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Chapter Thirty One
It was as though the shadow of the past played in front of Lan Wangji’s eyes. An injured Wei Wuxian without his consciousness was once again lying in his arms, his body was cold and his breathing ragged. Wei Wuxian looked so fragile; it was as though a blow of a wind could shatter his body to pieces.
Now that Wei Wuxian is unconscious, his defense was completely gone and all his weakness was displayed. Lan Wangji could see it clearly. Wei Wuxian was tired and exhausted, Wei Wuxian was aching, both body, mind, and spiritually.
Watching this version of Wei Wuxian that differed greatly with the cheerful youth in his memory, Lan Wangji felt his heart being squeezed tightly. He… he still couldn’t keep him safe. He became complacent for the months that had passed so smoothly and thought that what he was doing to protect Wei Wuxian was enough. But a moment of negligence had caused this bad thing to happen to Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji’s jaw tightened. He couldn’t help but blame himself for what happened.
Lan Wangji carefully supported Wei Wuxian down the ground, leaning the small frame against his own broad chest, not caring about the dirt on the ground or the blood that came from Wei Wuxian staining his pristine white robes. His long eyelashes casted a gloomy shadow under the moonlight as he worriedly looked down at the person in his arms.
His hand unnoticeably shook as he put his two fingers against the thin wrist of Wei Wuxian, gently tracing his meridians with spiritual energy.
Wei Wuxian’s meridians were in chaos, becoming the battlefield of two opposing energies. Not like before, they could no longer keep each other in-check. The resentful energy was definitely ferocious and wouldn’t let the newly formed golden core to stabilize. Facing the bombardment from the denser resentful energy, the golden core started to be unstable causing the flow of the spiritual energy to be chaotic.
Spiritual energy could not soothe its own flow, what more guard against the resentful energies? This situation.. Lan Wangji was afraid that Wei Wuxian was having a minor Qi deviation!
Lan Wangji furrowed his brow as his mouth turned grim. He decisively pushed Wei Wuxian’s accupoints, sealing his spiritual power for now. Sometimes, the greatest way to survive is to retreat. By sealing the golden core in Wei Wuxian’s body, the resentful energy will believe that it had already won. This way, it wouldn’t bother the hidden golden core of Wei Wuxian Afterwards, Lan Wangji will play cleansing music to reduce the amount of resentful energy in Wei Wuxian’s body. But it was a temporary solution and Wei Wuxian should still be check by a skilled healer. Lan Wangji could only think of one person to do this. The person who had also helped soothe Wei Wuxian’s relapse in his previous life, Wen Qing.
After temporarily settling Wei Wuxian’s situation, Lan Wangji finally had time to deal with Jiang Cheng.
Lan Wangji let go of Wei Wuxian’s wrist, gently placing it down. He raised his head, looking at Jiang Cheng angrily with evident trace of blame and animosity.
Jiang Cheng whose mind was still in turmoil for all the shocks that he had received this night was taken aback. Lan Wangji was never been friendly with him throughout this confrontation, but this time, he truly felt the chill in the other’s eyes penetrating to his bones. This aura, Jiang Cheng had an illusion that he was facing some powerful experienced elder. But how could Lan Wangji whose age was not far from his could release such aura? It was really impossible. Jiang Cheng suppressed this weird feeling as he shifted his gazed towards the unconscious person in Lan Wangji’s arms. His eyes that was looking at Wei Wuxian suddenly became complicated.
Jiang Cheng, “What’s wrong with Wei Wuxian?”
Wei Wuxian? Lan Wangji’s expression turned grim, his lips flattened into a straight line as his angry gaze sliced Jiang Cheng. He knew that she’s Wei Wuxian yet he still hurt her?
Lan Wangji did not directly answer Jiang Cheng’s question, instead he said in a cold voice, “You hurt him again.”
Again. Just like his enmity towards him, something that Jiang Cheng couldn’t comprehend.
“I hurt him, so what? It wasn’t like I’m using my full power” Jiang Cheng retorted but the arrogance on his tone slowly faded with each passing word that came out from his mouth. Jiang Cheng glanced at Wei Wuxian’s pale face with a trace of guilt, “Wei Wuxian… Wei Wuxian should know this.”
“So what?” Lan Wangji repeated his words, his tone seemed to tell something more.
Lan Wangji’s sword like eyebrows was slightly raised and his glass like cold eyes stared at Jiang Cheng like cold daggers. Being looked at in this way, Jiang Cheng felt as though he was suddenly submerged into cold water. It was supposed to be a small trick when played against cultivators, but what about Wei Wuxian? His heart shook as he remembered what Lan Wangji had told him earlier. He had seen that Wei Wuxian still has his spiritual power, but the lid of doubt had already been opened.
Jiang Cheng glared at Lan Wangji with bloodshot eyes, “Tell me what’s wrong his golden core?”
Lan Wangji stared at Jiang Cheng, his hostile eyes had a trace of surprise. However, he still remained silent as though he was thinking about something.
It was actually the confrontation between Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian that had brought back Lan Wangji to his consciousness. At first he was ignorant of what was happening and why Wei Ying was using his unstable spiritual energy to fight with Jiang Cheng. But things became clearer now that he had a chance to analyze the situation.
He had doubts that Wei Ying became like this in order to cover up the matter with his golden core from Jiang Cheng. Even before, it was clear that he didn’t want Jiang Cheng to know about the golden core transfer incident.
But since it escalated to a situation that Wei Ying had to take this drastic action, Jiang Cheng must’ve found some clues, but how? Without further information, Lan Wangji could only stop his analysis here.
He sighed. In the end, if Wei Ying really want to hide this matter to Jiang Cheng, Lan Wangji will not reveal it. Only, he didn’t know that he already did.
Lan Wangji no longer wanted to deal with Jiang Cheng’s issues. Deciding that he should play Cleansing for Wei Wuxian as soon as possible he stood up with Wei Wuxian in his arms.
Seeing Lan Wangji taking Wei Wuxian away, Jiang Cheng blocked their way decisively, “Where are you taking Wei Wuxian?”
Lan Wangji continued to advance, completely treating Jiang Cheng as air.
Jiang Cheng, “You can’t take him!”
Lan Wangji frowned, “Move.”
“Move? Wei Wuxian is part of the Jiang Sect, we should be the one taking care of him!” Jiang Cheng raised his voice, conveniently ignoring the fact that Lan Wangji was now his brother’s husband.
Lan Wangji, “You did not.” You did not when you can, you did not when he needed you to do so.
Jiang Cheng could not understand this so he chose to ignore Lan Wangji’s words. He stepped forward, trying to forcibly get the unconscious patient from Lan Wangji’s arms.
Lan Wangji placed Wei Wuxian’s weight on his arms and used his palm to strike Jiang Cheng on the chest. Jiang Cheng flew a few zhangs away and vomited a rich amount of blood. Holding his chest, he glared at Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji, “You are not qualified to touch her.”
The voice was freezing cold; the attitude was serious. It sent shivers down Jiang Cheng’s spine as Lan Wangji looked at him coldly, once again unleashing the momentum that a young and green cultivator like him should not have. This time, Jiang Cheng could no longer disregard it.
Jiang Cheng felt like he was being suffocated, he staggered a few steps backwards with disbelief and confusion written all-over his face. His head was in a complete mess.
“A’Cheng!”
It was at this time that his sister showed up with other cultivators who also heard the commotion coming from the Ancestral Hall and decided to check what was happening. Coming here, they thought that the Wen Sect had invaded their camp. They hadn’t expected that they would instead witness the Jiang Sect’s Sect Leader being attacked by Hanguang-Jun. Then they noticed the person that Hanguang-Jun was carrying and became more confused. What exactly happened between this three?
Jiang Yanli immediately run towards her brother, trying to support him by the shoulder. The other cultivators also reacted. No matter how confusing the situation was, they were still part of the same sect and should support each other. The members of the Jiang Sect stood behind Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli while the members of the Lan Sect lined up behind Lan Wangji and Zhengye Xiangu.
Jiang Yanli turned to his brother, “A’ Cheng, what’s happening? Why are you and Maiden Zhengye…”
Jiang Cheng noticed the arrival of other cultivators and his brows knitted into frown. What he had learned was not something that he could share in front of this people.
Jiang Cheng swept his eyes to his sect members, “There’s nothing to watch. Go back!!”
Some understood his meaning while others exchanged glances confusedly. In the end, they could only reluctantly miss the gossip or else they were afraid that Jiang Cheng would hit them with Zidian.
Lan Wangji also spoke, “Withdraw.”
Unlike the Jiang Sect cultivators, the Lan Sect cultivators that came to watch the commotion didn’t show their reluctance even if they have. They obediently left the scene, seeing that Hanguang-Jun has a rare evident anger on his face.
After the unconcerned parties departed, the only ones left were Jiang Cheng, Jiang Yanli, Lan Wangji, and the unconscious Zhengye Xiangu, Wei Wuxian. Jiang Yanli looked at her brother whose frown couldn't be more deeper. Then to the usually calm and stoic Lan Wangji whose appearance was no better than her brother. The reason for these two heroes’ worries and anger, is it not obvious?
Jiang Yanli’s gaze wandered around Zhengye Xiangu’s face. It was her first time seeing her unveiled face but it was now covered with blood. She was clearly a stranger but Jiang Yanli couldn’t help but worry for her.
Jiang Yanli, “Is Maiden Zhengye alright?”
Lan Wangji paused then answered mildly, “Should be alright for now.”
Jiang Yanli caught the important details and offered, “Then, you should settle her first.”
But before Lan Wangj could agree, Jiang Cheng had already interrupted.
Jiang Cheng, “No! He can't bring her away!
"A'Cheng?" Jiang Yanli was startled by Jiang Cheng’s reaction while Lan Wangji’s hostility which was partially suppressed with Jiang Yanli’s presence surged again.
When Jiang Yanli first saw what had transpired in front of the ancestral hall, she of course had doubts in her heart. Anyone with eyes could see that Lan Wangji and Zhengye Xiangu didn't have a simple relationship. But now, her brother had suddenly been involved with the pair. On-lookers couldn’t help but let their imagination run, let alone her. And no matter what side she tried to view the situation, it was her brother that was in the wrong here.
Jiang Yanli squeezed her brother's arm lightly, "A'Cheng, you should calm down."
Jiang Cheng turned to his sister but he was in no way calmer, instead his emotion became more chaotic. "How could I calm down? Why should I calm down? This woman... A'Jie, this woman is Wei Wuxian!"
Jiang Yanli's dark pupils retracted, her hands that were clutching Jiang Cheng's sleeves suddenly loosened.
Zhengye Xiangu is Wei Wuxian. Jiang Yanli was really doubting her hearing right now. She always had this thought that Zhengye Xiangu is familiar to her, always unconsciously seeing the silhouette of Wei Wuxian from the woman. Before she only thought that it was just because they looked 70% similar, but who would have thought... Tracing her sight back to the maiden in Lan Wangji’s arms, Jiang Yanli couldn't see the semblance because of the blood covering her face but her heart could already feel the familiarity.
After a moment of shock, Jiang Yanli eventually schooled her emotion. Wei Wuxian or not, the most important thing right now is to treat her injuries.
"A'Cheng things could wait. Zhengye Xiangu... “ Jiang Yanli paused and looked as though she had made up her mind as she continued, “A'Xian needs to be treated first."
Jiang Cheng bit his lower lip. He knew it too and he was even feeling guilty about what happened to Wei Wuxian. After being reprimanded by his sister, he finally quieted down.
Jiang Yanli turned to Lan Wangji after calming her brother. If before she would allow Lan Wangji to take Zhengye Xiangu away, this time it was different. If it was really her A'Xian that she hadn't seen for almost a year, she wouldn't be at peace having her away for the second time.
Jiang Yanli, “Let’s settle A'Xian first and talk?”
Lan Wangji was initially against the idea but Jiang Yanli’s stance as Wei Wuxian’s Shijie eventually made him yield. This woman had exchanged her life for Wei Wuxian before and Lan Wangji wouldn’t forget about that. He nodded, "Please lead the way."
After all the ruckus, the four figures, one being carried by Lan Wangji left for Wei Wuxian's residence. Jiang Yanli finally decided to fully believe her brother and so instead of bringing Zhengye Xiangu to her temporary residence inside the lotus cove, they brought him to Wei Wuxian's room.
Lan Wangji carefully settled the unconscious woman on the bed. It was inappropriate to have two men in an unmarried woman’s room but none of them thought about it at that moment.
Lan Wangji sat on the side of Wei Wuxian’s bed, bringing out his Guqin, and placing it horizontally on his lap. He seemed to not care about the two other people standing on the room. Jiang Cheng sneered but Jiang Yanli held his arm to warn him.
Jiang Yanli, “A’Cheng, could you get Elder Lin for A’Xian?”
Jiang Yanli, aside from caring for Wei Wuxian’s situation was also doing this to separate the two for a moment so that they could calm down. But Lan Wangji was not cooperative at all. He did not even look up as he immediately disagreed, “Not convenient.”
Jiang Cheng scoffed, “Is convenience more important than Wei Wuxian’s health?!”
Lan Wangji raised his head and glared at Jiang Cheng as though saying that he himself was not the one to talk about Wei Wuxian’s health when he was the one that injured the latter.
To be fair, Lan Wangji would also think the same if it was the previous him. But their past life taught him that not everyone could be trusted, especially with the matters concerning Wei Wuxian’s resentful energy.
Jiang Yanli understood Lan Wangji’s concern and timely interrupted, “I understand.” Jiang Yanli shifted her gaze to her brother, “Then, A’Cheng, please get some hot water for A’Xian."
Jiang Cheng was clearly not happy but his sister meaningfully looked at him. Finally, he reluctantly agreed and left to get the hot water that the injured person needed.
Jiang Yanli watched her brother’s figure fade in the shadows before going back to Wei Wuxian’s chamber.