Chapter 102: Hatred (Part Five)
Translated by K of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Chapter 102: HatredPart Five
Although he was pierced right through the chest, Jiang Cheng wasnt so weak as to have died right then. It just wasnt the best for him to move or conjure up his spiritual powers. He didnt like it when others tried to help him, turning to Jin Ling he said, Fuck off.
Jin Ling knew Jiang Cheng was still mad at him for running around. He felt guilty and didnt dare defend himself. The dogs barks came from afar, followed by a sudden wail. Jin Ling shuddered as he remembered what Jin GuangYao said, shouting, Fairy, run! Theyre gonna kill you!
Soon, Su She rushed through the storm, furious. Jin GuangYao, You didnt kill it?
Su Shes expression darkened, I couldnt. Cant believe the dogs so spineless. Its wild when somebodys there to help it, but as soon as its at a disadvantage, it runs away faster than anyone!
Jin GuangYao shook his head, It might lead someone else over. We should finish things quickly here.
Su She, Those good-for-nothings! Ill go make them hurry.
Jin Ling, on the other hand, let out a sigh of relief. Seeing Jiang Cheng sit on the ground, still dark-faced, he turned to Lan WangJi after some hesitation, HanGuang-Jun, are there any more sitting mats?
The four mats that theyd been sitting on were all gathered by Lan WangJi. However, there were only four within the temple. After some silence, Lan WangJi stood up and pushed over the one hed been sitting on.
Jin Ling hurried, Thank you! Its fine. Ill just give him mine
Lan WangJi, There is no need.
As soon as he finished, he sat down beside Wei WuXian. Even as the two sat so seriously on the same sitting mat, they didnt seem too cramped. Now that the mat was handed over already, Jin Ling scratched his head before dragging Jiang Cheng over. Jiang Cheng first pressed onto an acupoint at his chest, stopping the blood flow. After he sat down, he looked up and glanced over at Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi. He soon looked down again. His face was gloomy, disclosing nothing of what he was thinking.
Right at this point, an ecstatic cry came from behind the palace, Sect Leader! We got it! A corner is out already!
Jin GuangYaos expression relaxed quite somewhat. He quickly walked back behind the palace, Press on! Please be careful. Theres not much time left.
Over a dozen streaks of lightning twisted their way across the edge of the sky. They were soon followed by a series of roaring thunder. Over there, Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi sat together while Jiang Cheng sat at the side. Jin Ling dragged his own mat over as well. Amid the pounding of the rain, there was a long while of dead, awkward silence. Nobody spoke up.
But for some reason, Jin Ling seemed as if he really wanted to talk to them. After some glancing around, he suddenly began, Uncle, good thing you stopped that guqin string earlier on, or else things would be pretty bad.
Jiang Chengs face darkened, You can shut up!
If not for him leaving Jin GuangYao with a chance for a sneak attack due to his own unstable emotions, he wouldnt have landed in the enemys hands either. On top of that, in reality, Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi couldve completely dodged the attack on their own. Even though, right now, Lan WangJi had no spiritual powers and Wei WuXians were low to begin with, their skills were still there. They couldnt attack, but they were still able to dodge. Clumsily, Jin Ling was trying to speak for his uncle, yet the deliberation made the situation even more awkward.
After being scolded, Jin Ling stopped talking, embarrassed. Jiang Cheng sealed his lips together and didnt speak again.
Wei WuXian didnt say anything either. In the past, hed definitely laugh at Jiang Cheng for being so easily-provoked that he gave the opponent an opportunity. But now, recalling what Jin GuangYao said, he understood everything.
Jiang Cheng knew the truth already.
Lan WangJi stroked Wei WuXians back a few more times. Wei WuXian looked up. Lan WangJi didnt seem at all surprised. His eyes were almost gentle. Wei WuXian felt his heart skip a beat. He couldnt help but whisper, You knew?
Lan WangJi nodded slowly.
Wei WuXian let out a light breath, Wen Ning.
Wen Ning had originally been keeping Suibian, but now it was in Jiang Chengs hands. And on their way back from Lotus Pier, Wen Ning said nothing of such a matter.
Wei WuXian, When did he say it?
Lan WangJi, While you were unconscious.
Wei WuXian, This was how we left Lotus Pier?!
If not that Wen Ning hadnt found them yet, Wei WuXian would definitely have begun glaring at him already.
Lan WangJi, He always felt sorry for you.
Wei WuXians tone was tinged with anger, I told him so many times not to say it!
Out of the blue, Jiang Cheng spoke up, Not to do what?
Wei WuXian paused in surprise, turning to him along with Lan WangJi. Jiang Cheng covered his wound with one hand, his voice chilly, Wei WuXian, youre such a great, selfless person. You did the best things possible, and you swallowed all the suffering and didnt let anyone know. What a touching story. I should kneel down and cry in gratitude, shouldnt I?
Hearing the mocking tone that lacked any courtesy, Lan WangJis face grew cold. Jin Ling saw the displeased expression and immediately stood in front of Jiang Cheng, scared that Lan WangJi would kill him with one strike, Uncle!
Wei WuXians expression worsened as well. He never expected Jiang Cheng to make up with him after he found out the truth, but he didnt think his tone would be as unkind as ever, either. With a moment of silence, he replied, voice muffled, I never asked you to thank me.
Jiang Cheng let out a hah, Of course. Giving without expecting anything in return. What a high level. Unlike me, of course. So thats why my father always said you were the one who truly understood the Jiang Sects motto and did things the Jiang way, back when he was alive.
Wei WuXian couldnt keep on listening any longer, interrupting him, Enough.
Jiang Chengs voice harshened, What do you mean, enough? Its enough as long as you say so? You know everything! Youre better than me at everything! Whether it be talent or cultivation or spirituality or personality, you guys knew everything while I was much lowerthen what am I?!?!
He suddenly reached out, as if to seize Wei WuXians collar. Lan WangJi grabbed Wei WuXians shoulder with one hand, letting Wei WuXian stand behind him, and with his other hand he forcefully pushed away Jiang Chengs hand. Rage could be seen hidden within his eyes. Although his push held no spiritual energy, it was quite powerful in terms of strength. The wound at Jiang Chengs chest ripped apart again. Blood surged.
Jin Ling cried, Uncle, your wound! HanGuang-Jun, spare some mercy!
However, Lan WangJis voice was cold, Jiang WanYin, spare some virtue!
Lan XiChen took off his outer robe and lay it over the shivering Nie HuaiSang, Sect Leader Jiang, please do not be so agitated. Your injury will worsen.
Jiang Cheng shoved Jin Ling, whod been holding him up helplessly, out of the way. Even though he was losing blood, it rushed to his head unceasingly. His face switched between white and red, Why? Wei WuXian, just fucking why?
Behind Lan WangJi, Wei WuXian replied stiffly, Why what?
Jiang Cheng, Just how much did we the Jiang Sect give you? Im supposed to be his son, Im supposed to be the heir of the YunmengJiang Sect, yet all these years Ive been outdone by you at every single thing. You paid for your bringing-up with life! The lives of my dad, my mom, my sister, and Jin ZiXuan! Because of you, all thats left is a parentless Jin Ling!
Jin Ling trembled. His shoulders sunk, and his face sagged as well. Wei WuXian moved his lips, but he couldnt say anything. Lan WangJi turned around to hold his hand.
On the other hand, Jiang Cheng refused to give up, shouting, Wei WuXian, who was the one who broke his promise and betrayed the Jiang Sect first? Tell me. That Id be the sect leader and youd be my subordinate, that youd help me your whole life, that so long as the GusuLan Sect had its Two Jades, the YunmengJiang Sect would have its Two Prides, that youd never betray me or betray the Jiang Sectwho was the one that said these?! Im asking youwho was the one that said all these?! Did you eat all your fucking words?!
He got more agitated as he ranted on, And in the end? You go and protect outsiders, haha! The Wen Sects people, even. How much of their rice did you eat?! Defecting with such resolution! What did you take our sect to be?! You did all the best things, yet every time you do the worst ones, its involuntary! Forced! With some unspeakable grievances! Grievances?! You told me nothing, you played me for a fool!!!
Just how much do you owe the Jiang Sect? Am I not supposed to hate you? Can I not hate you?! Why is it that now its like Im supposed to have wronged you?! Why do I have to feel like Im a fucking clown all these years?! What am I? Do I deserve to be blinded by all your dazzling splendor?! Am I not supposed to hate you?!
Lan WangJi shot up. With panic, Jin Ling stood in front of Jiang Cheng, HanGuang-Jun! My uncles hurt
Jiang Cheng slapped him onto the ground, Let him come! Am I scared of him?!
But after the slap, Jin Ling froze. Not only him, Wei WuXian, Lan WangJi, and Lan XiChen all stopped moving.
Jiang Cheng was crying. Tears poured from his eyes as he forced through his teeth, Why Why didnt you tell me?!
Jiang Cheng clenched his fist, like he wanted to hit someone, like he wanted to hit himself. In the end, he still slammed it onto the ground. He shouldve been able to loathe Wei WuXian without a care. But right now, the golden core revolving within him took away all that confidence.
Wei WuXian didnt know what to say.
In the beginning, it was precisely because he didnt want to see such a Jiang Cheng that he decided not to tell him.
He remembered every single thing he promised Jiang FengMian and Madam Yuto help and take care of Jiang Cheng. If someone as unhealthily competitive as him found out about this, hed be dispirited his whole life, too tortured to face himself. Thered always be something he could never overcome, reminding him that he could only reach where he was because of anothers sacrifice. It wasnt at all his cultivation and his achievement. No matter if he won or lost, hed long since lost the right to compete.
Afterwards, it was because Jin ZiXuan and Jiang YanLi died for him that he had no face to let others know. To tell Jiang Cheng after what happened then would be like shirking responsibility, hurrying to demonstrate that hed contributed as well. Itd be like telling Jiang Cheng, dont hate me, look Ive contributed to the YunmengJiang Sect too.
Jiang Cheng cried soundlessly, but tears had already streaked across his face. To cry in such an unsightly way in front of others was almost impossible for him in the past. But every single moment that passed from now on, as long as the golden core remained in his body, as long as it could still revolve, hed forever remember this feeling.
He choked, You said Id be the sect leader and youd be my subordinate, you said youd help me your whole life, you said youd never betray the YunmengJiang Sect You said so yourself.
After a moment of silence, Wei WuXian replied, Im sorry. I broke my promise.
Jiang Cheng shook his head, burying his face deep into his palms. A second later, he suddenly burst out with a laugh. His muffled voice mocked, Its such a time already, and I still need you to say sorry to me. What a fragile person I am.