Chapter 8 (1/2)
PROUD 3
However, after softly stroking the ring for a little while, Jiang Cheng then forced himself to restrain that faint trace of hostility.
Although he was very unhappy, he was still there in the capacity of the clan head. He still had a lot of things to consider. He couldn't be impulsive like this youngster, Jin Ling. Ever since the decline of Qing He Nie clan, nowadays within the three remaining aristocratic families, both the Lan Ling Jin clan and Gu Su Lan clan had become extremely close thanks to the sincere personal friends.h.i.+p of their clan masters. He stood alone with the Yun Meng Jiang clan. In the three clans it could be said that he was in an isolated state of affairs. Han Guangjun Lan w.a.n.gji was a very highly revered sect celebrity, his elder brother Ze Wujun Lan Xichen was Gu Su Lan’s clan head. Both brothers always got along well, it was impossible to tear them apart, it would be best to not start a fight.
But then again, Jiang Cheng's sword ”San Du” together with Lan w.a.n.gji's sword ”Bi Chen” had never formally fought before. He had no way of knowing who would emerge the victor. Although he still had his ring ”Zi Dian” which was a family heirloom, Lan w.a.n.gji's qin ”w.a.n.g Ji” also had an impressive reputation. What Jiang Cheng utterly couldn't tolerate was to place himself at a disadvantage. If he didn't have the certainty of grasping a complete victory, he wouldn't consider taking action against Lan w.a.n.gji.
Jiang Cheng slowly pulled back his left hand which had been caressing the ring. It looked like Lan w.a.n.gji had already decided to intervene in this matter. If he continued to act the villain it would become very inconvenient. For the time being he would remember this. Deciding to make a trade-off, Jiang Cheng turned around and seeing Jin Ling still angrily covering his mouth he said: ”Han Guangjun wants to punish you, you’ll just have to bear his discipline this time. Overseeing the juniors from other clans is not easy.”
His tone was mocking, but it was unclear whom he was ridiculing. Lan w.a.n.gji didn't bother arguing and paid no attention to his bitter words. Jiang Cheng’s words were barbed, again he turned: ”Why are you still standing around? Are you waiting for the prey to stab itself onto your sword? If today you can't take down what's in this Dafan Mountain, hereafter you don’t need to find me again!”
Jin Ling fiercely glared at Wei Wuxian, but didn't dare to glare at the person who gave him the penalty gag, Lan w.a.n.gji. He sheathed his sword. Giving respect, he bowed towards the two elders and retreated holding his bow. Lan Sizhui spoke up: ”Jiang sovereign, about the destroyed bind immortal nets, Gu Su Lan clan will naturally reimburse the damages.”
Jiang Cheng sneered: ”No need!” Choosing the opposite direction, he walked his way down the mountain. The visiting official silently followed behind him, a frown marring his features. In his heart he knew that there would be unavoidable punishment in his future.
While waiting for their figures to disappear, Lan Jingyi said: ”How can Jiang sovereign act like this!” After having spoken only then did he remember the Lan clan’s teachings that one cannot talk about a person’s rights and wrongs behind their back. He glanced at Han Guangjun in fright, shut his mouth, and shrank away. Lan Sizhui gave Wei Wuxian a faint smile and said: ”Young master Mo, so we meet again.”
Wei Wuxian's mouth twitched. Lan w.a.n.gji, however, opened his mouth and gave a concise order, his phrasing not in the least bit beautiful: “Get to work.”
Several juniors only then remembered why they had come to Dafan Mountain. Immediately they put aside their thoughts and respectfully waited for further instruction. After a few moments, Lan w.a.n.gji continued: ”Do your best. But don't show off.”
His voice was low and magnetic, if it were any closer, it would surely elicit an electric s.h.i.+ver in the heart of the person listening. After the juniors jointly answered in the affirmative, they didn't dare to stay long and walked towards the depths of the forest. Wei Wuxian thought to himself, that Jiang Cheng and Lan Zhan (1), really were two completely different people, even their orders for the younger generation were completely different. While thinking, he suddenly saw Lan w.a.n.gji turn towards him and nod briefly. He couldn't help but to be slightly surprised.
This person, Lan w.a.n.gji, from young had always been serious. Rulebound to the point that it made your teeth ache, solemn and inflexible, it was as if he'd never had a lively moment. Not allowing the least bit of sand to rub in his eyes, he did not approve of the issue of Wei Wuxian’s use of necromancy. Lan Sizhui must have informed Lan w.a.n.gji of his suspicious acts at Mo family’s village, however he still nodded to him in greeting. It could be a.s.sumed that he was thanking him for a.s.sisting the Lan clan’s younger generation with breaking the trap. Wei Wuxian at once without thinking also returned the courtesy. When he raised his head, Lan w.a.n.gji had already disappeared from view.
He paused, then turned around and walked down the mountain.
No matter what kind of prey lay within Dafan mountain, he now could no longer pursue the issue. Wei Wuxian would fight against whomever, but he wouldn’t compete with Jin Ling.
Unexpectedly, it turned out to be Jin Ling.
From among the many disciples in Lan Ling Jin clan, he really didn't expect he would end up encountering Jin Ling. If he had known, how could he have ridiculed Jin Ling with ”Truly you had a mother who birthed you but did not raise you”? If someone else had spoken these words towards Jin Ling, Wei Wuxian would have taught this person the meaning of loose lips. But this condemnation had actually been his own words.
Standing still for a moment, Wei Wuxian raised his hand and slapped his own face.
This slap was a resounding and forceful strike. His right cheek throbbed painfully. Suddenly the bushes at the side began to rustle. Wei Wuxian lowered his hand after he glanced over to see the head of the flower donkey. However, that donkey on his own initiative, slowly walked over. Wei Wuxian pulled at its long ears and laughed bitterly: ”You wanted to be a hero saving the beauty, yet left me to be the Samaritan.”
While the donkey snorted and grumbled, from the end of the hillside came a wave of cultivators. After the 400+ bind immortal nets were destroyed by Lan w.a.n.gji's flying sword, those suppressed cultivators in Fujiao who had originally hesitated in town all once more rushed back up the mountain. These people were all considered to be Jin Ling's rivals. Wei Wuxian thought for a moment whether or not he should crush their intentions, but after thinking he decided to quietly step aside.
This group of juniors wearing garments representing the colors of multiple families walked as they complained: ”This young master Jin, the Jin clan and the Jiang clan have both spoiled him like this. At such a young age he's already this overbearing and domineering. In the future if they let him take over Lan Ling Jin clan he will not be satisfied until he overturns the heavens.We’ll have no way to live!”
Wei Wuxian slowed his steps.
A soft-hearted female cultivator sighed: ”How could he not be indulged and pampered? He lost both parents at such a young age.”
”Junior sister apprentice, you can’t say that. So what if he’s an orphan. In this world there are many orphans, if their conduct was like his then where would we be!”
”As for Wei Wuxian, he also had a hand in this. Jin Ling’s mother was Jiang Cheng’s elder sister ah, the senior sister apprentice who single-handedly brought him up.”
”Jiang Yanli also was wronged, raising up such a white-eyed wolf (2). Jin Zixuan was even more wretched. He suffered such a fate just because of a little conflict with Wei Wuxian.”
”Why would Wei Wuxian have clashed everyone….”
”That's just the way he was. Other than that pack of mad dogs that he raised, who else have you heard of had a good relations.h.i.+p with him? Enemies all over the land, inciting the wrath of G.o.d and resentment of the people, even Han Guangjun looked at him with some disgust, they were as incompatible as fire and water.”
“Speaking of which, thanks to Han Guangjun arriving today…”
After walking for a while, suddenly Wei Wuxian began to hear the sound of running water.
This was the first time he’d heard the sound since he’d arrived. Wei Wuxian then realized, he had gone the wrong way down the mountain, and had taken the wrong fork in the road.
Leading the donkey, he came to the edge of a creek. The moon had begun to rise and the creek bank was empty, not having a single branch or leaf to give shelter. The creek's surface was cracked with white frost. Inverted in the water, Wei Wuxian at last saw his face rippling with the flow of the creek.
He roughly splashed the water with a hand, dispersing that ridiculous image. Raising his dripping palm, using the creek water, with a few strokes he erased the powder.
Reflected in the water, was an extremely refined, outstanding young man. Clean, as if refined by moonlight, his brows stretched over bright eyes. The corner of his mouth was slightly curved. As he gazed down at himself with head bowed, like tears, drops of water continuously collected on his eyelashes and dripped down.