Lán WàngJī versus Alcohol: Chapter 11
Lán XīChén noticed that, even though Jiāng Chéng acted rashly, he was genuinely worried about Wèi WúXiàn. He also had to admit that it was Lán WàngJī who had offended Jiāng Chéng in the first place.
So, he bowed to Jiāng Chéng and said, “Jiāng Zōng-zhǔ, thank you for showing courtesy to our rule, which forbids fighting in Yúnshēn Bùzhīchù. It was WàngJī who provoked you. Please forgive us.”
Lán XīChén’s tone was gentle even though Jiāng Chéng came uninvited, and on top of that, he got into a fight.
Jiāng Chéng didn’t know what to say to him. Moreover, he was truly concerned about Wèi WúXiàn’s condition, that while fighting Lán WàngJī, he was distracted.
As he noticed that Jiāng Chéng no longer had the desire to keep fighting, Lán XīChén breathed a sigh of relief.
“By the way, Jiāng Zōng-zhǔ,” he went on, “I told you earlier that you came at the perfect time. I heard that the monster’s wine has been infiltrated and sold in the markets of Yúnmèng and Lánlíng. Why don’t we sit down and discuss the matter?”
“There’s no need!” Jiāng Chéng and Lán WàngJī uttered at the same time.
Lán XīChén smiled bitterly. Wèi WúXiàn was lost for words; he had guessed that Jiāng Chéng heard something about him from Jīn Líng and mistakenly assumed that he was injured. So, he rushed over here to see him.
After all these years, Jiāng Chéng’s temperament hadn’t changed: he uttered harsh words while thinking the opposite.
Wèi WúXiàn was, of course, touched by Jiāng Chéng’s concern for him. In a slightly shy tone, he said, “Jiāng Chéng, since you’re here, let’s go inside the room and talk.”
Lán WàngJī instantly glared at Wèi WúXiàn in displeasure.
Jiāng Chéng sneered, “You want me to sit down and keep watching you two flirt with each other?”
Lán XīChén didn’t make any attempt to persuade Jiāng Chéng.
Wèi WúXiàn sighed, feeling a little bit weary. He asked, “So, what exactly did you come here for?”
Although he despised his pretence the most, Jiāng Chéng couldn’t help but carry on with the same harsh tone, “Do you think I’m here for you? It’s none of my concern whether you’re still alive or dead.”
The last words of Jiāng Chéng triggered Lán WàngJī’s killing intent at once.
In a stern tone, Lán XīChén said, “Jiāng Zōng-zhǔ, please choose your words carefully.”
Lán XīChén’s tone was very similar to Lán WàngJī’s when the latter had said something similar to Jiāng Chéng back then inside the YúnmèngJiāng ancestral hall.
As he recalled that past event, Jiāng Chéng couldn’t restrain his resentment. He thundered, “Well, well! GūsūLán members really know how to hold people accountable. I simply spoke my mind, and you’re telling me to be careful with my words, while Lán Èr-gōngzǐ can say whatever he wants just because he’s drunk!”
As he tried to calm Lán WàngJī, Wèi WúXiàn said angrily, “Jiāng Chéng, shut up!”
Sensing its owner’s killing intent, Bìchén let out a long roar. Then, Lán WàngJī pointed his sword at Jiāng Chéng.
Anxious, Wèi WúXiàn said, “Lán Zhàn, calm down.”
Lán WàngJī looked angrier than ever before. Gritting his teeth, he said, “He has insulted you repeatedly. How can I just let it go?”
“All right! Our confrontation was interrupted. Let’s finish this.” Jiāng Chéng’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
Wèi WúXiàn could no longer take it. He shouted, “Jiāng WǎnYín, are you done yet? Can you not keep your big mouth shut?”
Jiāng Chéng shouted back, “Wèi WúXiàn, it’s you who is never done! Are you out of your mind? Look at yourself; he has been ruthless with you, and you still protect him!”
Wèi WúXiàn choked on his words, his cheeks flushed.
He then managed to say, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Back then, when we were teenagers, you always took his part,” Jiāng Chéng went on. “Even now, you still side with him. And on top of that, you’d rather stay here, at a place full of rules, than come back to Lotus Piers.
“What’s so great about Lán WàngJī? Letting him be rough on you until you can barely stand on your feet, and you still speak up for him? Do you think I haven’t noticed?”
Wèi WúXiàn’s eyes widened in shock. Lán WàngJī’s killing intent gradually subsided.
After a moment of complete silence, Wèi WúXiàn spoke awkwardly. “Jiāng Chéng.”
In a deep voice, Jiāng Chéng said, “Do you think I don’t know what you’ve been doing for Yúnmèng? When you are out night hunting, you sometimes take care of Yúnmèng’s issues in secret, then leave without even coming to Lotus Pier to pay respects to my parents.”
“You have indeed a noble character, but have you ever thought about how I feel each time I go out searching for you but fail because you are already gone? Why should I just quietly accept that?
“Wèi WúXiàn, who exactly are you taking me? Does Lotus Piers no longer mean anything to you?”
Wèi WúXiàn astonishingly stared at Jiāng Chéng, presently the leader of the YúnmèngJiāng sect, who was eagerly seeking answers.
Like a dream, Wèi WúXiàn saw the younger Jiāng Chéng slowly overlap the present one, recalling how the boy used to scold him for being naughty as he cleaned up after Wèi WúXiàn’s mess.
Jiāng Chéng tried to compose himself, but his anger still boiled within him. Feeling embarrassed for speaking his true feelings aloud, he turned around.
Wèi WúXiàn didn’t know what to say to him. He really wanted to go to Lotus Piers, but at the same time he felt that it was no longer a place for him to set foot.
After losing his parents, Wèi WúXiàn was welcomed by the Jiāng family, who gave him a new home, where he lived a carefree and unrestrained life.
Although Madam Yu often took her anger out on him and spoke to him with sarcasm, she never deprived him of food, clothing or other necessities.
Ever since his uncle Jiang brought him to live with his family, Jiāng and his wife often quarrelled because of him, and Jiāng Chéng suffered from frustration because of his extraordinary talent. Despite the fact that all this happened because of him, Jiāng YànLí always treated him with kindness and never placed the blame on him.
When he lost his parents and became homeless, having even a single meal once in a while brought him immense joy. So living with the Jiāng was a happiness he once thought he would never experience again. Naturally, he was very grateful to them and thought he would repay their kindness for the rest of his life.
He promised Jiāng Chéng that he would help him when he became the leader of the YúnmèngJiāng sect. He promised Jiāng YànLí that she would have a splendid wedding and would never be wronged. He also thought that when each of them formed their family, they would still stay together and continue paying their respects to Uncle Jiāng and Madam Yu.
However, after the bloodshed at Lotus Piers, everything seemed to head in a different direction.
Although he never regretted his boldness in the Xuánwǔ* Cave, Wèi WúXiàn couldn’t help but feel guilty day and night for the heavy price he had paid.
*Xuánwǔ is the cave in which Lán WàngJī and Wèi WúXiàn got trapped after other teenagers managed to escape.
Despite having a poor memory, he still remembered how Jiāng Chéng and Jiāng YànLí had grieved for their parents. Their great distress nearly plunged him into despair.
For the first time in his life, Wèi WúXiàn hated himself for being so powerless. At that moment, he knew that he would never be able to fully repay the Jiāng’s kindness.
Later on, when his Golden Core was cut off and implanted in Jiāng Chéng, Wèi WúXiàn felt a sense of relief despite experiencing pain worse than death. At last, he had returned the favour.
Back then, he naively believed that everything would go smoothly from that point on. He ended the Shooting Sun campaign using his demonic powers, then helped Jiāng Chéng rebuild the Lotus Piers, and then, along with their elder sister, they started a new life.
However, his demonic powers were so extraordinary that they inspired fear in the other sects.
When he took the last members of the Wen sect to the Burial Ground, Wèi WúXiàn cut ties with the Jiāng, unwilling to drag them into the conflict.
All his efforts, however, turned to dust the moment Jiāng YànLí died.
Lotus Piers was devastated by the Wen sect massacre. Jiāng YànLí died, Jīn Líng became an orphan, and Jiāng Chéng was left all by himself. All of it had happened because of him.
Wèi WúXiàn stared at Jiāng Chéng’s back as those painful events replayed in his mind: the dreadful past that still stood between them like an insurmountable obstacle.
Nevertheless, Jiāng Chéng was now trying to overcome it.
Wèi WúXiàn said softly, “I’m sorry.”
At that precise moment, Jiāng Chéng’s body stiffened. He slowly clenched his fists and said, “I don’t need your apology.”
This wasn’t what he had been hoping to hear. A wry, self-mocking smile flickered at the corners of his mouth.
Jiāng Chéng was ready to leave, but he paused when he heard Wèi WúXiàn say, “I was there.”
He turned around and looked at Wèi WúXiàn in confusion.
“I sneaked into the Lotus Piers a few times,” said Wèi WúXiàn.
The revelation left Jiāng Chéng speechless.
Wèi WúXiàn went on, “It had been so long since I’d set foot there that I couldn’t resist. I nearly lost my way while snooping inside.”
A smile tugged at the corners of Wèi WúXiàn’s mouth as he recalled how funny it had been when he got lost. He then said, “Lotus Piers has grown so large, and the training grounds have been renovated as well. It must be difficult for you to manage the place while training so many disciples.”
Jiāng Chéng felt a lump rise in his throat as he listened in silence. When he finally spoke, his voice was gloomy. “What business is it of yours whether it’s larger now or not? Since you don’t want to come back, stop interfering in Yúnmèng and Lánlíng’s affairs.”
Wèi WúXiàn looked at him and replied firmly, “I can’t. I have to.”
“Why?” Jiāng Chéng said through gritted teeth.
“Because I’m still alive*,” Wèi WúXiàn replied.
*In the original story, Jiāng Chéng’s mother told Wèi WúXiàn to protect Jiāng Chéng until he dies. So, he has been fulfilling his promise to Madam Yu.
Jiāng Chéng’s eyes widened, and his lips trembled involuntarily.
Wèi WúXiàn locked eyes with him and went on, “Jiāng Chéng, I don’t deny the fact that I broke my promise to you. Even in my second life, I still can’t stay by your side. As for Lotus Piers, I know I am deeply indebted and unworthy to set foot there. However, if you are willing to give me another chance, let today witness another promise to you: as long as I still have breath, I will always be there for you and Jīn Líng.”
Jiāng Chéng stared at Wèi WúXiàn, speechless. Then, after a long pause, he finally uttered, “You don’t need to repay anything.”
“Although I can’t give you what you truly want, you have my word that I will never let either of you walk alone,”Wèi WúXiàn said sincerely.
Jiāng Chéng narrowed his eyes and uttered, “You really have too much time on your hands.”
Wèi WúXiàn humbly replied, “You’re flattering me. It’s all thanks to Lán Zhàn.”
“I think you’re just too lazy,” Jiāng Chéng remarked. “Stop showing him off to me.”
“All right,” Wèi WúXiàn replied. “Next time, bring someone over to show off to me.”
Irritated, Jiāng Chéng retorted, “Do you think everyone is like you?” Then he added, “Stop climbing the wall of Lotus Piers like a burglar. Are you not ashamed of acting like one? Don’t you know where the main entrance is?”
“I know where it is.” Wèi WúXiàn chuckled, his expression relaxed. He softly repeated himself, “I know for sure where the main entrance is.”
After so many years, the door of Lotus Piers would finally open again for him, and the residence would once more become a place he could call home.
Once the mood around them returned to normal, they went inside and sat around the table to discuss the matter at hand.
Unable to bear sitting across from Lán WàngJī, Jiāng Chéng briefly explained his method of getting rid of the smell of alcohol. He then tossed the Lotus Piers pass to Wèi WúXiàn and flicked his sleeve* as he left.
*Flicking one’s sleeve is a symbolic gesture that has various interpretations (mostly suppressed anger). In this case, however, Jiāng Chéng marks the end of their conversation by flicking his sleeve.
Lán XīChén took his leave soon after. Before departing, however, he quietly told Wèi WúXiàn to get rid of the evil smell on Lán WàngJī as soon as possible to prevent him from causing trouble.
Wèi WúXiàn knew that Lán XīChén had been worried about his younger brother’s condition, so he suppressed a chuckle as he agreed.
After seeing Lán XīChén off, Wèi WúXiàn sensed that all his worries had vanished. He went to the bed and let himself fall backwards onto it, as if jumping from a mountain peak, feeling completely relaxed.
As soon as his body landed on the bed, Wèi WúXiàn let out a howl of pain. He felt a sharp pain in his waist, which was the result of their earlier activity in the bathtub.
Lán WàngJī quietly came over and made him lie on his stomach. In a careful manner, he began to massage his waist.
Soon after, Wèi WúXiàn sighed comfortably. Over the past two days, things had happened one after another. Although the issues hadn’t gone out of control, he hadn’t found a moment to have a good rest. Now, he could feel the fatigue throughout his whole body.
