Chapter 70: 将离第十五 2

Madam Jin's brows snapped together. She snapped, ‘Zixun!'

At that one word, the smile suddenly vanished from Wei Wuxian's face.

“Upbringing?” he said.

He turned his head slowly. “Crooked path of demons and devils?”

Lan Wangji said in a low voice, “Wei Ying.”

Jin Zixun and the others sensed the shift in the air too, and held their breath watching him. Wei Wuxian smiled again. “Want to know why I don't carry a sword? No harm in telling you.”

He turned to face them and said, word by word, “Because I want you to know — even without a sword, relying only on what you call this ‘crooked path of demons and devils,’ I can still leave every one of you in the dust, so far behind you'll never catch up.”

The moment he said it, almost everyone there was stunned speechless.

Words this outrageously arrogant — no other sect heir had ever dared say them in front of so many people. After a long moment, Jin Zixun finally came back to himself and roared, “Wei Wuxian! Nothing but a servant's son, and you're this insolent?!!”

At those words, Lan Wangji's gaze froze, and Wei Wuxian's pupils shrank sharply, his right hand already moving as if to grip Chenqing. Just as the air was thick with gunpowder, one spark from blowing up, someone suddenly called out, “A-Xian!”

Hearing that voice, the knot in Wei Wuxian's chest eased. He turned. “Shijie?”

Jiang Anli beckoned him over. “A-Xian, come stand behind me.”

Wei Wuxian froze, and before he could move, Madam Jin quickly took her hand. ‘A-Li, don't get involved in their business.' But Jiang Anli gave Madam Jin an apologetic smile, stepped forward to stand in front of Wei Wuxian, and gave Jin Zixun and the others a bow.

Jin Zixun and the others didn't know how to react — a scattered few bowed back, some didn't. In her soft, gentle voice, Jiang Anli said to Jin Zixun, “Lord Jin, from what you said just now, it seems A-Xian took a full thirty percent of all the prey on Hundred Phoenix Mountain for himself — broke the rules, far too arrogant. I… I've never heard of such a thing either, and it must indeed have caused all of you trouble. I apologize to everyone on his behalf.”

And with that she really did bow again — it looked like a serious, formal apology. Wei Wuxian said, “Shijie!”

Jiang Anli didn't straighten up. She looked at him and gave the faintest, almost imperceptible shake of her head, so Wei Wuxian could only clench his fists and stay silent.

From a distance Jin Zixuan watched, his expression complicated. Jin Zixun and the others, on the other hand, made no effort at all to hide the smugness on their faces — they were thoroughly pleased with themselves.

Jin Zixun laughed. “Lady Jiang truly is gracious and sensible, someone who understands how things work. What your shidi did really was greatly improper, and it really did cause no small amount of trouble. But since you know it was improper — for your sake and Sect Leader Jiang's sake, there's no need to apologize. The Yunmeng Jiang Clan and the Lanling Jin Sect have always been close as brothers, after all.”

He was one step short of throwing his head back and laughing in triumph. Rage shot straight up in Wei Wuxian's chest, his clenched knuckles cracking, and he was about to speak when Jiang Anli finished her bow, straightened, and said earnestly, “But — even though I've never taken part in a hunting party, there's one thing I do know: in all the hunting parties throughout history, I've never heard of a single rule forbidding one person from catching too much.”

The smug grins all around hadn't even faded before they froze.

Jiang Anli went on, “So when you say A-Xian broke the rules — exactly which rule did he break?”

This time it was Wei Wuxian's turn to burst out laughing.

Jin Zixun's face went green, but he didn't argue back. Two reasons. First, he'd never seen Jiang Anli step up to speak before, so he couldn't gauge how to respond — both Madam Jin and Jiang Cheng thought very highly of her, and he didn't dare clash with her recklessly. Second, when it came down to it — there really was no such rule!

Just then, someone in the crowd couldn't hold back. At moments like this, Yao Sect Leader was always the first to jump in. He said, “Lady Jiang, you're not right about that. Some rules may not be written down, but everyone knows them in their hearts, and everyone follows them.”

Someone shouted, “How much prey is there on all of Hundred Phoenix Mountain — five hundred, even? And how many people are at this hunting party? Over five thousand! Everyone was already fighting tooth and nail over it, and this one man used underhanded methods to grab this much for himself — what's everyone else supposed to do?”

Wei Wuxian gave a derisive snort and was about to speak when Jiang Anli stopped him, murmuring, “Don't say anything.”

Someone complained, “Right, otherwise I wouldn't still be standing here without a single catch!”

Jiang Anli said, “But… the fact that others can't catch anything isn't his fault.”

The man was left speechless, and she continued, “Isn't a hunting party only about skill? Even if the ghost types are all gone, aren't there still demon types and monster types left? Even if he hadn't taken that one-third, even if he hadn't joined the hunting assembly at all, those who can't catch anything still wouldn't catch anything. A-Xian's methods may be different from everyone else's, but it's still a skill he cultivated himself. You can't call him a member of the crooked path of demons and devils just because others missed out on that one-third of the prey.”

Quite a few of those who'd egged Jin Zixun on now had faces gone iron-dark just like his — but, wary of Jiang Anli's standing, none of them dared rebuke her to her face.

Jiang Anli went on, “Besides, a hunting party is a hunting party — why drag upbringing into it? A-Xian is a disciple of my Yunmeng Jiang Clan, raised alongside my brother and me, closer to us than blood. Calling him a ‘servant's son’ off the cuff like that — forgive me, but I cannot accept it. So…”

She straightened her back and raised her voice. “I would still ask that Lord Jin Zixun apologize to Wei Wuxian of my Yunmeng Jiang Clan!”

If it had been anyone else saying this just now instead of Jiang Anli, Jin Zixun probably would have struck them down already. His face was a dark, ugly color, and he kept his mouth shut. Jiang Anli simply stared at him steadily, refusing to look away. Madam Jin said, ‘A-Li, why take it so seriously — it's all trivial, don't be angry.'

Jiang Anli said softly, ‘Madam, A-Xian is my brother. When others insult him, to me that is no trivial thing.'

Madam Jin glanced at Jin Zixun and gave a cold snort. ‘Zixun, you heard her.'

Jin Zixun said, “Aunt!”

Making him apologize to Wei Wuxian — that was utterly out of the question. And didn't Madam Jin know his temper well enough? But the situation was already a mess, and at the thought that Jin Zixun would surely throw several more tantrums back at Jinlin Pavilion after apologizing, she grew more and more irritated, half wishing she could grab him by the neck and force the apology out just to be done with it. Right at that moment, two streaks of sword-light came flying in — it was Jin Guangyao and Lan Xichen, arrived at last.

Lan Wangji said, “Brother.”

Lan Xichen said in surprise, “Wangji, how are you here too?”

Jin Guangyao said, “Everyone, what's the situation over here now?”

The moment he arrived, both of them found a target for the rage bottled up in their chests. Jin Guangyao had barely touched down before Madam Jin was cursing him out: ‘Still smiling! Something this big happens and you've still got the nerve to smile! This is the hunting assembly you organized — you useless thing!'

Jin Guangyao always wore that same smiling face, and to be reamed out the instant he arrived caught him off guard. He quickly reined in the smile and said meekly, “Mother, what on earth happened?”

Madam Jin cut her eyes at him. ‘What happened — can't you look for yourself? Aren't you so good at reading a room?'

Jin Guangyao said nothing, and Jin Zixun said, “A third of all the prey in the whole Hundred Phoenix Mountain hunting grounds is gone — what are these five thousand-some people supposed to hunt?!” He seized the chance to slip past the matter of apologizing to Wei Wuxian, and was about to lay into him further when Lan Xichen said, “Lianfang-zun is already arranging to expand the boundaries of the hunting grounds. Everyone, please be patient.”

Since Zewu-jun had spoken, Jin Zixun knew his own words had been improper, and it wouldn't do to keep venting his anger at Jin Guangyao. He hurled his bow and arrows to the ground and sneered, “This hunting party is nothing but a farce! Fine — I won't take part, then. I withdraw.”

Jin Guangyao started. “Zixun, it'll be arranged any moment now — half an hour at most…”

Yao Sect Leader chimed in too. ‘Lord Jin, there's really no need for that!' Jin Zixun said, ‘There's no fairness left in this hunting party at all — what is there to wait for? You'll have to excuse me!' And with that he was about to lead his cultivators off on their swords. Jin Guangyao hurried forward to talk him out of it; some egged each other on to leave with Jin Zixun, some weren't willing to give up just yet and hesitated, unable to decide — and in an instant it was utter chaos. Jiang Anli shook her head and said to Madam Jin, ‘Madam Jin, I've caused you trouble.'

Madam Jin waved a hand. ‘What trouble are you talking about with your auntie? You want to scold that foolish boy Zixun, scold him all you like — I won't lift a finger to stop you. If that doesn't satisfy you, I'll help you beat him.'

Jiang Anli said, “No need, no need… Well then, I'll be heading back.”

Madam Jin said quickly, ‘Back to the Hunting Observation Terrace? I'll have Zixuan see us back.'

Even as she spoke, she kept shooting pointed glances at Jin Zixuan, who'd been standing off in the distance all this while. Jiang Anli said softly, “No need. I have something to say to A-Xian — he can just see me back.”

Madam Jin's brows lifted. She sized Wei Wuxian up with a few wary glances, looking faintly displeased, and said, ‘The two of you, a young man and woman, no one watching — how's it proper to always be off together?'

Jiang Anli said, “A-Xian is my brother.”

Madam Jin said, ‘A-Li, you really mustn't be angry now. You tell me whatever stubborn, hardheaded stupid thing that boy's done, and I'll have him make a proper apology to you.'

Jiang Anli shook her head. ‘Truly, no need, Madam Jin. Don't force him.'

Madam Jin said anxiously, ‘How is it forcing? It's not forcing at all!'

Wei Wuxian inclined his head. ‘I'll take my leave, Madam Jin.'

He and Jiang Anli gave a slight bow together and turned to go, but Madam Jin clung to Jiang Anli's hand with all her might, refusing to let her leave. In the middle of all this tugging, suddenly Jin Zixuan came running out and shouted loudly, ‘Lady Jiang!!!'

Wei Wuxian pretended he hadn't heard and pulled Jiang Anli along. “Shijie, let's hurry.”

Jin Zixuan shouted again, “That's not it, Lady Jiang!!!”

Now there was no way to keep pretending he hadn't heard, so Wei Wuxian had no choice but to turn back along with Jiang Anli. Even Jin Zixun and the others, who'd been carrying on over there, had their attention drawn over — everyone was wondering what Jin Zixuan meant by ‘that's not it.’ Jin Zixuan rushed forward a few steps as if he meant to catch up, then stopped, standing in place far off, gasping for breath, the veins at his temple bulging.

After a long moment, he suddenly bellowed, “That's not it, Lady Jiang! It wasn't my mother! It wasn't her idea! It's not forcing — I'm not forcing it at all!!”

Holding it in a beat longer, he roared, “It's me! It was me! It was me who wanted you to come!!!”

Jiang Anli: “…”

Wei Wuxian: “…”

Madam Jin: ‘…'

Jin Zixun: “…”

Having shouted all that out, Jin Zixuan's fair face instantly turned a red so deep it looked about to drip blood.

He stumbled back a few steps, steadying himself against a tree, and looked up — then froze, as if he'd only just realized there were so many people here, only just remembered what he'd said in front of all of them. He stood there stunned for a long while, then suddenly snapped to, let out a yell, and bolted off at a dead run.

After a long silence, Madam Jin erupted. ‘That idiot! What are you running for?!'

She grabbed Jiang Anli. “A-Li, we'll keep talking up at the Hunting Observation Terrace later! I'll go drag him back first!” And no sooner said than done — she led a batch of cultivators rising urgently on their swords, chasing and shouting in the direction Jin Zixuan had fled. Wei Wuxian had never imagined things would turn out like this, and after all that commotion he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. “What's he playing at! Shijie, let's go.”

Jiang Anli blinked, then nodded. Wei Wuxian waved at Lan Wangji. “Lan Zhan, we're off.”

Lan Wangji gave a slight nod, said nothing, and silently watched the backs of him and Jiang Anli slowly vanish together into the woods. Over there, Jin Guangyao finally could no longer hold Jin Zixun and the others back, and the whole lot of them complained noisily as they left on their swords. The dark mass of a crowd that had gathered before was suddenly more than half gone, and once there was no more spectacle to watch, the rest gradually scattered too. Jin Guangyao wiped the sweat from his brow and said with a wry smile, “This is really…”

Lan Xichen patted his shoulder. “Today's affair was not your fault.”

Jin Guangyao sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I'm afraid I won't get it sorted in even an hour.”

Lan Xichen said, “Why?”

Jin Guangyao said, “Actually, it's not only that Lord Wei who took a third of the prey — Eldest Brother alone swept up nearly half of the demon-beast type catches as well.”

Hearing that, Lan Xichen smiled. “That's Eldest Brother for you.” Lan Wangji looked thoughtful. Jin Guangyao said, head aching, “So the boundaries of the hunting grounds will probably have to be expanded.”

Lan Xichen said, “Then let's go see to it right now.”

Jin Guangyao said apologetically, “Sorry, Second Brother — you came to take part in the hunting party, and now I'm troubling you to step in and help me.”

Lan Xichen smiled gently. “It's nothing. Wangji, will we go on ahead, or will you come help too?”

Lan Wangji quietly summoned his Bichen Sword. “To help.”

After they left on their swords, only a scattered few people remained in the woods, still chatting away about this and that. Not long after, a man strode out of the trees, and at the sight of all this, paused slightly.

The newcomer was none other than Jiang Cheng. Up on Hundred Phoenix Mountain he'd heard people discussing the sword-light of Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan flashing in the sky, as if the two of them had come to blows. Worried that Jiang Anli might be at Jin Zixuan's side, he'd come to check — only to miss his chance, the crowd already dispersed. Of these few people, Jiang Cheng saw that only Yao Sect Leader looked somewhat familiar, and said, “Yao Sect Leader, what happened here just now?”

Yao Sect Leader glanced at him and said, with weighty meaning, “Sect Leader Jiang, your sect's Wei Wuxian really is quite the character.”

Jiang Cheng frowned. “What's that supposed to mean?”

Yao Sect Leader laughed. “I wouldn't dare say what it means. Sect Leader Jiang needn't take my words to heart.”

Jiang Cheng's face darkened. He knew it wouldn't be anything good, and thought to himself that he'd have to settle accounts properly with Wei Wuxian later. With no patience left to humor someone being deliberately cryptic, he turned and walked out of the woods. As he went, he faintly heard a rustle of discussion behind him — as if afraid he'd hear, pitched extremely, extremely low — but his senses were keen, and he caught every word of it clear as day.

One sect head said sourly, ‘The Lotus Pavilion really got to show off this time — nearly every Malevolent Corpse and resentful spirit got summoned over to the Yunmeng Jiang Clan's camp. There'll definitely be a lot of cultivators rushing to join his sect now.'

Yao Sect Leader said, “What can you do — it's not our families that have a Wei Wuxian.”

“Having a Wei Wuxian isn't necessarily a good thing. I wouldn't want someone like that in my family stirring up trouble for me every single day.”

“This Wei Wuxian really is too arrogant… Anyway, from now on, any night hunt he's in, I'm not going.”

Someone sneered, “Heh? Rushing to join the Jiang Clan? Not likely. Plainly put, isn't it Wei Wuxian they're rushing to? Wasn't it all thanks to that one Wei Wuxian in the Sun-Striking Campaign that the Yunmeng Jiang Clan made its name in the first place…”

Jiang Cheng's whole being went grim and overcast.

As if something had cast a shadow he couldn't shake off, over his face and over his heart alike.