZeWu-Jun had spoken, of course the people had to give him some face. In Golden Pavilion, one after another, they began to denounce Wei WuXian and the Wen-dogs again. They all spoke with passionate hatred, letting their indiscriminate, irrefutable loathing dance in the air. Using the atmosphere, Jin GuangShan turned to Jiang Cheng, “He’s been plotting for a while to go to Burial Mound, hasn’t he? After all, with his skills, it wouldn’t be too hard to set up a sect of his own. And so, he used this as a chance to leave the Jiang Sect, intending to do whatever he pleases in the bright skies outside. You rebuilt the YunmengJiang Sect with so much work. He’s got a few controversial traits in him to begin with, and still he doesn’t restrain himself, stirring up so much trouble for you. He doesn’t care about you at all.”
Jiang Cheng pretended to stand his ground, “That probably isn’t that case. Wei WuXian has been like this ever since he was young. Even my father couldn’t do anything about him.”
Jin GuangYao, “Even FengMian-xiong couldn’t do anything about him, huh?” He chuckled a few times, “FengMian-xiong just favors him.”
Hearing the words ‘favors him’, the muscles beside the corners of Jiang Cheng’s mouth twitched.
Jin GuangShan continued, “Sect Leader Jiang, you’re not like your father. It’s just been a couple of years since the reestablishment of the YunmengJiang Sect, precisely when you should be displaying your power. And he doesn’t even know to avoid suspicions. What would the Jiang Sect’s new disciples think if they saw him? Don’t tell me you’d let them see him as their role model and look down on you?”
He spoke one sentence after another, striking the iron while it was still hot. Jiang Cheng spoke slowly, “Sect Leader Jin, that’s enough. I’ll go to Burial Mound and deal with this.”
Jin GuangShan felt satisfied, speaking in a sincere tone, “That’s the spirit. Sect Leader Jiang, there are some things, some people that you shouldn’t put up with.”
After the gathering ended, all of the sect leaders felt that they received a terrific topic for conversation. They walked quickly as they discussed with all their might, their passionate hatred still burning bright.
Behind the sea of Sparks Amidst Snow, the Venerated Trio gathered. Lan XiChen spoke, “Brother, you have worked hard.”
Jin GuangYao grinned, “It wasn’t hard work. Who had to work hard was Sect Leader Jiang’s table. He clenched a few of its parts to crumbles. Looks like he really was angered.”
Nie MingJue walked over, “All clever talk—hard work indeed.”
Hearing this, Lan XiChen smiled but said nothing. Jin GuangYao knew that Nie MingJue would teach him a lesson whenever he found the chance. Quite helpless, he tried to change the subject, “Huh, Brother, where is WangJi? I saw him leave early.”
Lan XiChen gestured to the front. Jin GuangYao and Nie MingJue turned to look. Amid the ocean of Sparks Amidst Snow, Lan WangJi and the woman who left her sect in Golden Pavilion stood facing each other. The woman’s eyes were still tearing up while Lan WangJi’s expression was solemn. The two seemed to be conversing.
A moment later, Lan WangJi bowed slightly, saluting her.
The salute held gravity amid respect. The woman returned him an even graver solute. Wearing the uncrested gauze coat, she drifted down Koi Tower.
Nie MingJue, “The woman has much more backbone than the mob of her sect.”
Jin GuangYao smiled cheerily, “That’s right.”
Two days later, bringing with him around thirty disciples, Jiang Cheng left for Yiling.
Under Burial Mound, before the walls that were torn down, hundreds of fierce corpses really did roam. Jiang Cheng went forward. They did nothing at all. But if the disciples behind Jiang Cheng approached, they’d make low roars of warning. Jiang Cheng told the disciples to wait down the mountain. He went up alone, walking amid the dark forest. After he walked for a long time, human voices finally came from ahead of him.
A few round stumps were beside the mountain path, a large one, like a table, and a few smaller ones, like chairs. A red-clothed woman sat with Wei WuXian on two of the stumps. A man who seemed to be honest and simple was turning over the soil of the field nearby.
Wei WuXian was shaking his leg, “How about potatoes?”
The woman’s tone was resolute, “Radishes. Radishes are easy to grow. They don’t die as often. Potatoes are hard to look after.”
Wei WuXian, “Radishes are disgusting.”
Jiang Cheng snorted. Wei WuXian and Wen Qing finally turned around. They weren’t surprised when they saw him. Wei WuXian stood up. When he walked over, he said nothing and continued to walk up the mountain, hands behind his back. Jiang Cheng didn’t ask either, he just followed behind him.
Soon later, a group of men appeared beside the path, busying themselves before a rack made of wood. They were probably all cultivators of the Wen Sect. Yet, having taken off their robes of sun and flames and put on clothes made of coarse cloth with hammers and saws in their hands, timber and straws on their shoulders, they climbed up and down, worked inside and out; they were not at all different from ordinary farmers and hunters. When they saw Jiang Cheng, they could tell by his clothes and sword that he was a prominent sect leader. As though they still felt some fear, they all stopped what they were doing, looking over with hesitation, not even daring to let out a breath.
Wei WuXian waved his hand, “Just continue.”
As soon as he spoke, the people all went back to their work, feeling relieved. Jiang Cheng asked, “What are they doing?”
Wei WuXian, “Can’t you tell? Building houses.”
Jiang Cheng, “Building houses? Then what were the ones we saw turning over the dirt when we came up here doing? Don’t tell me you’re really going to start farming.”
Wei WuXian, “Didn’t you hear everything? We are farming.”
Jiang Cheng, “You’re farming on a mountain of corpses? Will the things that grow here be edible?”
Wei WuXian, “Believe me. When people really are hungry, they’ll eat whatever they can.”
Jiang Cheng, “You really intend on stationing yourself here in the long run? Can people even live in such a damned place?”
Wei WuXian, “I lived three months in here.”
After a moment of silence, Jiang Cheng asked, “You’re not coming back to Lotus Pier?”
Wei WuXian replied in a relaxed tone, “Yunmeng is so close to Yiling. I’ll sneak back whenever I feel like it.”
Jiang Cheng snorted, “You wish.”
As he was about to speak again, he felt something heavy on his leg. He looked down. He didn’t know when, but a child about one or two years old crept over and hugged his leg. Raising his chubby chin, he looked up at him with his dark, round eyes.
He was quite a fine, loveable child. Unfortunately, Jiang Cheng had no love in him at all. He turned to Wei WuXian, “Where did the kid come from? Get him away from me.”
Wei WuXian bent down and picked up the child, letting him sit on his arm, “What do you mean get him away? Can’t you talk properly? A-Yuan, why do you hug the leg of everyone you meet? Off you go! Don’t bite your nails right after you play with mud. Do you know what the mud is made of? Move your hand! Don’t touch my face either. Where’s Granny?”
An old woman with sparse, white hair staggered over, holding a wooden walking stick in her hand. When she saw Jiang Cheng, she realized that he was an important character as well. She seemed to be a bit scared, her stooping figure stooped even lower.
Wei WuXian placed the child named A-Yuan by her leg, “Go play on the side.”
Limping, the old woman held her grandson’s hand and left. The little child stumbled as he walked, looking back at them.
Jiang Cheng mocked, “Those sect leaders thought you gathered some leftover forces and crowned yourself king of the hill. So it’s only the old, the weak, the women, and the children.”
Wei WuXian grinned, mocking himself as well. Jiang Cheng continued, “Where’s Wen Ning?”
Wei WuXian, “Why are you asking about him?”
Jiang Cheng replied coldly, “These days countless people have asked me about him, but who could I ask? Seemed like I could only come ask you.”
Wei WuXian pointed to the front. The two walked shoulder to shoulder. A chilling gust of air surged toward them as they saw the large mouth of a cave. After they entered, for a while they had been walking straight before Jiang Cheng knocked something over with his feet. He looked down to find half a compass.
Wei WuXian quickly stopped him, “Don’t kick it. I haven’t finished this one yet. It’s useful.”
Just as he picked it up, Jiang Cheng stepped on something else. It was a crumpled-up flag. Wei WuXian stopped him again, “Don’t break it! This one is useful as well. It’s almost finished.”
Jiang Cheng, “You’re the one who littered them on the ground. It’s not anyone’s fault if they break them.”
Wei WuXian, “I live here alone, so what if I litter a few things around?”
They walked deeper into the cave. All along the path were talismans, stuck to the walls or tossed onto the ground, scrunched into balls or ripped to pieces. It seemed as though somebody lost their marbles and threw a tantrum here. On top of that, the deeper they went, the messier it got.
Jiang Cheng felt like he was suffocating, “You dare mess with Lotus Pier like this, then you can just watch as I burn all of these things!”
After they entered the main area of the cave, there was a person lying on the ground. From head to toe, he was covered entirely in talismans. Only a pair of eye whites could be seen from the outside. This was Wen Ning.
Jiang Cheng glanced at him, “You live here? Where do you sleep?”
Wei WuXian tossed the things he just picked up into a corner. He answered by pointing at a crumpled pile of blankets at another corner, “With those, I can sleep anywhere.”
Jiang Cheng didn’t want to talk about such a thing with him any longer. Looking down with condescension, he examined Wen Ning, who lay motionlessly, “What happened to him?”
Wei WuXian, “He’s a bit too fierce. I’m worried he’ll do something, so I sealed him up so that he can’t move at the moment.”
Jiang Cheng, “Wasn’t he a shy stutterer when he was alive? How’s he so fierce after he died?”
His tone couldn’t be called friendly at all. Wei WuXian glanced at him, “Wen Ning was indeed quite a timid person. But precisely because of this, he hid all of his feelings within him. Hatred, anger, fear, anxiety, pain—these were pent-up for too long, which is why the exploded after he died. You can’t even imagine how powerful they are. It’s the same as how the more nice-tempered someone is, the scarier they are after they lose their temper. The more he was like this, the fiercer he’d be after death.”
Jiang Cheng, “Haven’t you always said the fiercer the better? The heavier the resentful energy is, the greater the hatred is, and the stronger the power is.”
Wei WuXian, “That’s right. But I don’t want to make Wen Ning into this kind of corpse.”
Jiang Cheng, “Then what do you want to make him into?”
Wei WuXian, “I want to awaken his consciousness.”
Jiang Cheng sneered, “Dreaming again, aren’t you? Awaken his consciousness? What’d be the difference between a fierce corpse like this and a human being? In my opinion, if you really succeeded, nobody would need to be a human and nobody would need to cultivate. They could just come to you and ask to be made into a fierce corpse.”
Wei WuXian laughed, “That’s right. I’ve realized as well that it’s too fucking hard. But I’ve already boasted about it a couple of times in front of his sister. Now all of them believe that I can do it. I’ll have to succeed, or else what’ll I do with my face…”
Before he even finished, Jiang Cheng unsheathed Sandu and went straight for Wen Ning’s neck. He seemed as if he wanted to cut his head off in one go. Wei WuXian’s reaction was quicker than most. He struck his arm to move the direction of the sword, shouting, “What are you doing?!”
His words echoed through the Demon-Slaughtering Cave, vibrating incessantly. Jiang Cheng refused to sheathe his sword. His voice was harsh, “What am I doing? I’d like to ask you what you are doing. Wei WuXian, you’ve been quite full of yourself these couple of days, haven’t you?!”
Long before Jiang Cheng came up Burial Mound, Wei WuXian knew that he definitely didn’t come to have a nice, calm chat with him. During their way up, there was a string that had been wound up tightly, connecting both of their hearts. Having chatted as though nothing had happened and suppressed things for so long as though both were at ease, the strings finally snapped.
Wei WuXian, “If not because I’ve got no choice with Wen Qing and the others forcing me, do you think I’d like to be so full of myself?”
Jiang Cheng, “You’ve got no choice because they were forcing you? Well now, I’ve got not choice because you’re forcing me! A few days ago at Koi Tower, countless sects surrounded me, forcing me to give an explanation to this, and so I could only come!”
Wei WuXian, “An explanation? We’re even already. The inspectors beat Wen Ning to death; Wen Ning became a corpse and killed them. A tooth for a tooth, a life for a life—all that is over.”
Jiang Cheng, “All that is over? How could it be possible?! Don’t you know how many eyes are watching you right now? How many are watching your Seal? If this opportunity is in their hands, you wouldn’t be in the right even if you are!”
Wei WuXian, “You said it already. I wouldn’t be in the right even if I am. What else could I do except for jailing myself here?”
Jiang Cheng, “What else? Of course there’s something.”
With Sandu, he pointed at Wen Ning who lay on the ground, “The only way of making up for things is for us to end things before they get the chance to!”
Wei WuXian, “End what?”
Jiang Cheng, “You burn this corpse right now and return to them all these leftovers of the Wen Sect. That’s the only way to make the subject die!” As he spoke, he raised his sword again, preparing to attack.
However, Wei WuXian clenched his wrist, “Are you joking?! If we return Wen Qing and the others to them, they’d meet nothing but a dead end!”
Jiang Cheng, “I doubt you’ll even return all of them. Why do you care what kind of end they meet? A dead end it is, then—what does it have to do with you?!”
Wei WuXian finally lost his temper, “Jiang Cheng! What- What do you think you’re talking about?! Take it back—don’t make me give you a thrashing! Don’t forget. Who was the one that helped us burn Uncle Jiang’s and Madam Yu’s corpses? Who returned to us the ashes that are in Lotus Pier right now? And who took us in when we were chased after by Wen Chao?!”
Jiang Cheng, “I’m the one who fucking wants to give you a thrashing! Yes, they helped us before, but why in the world don’t you understand that right now any remnant of the Wen Sect is a target of criticism! No matter who they are, with a surname of Wen they have committed a most heinous crime! And those who protect the Wen are at risk of being condemned by everyone! All the people loathe the Wen-dogs so badly that the worse they die the better. Whoever protects them is against the entire world. Nobody would speak for them, and nobody would speak for you either!”
Wei WuXian, “I don’t need anyone to speak for me.”
Jiang Cheng exploded, “Just what are you being so stubborn about? If you can’t do it then move over—I’ll do it!”
Wei WuXian gripped him even tighter, his fingers as tight as iron, “Jiang WanYin!”
Jiang Cheng, “Wei WuXian! Don’t you understand? When you’re standing on their side, you’re the bizarre genius, the miraculous hero, the force of the rebellion, the flower that blooms alone. But the second your voice differs from theirs, you’ve lost your mind, you’ve ignored morality, you’ve walked the crooked path. You think you can be immune to all those condemnations as you stay outside of the world and do whatever you want? No such precedent has happened before!”
Wei WuXian shouted, “If there’s been no precedent, then I’ll be the precedent!”
Swords unsheathed, the two stared at each other for a while. Neither was willing to take a single step back. A while later, Jiang Cheng spoke, “Wei WuXian, have you still not realized what the situation at hand is like? Do you really need me to say it out loud? If you insist on protecting them, then I won’t be able to protect you.”
Wei WuXian, “There’s no need to protect me. Just let go.”
Jiang Cheng’s face twisted.
Wei WuXian, “Just let go. Tell the world that I defected. From now on, no matter what Wei WuXian does, it’d have nothing to do with the YunmengJiang Sect.”
Jiang Cheng, “… All for the Wen Sect…? Wei WuXian, do you have a savior complex? Is it that you’ll die if you don’t stand up for someone and stir up some trouble?”
Wei WuXian stayed quiet. A while later, he answered, “So that’s why we should cut ties right now, in case anything I do affects the YunmengJiang Sect in the future.”
Or else, he really couldn’t make any guarantees on what he’d do in the future.
“…” Jiang Cheng murmured, “My mom said that you do nothing but bring our sect trouble. It’s true indeed.” He laughed coldly, talking to himself, “‘To attempt the impossible’? Fine. You understand the YunmengJiang Sect’s motto. Better than I do. Better than all of us do.”
He sheathed Sandu. The sword returned to its sheath with a clang. Jiang Cheng’s tone was indifferent, “Then let’s arrange for a duel.”
Three days later, the leader of the YunmengJiang Sect, Jiang Cheng, arranged for a duel with Wei WuXian.
They fought quite a fight in Yiling. Negotiations failed. Both resorted to violence.
Under Wei WuXian’s command, the fierce corpse Wen Ning struck Jiang Cheng once, breaking one of his arms. Jiang Cheng stabbed Wei WuXian once. Both sides suffered losses. Each spat out a mouthful of blood and left cursing the other. They had finally fallen out with each other.
After the fight, Jiang Cheng told the outside that Wei WuXian defected from the sect and was an enemy to the entire cultivation world. The YunmengJiang Sect had already cast him out. From then on, no ties remained between them—a clear line was drawn. Henceforth, no matter what he did, they’d have nothing to do with the YunmengJiang Sect!
Even though I get where JC comes from, because of his PR, and his Sect, and also get what he meant when he was telling him that if WWX is by the people’s side he is a genius and if he goes against he become a mad man and needs to be killed, and that he can no longer protect him if he goes against the people, I dislike the fact that he broke ties with him so much. Like I understand, but isn’t he like your brother??? weren’t you raised together ?? haven’t you being through grief, pain and near-death experiences together?? is all you can do is just turn your back on him and let the entire world bad-mouth him in from of you??
I was just so aggravated by all these people in the conference acting all high and mighty. Like dude, I am pretty sure if WWX were there you would not say a single thing out of fear. And when MianMian was the defending WWX and they all came for her for spitting facts, I swear to god I wanted to slapped them all into reality. But sadly, even if I were able to, their ugly opinions would not change.
Anyways this chapter made me scream so many times out frustration and anger, that it’s not even funny.
Relatable
Saamee😑
lol i think the dislikes from jin guangshan, nie mingjue, jiang cheng, and their second account
JC’s reaction so far has been annoying but understandable. But his behaviour here was really appalling. How could he desert the two people who helped him when he had *no one* on his side; the two people without whom he would not have the life he had now, just because of some jealous fools. If he had supported WWX publicly and stood on his side, none of the rest would have happened. His cowardice caused most of the subsequent problems.
exactly my thoughts!
The title of nie menju is stand for justice fair and square but now i doubt it.. for me he is hypocrite.. he is blind.. what a fool? Didn’t they have mind at all to think? Didn’t they have eyes to see what jin sect. Did.? Are they blind or idiot or something.. enlighten me i can’t understand them.. even Gusu Lan sect. What a hypocrite.. they even judge mianmian what a bunch of fool.. tsk tsk tsk..
My sentiments exactly!
I’m also in the same. How they can!!!!! Even when LWJ asked that was WWX wrong…no one can not but admit in silence that Yes, WWX was right indeed. But even Nie Menju or LXC protested against Jin sect publicly
I think NMJ is just blind to everything Wen related – like waving red cloth in front of a bull😁 But for LXC I find no excuse… He seems to be so intuitive and yet turns a blind eye or explains away the bad qualities of his brothers.
LXC is… an interesting grey zone. You need to understand that we’ve been seeing the story from WWX’s perspective the whole time. We understand that Wen Ning and Wen Qing were good people. Other than a few rumors here and there, LXC doesn’t really. And he did stand up for Wen Qing, remember? There’s only so much you can do against a mob mentality, though.
If only he had just stood by Wei Yings side letting go of all his jealousy and anger. This chapter is just too much for my heart to read. Truly laughable. This is why I adore Lan Zhan. Hes the pure definition of what it means to be loyal and righteous and his love is just like himself, whole heartdly pure..
Yea, Lan Zhan and Jiang YanLi
Lan zhan, yanli and wen ning (living and dead corpse both)
it is completely different. Lan Zhan is not the heir to the Lan sect, Lan xichen is. Jiangchen has to think about his sect first and then his family, or that’s how I see it.
Jiang Cheng, “All that is over? How could it be possible?! Don’t you know how many eyes are watching you right now? How many are watching your Seal? If this opportunity is in their hands, you wouldn’t be in the right even if you are!”
Wei WuXian, “You said it already. I wouldn’t be in the right even if I am. What else could I do except for jailing myself here?
JC already said that.. even WWX is right in the eyes of everyone he is wrong.. he don’t have a choice already..they can’t go against everyone because they are all coward..tssk
damm it if i were MianMian i would have swear my heart out and chop all thoughs guys ballz off that were rude ughhhhhhh!!! im rolling my eyes right now ughhhhhh fu*k all them men i would kill them all on the spot even if im gong to get over powered atleast kiling at least a few of them is worth it than nothing!!!!!
Jiang Chang cares so much about his and his clan’s reputation(I get that his family’s toxic environment made him thirsty to prove himself at each point) that he’d rather let innocent people, including those who saved him, putting their own lives at stake, when nobody was on their side, die. It’s just so hard for me to understand a character who has zero empathy for the man because of whom he is alive today. Yes he is overwhelmed with responsibilities but why doesn’t he see that as the sect leader of a powerful clan, he had the strength to actually lobby and get people on his and Wuxian’s side. He should’ve publicly declared his faith in Wuxian, told them about Wen Ning and Wen Qing’s actions and refused to let him leave the sect. Always being compared to my sibling might make me bitter but I’d never disown her if we’d come to this situation. They called him ‘a son of a servant’ before him! And he didn’t do shit about that. Yanli is a wayyyyy better sibling. Her mother was cruel to her too but she never let that cloud her thinking. JC is a weak character and it’s high time we accept that. He isn’t bad but he has NO backbone. He’d rather seem nice to these frivolous, sickening clan leaders than support his own brother and saviour! If the situation were the other way round, Wuxian would’ve destroyed the people who’d speak against his brother……
Lan Zhan is the PRIME example of Actions speaking louder than words. He knows there is no point arguing with these corrupt and disgusting leaders so he instead just walked out. His ‘no’ tho had so much weight, man the guy is powerful.
Also mianmian is amazing, I alwayssss loved her. The fact they always try to subdue the voice of rationale by shaming the individual is such a typical Mob Mentality behaviour. It’s because they can’t win the argument so they resort to this. Mianmian has allllll my respect.
I don’t understand Nie Mijue’s actions tbh. At first he wasn’t ready to reason with the idea that a Wen sect person can actually be nice but then he commended MianMian for her boldness? Maybe because Jin Guangyao’s word twisting which he is very familiar with acted as a red flag?
I agree with most of what you said but you have to remember at this point that the YunmengJiang Sect is a shadow of what it once was. At this point in the story everything has been rebuilt, yes, but Jiang Cheng not only had to rebuild everything back up from the ground but he’s also left with a ton of new members and NO notable accomplishments or contributions on his end. The only thing he has to his and his sects name is their reputation, and as a teenager in charge of all that hes obviously quick to please since everyone already doubts him so much. I feel as if even if he had sided with WWX and the Wens in the end the Jin Clan would just smear all of their reputations and still rally against them anyways. Not to mention the sects leaders literally gaslighting and manipulating JC to make him question his and WWX’s relationship and his own validity as a person. What he did was wrong. No doubt about it. But I honestly kind of pity him since he’s always been looking for validation from people and yet gets denied of it time and time again no matter how hard he tries.
No, at this point in time, JC is not a powerful sect leader. He is actually seen as a “junior and lesser” and WY’s puppet by the other sect leaders because he is younger and WY is more powerful. Also, you don’t seem to understand Confucian family values and how it is fundamental to JC’s character. His family and his sect is an extension of the self, he was born to be Yunmeng Jiang and no matter what happens, he must make it his priority and his siblings know that. Directly supporting the Wens is an insult to what his family died for and their entire existence. So this is why he can’t support the Wens in full force — if he does he will never be able to face his ancestors in the afterlife nor the rest of the cultivation world. You’re applying a very reductionist view of a character simply because he doesn’t stand with the main character — life is not black and white, and this story illustrates that well.
How would showing mercy to people who helped save his life when he was at his lowest be considered an insult to his family and cultivational world? The war is over and the landscape after is obviously very corrupt. What would make him unable to face his ancestors is not living up to his sect adage. I honestly don’t see that tradition is what motivates him but rather ambition and resentment. Plus he shows tremendous lack of empathy.
No, you’re the one who lacks empathy and knowledge of cultural context. In ancient China, filial piety is paramount and siding with your family’s enemy is a spit in the face of your ancestors. The remaining Wens did not oppose their leaders when they attacked the Jiang sect. Their silence means they were complicit. Saving JC and WY is not the favor that you think it is, it’s just a small bit of redemption on their part that is overshadowed by the injustice of their entire sect. Plus JC never asked for their help, WY did. There is no obligation for JC to side with them, but note that he still defended them in front of the other sect leaders. This is like thanking a gang for murdering your entire family in one night before your eyes.
Oh wow, so we’re making it personal now? Come on.
Regardless of my cultural background which you have no knowledge of, I’m simply not interested in discussing whether/how much this is historical or rooted in Confucian values. I understand that you choose to place the events in a historical setting but I like this story for its universal character. For me this is a 21st century fantasy novel written by and for 21st century people, full of themes and experiences that are relevant today. BTW I don’t think anyone needs to know much about ancient Greece to enjoy and discuss Homer’s Iliad. We still read books written centuries ago because they dig deep into our humanity, resonate with our own experience, still able to teach us valuable lessons.
So you have strong views about the understanding of your cultural heritage in this book. Well, I have about encouraging collective responsibility without trying to understand what it means to live through war and feeling helpless while watching a country descent into bloody madness. This way of thinking that everyone who shares a name/blood/ethnic group is your enemy, regardless of whether they actively/willingly acted against you or commited any crimes, is what’s behind terrorism and genocide today. After all, isn’t what the sects did to the Wen clan by first dehumanizing them by calling them dogs, then wiping them out to the last child, genocide? and WY a war criminal? I actually do have enough empathy to realize how extraordinary it is and how much courage it must take to make this choice, to risk one’s life to save another’s. So for me, WN shows great human courage here, while JC turned out to be a coward, whatever his excuses. But I don’t really blame him, cause it was a tough choice to make while the spotlight was on him. That’s why I think we will never agree on this topic. Because I see JC’s struggle as one between fear, ambition, betrayal, love… not motivated by filial piety (which IMO he is far from a paragon of;)).
In ancient China, filial piety is paramount and siding with your family’s enemy is a spit in the face of your ancestors. The remaining Wens did not oppose their leaders when they attacked the Jiang sect. Their silence means they were complicit. Saving JC and WY is not the favor that you think it is, it’s just a small bit of redemption on their part that is overshadowed by the injustice of their entire sect. Plus JC never asked for their help, WY did. There is no obligation for JC to side with them, but note that he still defended them in front of the other sect leaders. This is like thanking a gang for murdering your entire family in one night before your eyes.
@lauren
I genuinely do not get your POV. I’ve seen many of your comments justifying madam Yu’s abuse as a typical Asian mom behaviour and as an Asian with an abusive mum myself, I feel disgusted by your comments.
Here you said JC Not supporting the wen siblings is understandable, how? Him and wwx’s home was destroyed by wen clan, I get it but were in anyway the wen siblings or the other 50 or so innocent people involved? No! His own brother literally explained him multiple times taht they saved JC’s life! But still he didn’t do anything.
JC is a complex character and like every complex character, he has flaws too. This here, not standing by his brother’s side and his injustice towards the wens who saved him, is his FLAW. And he regrets it later on in the story. He cares and loves his brother but he was too scared at the time to do anything.
As someone with an Asian mom with a similar disposition and has spent time reflecting on our relationship, I think it’s too far a step to class Madame Yu’s behavior as abusive. Most of her comments come across as overtly critical because here in the West, it is not acceptable to expose your kid’s flaws. But in East Asia, where academic systems are way more competitive, criticism is encouraged so that children will work harder to achieve their goals. It’s not culturally or morally wrong in the time and setting of MDZS. Madame Yu criticizes JC often because she wants him to grow up to be an effective and powerful sect leader. She criticizes WY often because she wants him to be a better Head Disciple, who knows how to navigate diplomatic scenarios in ways that do not backfire on the Jiang Sect. She says uncomfortable things we don’t want to hear, especially about our beloved WY. But just because he’s the main character doesn’t mean that he is untouchable, beyond reproach, or above the consequences of his actions. Note that at the end of the day, she SAVED BOTH WY AND JC and fought the Wens to defend their home until she was killed. If she wanted to abuse WY, she would have made him fight wither her and send JC off alone so that she could make him pay for what she considers his mess. If she abused JC, he wouldn’t have any faith in his own value to her, but he does and knows she wants the best for him.
JC’s priority will always be, first and foremost, his own sect — the birthright given to him by his ancestors and the only reason why he was born. He has a duty to his sect to protect and save it for all it is being, and he could never face his ancestors in the afterlife if he aided the same family that destroyed his. Again, if you’re not familiar with Ancient Chinese family values, it’s hard to understand how important it is. Everything you do reflects back on your sect and individual. It’s not morally selfish to prioritize it in this setting. Of course, WY knows this and acknowledges that Yunmeng Jiang is the only choice JC can make. And unlike WY, JC does not have overwhelming talent and power to fall back on a to go against society for his own ideals. He must work within the limits of his own talent and social position to negotiate with others, and that involves making tough sacrifices and covering his bases. None of these are inherently flaws or weaknesses, it’s just the plurality of human character and JC is like most people in real life this way, whereas WY is more of an aberration as a once in a lifetime genius.
Life is not black and white. Sure, the remaining Wens are arguably innocent. But ah, they didn’t stop their family from attacking and destroying some of the other sects either. Their silence makes them largely complicit, and if WY hadn’t begged them to help they wouldn’t have helped. The newly rebulit Jiang sect is incredibly fragile. If JC were to side with the Wens, the other sects would think he’s allying with the Wens and harboring ambitions to take over the cultivation world, which he doesn’t want to do. To top it off, he was already blamed for WY’s behavior, and has to prioritise his sect. So what does he do? Allow WY to leave and protect the Wens instead. It’s the best way to hedge his bets in the present scenario.
But let’s imagine if JC did support them and didn’t let WY leave. Then the other sect leaders like JGS would not be above killing JC first in one way or another because JC is less powerful, if it meant consolidating/expanding his own power and using JC’s death to demoralize WWX. Then, I ask you, how would WWX feel? Probably even worse than the death of JYL because 1.) he gave up his golden core to JC for nothing and 2.) The last legitimate embodiment of the Jiang sect is dead. It would not have worked out either way.
Excuse me? “Sure, the remaining Wens are arguably innocent” – not arguably innocent; OBJECTIVELY innocent. As JC says himself, only the “old, the weak, the women and the children” were saved. Their silence makes them complicit? Were you expecting literal children and the infirm to lead a rebellion? By your logic Miep Gies should also be sent to a work camp because she only helped Anne Frank’s family when “begged” and didn’t speak out against the Nazi’s persecution of the Jewish people. “Life is not black and white” – lol I really don’t think that applies here.
Like I said before, I’m Asian and not from the west, so I clearly know what it’s like to expose your children’s flaws. Madam Yu’s actions regarding her children cannot be justified in any way. So please stop saying it as a typical Asian behaviour. Imposing your own insecurities on a child who did nothing wrong for most of his life along with your own son and then later on saving that child ….cannot be considered remarkable IMO. Sorry
Women, children, and elderly members of the wen clan…how do you expect them to speak against the powerful messed-up-in-the-head wen leaders? Even tho wen siblings were royals but they didn’t have any power. Even then they did their best in helping the yunmeng siblings!
JC you damn coward, apologizing with the snakes bitting your neck, everyone is throwing WY to the lions only because he does’t have his back, lame excuse for a brother, I wish Jiang Yanli was there instead. She knows the real value of WY’s heart.
Those sEcT LeAdErS are a bunch of hypocrites. It’s very sad knowing that those kinds of people actually exists in real life.
The thing is I get the point of view for both of them. I feel like Wei WuiXian is not actually considering how Jiang Cheng feels in this situation so I would get why he would feel agitated and resentful but at the same time I feel like he has a big ego and is really afraid of being rejected so forgets everything he and Wei WuXian went through; I still feel sad that their relationship got broken though…
To me JC has always been like a scared little boy who wants ‘everyone’ to like him. He proves it here, joining the mob and going against the one who loved him all his life like a brother.
This whole thing is so like real life. After war, the victorious are praised and any wrong doing is swept away; the loser is shamed, all their kin included, whether guilty or not. Jiang Chen, I suppose, has an entire he’s responsible for and has said himself what protecting the Wen actually means. He cannot only think of himself and the personal debt he actually owes Wen Ning and Qing. However, the way he’s behaved toward WWX is appalling and shows what jealousy can do.
All the sects, bar Gusu Lan to a degree, are in fact as bad as they saw the Wen sect.
I meant to type that: Jian Cheng has an entire sect, he’s responsible for 🙄
“After war, the victorious are praised and any wrong doing is swept away; the loser is shamed, all their kin included, whether guilty or not.” Sis this sentence alone described politics in out country I’m literally having goosebumps
What what what? Already?!?!?! But the situation was totally salvageable! Well, probably… MY and JGS are really masters at what they do 😕 Still I feel like JC’s overflowing resentment paired with WY’s self-sacrificing nature was what made this heartbreak happen 😣 so so sad😢
i see lots of people are getting annoyed bc of jiang cheng but i don’t hate him that much. jiang cheng really wanted to protect wwx and he kinda understands wwx more than anyone else (except wwx’s hubby ofc) he’s also struggling bc he’s a goddamn sect leader and he must protect his reputation and also his clan that is still starting again, he has no choice!!!
Yeah. But you don’t just willingly and actively go out to kill people who’ve risked their lives for you in the past. His actions up till here so far have been somewhat excusable, and I get that there’s the whole pressure from being a young leader, but his shamelessness about KILLING people who helped him and sacrificing them all for his precious little a*s makes him the lowest of the low imo
JC he really loves wie ying as his brother the tears of JC make my heart💔💔💔😭😭
You guys forget WWX has nowhere to go because of Golden reasons. He’s good and just, true, but also, he’s stuck there. JC doesn’t know it. All he sees is a lost cause, and someone who promised to be with him until the end chosing to die on a weird path with some other people. He hates it. What to do, but to hate the one who’s chosen to leave? I get him. Sure he’s being detestable about it, but those are ugly feelings.
Wwx was in the people’s side no matter any difference yet the people didn’t even know this, why are you so bad at manipulation wwx
I somehow get where JC is coming from. Not only is he hurting because of cutting ties with his brother, his envy, and how people keep on attacking him and questioning his capabilities of being a leader; he also have to think about his sect. If he goes against the others, he would be also endangering his sect. Think about it, the Jin sect are trying so hard to force people to agree with what they believe to be just and right, and won’t hesitate to silence those who oppress them. They just can’t do anything about wwx because of his fearsome abilities.
But then again, wwx also needed someone to believe in him, for someone to be on his side. He was always selfless and tried so hard to stand for what he believed to be right. He needs someone to be there for him and trust him completely even the world is against him, if he’s “walking in a crooked path.” Yeah, he have lwj but wwx was convinced that lwj hated him.
The other sects, especially Jin and Yao are so annoying. When I was watching this episode, I wanted to travel there and go on rampage cause jajxbcjdjabchdjka. IT’S A WEN SECT ALL OVER AGAIN. JUST MORE SUBTLE THAN THE STRAIGHT FORWARD WAY OF WEN.
fuck this im so sad
Exactly, he’s a leader now. He can’t endanger the whole sect. He has responsibilities. JC clearly cares for WY despite his jealousy but what can he really do? There is no good option.
He’s a people pleaser. He ignores rights and wrongs as long as the end result is that he is in good standing with others around him… which was why his dad scolded him for what he said to WuXian after the Turtle Cave incident… he’s also a coward who wouldn’t step up to the plate… but when someone else steps up and actually succeeds, then he’d get mad at them and jealous of them… like how WuXian always attempts the impossible and then ACTUALLY succeeds, JC would just get pissed and try to discredit their hard work w demeaning words… everyone’s got flaws in this book… but I love these flaws… very life like… very human…
Man… I get Nie Mingjue is ‘righteous’ but seriously he pisses me off. He bitches about Wen Qing being indifferent and turning a blind eye, but he does the same thing to the women, children and elderly of the Wen remnants.
This is the point where I honestly lost all respect for Jiang Cheng and gained a shit ton of respect for Mian Mian. JC’s words may be true and I can understand his perspective to a certain extent, but his willingness (not to mention he never said sorry to them) to actively sacrifice people who saved his ungrateful ass (wen ning and wen qing) just makes him the lowest of the low rn.
no matter what i can’t seem to like jiang cheng- ugggggg he just uggg
People need to understand that JC has responsibelities as a sect leader. He can’t endanger the whole sect. He clearly cares for WY despite his jealousy. Like he said here,, if WY doesn’t change his mind JC won’t be able to protect him anymore. He’s worried. I don’t agree with him at all but try to understand his situation. What can he really do? There is no good option.