TFOD Chapter 25

Jiang Cheng said again, “Lend me your dog.”

Jin Ling snapped out of his daze, hesitating for a moment. Jiang Cheng’s two sharp, electric-like gazes swept over him, and only then did he whistle. The black-maned spirit dog bounded over in three leaps. Wei Wuxian was as stiff as an iron plate, only able to let himself be dragged by one hand, step by step.

Jiang Cheng found an empty room and threw Wei Wuxian in. The door closed behind him, and the black-maned spirit dog followed, sitting by the door. Wei Wuxian’s eyes were fixed on it, wary of it pouncing on him at any moment. Recalling how he had been controlled in such a short time, he thought that Jiang Cheng really knew how to deal with him.

Jiang Cheng slowly sat down at the table, pouring himself a cup of tea.

For a long time, both sides remained silent. The cup of tea was steaming, and he hadn’t even taken a sip when he suddenly slammed it to the ground.

Jiang Cheng slightly curled his lips and said, “You–don’t you have anything to say to me?”

From childhood to adulthood, Jiang Cheng had seen Wei Wuxian run wildly in front of dogs countless times. He could still be stubborn with others, but with this person he knew so well, he couldn’t deny it. This was a hurdle harder to pass than the Zidian’s examination.

Wei Wuxian said sincerely, “I don’t know what to say to you.”

Jiang Cheng said softly, “You truly are unrepentant.”

In the past, when they spoke, they would often tear each other down and retort. Without thinking, Wei Wuxian said, “You’re just as lacking in progress as always.”

Jiang Cheng laughed in anger, “Good, then let’s see who exactly is lacking in progress?”

He sat at the table without moving, gave a shout, and the black-maned spirit dog immediately stood up!

Being in the same room already made Wei Wuxian sweat profusely. Watching this dog, half a man tall, with exposed fangs and sharp, pointed ears, suddenly so close, with its low growls ringing in his ears, he felt numb from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. He had already forgotten many of the things that had happened when he was a child, the only thing he remembered was the panic of being chased, the excruciating pain of canine teeth and sharp claws piercing his flesh. The fear that had been planted in his heart at that time could never be overcome or diminished.

Suddenly, Jiang Cheng turned his head and said, “Who did you call?”

Wei Wuxian’s soul had scattered in fright, he didn’t even remember if he had called out to anyone, until Jiang Cheng ordered the black-maned spirit dog to retreat, he finally regained his senses. After a moment of blankness, he turned his head abruptly. Jiang Cheng left his seat. He had a riding crop tucked into his belt, and he put his hand on it, bending down to look at Wei Wuxian’s face. After a moment, he straightened up and said, “Speaking of which, I forgot to ask you, when did you get so close to Lan Wangji?”

Wei Wuxian instantly understood who’s name he had blurted out unintentionally.

Jiang Cheng smiled coldly, “Last time at Dafan Mountain, he protected you to that extent, it really makes one curious as to why.”

After a moment, he changed his tone, “No, that’s not right. Lan Wangji isn’t necessarily protecting you. After all, the Gusu Lan Sect won’t forget what kind of good deeds you and your loyal dog have done. Someone like him, praised and lauded as upright and righteous, how could he tolerate you? Perhaps he has some kind of connection with this body you stole.”

His words were harsh and poisonous, each one seemingly a compliment but actually a criticism, with a hidden meaning. Wei Wuxian couldn’t listen anymore and said, “Watch your words.”

Jiang Cheng said, “I never watch my words, don’t you remember?”

Wei Wuxian mocked, “That’s true.”

Jiang Cheng snorted, “You have the nerve to tell me to watch my words. Do you remember, last time at Dafan Mountain, did you watch your words towards Jin Ling?”

Wei Wuxian’s expression immediately froze.

Jiang Cheng turned the tables, his expression becoming pleased, and said coldly, “‘Born with a mother but raised without one’, you cursed well, you really know how to curse. Jin Ling has been publicly disgraced today because of you. Your old self is a forgetful person, you forgot the words you said, you forgot the vows you made, but don’t you forget, how did his parents die!”

Wei Wuxian suddenly looked up, “I didn’t forget! I just…”

But after “just,” he couldn’t think of anything to say.

Jiang Cheng said, “Just what? Can’t say it? It doesn’t matter, you can return to Lotus Pier, kneel before my parents’ spirits, and say it slowly.”

Wei Wuxian calmed his mind, his thoughts racing as he tried to think of a way to escape. Although he dreamed of returning to Lotus Pier, the Lotus Pier he wanted to return to was not this completely different place!

Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached, and the door was pounded loudly. Jin Ling shouted from outside, “Uncle!”

Jiang Cheng said loudly, “Didn’t I tell you to stay put, why did you come here!”

Jin Ling said, “Uncle, I have something important to tell you.”

Jiang Cheng said, “What could be so important that you wouldn’t say it after I scolded you for half a day, and want to say it now?”

Jin Ling said angrily, “It’s because you kept scolding me just now that I didn’t say it! Are you going to listen or not? If you’re not, I won’t say it!”

Jiang Cheng angrily opened the door, “Speak quickly and then get out!”

The wooden door opened, Jin Ling stepped inside, already changed into a new white school uniform. “I did encounter something very tricky today. I think I encountered Wen Ning!”

Jiang Cheng’s eyebrow twitched, and his hand instantly went to his sword. His expression was murderous, “When? Where!”

Jin Ling said, “Just this afternoon. About a dozen miles south, there’s a dilapidated house. I went there because I heard there were strange occurrences, but who knew there was a fierce corpse hidden inside.”

Jin Ling spoke with such seriousness, but in Wei Wuxian’s ears, it was all lies. He knew very well where Jin Ling was this afternoon. Moreover, once Wen Ning hid himself, unless he actively summoned him, how could he be so easily discovered by a junior.

Jiang Cheng said, “Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

Jin Ling said, “I wasn’t sure either, the fierce corpse moved very fast, it ran away as soon as I went in, I only saw a blurry figure, but I heard the sound of the chains on him from last time at Dafan Mountain, and I guessed it might be him. If you hadn’t scolded me the moment I came back, I would’ve told you. If he runs away now and you can’t catch him, then you can blame yourself for your bad temper, not me.” He wanted to peek inside, but Jiang Cheng angrily slammed the door shut in his face, saying through the door, “I’ll deal with you later, get out now!”

Jin Ling gave an “oh” and his footsteps retreated. Seeing Jiang Cheng turn around, Wei Wuxian hastily put on a complex expression that mixed “great shock,” “the secret being exposed,” and “what to do, Wen Ning has been discovered.” Jin Ling was actually quite clever, knowing that Jiang Cheng hated Wen Ning the most, he lied at the right time, and it was very smooth. Jiang Cheng knew that the Yi Ling Patriarch and the Ghost General often acted together, and had been suspicious that Wen Ning was nearby, hearing Jin Ling’s words, he already believed it by six points, and with Wei Wuxian’s cooperation, he believed it by another two points. Moreover, the moment he heard Wen Ning’s name, he was filled with rage, and he had no time to doubt anything. His chest was about to burst from the hostility, and he raised the whip, striking the ground beside Wei Wuxian, his hatred extreme, “You really do bring this obedient dog with you everywhere!”

Wei Wuxian said, “He’s already a dead man, and I’ve also died once, what else do you want?”

Jiang Cheng pointed at him with the whip, “What do I want? He can die a thousand times, ten thousand times, and it still wouldn’t be enough to relieve the hatred in my heart! He didn’t die back then, very good! Today I’ll personally destroy him. I’ll go burn him to ashes and scatter them in front of you!”

He slammed the door and strode away, going to the hall to instruct Jin Ling, “You keep an eye on that person inside for me. Don’t believe anything he says, don’t listen to anything! Don’t let him make a sound, if he dares to whistle or play the flute, first shut his mouth, if you can’t shut it, then cut off his hands and slice off his tongue!”

Wei Wuxian knew that these words were deliberately said for him to hear, warning him not to play tricks. He didn’t bring him along to be wary of him taking the opportunity to control Wen Ning. Jin Ling didn’t care, “Got it. How hard is it to watch one person. Uncle, what are you doing locked up with that dead cut-sleeve, what did he do again?” Jiang Cheng said, “That’s not something you should ask about. Just remember to keep an eye on him, if he’s missing when I get back, I’ll break your legs!” He asked a few more specific questions about the location and left with half of his men to chase the nonexistent Wen Ning.

After waiting a little longer, Jin Ling’s arrogant voice came, “You go over there. You, go stand guard beside. You guys stand at the door, I’ll go in and have a talk with him.”

The disciples didn’t dare disobey and responded one by one. After a moment, the door was opened, Jin Ling poked his head in, his eyes darting around. Wei Wuxian sat up. Jin Ling raised a finger to his lips, walked in quietly, put his hand on the Zidian, and recited a low sentence.

Zidian recognized its owner, Jiang Cheng must have had it recognize Jin Ling, the current instantly withdrew, turning into a silver ring with a purple crystal embedded in it, falling into Jin Ling’s fair palm.

Jin Ling whispered, “Let’s go.”

The Yunmeng Jiang Sect disciples had all been scattered by Jin Ling, and the two quietly climbed out the window and over the wall. After leaving the inn, they ran in silence. Running into a forest, Wei Wuxian heard strange sounds behind him, he looked back, and his heart leapt in fear, “How is it also following?! Tell it to go away!”

Jin Ling gave two short whistles, and the black-maned spirit dog, panting with its tongue hanging out, let out a low whimper, its pointed ears twitching twice before it turned dejectedly and ran away. He said dismissively, “You’re really useless. Fairy never bites, it just looks fierce. It’s a spirit dog that’s been strictly trained, it only tears at evil creatures. Did you think it was an ordinary dog?”

Wei Wuxian said, “Stop right there. What did you call it?”

Jin Ling, “Fairy. That’s its name.”

Wei Wuxian, “You gave a dog that kind of name?!”

Jin Ling said, “What’s wrong with that name? It was called Little Fairy when it was little, I can’t still call it that now that it’s grown up.”

Wei Wuxian rejected, “No no no, the problem is not about whether it’s little or big! – Where did you learn this way of naming things?!” Without needing to say it, it had to be from his uncle. Back then, Jiang Cheng also raised a few puppies, and named them things like “Jasmine,” “Feifei,” and “Little Love,” names that sounded like they belonged to courtesans. Jin Ling said, “A man shouldn’t be concerned with such small details, why are you getting hung up on this! Alright! Stop, you offended my uncle, you’ll lose half your life. Now that I’ve let you go, we’re even.”

Wei Wuxian said, “Do you know why your uncle wanted to capture me?”

Jin Ling said, “I know. He suspects you’re Wei Wuxian.”

Wei Wuxian thought, “It’s not just ‘suspicion’ this time, he caught the right person.” Then asked, “What about you? You don’t suspect me?”

Jin Ling said, “It’s not the first time my uncle has done something like this, he’d rather capture the wrong person than let one go. But since Zidian can’t draw out your soul, I’ll just assume that you aren’t. Besides, that person, surnamed Wei, isn’t a cut-sleeve, but you, you even dare to pester…”

He didn’t say who he was pestering, and stopped speaking with a look of disgust, making a gesture of waving away a plague, “Anyway, you’re no longer related to the Lanling Jin Sect! If you’re going to have a relapse, don’t come looking for my family! Otherwise I won’t let you off!”

After speaking, Jin Ling turned and left. After a few steps, he looked back and said, “What are you standing there for? Aren’t you leaving, waiting for my uncle to come and catch you? Let me tell you, don’t think that because I rescued you, I’ll be grateful to you, and don’t expect me to say anything mushy to you.”

Wei Wuxian, with his hands behind his back, walked up, “Young man, in this life, there are two mushy things that one must say.”

Jin Ling said, “Which two?”

Wei Wuxian said, “‘Thank you’ and ‘I’m sorry’.”

Jin Ling snorted, “I won’t say them, what can anyone do to me?”

Wei Wuxian said, “One day you’ll cry as you say them.”

Jin Ling gave a “bah” and suddenly, Wei Wuxian said, “I’m sorry.”

Jin Ling was stunned, “What?”

Wei Wuxian said, “At Dafan Mountain, what I said to you, I’m sorry.”

It wasn’t the first time someone had called Jin Ling “born with a mother but raised without one”, but no one had ever apologized to him so seriously. This sudden “I’m sorry” landed on his face and he didn’t know what the feeling was, and actually felt uneasy all over.

He waved his hands wildly, and snorted, “It’s nothing. You’re not the first person to say that. I really was raised without a mother. But because of that, I won’t be worse than anyone! On the contrary, I’ll make you all open your eyes and see clearly, I’m much stronger than all of you!”

Wei Wuxian smiled slightly, about to speak, when his expression suddenly changed. He said in astonishment, “Jiang Cheng? You!”

Jin Ling had secretly taken the Zidian and let the person go, so he was already feeling guilty. Hearing that name, he turned to look, Wei Wuxian took the opportunity to chop him on the back of his neck with a hand. He placed Jin Ling on the ground, pulled up his pants leg, and examined the curse marks on his leg. After trying a few methods, he was unable to get them to fade. Knowing it was difficult, he let out a sigh.

However, although there were some curse marks that he couldn’t resolve, he could transfer them to his own body.

Jin Ling slowly woke up after a while. He touched the back of his neck, where the pain still lingered, and became so angry that he immediately drew his sword and leapt up, “You dare to hit me, even my uncle has never hit me!”

Wei Wuxian was surprised, “Really? Doesn’t he often say he’s going to break your legs?”

Jin Ling said angrily, “He’s just saying that! You dead cut-sleeve, what exactly do you want, I…”

Wei Wuxian hugged his head and shouted behind him, “Ah! Hanguang-Jun!”

Jin Ling was even more afraid of Lan Wangji than he was of his uncle. After all, his uncle was family, while Hanguang-Jun was someone else’s, and he was so scared that he turned and ran, shouting as he ran, “You dead cut-sleeve! Damn lunatic! I remember this! This isn’t over!”

Wei Wuxian laughed until he couldn’t breathe behind him. When Jin Ling was out of sight, his chest felt stuffy and itchy. After coughing for a while, his laughter gradually faded, and he had time to think about some things.

Wei Wuxian was nine years old when Jiang Fengmian brought him back.

He had already forgotten some of his memories from that time. Jin Ling’s mother, Jiang Yanli, remembered them and had told him a lot.

She said that after learning about the deaths of his parents in battle, her father had been searching for their descendants. He had been searching for a long time and finally found this child in the Yiling area. The first time he saw him, he was kneeling on the ground, picking up the discarded fruit peels to eat.

The winters and springs in Yiling were very cold, and this child was wearing only a single layer of thin clothes, the knees of his pants were worn through and tattered, and he was wearing two mismatched shoes that didn’t fit. He was buried in picking up the fruit peels when Jiang Fengmian called to him, he remembered that his name had the character “ying” in it, so he raised his head. When he raised his head, his cheeks were frozen red and chapped, but it was a smiling face.

Jiang Yanli said that he was born with a smiling face, always looking happy. No matter what sadness he experienced, he would never take it to heart. No matter what situation he was in, he could always be happy. It sounded a bit careless, but it was very good.

Jiang Fengmian fed him a piece of melon, and he let Jiang Fengmian take him back. At that time, Jiang Cheng was also only eight or nine years old, and he had raised a few puppies at Lotus Pier to play with him. Jiang Fengmian discovered that Wei Wuxian was very afraid of dogs, so he gently asked Jiang Cheng to send the puppies away. Jiang Cheng was very unwilling, threw a fit, threw things, sulked, and cried, and in the end, he sent the dogs away.

Although he was hostile towards Wei Wuxian for a long time because of this, after the two became familiar, they would go out together and cause trouble everywhere. Whenever they encountered a dog, Jiang Cheng would help him chase it away, and then laugh loudly at Wei Wuxian for climbing up a tree.

He had always thought that Jiang Cheng would stand by his side, while Lan Wangji would be on the opposite side. He hadn’t expected that the opposite was actually true.

Wei Wuxian slowly walked to the meeting point that he and Lan Wangji had agreed on. The lights were dim, and no one was out at night. Without needing to look around, that white figure stood at the end of the long street, slightly lowering his head, not moving.

Before Wei Wuxian could call out, Lan Wangji raised his head and saw him. After a moment of confrontation, he walked towards him with a serious face.

For some reason, Wei Wuxian involuntarily took a step back.

He seemed to see crimson bloodshot eyes in Lan Wangji’s eyes. He had to say… Lan Wangji’s expression was really a little scary.