TFOD Chapter 63

Madam Yu cast a glance behind her. Jinzhu and Yinzhu understood, each drawing a long sword. They circled the hall, their attacks swift and ruthless, and in moments, they had stabbed to death dozens of Wen sect disciples. Wang Lingjiao, seeing that it was almost her turn, desperately threatened, “You… you think you can kill everyone and silence them? You think Young Master Wen doesn’t know where I came today? You think he will spare you when he finds out?!”

Yinzhu coldly sneered, “As if he’d spare us anyway!”

Wang Lingjiao shrieked, “I am someone close to Young Master Wen, his closest person! If you dare touch me, he will make you…”

Madam Yu raised her hand and slapped her again, mocking, “What will he do? Cut off hands or legs? Burn down the immortal mansion? Or send a ten-thousand-man army to raze Lotus Pier to the ground? Establish a supervisory office?”

Jinzhu walked closer, sword in hand. Wang Lingjiao’s eyes were filled with terror. She kicked her legs as she retreated, screaming, “Help! Someone help me! Wen Zhuliu! Save me!”

Madam Yu’s expression turned cold. She stepped on Wang Lingjiao’s wrist and drew her sword. Just as the blade was about to fall, it was suddenly deflected with a clang.

Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng turned their heads to see the main doors of the hall fly open with a crash. A tall man in black robes with a grim face strode in. It was Wen Chao’s skilled personal guard, Wen Zhuliu.

Her sword knocked away, Madam Yu held Zidian in front of her, asking, “The Core Melting Hand?”

Wen Zhuliu coldly replied, “The Purple Spider?”

Wang Lingjiao’s hand was still firmly pinned under her foot. Her face twisted in pain, she cried, “Wen Zhuliu! Wen Zhuliu! Are you not going to save me? Hurry, save me!”

Madam Yu scoffed, “Wen Zhuliu? Core Melting Hand, isn’t your real name Zhao Zhuliu? You’re clearly not a Wen, yet you scramble to change your name. One after another, like moths to a flame. Is the name ‘Wen’ so precious? Betraying your ancestors. Ridiculous!”

Wen Zhuliu remained unmoved, indifferently stating, “We each serve our masters.”

They only spoke a few sentences, but Wang Lingjiao already couldn’t stand it, screaming, “Wen Zhuliu! Can’t you see what state I’m in?! Why haven’t you killed her and why are you wasting time talking nonsense?! Young Master Wen told you to protect me, is this how you protect me?! I’ll report you, and you’ll see!”

Madam Yu ground her heel down on Wang Lingjiao’s arm. Wang Lingjiao cried out. Wen Zhuliu frowned. He was ordered by Wen Ruohan to protect Wen Chao, and he already disliked Wen Chao’s character. However, it kept getting worse. Wen Chao had also assigned him to protect Wang Lingjiao. This woman was affected and foolish, and her heart was also cruel, causing him extreme displeasure. But even though he was displeased, he could not disobey the orders of Wen Ruohan and Wen Chao to crush her to death. Luckily Wang Lingjiao also loathed him, commanding him to stay far away, and if he wasn’t summoned he was not to show himself in front of her. It was good that he didn’t have to see her and get annoyed. But right now this woman was almost dead, if he stood idly by, Wen Chao would throw a tantrum. And if he threw a tantrum, Wen Ruohan wouldn’t let it be.

Wen Zhuliu said, “Forgive me.”

Zidian moved, and Madam Yu shouted, “Hypocrite!”

Wen Zhuliu raised his hand and actually grabbed Zidian without any concern!

When Zidian takes the form of a whip, it is imbued with spiritual energy. The power of this spiritual energy can be great or small, lethal or harmless, controlled entirely by its master. Madam Yu had already decided to kill and wouldn’t leave any of the Wen dogs alive. Plus she was very wary of Wen Zhuliu, so the spiritual energy was unleashed at full force, yet it was grabbed without any effort!

Zidian had been used for many years and never encountered such an opponent. After being grabbed, Madam Yu was momentarily stunned. Wang Lingjiao used this opportunity to escape, rolling and crawling away. She pulled out a signal flare from her robes and shook it twice. A beam of fire shot out of the tube, tearing through the wooden window with a piercing shriek, exploding in the sky outside. Then, she frantically pulled out a second and third flare, her hair disheveled, rambling, “Come… come… everyone come… everyone come here!”

Wei Wuxian pushed Jiang Cheng, wincing in pain. “Don’t let her send more signals!”

Jiang Cheng released Wei Wuxian and struck at Wang Lingjiao. Just as he attacked, Wen Zhuliu charged towards Madam Yu. It seemed he was about to deliver a fatal blow. Jiang Cheng yelled, “Mother!”

He immediately abandoned Wang Lingjiao and rushed towards his mother. Wen Zhuliu didn’t even turn his head, and with a palm strike, said, “You’re not good enough!”

Jiang Cheng was struck on the shoulder, immediately spitting out blood. At the same time, Wang Lingjiao had released all of her signal flares. The gray-blue night sky was filled with brilliant flashes and sharp cries.

Seeing Jiang Cheng injured, Madam Yu roared, the light of Zidian flared up and became dazzlingly white!

Wen Zhuliu was blasted back by the sudden burst of energy, crashing into the wall. Jinzhu and Yinzhu each drew a long whip from their waists, crackling with electrical energy, and engaged Wen Zhuliu. These two handmaidens had been close to Madam Yu since they were young, and they had trained with her. They were not to be underestimated when they attacked together. Madam Yu used this opportunity to quickly lift the injured Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian and rush out of the hall. There were still many disciples in the training ground. Madam Yu commanded, “Immediately form ranks and arm yourselves!”

She carried the two of them to the dock. Seven or eight small boats were always moored in front of the Lotus Pier dock, used by the Jiang family youths to go boating and pick lotuses. Madam Yu threw them into a boat and jumped in herself, grabbing Jiang Cheng’s hand to help him calm down. Jiang Cheng only coughed up a mouthful of blood, his injuries not too serious. He asked, “Mother, what should we do now?”

Madam Yu said, “What do you mean what should we do?! Can’t you see? They came prepared. Today’s battle is unavoidable. A large group of Wen dogs will be here soon. Leave now!”

Wei Wuxian said, “What about Senior Sister? She went to Meishan the day before yesterday. If she comes back…”

Madam Yu harshly said, “You shut your mouth! It’s all because of you, this little… causing this trouble!”

Wei Wuxian had no choice but to be quiet. Madam Yu removed the Zidian ring from her right finger and slipped it onto Jiang Cheng’s right index finger. Jiang Cheng was startled. “…Mother, why did you give me Zidian?”

Madam Yu said, “It’s yours now, it will always be yours! Zidian has already acknowledged you as its master.”

Jiang Cheng was bewildered. “Mother, aren’t you leaving with us?”

Madam Yu stared at his face and suddenly pulled him into a hug, kissing his hair twice. She held him close, murmuring, “Good boy.”

This hug was very tight as if she wished she could turn Jiang Cheng back into a baby and stuff him into her womb, so that no one could hurt him, and no one could separate them. Jiang Cheng had never been hugged by his mother like this, not to mention being kissed. His head buried in her chest, his eyes wide, at a loss for what to do.

While holding him with one arm, Madam Yu suddenly grabbed Wei Wuxian’s collar with her other hand, seeming like she wanted to choke him to death. She gnashed her teeth and said, “…You little brat! How hateful! So hateful! Look what kind of disaster our family has suffered because of you!”

Wei Wuxian’s chest heaved violently, but he was speechless. This time, it wasn’t a forced tolerance or internal grumbling. He truly had nothing to say.

Jiang Cheng urgently asked, “Mother, are you not leaving with us???”

Madam Yu suddenly released him, pushing him towards Wei Wuxian.

She leapt onto the dock, the small boat swaying slightly in the lake. Jiang Cheng finally understood. Jinzhu, Yinzhu, all of the disciples, all of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan’s artifacts and family treasures, were still in Lotus Pier and couldn’t be moved right away. There was going to be a big battle. As the matriarch, Madam Yu couldn’t retreat alone. But she was afraid her son would be in danger, so she decided to let them escape first.

Knowing that this departure could mean danger, Jiang Cheng was extremely frightened and alarmed. He stood up and tried to follow her off the boat, but Zidian suddenly transformed into an electrical current. An electrical cord bound the two of them firmly to the boat, making it impossible for them to move at all. Jiang Cheng cried, “Mother, what are you doing?!”

Madam Yu said, “Don’t make a fuss. It will naturally loosen when you are in a safe place. If you encounter anyone on the way, Zidian will automatically protect you. Don’t come back, just go straight to Meishan to find your sister!”

Having said that, she turned and pointed towards Wei Wuxian, fiercely saying, “Wei Ying! You listen to me! Protect Jiang Cheng, even if it costs your life, do you hear me?!”

Wei Wuxian said, “Madam Yu!”

Madam Yu angrily said, “Did you hear me! Don’t say any other nonsense, I am just asking if you heard me!”

Wei Wuxian could not break free from Zidian. He could only nod heavily. Jiang Cheng shouted, “Mother, father hasn’t returned yet. Can’t we face it together?!”

Hearing him mention Jiang Fengmian, Madam Yu’s eyes seemed to turn red for a moment.

However, she immediately shouted, “If he’s not coming back, then he’s not coming back. Do you think I can’t live without him?!”

After yelling, she slashed through the rope tying the boat and kicked it hard. The current was rapid and the wind was strong. Adding to that her kick, the boat immediately floated out a few dozen feet. It turned a few times and then steadily and swiftly traveled with the current towards the center of the river. Jiang Cheng cried, “Mother!”

He yelled dozens of times. However, Madam Yu and Lotus Pier were getting further and further away, smaller and smaller. After the boat had drifted far away, Madam Yu held her long sword, her purple robes flashed, and she retreated back into Lotus Pier.

The two struggled furiously. Zidian seemed to sink into their flesh, yet it still wouldn’t budge.

Jiang Cheng let out a mad roar, struggling and crying out, “Break! Break! Break!”

Wei Wuxian was just struck by Zidian a dozen times. He was still aching all over. He knew that struggling like this wouldn’t help and it was futile. Thinking that Jiang Cheng was still injured, he tried to endure the pain and said, “Jiang Cheng, calm down first. Madam Yu isn’t necessarily going to lose to the Core Melting Hand. Wasn’t she holding Wen Zhuliu back earlier…”

Jiang Cheng raged, “How can you tell me to calm down?! How can I calm down?! Even if they kill Wen Zhuliu, that bitch Wang Lingjiao already sent a signal! What if the Wen dogs saw it and send more people to surround our home?!”

Wei Wuxian also knew that it was impossible for either of them to calm down, but one of them had to be clear-headed. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly saw something. He shouted, “Uncle Jiang! Uncle Jiang is back!”

Sure enough, another large ship was sailing towards them.

Jiang Fengmian stood at the bow of the ship. More than a dozen disciples stood behind him. He was gazing in the direction of Lotus Pier, his robes fluttering in the river wind. Jiang Cheng cried, “Father! Father!”

Jiang Fengmian also saw them and looked surprised. A disciple slightly adjusted the paddles and his ship pulled up alongside them. Jiang Fengmian did not yet know what had happened. He asked strangely, “A-Cheng? A-Ying? What’s happened to you two?”

The youths at Lotus Pier often played strange games, so it was common for them to be covered in blood and pretending to be floating corpses in the river. Therefore, Jiang Fengmian could not immediately determine if they were playing a new game. He did not realize the seriousness of the situation. But Jiang Cheng was so happy that tears were already streaming down his face. He anxiously said, “Father, father, quickly release us!”

Jiang Fengmian said, “This is your mother’s Zidian. Zidian recognizes its master, I’m afraid it won’t let me…”

He reached out and touched Zidian. To his surprise, the moment he touched it, Zidian obediently retracted, transforming back into a ring, slipping onto his finger.

Jiang Fengmian was immediately stunned.

Zidian was Yu Ziyuan’s supreme spiritual weapon, and her will was its first command. Zidian could recognize multiple masters, but there was an order. Madam Yu was the undisputed primary master. Her command was to bind Jiang Cheng until he was safe, so even though Jiang Cheng was also a master, he could not break free of its bonds.

Somehow, Jiang Fengmian had been recognized as the secondary master. Zidian believed he was safe, therefore it had released them.

But Madam Yu had never said that she had allowed Zidian to also recognize Jiang Fengmian as its master.

Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian were finally separated and collapsed on either side. Jiang Fengmian asked, “What in the world happened? Why were you two tied up with Zidian in the boat?”

As if he had seen a lifeline, Jiang Cheng grabbed him, saying, “Today, the Wen family came to attack our home. Mother got into a fight with them and she’s fighting with that Core Melting Hand! I’m afraid Mother will get hurt. Someone sent a signal, and there might be more enemies coming soon. Father, let’s go back and help her! Let’s go now!”

Upon hearing his words, all the disciples were deeply moved. Jiang Fengmian asked, “The Core Melting Hand?!”

Jiang Cheng said, “Yes, Father! We…”

Before he could finish speaking, a purple light flashed, and Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian were bound again. The two fell back into the boat in the same position as before. Jiang Cheng was stunned, “…Father?!”

Jiang Fengmian said, “I’m going back. You two leave. Do not turn back, do not return to Lotus Pier. Once you are ashore, find a way to get to Meishan to find your sister and grandmother.”

Wei Wuxian said, “Uncle Jiang!!!”

After the shock, Jiang Cheng frantically kicked the side of the boat until it was shaking. “Father, release me! Release me!”

Jiang Fengmian said, “I’m going back to find Sanniangzi.”

Jiang Cheng glared at him and asked, “Can’t we go back together to find her?!”

Jiang Fengmian looked steadily at him and suddenly reached out. He hesitated in midair before slowly patting his head. “A-Cheng, you have to be safe.”

Wei Wuxian said, “Uncle Jiang, if something happens to you two, he will not be safe.”

Jiang Fengmian turned his gaze to him, saying, “A-Ying, A-Cheng… please look after him.”

He returned to his large ship. The two ships brushed past each other and sailed further and further apart. Jiang Cheng desperately cried, “Dad!!!”

The small boat floated downstream.

It was unknown how long passed, before Zidian finally loosened. It turned into a silver ring, resting on Jiang Cheng’s hand.

The two had been yelling the entire way, their throats were already hoarse. Once they were released, they did not speak a word, and began to head back. There were no paddles, so they used their hands to paddle back upstream.

Madam Yu had said that the beating she had given him would leave him incapacitated for a month, but Wei Wuxian, at this time, felt that other than the burning, tingling pain in the areas where he was beaten, his movements were not restricted. They were fueled by a life-or-death force, and they paddled furiously. After more than an hour, they finally made it back to Lotus Pier using their bare hands.

It was already late at night.

The gates of Lotus Pier were tightly shut. Outside the gate, lights were bright. The shimmering surface of the water reflected the fragmented moonlight, and a few dozen large lantern floats, shaped like nine-petaled lotus flowers, quietly drifted near the dock.

Everything was the same as usual. Yet, precisely because everything was the same, it made one feel uneasy and in pain.

The two stopped paddling in the middle of the lake. They anchored themselves and their hearts pounded wildly. They were afraid to go near the dock, to go ashore, and see what exactly was going on, or see what the situation was inside.

Jiang Cheng’s eyes were filled with tears, and his hands and legs were shaking. After a long while, Wei Wuxian said, “…Let’s not go in through the front gate.”

Jiang Cheng nodded haphazardly. The two quietly paddled the boat to the other side of the lake. There was an old willow tree there. Its roots were embedded in the earth of the shore, the thick trunk growing diagonally, spanning over the lake. The willow branches drooped into the water. In the past, the Lotus Pier youths often used to walk along the trunk of the willow tree all the way to its crown to sit and fish.

They stopped the boat behind the weeping willow branches and went ashore under the cover of darkness and the willow branches. Wei Wuxian was used to climbing over walls. He pulled Jiang Cheng, whispering, “This way.”

Jiang Cheng was both shocked and afraid. He could barely distinguish north from south. He followed along the wall and, after hiding for a while, stealthily climbed a wall. There were a row of beast heads on this wall which provided a good vantage point. It used to be the people outside who secretly climbed over the walls to look at them. Now, it was them secretly peeping inside.

Wei Wuxian peeked inside. His heart immediately sank.

In the training grounds of Lotus Pier, rows and rows of people stood.

All of these people were wearing the robes of the blazing sun and flames. The flame patterns at their collars, hems and sleeves were as red as blood and glaringly painful to see.

Besides the people standing, there were also people lying on the ground. The bodies had all been moved to the northwest corner of the training ground, and piled up haphazardly. Someone with their back to them was looking down, seeming to be examining the pile of Jiang family members, whether they were dead or alive was unknown.

Jiang Cheng was still frantically searching for Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian’s figures. Wei Wuxian’s eyes immediately felt hot and wet.

Among these people, he saw many familiar figures.

His throat was dry and painful. His temples felt like they had been hit by a hammer. His whole body felt cold. He didn’t dare think too much about Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan. Just as he was trying to see carefully whether the thin young man on top of the pile was his sixth junior brother, suddenly, the person in the northwest corner who was facing away from them seemed to have noticed something and turned around.

Wei Wuxian immediately pressed Jiang Cheng down.

Even though he had hidden himself in time, he saw the face of that person.

It was a young man around their age. He was tall and thin, with delicate features, black eyes, and a pale face. Although he was wearing the robes of the blazing sun and flames, he did not have a strong aura and seemed too refined and gentle. Judging by the level of the sun pattern, he should be some young master of the Wen family.