TFOD Chapter 64

Wei Wuxian’s heart leaped: “Did they see us? Should we run away right now? Or not?”

Just then, a soft crying sound came from inside the walls. Amid the thumping of footsteps, a man said softly, “Don’t cry, your face is all messed up.”

This voice was extremely familiar to both Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng, it was Wen Chao!

Immediately after, Wang Lingjiao said in a whining voice, “If my face is messed up, will you not like me anymore?”

Wen Chao said, “How could that be? No matter what, I will always like you, Jiaojiao.”

Wang Lingjiao said emotionally, “I was so scared, so scared… Today, I really… I almost thought I was really going to be killed by that bitch and never see you again… Young Master Wen… I…”

Wen Chao seemed to have embraced her, comforting her, “Don’t say anymore, Jiaojiao, it’s already over. Luckily, Wen Zhuliu protected you.”

Wang Lingjiao pouted, “You’re still mentioning him! That Wen Zhuliu, I hate him. If it weren’t for him being late, I wouldn’t have suffered so much. My face still hurts, it hurts so much…”

Clearly, it was she who had ordered Wen Zhuliu away, not letting him linger in her sight, which caused her to suffer the beating, but now she was already distorting the truth. Wen Chao loved listening to her grievances and coquetry, and said, “It doesn’t hurt, come, let me feel it… It’s fine if you hate him, but don’t push him too far. This man’s cultivation is quite remarkable, my father has said it many times, he’s a rare talent, and I’m still counting on using him for a few more years.”

Wang Lingjiao said unhappily, “Talent… So what if he’s a talent. Under Sect Leader Wen, there are so many famous scholars, so many talents, thousands and thousands, can’t we do without him?”

She was hinting to Wen Chao to punish Wen Zhuliu for her sake, and Wen Chao chuckled twice. Although he favored Wang Lingjiao quite a bit, he hadn’t doted on her to the point of punishing his own personal guard for a woman. After all, Wen Zhuliu had blocked countless assassinations for him, and was taciturn, with a tight-lipped mouth, he would never betray his father, which also meant he would never betray him. Such a loyal and powerful bodyguard was hard to come by. Seeing that he wasn’t taking it to heart, Wang Lingjiao continued, “Look at him, he’s just a small soldier under you, but he’s so arrogant. Just now, when I wanted to slap that Yu bitch, he wouldn’t allow it. The person is already dead, just a corpse! By not respecting me, isn’t he disrespecting you?”

Jiang Cheng failed to grab hold and slipped down the wall. Wei Wuxian, with quick eyes and hands, grabbed his back collar.

Both of them had tears welling up, tears rolling down their cheeks and falling onto the backs of their hands, the ground.

Wei Wuxian remembered when Jiang Fengmian had gone out this morning, he had even had an argument with Yu furen. The last words they left for each other were not kind at all. He wondered if they had seen each other for the last time, if Jiang Fengmian had the chance to say one more word to Yu furen.

Wen Chao said dismissively, “That’s just his personality, weird, what ‘a scholar can be killed but not humiliated’. He’s the one who kills people, why talk about that?”

Wang Lingjiao echoed, “Exactly. Hypocritical!”

Wen Chao loved to hear her agree with him, and laughed heartily. Wang Lingjiao gloated again, “This Yu bitch deserved what she got, back then she relied on her family’s power to force a man to marry her, so what, what good did marriage do, wasn’t he still not fond of her? After being a deserted wife for over ten years, everyone laughed behind her back. She still didn’t learn to behave, being arrogant and domineering. This is her retribution.”

Wen Chao asked, “Really? That woman was quite good-looking, why didn’t Jiang Fengmian like her?”

In his mind, as long as a woman was good-looking, there was no reason for a man not to like her. The only women who deserved to be scorned were the plain-looking ones, and those who refused to sleep with him. Wang Lingjiao said, “Think about it, Yu bitch was so strong, clearly a woman but she would whip and slap people all day, having no manners at all. Jiang Fengmian was burdened by having such a wife, he really had bad luck.”

Wen Chao said, “That’s right! A woman, should be like my Jiaojiao, obedient, gentle, and wholeheartedly devoted to me.”

Wang Lingjiao giggled. Listening to these unbearable vulgarities, Wei Wuxian was both sad and angry, his whole body trembling. He was worried that Jiang Cheng would explode, but Jiang Cheng was probably too grief-stricken, and was as if he had fainted, not moving at all. Wang Lingjiao said softly, “Of course I’m wholeheartedly devoted to you… Who else could I be devoted to?”

At this time, another voice interjected, “Young Master Wen! All the rooms have been searched, there are more than two thousand four hundred magical treasures that have been tallied, and they are being categorized.”

Those were the things of Lotus Pier, those were the things of the Jiang family!

Wen Chao laughed heartily, “Good, good! At a time like this, we should have a grand celebration. I think we’ll have a banquet here tonight. To make the most of everything!”

Wang Lingjiao said coquettishly, “Congratulations, young master, on taking over Lotus Pier.”

Wen Chao said, “What Lotus Pier, change this name, tear down all the doors with the nine-petaled lotus symbol, and replace it with the Qishan Wen clan’s sun pattern! Jiaojiao, come and perform your best song and dance for me!”

Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng could no longer listen to it. The two of them flipped down the wall, with one deep and one shallow footprint, stumbling away from Lotus Pier. They ran far, but the cacophony of laughter and shouts of those mobs in the training ground could not be dispelled. A woman’s charming singing floated giddily above Lotus Pier, like a poisonous knife, cutting at their ears and hearts, bit by bit.

Having run for miles, Jiang Cheng suddenly stopped.

Wei Wuxian also stopped. Jiang Cheng turned around, heading back. Wei Wuxian grabbed him, saying, “Jiang Cheng, what are you doing! Don’t go back!”

Jiang Cheng shook him off, “Don’t go back? Are you even speaking like a human? You’re telling me not to go back? My parents’ bodies are still in Lotus Pier, can I just leave like this? If I don’t go back, where else can I go!”

Wei Wuxian gripped him harder, “What can you do if you go back now? They even killed Uncle Jiang and Yu furen, you going back is just a death sentence!”

Jiang Cheng yelled, “Then I’ll die! If you’re afraid of death, you can go away, don’t block my path!”

Wei Wuxian moved to restrain him, saying, “A gentleman takes revenge even after ten years. We must take back the remains, but not now!”

Jiang Cheng dodged and retaliated, “If not now, then when? I’ve had enough of you, get out of my sight!”

Wei Wuxian shouted, “Uncle Jiang and Yu furen said they wanted me to look after you, they wanted you to be well!”

“Shut up!” Jiang Cheng pushed him hard, roaring, “Why is it?!!”

Wei Wuxian was pushed into the grass by him. Jiang Cheng pounced over, grabbed his collar, and shook him violently, “Why is it?! Why is it?! Why! Are you happy now?! Are you satisfied?!”

He grabbed Wei Wuxian’s neck, his eyes bloodshot, “Why did you save Lan Wangji?!”

In his great grief and anger, Jiang Cheng had lost his mind, unable to control his strength at all. Wei Wuxian pried at his wrist, “Jiang Cheng…”

Jiang Cheng pinned him to the ground, roaring, “Why did you save Lan Wangji?! Why did you have to stand out?! How many times have I told you not to provoke trouble! Not to interfere! You like playing hero so much?! Did you see the end result of playing hero?! Huh?! Are you happy now?!”

“Let Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan die! You should have let them die! What does their death have to do with us?! What does it have to do with our family?! Why?! Why?!”

“Go to hell, go to hell, all of you go to hell! All of you, die!!!”

Wei Wuxian, his face turning red, shouted, “Jiang Cheng!!!”

The hand gripping his neck suddenly released.

Jiang Cheng stared at him intently, tears streaming down his cheeks. From deep in his throat, he let out a dying moan, a pained sob.

He cried, “…I want my parents, my parents…”

He was asking Wei Wuxian for his father and mother. But who could he ask? They could not come back.

Wei Wuxian was also crying. The two of them fell down in the grass, looking at each other, weeping bitterly.

Jiang Cheng clearly knew in his heart that even if Wei Wuxian hadn’t saved Lan Wangji at the Xuanwu Cave at Mount Muxi, the Wen clan would have found a reason to come knocking sooner or later. But he always felt that if it hadn’t been for Wei Wuxian, perhaps it wouldn’t have happened so quickly, perhaps there would still have been room to maneuver.

It was this bit of agonizing hope that filled him with regret and rage that he couldn’t vent anywhere, breaking his heart and soul.

When the sky started to brighten slightly, Jiang Cheng was almost dazed.

He had actually slept a few times this night. First, he was too tired, having cried himself out, and had uncontrollably fallen asleep. Second, he was still holding onto the hope that this was a nightmare, and he was eagerly waiting to wake up, open his eyes, and find that he was still lying in his own room in Lotus Pier. His father was sitting in the hall reading a book and wiping his sword, his mother was complaining and scolding the cheeky Wei Wuxian, his sister was squatting in the kitchen in a daze, racking her brains on what to cook today, and his fellow disciples weren’t properly doing morning exercises, running around.

Instead of being chilled by the cold wind all night, he woke up with a splitting headache in the wild grass, discovering that he was still curled up behind a deserted and remote hillside.

Wei Wuxian was the first to move.

He supported his legs, barely able to stand up. He said in a hoarse voice, “Let’s go.”

Jiang Cheng didn’t move. Wei Wuxian reached out to pull him, saying again, “Let’s go.”

Jiang Cheng said, “…Where to?”

His throat was dry and hoarse. Wei Wuxian said, “Go to Meishan Yu Clan, find shijie.”

Jiang Cheng brushed away the hand that was reaching for him. After a moment, he sat up on his own, slowly stood up.

The two of them set off towards Meishan, walking on foot.

Along the way, both of them were forcing themselves to stay awake, their steps heavy, as if they were carrying a thousand pound load on their shoulders.

Jiang Cheng always looked down, holding his right hand close, the Purple Lightning whip on his forefinger touching his heart, stroking this last remnant of his family again and again. He looked back at Lotus Pier frequently, gazing at that place that was once his home but had now become a demon’s den. Again and again, as if he could never get enough of it, as if he still held on to that last shred of hope, but the tears also always flowed uncontrollably.

They had fled in a hurry, without any dry food. From yesterday until today, their physical strength had also been severely depleted. After walking for half a day, they were both starting to feel dizzy. Leaving the desolate wilderness, they entered a small city. Wei Wuxian looked at Jiang Cheng, seeing how tired he was, and how he seemed unwilling to move, saying, “You sit here. I’ll get something to eat.”

Jiang Cheng didn’t respond, nor did he nod. Along the way, he had only said a few words to Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian repeatedly urged him to stay seated and not move. Only then did he walk away. He often had some spare change tucked away in various corners of his clothes, which came in handy at this time, so that he wouldn’t be broke. He made a round, buying a pile of food, and also some dry food to prepare for the road. It took him less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before quickly returning to where they had separated.

However, Jiang Cheng was nowhere to be found.

Wei Wuxian was holding a pile of steamed buns, flatbreads, and fruits. His heart skipped a beat. He forced himself to stay calm, and looked around the nearby streets, but he still couldn’t find Jiang Cheng. Only then did he completely panic, pulling a shoemaker aside, asking, “Old man, just now, there was a young master sitting here, about the same size as me, did you see where he went?”

The shoemaker pursed a thick thread end, saying, “The one who was with you just now?”

Wei Wuxian said, “Yes!”

The shoemaker said, “I had work in hand, I didn’t see too clearly. But he kept staring at people in the street, then when I looked up again at that place, he had suddenly disappeared. He probably left.”

Wei Wuxian muttered, “…Left… Left…”

He probably went back to Lotus Pier to steal the bodies!

Like a madman, Wei Wuxian took off running, back the way they had come.

He was carrying a pile of freshly bought food. The weight was dragging him down, and after running for a while, he threw them behind him. But after running for a bit, he became dizzy, his strength failing. Added to that panic in his heart, his knees gave way and he fell to the ground.

He fell, getting his face covered in mud. He tasted the dust in his mouth.

A wave of overwhelming powerlessness and hatred rose in Wei Wuxian’s chest. He punched the ground hard, shouting, and only then did he climb back up. He turned back to pick up the steamed buns he had thrown on the ground. He wiped them against his chest, wolfed down one in two bites, chewing harshly as if he were tearing flesh. He swallowed it down, choking his chest, which throbbed with pain. Picking up a few more to stuff in his chest, he held a steamed bun, eating and running, hoping to intercept Jiang Cheng on the road.

But, by the time he ran back to Lotus Pier, the moon and stars were already in the night sky, and he had not seen a trace of Jiang Cheng on the way.

Wei Wuxian stared at the brightly lit Lotus Pier from afar, panting, his hands on his knees, the unique bloody smell from a long run filled his chest and throat. His mouth tasted of iron, and his vision was blackening.

He thought, “Why didn’t I catch up to Jiang Cheng? I ate, and I can only run so fast. He was even more tired than me, the blow was even bigger for him, could he run faster than me? Did he really come back to Lotus Pier? But if he didn’t come back here, where else would he go? Go to Meishan on his own without me?”

After resting for a moment, he still decided to go to Lotus Pier to confirm. Sneaking along that stretch of the wall, Wei Wuxian had a voice in his heart, desperately praying, “This time, please don’t let anyone discuss Jiang Cheng’s corpse in the training ground. Otherwise, otherwise I…”

Otherwise?

Otherwise, what could he do?

He couldn’t do anything. He was powerless. Lotus Pier had already been destroyed, Jiang Fengmian and Yu furen were gone, and Jiang Cheng was also missing. He was all alone, without a sword, or magical treasures, not knowing anything, and unable to do anything!

For the first time, he discovered that his power was so small. In front of this behemoth, the Qishan Wen clan, it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Wei Wuxian’s eyes burned hot, and tears almost spilled out. He turned a corner of the wall, and suddenly, he faced a person wearing a robe of blazing sun flames.

In a split second, Wei Wuxian had captured the person.

His left hand tightly locked the person’s hands, and his right hand gripped his neck, lowering his voice, using his most ferocious and poisonous tone to threaten him, “Don’t make a sound! Or I can snap your throat in a second!”

The person was tightly restrained, and hurriedly said, “Wei, Young Master Wei, it’s me, it’s me!”

This was a young man’s voice. As soon as Wei Wuxian heard it, his first reaction was, “Could it be someone I know, disguised in Wen clan robes, working as a mole?”

But the voice was completely unfamiliar, and he quickly dismissed that thought. He tightened his grip, saying, “Don’t try to trick me!”

The young man said, “I… I won’t trick you. Young Master Wei, you, you can look at my face.”

Wei Wuxian thought, “Look at his face? Perhaps he has something hidden in his mouth, ready to spray it out?”

He turned the person’s face around, full of caution. The young man’s features were clean and handsome, with a naive and refined air. He was the young Wen clan master they had seen when they had peeked inside yesterday.

Wei Wuxian was indifferent, “I don’t know him.”

He turned the young man’s face back, continuing to hold his neck, and whispered, “Who are you!”

The young man seemed a little disappointed, saying, “I… I am Wen Ning.”

Wei Wuxian frowned, “Who is Wen Ning?” He thought, “Whoever he is, he has some rank. Having him in hand might be useful for exchanging people!”

Wen Ning said haltingly, “I… a few years ago, at the Qishan Clans Conference, I… I… archery…”

Listening to his stammering, a wave of impatience surged in Wei Wuxian’s heart. He said angrily, “What what?! Are you stuttering?!”

Wen Ning shivered in his grip, seeming as if he wanted to hug his head and crouch down, and said softly, “I… I am.”

Wei Wuxian: “…”

Seeing him so timid, pitiful, and stuttering, Wei Wuxian suddenly remembered something, “The Qishan Clans Conference from a few years ago… the Clans Conference… archery… Ah, there seems to have been such a person!”

Wei Wuxian tentatively asked, “You’re the one… Wen… Wen what was it, the one who shot arrows quite well?”

Wen Ning nodded vigorously, joyfully saying, “Yes, it’s me! Yesterday… I saw Young Master Wei and Young Master Jiang, and thought you might come again…”

Wei Wuxian said, “You saw me yesterday?”

Wen Ning said, “S-saw you.”

Wei Wuxian said, “Saw me but didn’t tell anyone?”

Wen Ning said, “I won’t! I won’t tell anyone!”

His sentence was rare for being without a stutter, and the tone was firm, like a vow. Wei Wuxian was unsure. Wen Ning continued, “Young Master Wei, did you come to find Young Master Jiang?”

Wei Wuxian said, “Is Jiang Cheng inside?!”

Wen Ning said honestly, “Yes. He was captured back yesterday.”

Hearing this, Wei Wuxian’s thoughts raced, “Jiang Cheng is inside. I absolutely have to get into Lotus Pier. Use Wen Ning as a hostage? It won’t work. Wen Chao probably doesn’t like this Wen Ning, using him as a hostage is useless! Also, is he even lying? Isn’t he from the Wen clan? But he didn’t betray us yesterday. If I let him go, will he betray me? Could there be someone kind in Wen’s dog clan? If I want to make sure I’m safe, I can only…”

A hint of murderous intent flashed in Wei Wuxian’s mind.

He wasn’t a naturally murderous person, but after the great disaster that befell his family, he had been filled with hatred for days, and the situation was grim, leaving no room for him to be kind. As long as he exerted strength with his right hand, he could snap Wen Ning’s neck!

As his mind was in turmoil, Wen Ning said, “Young Master Wei, did you come back to rescue Young Master Jiang?”

Wei Wuxian’s finger bones curled slightly, and he said coldly, “What else?”

Wen Ning actually smiled nervously and said, “I knew it. I… I can help you rescue him. Right now, I can bring him out immediately. It just so happens that Wen Chao and the others went out!”

Wei Wuxian gripped him tightly, “You really can?!”

Wen Ning said, “I can! I, I am also considered a noble from the Wen clan, and I have some disciples under me who will listen to me.”

Wei Wuxian said sternly, “Listen? Listen to you to kill people?”

Wen Ning hurriedly said, “No no no! My disciples never kill people indiscriminately! I haven’t killed people from the Jiang family. I heard that something happened to Lotus Pier, that’s why I came. Really!”

Wei Wuxian stared at him, thinking, “What is he planning? Lying? Playing along? But the lies are too absurd! Does he think I’m an idiot?!”

What was terrifying was that he actually, from the bottom of his heart, felt an overwhelming joy, as if he had found a way out of despair.

He was cursing himself internally as an idiot, useless, absurd, unbelievable, and delusional. But he was all alone, without his sword or magical treasures, and within the walls were hundreds of Wen clan cultivators, perhaps including that Wen Zhuliu.

He wasn’t afraid of death, he was only afraid that after he died, he wouldn’t be able to rescue Jiang Cheng, and he would fail the trust that Jiang Fengmian and Yu furen had placed in him. In this situation, the only person he could hope to rely on was this Wen family member, who he had only met a total of three times!

Wei Wuxian licked his dry lips, and said in a hoarse voice, “Then… can you… can you help me… help me with the remains of Sect Leader Jiang and Madame Jiang…”

Without realizing it, he had also started to stutter. Halfway through his sentence, remembering that he was still holding Wen Ning in a threatening manner, he hurriedly released him. However, he still had a backup plan, if Wen Ning tried to run or call out as soon as he was released, he would immediately shatter Wen Ning’s skull. However, Wen Ning only turned back to him, and said seriously, “I… I will do my best.”

Wei Wuxian waited in a daze. As he was walking in circles, he thought, “What’s wrong with me? Am I crazy? Why would Wen Ning want to help me? Why should I believe him? What if he’s lying, and Jiang Cheng is not even inside? No, it’s better if Jiang Cheng isn’t inside!”

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Wen Ning actually came out with someone on his back, without making a sound.

The person was covered in blood, his face pale, his eyes tightly closed, lying still on Wen Ning’s back. It was Jiang Cheng.

Wei Wuxian said in a low voice, “Jiang Cheng?! Jiang Cheng?!”

He reached out to check, and he could still feel breathing. Wen Ning reached out to Wei Wuxian, placing something into his palm, saying, “Y-Young Master Jiang’s Purple Lightning whip. I brought it.”

Wei Wuxian didn’t know what else to say. Thinking of the thought he had of killing Wen Ning earlier, he said haltingly, “…Thank you!”

Wen Ning said, “You’re welcome… Young Master Jiang and Madam Jiang’s remains, I have already asked people to move them out. I will hand them over later. We, we can’t stay here for long, let’s go…”

Without needing him to say more, Wei Wuxian took Jiang Cheng, wanting to carry him on his back. However, his eyes landed immediately on a bloody whip mark across Jiang Cheng’s chest.

Wei Wuxian said, “Disciplinary whip?!”

Wen Ning said, “Yes. Wen Chao, got his hands on the Jiang family’s disciplinary whip… Young Master Jiang must have other injuries as well.”

Wei Wuxian only touched him lightly, and Jiang Cheng had at least three broken ribs. He didn’t know how many other unseen injuries he had. Wen Ning continued, “Once Wen Chao returns and finds out, he will surely try to capture you everywhere in Yunmeng… Young Master Wei, if you believe me, I can, take you to a place to hide.”

Jiang Cheng was now severely injured, in urgent need of medicine and rest. They couldn’t be as displaced as before, going without meals. Their situation was almost impossible. They were trapped, and other than relying on Wen Ning, Wei Wuxian couldn’t think of any other option!

The day before, he would never have imagined that he and Jiang Cheng would need the help of a Wen clan member to escape, and perhaps, they would have rather died than do so. But at this moment, Wei Wuxian could only say, “Thank you!”

Wen Ning waved his hand, saying, “N-No… don’t mention it. Young Master Wei, this way, I, I have a boat…”

Wei Wuxian, carrying Jiang Cheng on his back, found the boat that Wen Ning had prepared. He placed Jiang Cheng inside the cabin. Wen Ning cleaned Jiang Cheng’s wounds and bandaged them, applying medicine. Watching his skillful movements, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but recall his appearance at the Qishan Clans Conference back then.

That Clans Conference, was the year that he, Lan Wangji, Lan Xichen, and Jin Zixuan had won the top four places in archery.

That day, before the archery competition had started, he had been wandering alone in Nightless City. While he was wandering, as he passed through a small garden, he suddenly heard the sound of bowstrings vibrating.

Wei Wuxian brushed aside the leaves and entered. He saw a young man wearing light white clothing standing there, pulling the bow at the target ahead, and releasing the string.

The young man had clean and handsome side features, and his posture while pulling the bow was standard and beautiful. The bullseye of the target was already densely filled with arrows. This arrow also hit the bullseye.

Every shot was a direct hit.

Wei Wuxian cheered, “Good archery!”

The young man hit the bullseye with that arrow. He took a new arrow from the quiver on his back, and was about to nock an arrow, when a strange voice suddenly came from beside him, causing his hand to tremble in fright, dropping the arrow onto the ground. Wei Wuxian walked out from behind the flowerbed, smiling, “You are which young master of the Wen family? Good, good, beautiful. You shot so well, I have never seen anyone in your family shoot this well…”

Before he finished speaking, the young man had already dropped his bow and had disappeared without a trace.

Wei Wuxian was speechless for a moment. He touched his chin, thinking, “Am I that handsome? So handsome that I scared someone away?”

He didn’t take this matter to heart, treating it as an oddity, and returned to the square. The competition was about to begin, and the Wen family side was noisy. Wei Wuxian asked Jiang Cheng, “Why does their clan make such a fuss when they hold a conference, there’s a drama every day. What’s the matter today?”

Jiang Cheng said, “What else could it be, there are only so many spots, and they are fighting over who gets to go up.” After a pause, he said contemptuously, “The archery of these Wens… is bad, does it make a difference who goes up? Why fight over it?”

Wen Chao shouted over there, “Another one! Another one, there’s still one more! The last one!”

In the crowd beside him, the young man in white was standing there. He looked around, and summoned his courage to raise his hand. But he had raised it too low, and he didn’t dare call out his name directly like the others. After being pushed back and forth, someone finally noticed him. They said curiously, “Qionglin? You also want to participate?”

The young man called “Qionglin” nodded. Then, someone laughed, “I haven’t seen you hold a bow before, what are you competing for! Don’t waste a spot.”

Wen Qionglin seemed like he wanted to defend himself, and the other person said, “Okay, okay, don’t go for it just to experience it. This is a competition with scores. If you go and embarrass yourself, I can’t be responsible.”

Wei Wuxian thought, “Embarrass yourself? If there was someone in the Wen family who could bring back a little face for them, then it would be him.”

The disdain in the other person’s tone was too natural, making Wei Wuxian uncomfortable. He said loudly, “Who said he has never held a bow? He has held one, and he shot very well!”

Everyone looked at him with some surprise, and then at the young man. Wen Qionglin’s face had originally been a little pale, but the eyes of everyone were suddenly drawn to him, and his face instantly turned red. His dark eyes looked at Wei Wuxian intensely. Wei Wuxian walked over, his hands behind his back, “You shot pretty well in the garden earlier?”

Wen Chao also turned around, asking skeptically, “Really? You shoot arrows well? Why have I never heard of it?”

Wen Qionglin said softly, “I… I only started practicing recently…”

His voice was very low, stuttering, as if someone could cut him off at any time, and indeed, he was often cut off. Wen Chao interrupted impatiently, “Okay, where is there a target, hurry and shoot one for us to see. If it’s good, you’ll go up. If it’s not good, move aside.”

The surrounding people immediately cleared a space around Wen Qionglin, and the hand that held the bow tightened. He looked left and right as if looking for help. Seeing that he was so unsure of himself, Wei Wuxian patted his shoulder, saying, “Relax. Just shoot like you did before.”

Wen Qionglin looked at him gratefully, took a deep breath, and pulled the bow.

Unfortunately, as soon as he pulled the bow, Wei Wuxian shook his head inwardly, thinking, “This will go badly.”

This Wen Qionglin probably had never shot an arrow in front of others. His fingers and arms were trembling, and the arrow that flew out didn’t even hit the target. The Wen family members around them laughed, saying, “Where was that shot well!”

“I could have shot better with my eyes closed.”

“Okay, stop wasting time, hurry and choose someone to go up!”

Wen Qionglin’s face was red to his ears, without the others needing to wave him off, he was already ashamed and fled. Wei Wuxian chased after him, saying, “Hey, don’t run! That… Brother Qionglin right? Why are you running?”

Hearing him call him from behind, Wen Qionglin stopped, lowered his head, and turned around, looking ashamed from head to toe, saying, “…I’m sorry.”

Wei Wuxian said strangely, “Why are you saying sorry to me?”

Wen Qionglin said guiltily, “You… you recommended me, but I made you lose face…”

Wei Wuxian said, “Why would I lose face? You probably don’t often shoot arrows in front of other people? Were you nervous just now?”

Wen Qionglin nodded, and Wei Wuxian said, “Have some confidence. Let me tell you truthfully, you are better than anyone in your family. Among all the disciples of the cultivation families that I have seen, there are definitely no more than three who shoot better than you.”

Jiang Cheng came over and said, “What are you doing again? Three what?”

Wei Wuxian pointed at him, saying, “See, for example, him, he doesn’t shoot better than you.”

Jiang Cheng said angrily, “You’re looking for death!”

Wei Wuxian didn’t change his expression after receiving a palm attack, and said, “Really. It’s not really something to be nervous about, you just need to practice more in front of people and you’ll get used to it. You’ll definitely make people look at you in a new light next time.”

This Wen Qionglin was probably a member of the Wen family who was from a very distant side branch. He had a low status, and his personality was shy and self-deprecating. He was very hesitant, and even stuttered when he spoke. He finally worked hard and gathered his courage to participate in the competition, but had ruined it due to his nervousness. If he was not guided properly, this young man might become more withdrawn and never dare to show himself in front of others again. Wei Wuxian encouraged him a bit, and simply explained a few things he needed to keep in mind, correcting some minor mistakes he had made when shooting arrows in the small garden. Wen Qionglin listened with rapt attention, and nodded. Jiang Cheng said, “Why do you have so much nonsense, the competition is about to start, hurry and go to the field!”

Wei Wuxian said to Wen Qionglin in a serious manner, “I have to go compete now. You can watch how I shoot on the field later…”

Jiang Cheng impatiently dragged him away, and spat, “Watch what, do you think you’re a role model?!”

Wei Wuxian thought for a while and said strangely, “That’s right. Am I not?”

“Wei Wuxian! I’ve never seen anyone as shameless as you!”

…

Remembering this, Wei Wuxian’s gaze turned from Wen Ning to Jiang Cheng, who was covered in blood and had his eyes closed. His fingers clenched into a fist involuntarily.

First they went by water, traveling down the river by boat, then they switched to land and rode in the horse-drawn carriage that Wen Ning had prepared. On the second day, they arrived in Yiling.