Lán WàngJī versus Alcohol: Chapter 15
Not wanting to be seen again, Lán WàngJī stopped kissing him and then lightly bit his lower lip before loosening his embrace. He noticed that Wèi WúXiàn’s back was still sore, and he immediately began to massage it.
After resting his head on Lán WàngJī’s chest for a short while to recover from the intense kiss, Wèi WúXiàn touched his bitten lower lip thoughtfully, and then he asked, “Lán Zhàn, when did you sober up?”
Lán WàngJī’s hands suddenly paused, but he didn’t answer. He then continued massaging him.
Wèi WúXiàn persisted. “Lán Zhàn, how did you sober up?”
Lán WàngJī remained silent.
“Were you, by any chance, moved by my sweet-talking?” he continued. “I knew it.”
“Yes, indeed,” Lán WàngJī finally replied.
Wèi WúXiàn couldn’t believe his ears. He asked hesitantly, “…Really?”
“Really,” Lán WàngJī confirmed.
“Your case was different. The resentment carried in the smell of alcohol has been removed from other people either by sword energy or by Jiāng Chéng’s Zǐdiàn,” Wèi WúXiàn remarked. “Could it be that my sweet-talking is more effective than the Zǐdiàn? But it wasn’t the first time I’d sweet-talked to you.”
Wèi WúXiàn found it utterly inconceivable.
Realising that he had said too much, Wèi WúXiàn wanted to tease him, but Lán WàngJī didn’t give him a chance. He wrapped his arms around Wèi WúXiàn’s waist, hugging him tenderly.
In a deep voice, Lán WàngJī murmured close to his ear, “It worked because it was you.”
Wèi WúXiàn’s cheeks flushed instantly.
He thought, “It’s easy to flirt with Lán Zhàn when he’s drunk, but he’s really killing me when he’s sober.”
Once Lán WàngJī had finished massaging him, Wèi WúXiàn felt much better. He then thought about Jīn Líng’s situation for a while.
At that moment, Jīn Líng was facing serious issues within his own sect, which made Wèi WúXiàn grow concerned, and he decided to go to Jīnlíntái with Lán WàngJī at once.
Jiāng Chéng, as Jīn Líng’s uncle, could go there to assist his nephew. However, as he was also the leader of the YúnmèngJiāng Sect, he had to limit his involvement in the affairs of the LánlíngJīn Sect as much as possible. Otherwise, it would make it difficult for Jīn Líng to command respect.
Furthermore, as the leader of the sect, Jiāng Chéng was busy managing affairs within the Yúnmèng territory.
When people discovered that the former leaders of the LánlíngJīn Sect, Jīn GuāngShàn and Jīn GuāngYáo, had committed countless misdeeds, support for them gradually waned, despite the sect being large and prosperous.
The incident that had been orchestrated by a clansman was not, in itself, difficult to handle. However, it was enough to reveal the sinister intentions of some ruthless individuals within the clan.
The thought that Jīn Líng managed and maintained such a large sect by himself made it impossible for Wèi WúXiàn to remain calm. He could not help thinking that Jīn Líng might become the target of everyone’s criticism if he made a mistake.
Wèi WúXiàn was also worried that if something happened to Jīn Líng, Jiāng Chéng, living far away, would not get there in time to save him.
Although he had crafted many talismans and given them to Jīn Líng for his protection, Wèi WúXiàn still felt uneasy.
Apart from never having to worry about food and other necessities, Jīn Líng could not possibly feel at home in Jīnlíntái, despite it being the place where he had lived since birth.
Jīnlíntái was filled with bullies and ill-intentioned people, which had driven Jīn Líng to behave like a solitary beast, constantly on guard and ready to attack.
He neither knew how to accept others’ kindness nor how to rely on them or behave like a spoiled child.
Jiāng Chéng might have been his role model and pillar of strength, but he would never provide him with a safe haven.
Since Jīn Líng had been born to inherit the title of sect leader, Jiāng Chéng knew only how to teach him to become one, and nothing else.
The more Wèi WúXiàn thought about it, the more worried he became. He could hardly wait to get there.
Sensing his anxiety, Lán WàngJī said nothing. Instead, he stepped onto his sword, pulled Wèi WúXiàn against his chest, hugged him tightly and channelled his spiritual energy into Bìchén.
In the blink of an eye, they vanished into the sky, heading towards Lánlíng territory.
… … …
The next day, at noon, the eight leaders of the major branches of the LánlíngJīn Clan, along with several highly respected elders of the sect, gathered in the main hall of Jīnlíntái. They had been summoned by the Sect Leader for a meeting.
After exchanging a few polite pleasantries, the attendees took their seats according to their influence and seniority.
As they chatted casually among themselves, they could not help glancing at the empty seat of honour from time to time before exchanging puzzled looks.
One of the eight leaders gave a cold snort. “As the sect leader, summoning all of us here without explaining the reason is utterly ridiculous.”
“Jīn Mǐn-xiōng, please calm down. The Sect Leader is still young. He also lost both his parents at a young age. It’s only natural that he doesn’t know the rules,” another leader said with a hint of mockery in his voice.
An elder frowned and said, “The Sect Leader is the direct descendant of the Jīn family, and he rightfully deserves the title. Since we have been summoned here today, there must be a matter of great importance. So please be careful with your words.”
There was a moment of silence before Jīn Mǐn protested. “What kind of impact can a mere child possibly have? If it’s such an important matter, why hasn’t he arrived yet? Don’t tell me he’s still in bed!”
The other leaders burst into laughter at the sarcastic remark. Although the elders supporting Jīn Líng wanted to intervene, they had to admit that, as the Sect Leader, his prolonged lateness to the meeting was indeed inappropriate.
From his seat, Jīn Mǐn could see everyone’s reactions. As he glanced at the empty seat of honour, a sinister smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Just as the elders were growing anxious, someone kicked open the hall door with a thunderous crash. Despite being incredibly heavy, the door was no match for the newcomer’s purple spiritual energy.
Moments later, three heavily wounded men, covered in blood that was still oozing from their wounds, were hurled into the hall one after another.
They hit the floor with a heavy thud, and within moments the spot where they had landed had become a pool of blood, causing everyone to jump to their feet in fright.
Jīn Mǐn’s expression changed as he stared at the wounded men.
The guards hurriedly surrounded the men lying in a pool of blood, seemingly unsure what to do next.
One of the eight leaders could no longer contain himself and snapped at the elders, “What on earth is Jīn Zōng-zhǔ getting at? Who are these men? They’ve been tortured to such an extent, and now they’ve been thrown in front of us. Could it be that someone is trying to threaten us?”
“That’s right!” Suddenly, Jiāng Chéng’s voice rang out. He barely concealed his anger.
Everyone turned to look towards the entrance. Some had intended to confront him but quickly shrank back when they noticed that his Zǐdiàn had transformed into a lightning whip.
A few years earlier, when Jīn Líng had first come to power, two or three of the eight leaders had experienced the full force of the whip.
Back then, those people had caused trouble by making sarcastic remarks about the new Sect Leader in front of everyone.
Before they knew it, they had been whipped out of Jīnlíntái. As they hit the ground, they caught sight of a young man dressed in purple, his expression icy as he held a lightning whip.
Ever since, the eight leaders had lived with a lingering fear of Jiāng Chéng’s volatile temper.
At that moment, Jiāng Chéng’s expression was even colder than during their last encounter. His entire being radiated an overwhelming aura of murderous intent, sending a chill down everyone’s spine.
Jiāng Chéng’s hand, gripping the lightning whip, trembled slightly. The whip, which normally blazed with dazzling purple light, now emitted only a faint hum, reflecting the overwhelming despair and panic consuming him. His almond-shaped eyes were tinged with red from the intensity of his emotions.
He glared at everyone in the hall with his heart full of rage and loathing, his gaze slowly settling on Jīn Mǐn, whose face had darkened.
“There’s still time,” Jiāng Chéng thought, holding back the urge to kill him and reassuring himself that there was still plenty of time.
An elder stepped forward and saluted him by wrapping his left hand around his right fist* while bowing. Then he began, “Jiāng Zōng-zhǔ, may I ask…”
*This fist-and-palm salute symbolises peaceful intentions towards the addressee.
Jiāng Chéng’s grip on Zǐdiàn tightened. “Jīn Líng has gone missing,” he replied in a low voice, quietly studying each of their expressions.
Everyone was taken aback. The elder hurriedly asked, “How could this have happened to Jīn Zōng-zhǔ?”
Jiāng Chéng gritted his teeth and sneered. “Do you want to know? Just ask these three men.”
He then lashed out viciously at the three men with his whip. They immediately let out blood-curdling screams.
Jiāng Chéng stepped forward and, expressionlessly, grabbed one man by his topknot and lifted him up. The guards, who had surrounded the three men, quickly retreated in fear.
Jiāng Chéng said sternly, “Repeat exactly what you said to me earlier, word for word.”
The main hall fell instantly silent, save for the eerie sound of blood dripping onto the floor from the man’s wounds.
The wounded man began to scan the room, and instinctively, the leaders of the major branches took a step back.
Jiāng Chéng shouted at them, “Don’t back away, all of you! Face this way and look at him!”
Jīn Mǐn’s throat tightened. He broke out in a cold sweat as he watched the man’s head turn in his direction.
Just as the man was about to face him, Jīn Mǐn suddenly panicked and said, “Hold on a moment! How can we be certain that this isn’t some ploy you’ve deliberately set up, Jiāng Zōng-zhǔ? Are you trying to clear the way for your nephew by getting rid of everyone who opposed him?”
Jiāng Chéng did not answer, his eyes fixed on the wounded man’s movements.
The man glanced at Jīn Mǐn and muttered, “It’s… him – ”
Before he could finish his sentence, a sword lunged at him from behind. Jiāng Chéng didn’t even turn around. He simply yanked the man to avoid the attack before kicking the sword away with a decisive movement.
With a flick of his right hand, the lightning whip shot forth, sending the guard who had launched the surprise attack crashing to the ground.
Jīn Mǐn instantly turned pale, his lips trembling as he watched Jiāng Chéng fling the wounded man aside.
Slowly unsheathing Sāndújiàn, Jiāng Chéng said with hatred, “Don’t even try to deny it. Jīn Líng had evidence against your son, Jīn Chǎn. A few days ago, Jīn Líng seized the items that implicated your son. Those items have long since been passed on to me through my men.”
He continued in the same tone, “Today’s meeting was to deal with your son’s case. I had planned to punish him for his crimes by expelling him from Jīnlíntái and then reorganising the affairs of the LánlíngJīn Clan. But you…”
He suddenly pressed his sword against Jīn Mǐn’s neck, then went on, “You don’t know when to quit, making mistake after mistake. You even went so far as to mastermind a kidnapping. It’s utterly foolish! If you wish to live, tell me where Jīn Líng is!”
“Where he is?” As soon as he’d spoken, Jīn Mǐn suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, as though he had just heard the funniest joke imaginable.
Jiāng Chéng’s eyes blazed with fury as he plunged his sword into Jīn Mǐn’s shoulder, pinning him to one of the pillars in the main hall.
The other leaders stood frozen in horror. Trembling, one of them stepped forward and said, “Jiāng Zōng-zhǔ, please think twice. If you kill him here, then–”
Before he could finish speaking, the lightning whip violently flung him aside.
The guards drew their swords and surrounded Jiāng Chéng, but, mindful of his status, they hesitated to make a move.
Jiāng Chéng didn’t spare them a glance, his eyes fixed on Jīn Mǐn, the man behind Jīn Líng’s disappearance.
He violently twisted the sword that lodged in Jīn Mǐn’s shoulder. The sound of bones snapping echoed through the air, making everyone present even more terrified.
Jiāng Chéng shouted, “Answer me!”
Jīn Mǐn replied with a sneer, “Where else could he possibly be? Isn’t he just relying on his noble bloodline? What kind of bloodline does the grandson of Jīn GuāngShàn have? You’re asking me where he is? I’ll tell you where he is. I gave my men orders to hunt him down without mercy and send him to join his dead uncle.”
After finishing, he roared with hysterical laughter.
For a moment, Jiāng Chéng’s mind went blank, and the blood in his veins ran cold.
“After Lotus Piers had been destroyed,” Jiāng Chéng thought, “back then, I thought that nothing could be more devastating than losing one’s home. Then the unthinkable happened: Sister and Wèi WúXiàn died, leaving me on my own to care for Jīn Líng.”
He continued, “After more than ten years of relentless cultivation, I thought I could protect him – the only family I have left – and never again experience the torment of losing a loved one.”
Although he had now reached the pinnacle of his strength and remained by Jīn Líng’s side, Jiāng Chéng failed to protect him.
Watching his hope shatter right before his eyes, Jiāng Chéng was consumed by the madness of killing.
“Wèi WúXiàn, is that what you felt back then?” he thought.
Jīn Mǐn was still laughing loudly.
Jiāng Chéng remained silent for a moment before swinging Sāndújiàn, slicing the laughing man in two in full view of everyone and putting an end to his laughter.
With his eyes wide open and his mouth agape, Jīn Mǐn died just like that, unable to close them.
The nauseating smell of blood wafted through the air as everyone watched it spread across the floor at their feet. A bone-chilling fear gripped them.
Despite Jīn Mǐn’s death, the killing intent still hung heavy in the air.
“You all deserve to die…”
