TFOD Chapter 55

He kicked away his own saber and rushed out of the training ground. Jin Guangyao called out behind him, “Huaisang! Huaisang!” Just as he was about to pursue, Nie Mingjue said coldly, “Stop!”

Jin Guangyao halted his steps, turning around. Nie Mingjue glanced at him, suppressing his anger, and said, “You still dare to come.”

Jin Guangyao said softly, “I’ve come to admit my mistake.”

Wei Wuxian thought, “This thick skin is even thicker than mine.”

Nie Mingjue said, “You would admit your mistake?”

Just as Jin Guangyao was about to speak, the disciples who had gone to get medicine returned, saying, “Sect Leader, Lianfang-Zun, the Second Young Master has locked the door, and no one is allowed to enter.”

Nie Mingjue said, “Let’s see how long he can lock it! He’s rebelling!”

Jin Guangyao said amicably to the disciple, “Thank you for your trouble, give me the medicine. I’ll deliver it to him later.”

He received the medicine bottle, and after the others dispersed, Nie Mingjue said, “What exactly did you come here for?”

Jin Guangyao said, “Hasn’t elder brother forgotten? Today is the day to play the zither.”

Nie Mingjue said directly, “There’s no room for discussion about Xue Yang’s matter. There’s no need for you to try to please me, it’s completely useless.”

Jin Guangyao said, “Firstly, I am not trying to please you. Secondly, since it’s useless, why should elder brother be wary of my attempts to please you?”

Nie Mingjue was silent.

Jin Guangyao said, “Elder brother, you’ve been pressing Huaisang harder and harder recently. Could it be because of the saber spirit…?” He paused and continued, “Does Huaisang still not know about the saber spirit?”

Nie Mingjue said, “Why should I tell him so soon?”

Jin Guangyao sighed and said, “Huaisang has been spoiled, but he can’t be a carefree second young master of Qinghe forever. He will eventually know that elder brother is doing it for his own good. Just like how I later realized elder brother was doing it for my own good.”

Wei Wuxian thought, “Impressive, impressive. I couldn’t say such words even in two lifetimes. Jin Guangyao can even manage the tone so seamlessly, even sweetly.”

Nie Mingjue said, “If you truly understand, bring Xue Yang’s head to me.”

Unexpectedly, Jin Guangyao immediately said, “Alright.”

Nie Mingjue looked at him, and Jin Guangyao looked back at him, repeating, “Alright. As long as elder brother gives me one last chance, within two months, I will personally bring Xue Yang’s head to you.”

Nie Mingjue said, “What if you fail?”

Jin Guangyao’s tone was firm, “If I fail, then let elder brother do with me as you please!”

Wei Wuxian was somewhat impressed by Jin Guangyao.

Although he was always scared witless by Nie Mingjue, in the end, he could still use various circuitous means and words to get Nie Mingjue to give him another chance. That night, Jin Guangyao played the Serene Heart Tune in the Unclean Realm as if nothing had happened.

He swore with great certainty, however, Nie Mingjue didn’t wait until two months later.

One day, the Qinghe Nie Sect held a martial arts competition. Nie Mingjue passed by a detached building and suddenly heard someone speaking softly inside, it seemed to be Jin Guangyao. Unexpectedly, a moment later, another familiar voice rang out.

Lan Xichen said, “Since elder brother swore brotherhood with you, it means he acknowledges you.”

Jin Guangyao said in distress, “But, second brother, did you hear what he said during the brotherhood oath? Every sentence was loaded with meaning, ‘pointed at by a thousand, dismembered by five horses,’ it was clearly a warning to me. I… I’ve never heard such an oath…”

Lan Xichen said gently, “He said ‘if you have disloyal intentions’. Do you have any? If you don’t, then why be so bothered by it?”

Jin Guangyao said, “I don’t. But elder brother has already decided that I do, what can I do?”

Lan Xichen said, “He has always valued your abilities, and hopes you will walk the right path.”

Jin Guangyao said, “It’s not like I don’t know right from wrong, but sometimes I am truly helpless. Right now, I’m not doing well anywhere, I have to watch everyone’s faces. Others are fine, but have I done anything to wrong elder brother? Second brother, you heard how he scolded me last time?”

Lan Xichen sighed, “He was just angry for a moment, he spoke without thinking. Elder brother’s temperament is not what it used to be, you must never anger him again. He has been deeply troubled by the saber spirit lately, and Huaisang is also arguing with him. They still haven’t reconciled to this day.”

Jin Guangyao choked up, “To say such things in a fit of anger, then what does he truly think of me? Does it mean that because I couldn’t choose my origins, because my mother couldn’t choose her fate, that I must be trampled like this for the rest of my life? If that’s the case, then what is the difference between elder brother and those who look down on me? No matter what I do, in the end, I will still be labelled as the ‘son of a prostitute’.”

Jin Guangyao was here complaining to Lan Xichen, yet he had been playing the zither and chatting intimately with Nie Mingjue the previous night. Nie Mingjue, hearing that he was stirring up trouble behind his back, was filled with fury and kicked open the door. The flames of rage in his mind burned his internal organs. A thunderous roar exploded in their ears, “How dare you, you brat!”

The moment Jin Guangyao saw him enter, he was instantly terrified, hiding behind Lan Xichen. Lan Xichen, caught between them, didn’t have time to say anything. Nie Mingjue had already drawn his saber and was attacking. Lan Xichen parried with his sword and said, “Run!” Jin Guangyao hastily broke through the door and escaped. Nie Mingjue pushed Lan Xichen aside and said, “Don’t stop me!” He too chased out the door. He turned down a long corridor, and suddenly saw Jin Guangyao walking back towards him leisurely. He slashed with his blade, and in an instant, blood flew everywhere. But Jin Guangyao was clearly in the middle of escaping desperately, how could he still be walking so casually back?

After Nie Mingjue’s slash, he staggered forward for a short distance, reaching the square. Gasping for breath, he raised his head. Wei Wuxian could hear the frantic beating of his heart.

Jin Guangyao!

Above the square, people were coming and going in all directions, they all looked like Jin Guangyao!

Nie Mingjue had already gone mad!

His mind was clouded, he only remembered to kill, to kill, kill, kill, kill Jin Guangyao. He slashed at anyone he saw, and screams filled the air. Suddenly, Wei Wuxian heard a tragic cry, “Big brother!”

Nie Mingjue heard this voice and was jolted slightly, becoming calmer. He turned his head and finally, vaguely, recognized a different face from the mass of Jin Guangyaos.

Nie Huaisang, clutching a wounded arm and dragging a leg, was trying his best to move towards him. Seeing that he had suddenly stopped, Nie Huaisang said happily through his tears, “Big brother! Big brother! It’s me, put down your saber, it’s me!”

However, before Nie Huaisang could move any closer, Nie Mingjue collapsed.

Before collapsing, Nie Mingjue’s eyes finally regained clarity, and he saw the real Jin Guangyao.

Jin Guangyao stood at the end of the corridor, not a single drop of blood stained his body. He looked towards them, tears streaming down his face.

However, the golden snow waves blooming on his chest seemed to be smiling in his place.

Suddenly, Wei Wuxian heard a voice calling to him from afar. The voice was cold and low, the first call was very blurry and distant, like an illusion. The second call was much clearer and more distinct, the tone revealing a hint of anxiety.

By the third call, he heard it clearly and distinctly.

“Wei Ying!”

Upon hearing the call, Wei Wuxian pulled himself out!

He was still a thin paper figurine, stuck to the iron helmet that sealed Nie Mingjue’s head. The iron piece covering Nie Mingjue’s eyes had been loosened by him, revealing an eye filled with rage and covered in blood vessels.

There was not much time left, he had to return to his physical body immediately!

Paper-man Wei fluttered his sleeves, flying out like a butterfly flapping its wings. Unexpectedly, the moment he flew out of the curtain, he saw someone standing in the dark corner of the secret room. Jin Guangyao smiled slightly and wordlessly pulled out a soft sword from his waist. It was his infamous sword, “Hate Life”.

Back when Jin Guangyao was a mole in Wen Ruohan’s camp, he often hid this soft sword at his waist or wrapped it around his wrist, using it at crucial moments. Although Hate Life’s blade appeared soft to the extreme, its sword intent was lingering, it was actually vicious and sharp, and its spirit was haunting. Once trapped by its blade, Jin Guangyao would add his eerie spiritual power, and one would be twisted into pieces by this soft sword that looked like a pool of spring water. Many famous swords had been destroyed by it, reduced to a pile of scrap metal. At this moment, the blade was like a silver-scaled poisonous snake, chasing after the paper figurine, biting it. If he was a little careless, he would be bitten by the poisonous fangs of this snake!

Paper-man Wei flapped his sleeves, dodging left and right, skillfully evading, but it was not his own body after all. After a few dodges, he was almost bitten by Hate Life’s blade. If it continued, he would definitely be pierced!

Suddenly, he glimpsed a long sword lying quietly on a wooden shelf against the wall. This sword had not been touched or cleaned for many years, and its blade and the surrounding area were covered in dust.

It was none other than his own sword from back then – Suibian!

Paper-man Wei leaped toward the wooden shelf and stepped forcefully on Suibian’s hilt. With a clang, it responded to the call and the sword blade sprang out of its sheath!

Suibian flew out of its sheath and began to fight against Hate Life’s sinister and eerie sword light. Upon seeing this, a look of shock flashed across Jin Guangyao’s face and quickly disappeared, He quickly composed himself and swiftly rotated his right wrist a few times. Hate Life was like a twist, wrapping itself around the straight white blade of Suibian, then released, letting the two swords fight on their own. His left hand then flicked a talisman towards Wei Wuxian. The talisman burst into flames in mid-air. Wei Wuxian felt the scorching heat wave coming at him. While the two swords were battling in a dazzling flurry of light, he swiftly flapped his paper sleeves and flew out of the secret room!

Time was running out, Wei Wuxian couldn’t care about disguises anymore. He flew back to the guest quarters. Just as Lan Wangji opened the door, he threw himself forward and landed squarely on Lan Wangji’s face.

Paper-man Wei was clinging tightly to half of Lan Wangji’s face, seeming to shake and tremble. Lan Wangji had his eyes covered by Wei’s two wide sleeves. After allowing him to tremble on his face for a while, he gently pinched him off.

A moment later, Wei Wuxian successfully returned to his body. He immediately took a deep breath, raised his head, opened his eyes, and stood up abruptly. However, his body had not yet adjusted, he felt dizzy, and leaned forward. Seeing this, Lan Wangji immediately caught him. Unexpectedly, Wei Wuxian raised his head again, hitting his head against Lan Wangji’s jaw with a thud. Both of them grunted in pain. Wei Wuxian rubbed his head with one hand and touched Lan Wangji’s jaw with the other, saying, “Aiya! I’m sorry. Are you alright, Lan Zhan?”

Lan Wangji gently brushed away his hand after being touched twice, and shook his head. Wei Wuxian pulled him, “Let’s go!”

Lan Wangji didn’t ask much, but first got up and left with him, then said, “Where to?”

Wei Wuxian said, “The Fragrant Pavilion! The copper mirror in the Fragrant Pavilion is an entrance to a secret room. His wife discovered some secret and was dragged inside by him. She should still be inside now! Chifeng-Zun’s head is also inside!”

Jin Guangyao would definitely re-seal Nie Mingjue’s head and move it immediately. However, while he could move a head, he couldn’t move his wife, Qin Su. After all, she was the wife of the Jin Sect Leader, and had attended a banquet not long ago. If such a high-status and healthy person disappeared suddenly, no one could avoid being suspicious. Taking advantage of this opportunity to rush in and resolve things quickly, he would not give Jin Guangyao any time to fabricate lies and seal their mouths!

The two were like an unstoppable force, kicking anyone who blocked their way. Jin Guangyao had trained the disciples he placed near the Fragrant Pavilion to be very alert. Once someone invaded, even if they were powerless to stop them, they would shout warnings to alert the owner inside. But at this moment, they were outsmarting themselves. The more they shouted warnings, the worse it would be for Jin Guangyao. Because countless cultivators from all sects were gathered here today, the warning sounds would not only alert Jin Guangyao inside to prepare defenses, but would also attract others to come over!

The first to arrive was Jin Ling, his sword already drawn in his hand, he asked suspiciously, “What are you doing here?”

While speaking, Lan Wangji had already stepped up the three steps and drawn Bichen. Jin Ling said warily, “This is my uncle’s private quarters, you’ve come to the wrong place, right? No, you broke in. What do you want?”

The cultivators who had gathered at Golden Carp Tower also arrived one after another, each one asking curiously, “What happened?” “Why is it so noisy here?” “This is the Fragrant Pavilion, is it appropriate to come over here?” “I just heard the alarm sounds going off…”

Some were anxious, some frowned silently. There was no sound coming from the bedroom. Wei Wuxian casually knocked on the door, saying, “Sect Leader Jin? Supervisor Jin?”

Jin Ling said angrily, “What exactly are you trying to do? You’ve drawn everyone here! This is my uncle’s private quarters, private quarters, understand? Didn’t I tell you to stay away…?”

Lan Xichen walked up. Lan Wangji looked at him. Their eyes met. Lan Xichen was first startled, then his expression became complicated, as if he still couldn’t believe it. It seemed that he had already understood.

Nie Mingjue’s head was inside this Fragrant Pavilion.

At this moment, a smiling voice came from behind the crowd, “What’s wrong? Could it be that my hospitality during the day was inadequate, so everyone wants to have a night banquet here?”

Jin Guangyao calmly walked out from behind the crowd. Wei Wuxian said, “Lianfang-Zun has arrived at the perfect time. If you were a little later, what’s in your secret room in the Fragrant Pavilion would have been missed.”

Jin Guangyao paused and said, “Secret room?”

Everyone was suspicious, not knowing what was happening. Jin Guangyao looked slightly confused, saying, “What’s wrong? Secret rooms are not rare, are they? As long as someone has a few valuable treasures, who doesn’t have a few treasure rooms?”

Lan Wangji was about to speak, but Lan Xichen spoke first.

He said, “A-Yao, can you open the door and let us in, to take a look at the secret room?”

Jin Guangyao seemed very strange, and a little troubled, saying, “Second brother, since it’s called a treasure room, the things placed in there must be hidden. Asking me to open it suddenly, that…”

In such a short time, Jin Guangyao couldn’t have moved Qin Su elsewhere without anyone knowing. Teleportation talismans could only transport the user, and based on Qin Su’s current condition, she definitely didn’t have enough spiritual power or the will to use one. So, at this moment, Qin Su must still be inside.

Either alive or dead. And whether she was alive or dead, it would be fatal for Jin Guangyao.

Jin Guangyao was desperately struggling, but remained so composed, pushing one thing aside while bringing up another. Unfortunately, the more he tried to deny, the more determined Lan Xichen’s tone became: “Open it.”

Jin Guangyao stared at him intently, then suddenly smiled brightly, “Since second brother says so, then I have no choice but to open it for everyone to see.”

He stood in front of the door, waved his hand, and the bedroom door opened wide. In the crowd, one person said coldly, “It is said that the Gusu Lan Sect values courtesy the most. Looking at it now, rumors are just rumors after all. Forcibly entering the bedroom of the master of a house, is that truly courteous?”

Earlier in the square, Wei Wuxian heard the Jin disciples respectfully address this person, calling him “Sect Leader Su.” It was Su She, the rising head of the Moling Su Sect in recent years. Su She was dressed in white, with narrow eyes, thin eyebrows, and thin lips. He was quite handsome, and also rather arrogant. His appearance and temperament were decent. However, decent as he was, he did not stand out.

Jin Guangyao said, “It’s alright, it’s alright. There’s nothing to hide anyway.”

The tone of his words were handled appropriately, making people think he was good-tempered, yet there was a hint of just the right amount of awkwardness. Jin Ling was standing behind him, unhappy that his uncle was being broken into, he glared at Wei Wuxian several times.

Jin Guangyao then said, “You want to see the treasure room, right?”

He placed his hand on the copper mirror and drew an invisible incantation on the surface. He entered through the mirror first. Immediately after, Wei Wuxian entered this secret room and saw the curtain covered with spells on the treasure shelves, and also saw the iron table for dismemberment.

He also saw Qin Su.

Qin Su was standing by the iron table, her back to them. Lan Xichen was slightly stunned, “Why is Madam Jin here?”

Jin Guangyao said, “All our things are shared, A-Su also comes in to take a look from time to time.”

Wei Wuxian was slightly startled when he saw Qin Su. “Jin Guangyao didn’t move her or kill her? Is he not afraid that Qin Su might say something?”

He was worried, so he moved to Qin Su’s side, carefully observing her profile. Qin Su was still alive, and in good health, completely normal. Although her expression was blank, Wei Wuxian could be sure that she was not under any evil spell or poison, and that she was conscious.

But the more conscious she was, the more strange things became. He had seen how agitated and resistant Qin Su was to Jin Guangyao, how could Jin Guangyao come to an agreement and silence her in such a short period of time?

Wei Wuxian had a bad premonition, and felt that things were not as smooth as he had imagined. He went to the treasure shelf and immediately lifted the curtain.

Behind the curtain, there was no helmet, let alone a head, only a dagger.

This dagger emitted a cold glint and a rising murderous aura. Lan Xichen had also been staring at that curtain, but had hesitated to lift it. Seeing that it was not what he had imagined, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and said, “What is this?”

“Oh, this,” Jin Guangyao went over, took the dagger in his hand and played with it. “It’s a rare item. This dagger is the weapon of an assassin, killed countless people, and is extremely sharp. If you look closely at the blade of this dagger, you will find that the figures inside are not your own. Sometimes it is a man, sometimes a woman, and sometimes an old man. Every figure is a soul of those who died under the assassin’s hand. Its yin energy is very strong, so I added a curtain and sealed it.”

Lan Xichen frowned and said, “This could be…”

Jin Guangyao said calmly, “That’s right. Wen Ruohan’s belongings.”

Jin Guangyao was indeed clever. He had long anticipated that one day someone might discover this secret room. Therefore, in addition to Nie Mingjue’s head, he had also placed many other treasures such as precious swords, talismans, fragments of ancient monuments, and spiritual tools, including many rare items. This secret room did seem like nothing more than an ordinary treasure room. That dagger, as he had said, was indeed filled with yin energy and was a rare item. Many cultivation families had a habit of collecting such weapons, especially when they were spoils of war from killing the Qishan Wen Sect Leader.

Everything seemed perfectly normal.

Qin Su, who was standing next to Jin Guangyao, suddenly reached out and snatched the dagger from his hand as he was playing with it!

Her facial features, along with her face, slightly twisted and trembled. Others could not understand this expression, but Wei Wuxian, who had seen her argument with Jin Guangyao earlier, understood it.

Pain, anger, shame!

Jin Guangyao’s smile froze, saying, “A-Su?”

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian both tried to snatch the dagger, but Qin Su’s figure flashed and the sharp edge of the dagger was completely buried in her abdomen.

Jin Guangyao cried out in despair, “A-Su!”

He rushed over and hugged Qin Su’s limp body. Lan Xichen immediately retrieved medicine to heal her. However, this dagger was extremely sharp and filled with resentment and yin energy. In an instant, Qin Su died!

Everyone present was completely unprepared for such an unexpected change and were all stunned. Jin Guangyao cried out his wife’s name sadly several times. He held her face with one hand, and tears kept falling on her cheeks. Lan Xichen said, “A-Yao, Madam Jin… please mourn her death.”

Jin Guangyao raised his head and said, “Second brother, what happened? Why did A-Su suddenly commit suicide? And why did you all suddenly gather in front of the Fragrant Pavilion and ask me to open the treasure room? Is there something you didn’t tell me?”

Jiang Cheng, who arrived later, said coldly, “Zewu-Jun, please explain clearly. We are all at a loss.”

Everyone agreed. Lan Xichen had no choice but to say, “Some time ago, several disciples of my Gusu Lan Sect went night-hunting and passed by Mo Village. They were attacked by a dismembered left hand. The left hand had extremely strong resentment and murderous intent. Wangji was guided by it, and investigated the matter. However, after collecting these bodies that were dismembered by five horses, we discovered that the fierce corpse was… Big brother.”

Inside and outside the treasure room, a clamor erupted!

Jin Guangyao was extremely shocked, “Big brother? Didn’t big brother already get buried? You and I saw it with our own eyes!”

Nie Huaisang suspected he had misheard, and said incoherently, “Big brother? Brother Xichen? Are you talking about my big brother? Also your big brother???”

Lan Xichen nodded heavily. Nie Huaisang’s eyes rolled back, and with a thud, he fell backward. Everyone hurriedly shouted, “Sect Leader Nie! Sect Leader Nie!” “A doctor, come quickly!” Jin Guangyao’s eyes were still tearful, but it looked like they were red with rage. He clenched his fists and said, filled with grief and indignation, “Dismembered by five horses… dismembered by five horses! Who could be so cruel and heartless to do such a thing?!”

Lan Xichen shook his head, “I don’t know. When we reached the point of finding the head, the clues stopped there.”

Jin Guangyao paused, then suddenly reacted, “The clues stopped there… So, you came here to look for it?”

Lan Xichen was silent. Jin Guangyao seemed incredulous and asked again, “You wanted me to open the treasure room just now, because you suspected… big brother’s head was here with me?”

Lan Xichen looked even more ashamed.

Jin Guangyao lowered his head, hugged Qin Su’s corpse, and after a long while, said, “… Never mind. Let’s not talk about it. But second brother, how did Hanguang-Jun know that there was a secret room in my private quarters? And how did he determine that big brother’s head was in my secret room? Golden Carp Tower is heavily guarded, if I was really the one who did this, would I so easily let big brother’s head be discovered by others?”

Hearing his question, Lan Xichen was momentarily speechless. Not only was he speechless, but even Wei Wuxian was speechless. Who could have imagined that in such a short period of time, Jin Guangyao could not only move the head, but also use some unknown method and say some unknown words to induce Qin Su to commit suicide in front of everyone and shut her mouth!

Just as his thoughts were racing, Jin Guangyao sighed and said, “Xuan Yu, did you say this to my second brother and the others? Spreading this kind of lie that can be exposed so easily, what’s the point?”

A family head asked in confusion, “Lianfang-Zun, who are you talking about?”

A person said coldly, “Who am I talking about? It’s the one standing next to Hanguang-Jun.”

Everyone’s eyes turned at once. The one who had spoken was none other than Su She. He said, “You may not know who this person is, if you are not from the Lanling Jin Sect. This man is called Mo Xuanyu, he was an abandoned disciple of the Lanling Jin Sect. He was expelled for his misbehavior and for harassing Lianfang-Zun. But from the recent rumors, he somehow caught Hanguang-Jun’s eye and is now constantly by his side, going everywhere with him. Hanguang-Jun, who is known for his uprightness, why would he keep such a person by his side, it’s truly puzzling.”

Hearing him speak, Jin Ling’s expression was very ugly. Amid the whispers of the crowd, Jin Guangyao placed Qin Su’s corpse down, slowly rose to his feet, placed his hand on Hate Life’s hilt, and took a step toward him, saying, “I won’t mention the past, but please tell me the truth, in the matter of A-Su’s inexplicable suicide, did you have a hand in it?”

When Jin Guangyao lied, he truly seemed innocent and righteous, and his imposing manner was filled with confidence! When others heard this, they naturally thought that Mo Xuanyu was resentful towards Lianfang-Zun and had thus made slanderous accusations, and also caused Madam Jin to commit suicide. Even Wei Wuxian couldn’t think of a rebuttal for a moment. What should he say? Say that he had seen Nie Mingjue’s head just now? That he had infiltrated the secret room? That the dead and unprovable Qin Su had seen someone else? That he had received a strange letter that was likely to be rejected as a complete fabrication? This kind of rebuttal would only make him appear more guilty! He was thinking rapidly for a countermeasure when Hate Life was drawn. Lan Wangji blocked in front of him, and Bichen parried the attack.

Seeing this, the other cultivators all drew their swords. Two swords came from the side. Wei Wuxian, without any weapon, could not block it. Looking back, he saw that Suibian was lying on the wooden shelf. He immediately grabbed it and drew his sword!

Jin Guangyao’s eyes sharpened and he exclaimed, “The Yi Ling Patriarch!”

Suddenly, all the swords of the Lanling Jin Sect turned their direction towards him. Including Jin Ling!

Being called out so suddenly, Wei Wuxian stared at Jin Ling’s confused expression. While Jin Ling was still stunned by the edge of Suihua’s blade, Jin Guangyao said, “To think that the Yi Ling Patriarch has returned to the world and graced us with his presence, it seems we are terribly unprepared.”

Wei Wuxian was completely confused, not knowing where he had given himself away. Nie Huaisang said, dazed, “Third brother? What did you just call him? Isn’t this person Mo Xuanyu?”

Jin Guangyao pointed Hate Life at Wei Wuxian, saying, “Huaisang, A-Ling, come here. Everyone, be careful, he has drawn his sword. He is definitely the Yi Ling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian!”

Because the name of Wei Wuxian’s sword was too embarrassing to mention, others would refer to it as “this sword,” “that sword,” or “his sword”. But the words “Yi Ling Patriarch” were more terrifying than hearing that Chifeng-Zun had been dismembered by five horses. People who had not intended to use their swords before now involuntarily drew their swords and surrounded the secret room. Wei Wuxian scanned the array of swords and remained unperturbed. Nie Huaisang said, “Does that mean whoever draws this sword is the Yi Ling Patriarch? Third brother, second brother, Hanguang-Jun, I think you all have some kind of misunderstanding, right?”

Jin Guangyao said, “There is no misunderstanding. He is definitely Wei Wuxian.”

Jin Ling suddenly cried out, “Wait! Uncle, wait! Didn’t uncle use Zidian to lash him once at Dafan Mountain? His soul wasn’t whipped out, he definitely wasn’t possessed, right? He’s not necessarily Wei Wuxian!”

Jiang Cheng’s face was very ugly, he didn’t speak, his hand was pressing on the hilt of his sword, seemingly considering what to do. Jin Guangyao said, “Dafan Mountain? That’s right, A-Ling, now that you mentioned it, I remember what appeared at Dafan Mountain back then. Wasn’t he also the one who summoned Wen Ning?”

Jin Ling’s face turned ashen, after failing to find evidence in his favor and was instead refuted. Jin Guangyao continued, “Everyone may not know this, but when Xuanyu was still at Golden Carp Tower, he had seen a manuscript of the Yi Ling Patriarch here. This manuscript recorded an evil technique called ‘Sacrifice of the Body’. Using one’s soul and body as a price, it summons vengeful spirits to avenge them. Even if Sect Leader Jiang whips him a hundred more times with Zidian, you wouldn’t be able to verify it, because the one who performs it is willing to sacrifice their own body. It’s not possession at all!”

This explanation was reasonable. After Mo Xuanyu was expelled from Golden Carp Tower, he harbored resentment. Remembering the evil technique he had once read, he decided to seek revenge, and then invited a vengeful spirit to descend upon him, summoning the Yi Ling Patriarch. Everything Wei Wuxian had done was to seek revenge for Mo Xuanyu. So, Nie Mingjue must have been dismembered by five horses by Wei Wuxian as well. In short, when the truth of everything was unclear, the biggest possibility was that it was all a conspiracy by the Yi Ling Patriarch!

But some people were still doubtful, “Since this technique of ‘Sacrifice of the Body’ cannot be verified, then based on Lianfang-Zun’s judgement alone, it cannot be the final verdict.”

Jin Guangyao said, “The ‘Sacrifice of the Body’ cannot be verified, but whether or not he is the Yi Ling Patriarch can be verified. After the Yi Ling Patriarch’s soul was devoured by the fierce corpses he controlled and he turned to dust on the summit of Burial Mounds, his sword was collected by my Lanling Jin Sect. But not long after, this sword automatically sealed itself.”

Wei Wuxian paused. “Sealed itself?”

A bad premonition arose in his heart. Jin Guangyao said, “What sealing a sword means, I believe I don’t have to explain. This sword has a spirit, and it refused to let anyone other than Wei Wuxian use it, so it sealed itself. Except for the Yi Ling Patriarch himself, no one could draw it. And just now, this ‘Mo Xuanyu’ has drawn this sword that has been sealed for thirteen years right in front of you!”

Before he finished speaking, dozens of sword beams stabbed towards Wei Wuxian at once.

Lan Wangji blocked all of the attacks, and Bichen pushed several people away, clearing a path. Lan Xichen said, “Wangji!”

Several family leaders who were pushed over by Bichen’s cold aura, said angrily, “Hanguang-Jun! You…”

Wei Wuxian didn’t waste any words. He pressed down on the window, flipped out, and took off running. While running, his mind was racing, “Jin Guangyao saw that strange paper figurine, and then he saw Suibian out of its sheath, he must have guessed my identity right away. He immediately made up a lie, induced Qin Su to commit suicide, and then deliberately led me to the wooden shelf with Suibian to bait me to draw the sword and reveal my identity. How terrifying, how terrifying! I didn’t expect his reaction would be so fast, and he could lie so smoothly!”

At this moment, someone came alongside him. It was Lan Wangji, who had silently followed him. Wei Wuxian had a terrible reputation, and it was not the first time he had faced this situation. His mentality in this life was different from the previous one, and he was now able to face it with more calm. He would run first, and then retaliate if he had the opportunity later, and he wouldn’t force it if he did not. Staying there would only result in taking a few hundred more hits and yelling for justice was a joke. Everyone firmly believed that he would return to seek revenge one day and massacre them all, and no one would listen to his defense, not to mention there was Jin Guangyao there inciting them further. However, Lan Wangji was different from him. He wouldn’t even need to explain, and someone would explain for him, saying that Hanguang-Jun had been deceived by the Yi Ling Patriarch. Wei Wuxian said, “Hanguang-Jun, you don’t need to follow me!”

Lan Wangji was looking straight ahead and didn’t respond to him. The two left the shouts of killing behind them. In the midst of the chaos, Wei Wuxian said, “Are you really going to leave with me? Have you thought about it carefully? Once you go through that door, your reputation will be destroyed!”

The two had already rushed down from the Golden Carp Tower. Lan Wangji suddenly grabbed his wrist, and was about to speak, when a white shadow flashed in front of them. Jin Ling blocked their way.

Wei Wuxian sighed with relief when he saw it was Jin Ling. The two were about to sidestep past him when Jin Ling changed his position again and blocked their path, “You’re Wei Ying?!”

His expression was a chaotic mess. His eyes were red. There was anger, hatred, suspicion, confusion, and unease. He asked again, “You are really Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian?!”

Seeing him like this, his tone revealed more pain than hatred, Wei Wuxian’s heart trembled, but the crowd behind them was about to catch up in the blink of an eye. He couldn’t care about him anymore, so he gritted his teeth and went around him for the third time. Unexpectedly, he felt a chill in his abdomen. He looked down and saw that Jin Ling had already pulled out the snow-white blade that was now stained red.

He hadn’t expected that Jin Ling would actually stab him with a sword.

The thought in Wei Wuxian’s mind was, “Why did he have to be like his uncle so much? Even the way he stabs someone is in the same spot.”

He didn’t remember what happened next. He only remembered that he was flailing around. Everything was very chaotic, noisy, and turbulent. The sounds of weapons clashing and spiritual energy exploding were constant. He didn’t know how much time had passed when, vaguely, Wei Wuxian opened his eyes. Lan Wangji was flying on Bichen, and he was lying on Lan Wangji’s back. Half of that white face was splashed with blood.

Actually, the