Chapter 73 (1/2)

Chapter 73: Recklessness—Part Two Translated by K of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

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 w.a.n.gJi. 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 grat.i.tude for what happened during the Sunshot Campaign.”

Nie MingJue, ”You owe them grat.i.tude? 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 compet.i.tiveness, 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 partic.i.p.ated 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 disillusioned 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 partic.i.p.ated? 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 w.a.n.gJi 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 w.a.n.gJi 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 busted 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 w.a.n.gJi'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 att.i.tude 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 prost.i.tute' 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 w.a.n.gJi 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 s.p.a.ce, 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 embarra.s.sed 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 w.a.n.gJi stood up as well and exited. 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 pa.s.sionate 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 pa.s.sionate 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 w.a.n.gJi? 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 w.a.n.gJi and the woman who left her sect in Golden Pavilion stood facing each other. The woman's eyes were still tearing up while Lan w.a.n.gJi's expression was solemn. The two seemed to be conversing.

A moment later, Lan w.a.n.gJi 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.

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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.