Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: I Have Acquaintances in the Heavenly Realm - Chapter 27

Today was truly a wonderful day for Wei Wuxian. He had made a public appearance before all the prominent sects, standing alongside Lan Wangji in the Lan Sect uniform, and he had set two major matters in motion at once. Although neither was completely resolved yet, the rest was simply a matter of time.

Having been away for so long, he wondered how Daozhang Xie and the others were faring on their stroll. Lan Zhan would likely be busy until late tonight, so it was best to go find Xie Lian’s group first.

Wei Wuxian asked a few Lan Sect disciples along the way and headed in the general direction of where Xie Lian and the others had gone. He walked along the forest path toward the back mountain, but found no one along the way. Did Daozhang Xie and the others not come this way?

Just as Wei Wuxian was considering whether to look elsewhere, a familiar crackling sound echoed from ahead. It was a sound Wei Wuxian knew all too well—one he had heard many times in his past life. It was the sound of Zidian.

Wei Wuxian thought to himself: Oh no!

He crept forward quietly and indeed saw Jiang Cheng. The Zidian in his hand was saturated with spiritual energy, crackling and hissing as it lashed out. However, the whip had not struck a person or an object; it had been caught firmly in the hand of Hua Cheng. No matter how much spiritual power Jiang Cheng poured into it, Hua Cheng held it with effortless ease—it could neither harm him nor be retracted.

Jiang Cheng’s face was a mask of uncontrollable rage. Several Jiang Sect disciples stood behind him with swords unsheathed, pointing them at Hua Cheng and the others.

Hua Cheng gave a cold smirk and was about to exert his power when Wei Wuxian immediately rushed out.

“City Lord Hua, please stay your hand!”

Hearing this, everyone turned to look at Wei Wuxian.

Jiang Cheng shot a glance at him and snapped, “There’s no need for you to plead for mercy! I don’t believe for a second he could actually kill me!”

Hua Cheng raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Is that so?”

Wei Wuxian shouted, “Jiang Cheng, stop! You know that fighting is prohibited in Cloud Recesses!”

Jiang Cheng laughed. “Ha! Yes, I actually forgot—you’re a member of the Gusu Lan Sect now, so you naturally know the sect rules very well.”

Wei Wuxian grabbed Jiang Cheng’s wrist. “Jiang Cheng, I’m not joking. Stop this at once!”

Jiang Cheng glared at Hua Cheng. “Why don’t you tell him to stop first!”

That strike had been backed by ten-tenths of Jiang Cheng’s spiritual power, yet Hua Cheng had caught Zidian with such ease that he couldn’t move it. Jiang Cheng was already incredibly frustrated; seeing Wei Wuxian refuse to help him and instead tell him to stop only fueled his fury.

Wei Wuxian said, “Fine.” He turned to Hua Cheng. “City Lord Hua, please let go. We can talk this out. If he has offended you in any way, I am his Senior Brother—I will apologize on his behalf!”

Before Hua Cheng could speak, Jiang Cheng snarled, “Who are you calling your junior brother! How do you have the face to say that? You were kicked out of my Jiang family long ago!”

Wei Wuxian ignored Jiang Cheng and turned to Xie Lian. “Daozhang Xie, I must ask you to trouble City Lord Hua to stay his hand and spare Jiang Cheng. This favor, Wei Ying will surely keep in his heart with endless gratitude.”

Xie Lian smiled warmly. “Master Wei, do not worry. If San Lang truly wanted to strike, I’m afraid your junior brother wouldn’t be able to speak like this right now.” He patted Hua Cheng’s shoulder gently. “San Lang, that’s enough. Stop playing.”

Hearing this, Hua Cheng raised an eyebrow. “Alright, I’ll listen to Gege. No more playing.”

He released his grip on Zidian. The whip immediately retracted into its ring form, resting on Jiang Cheng’s finger. Jiang Cheng’s left hand dropped instantly; he gripped his left wrist with his right hand.

Wei Wuxian stepped forward to support him. “Jiang Cheng, are you alright?”

Jiang Cheng muttered, “I’m fine. Not dead yet.”

Seeing that Jiang Cheng was indeed unharmed, Wei Wuxian let go of him. He cupped his hands toward the two. “Many thanks.”

“Daozhang Xie, what exactly happened here?”

Xie Lian replied, “Master Wei might as well ask your junior brother what exactly happened.”

Wei Wuxian looked at Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng huffed coldly. “I saw them acting suspicious, wandering around your back mountain without a sound. I feared they were up to no good and intended to clear out these outsiders for the Gusu Lan Sect.”

Shi Qingxuan couldn’t help but speak up. “Sir, that’s quite uncalled for. What do you mean ‘acting suspicious’? We were walking here quite openly. Besides, what are you doing here with so many people? Isn’t that even more suspicious? Furthermore, if you hadn’t suddenly attacked for no reason and nearly hit the Crown—nearly hit Daozhang Xie—Crimson Rain Sought Flower wouldn’t have bothered with you.”

Jiang Cheng’s face contorted. He glared at Shi Qingxuan. “Stop your nonsense! I also arrived here openly! Do I look like I need to be suspicious!”

He Xuan stood with a dark expression, blocking Jiang Cheng’s line of sight and staring him down coldly, shielding Shi Qingxuan behind him.

Wei Wuxian smiled and intervened. “A misunderstanding it’s all a misunderstanding. We are all acquaintances; there’s no need to let a misunderstanding ruin the mood. Jiang Cheng, these four are my friends. I invited them here. Calling them ‘suspicious’ or ‘up to no good’ is a bit much.”

Jiang Cheng snorted. “Well, they certainly don’t speak as nicely as your Lan Er.”

Wei Wuxian gave a light cough. “Ahem… Jiang Cheng, what does this have to do with Lan Zhan? I think you’re just tired. Go and get some rest.” He paused, then asked, “By the way, now that the conference is over, are you preparing to return to Yunmeng?”

Jiang Cheng replied, “If I don’t return to Yunmeng, am I supposed to stay here and be an eyesore to you?”

Wei Wuxian laughed. “Look at what you’re saying. How could you be an eyesore? I was just afraid I was the eyesore to you.” He draped an arm around Jiang Cheng’s shoulder. “Come on, it’s been a long time. Let me treat you to some Emperor’s Smile.”

Jiang Cheng glared at him. “Cloud Recesses prohibits alcohol.”

Wei Wuxian scratched his hair. “Oh? Is that so? I guess it is. Then what should we do? How about I treat you to some tea instead?”

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes but said nothing more, following Wei Wuxian.

As Wei Wuxian led Jiang Cheng away, he looked back and made a “please” gesture to Xie Lian’s group, indicating they should continue their stroll. Xie Lian smiled and said nothing, and the four of them continued wandering through Cloud Recesses.

Jiang Cheng looked back at the retreating figures of the four. “Who are they? I didn’t know you had friends this powerful able to catch my spiritually charged Zidian with a bare hand and remain unscathed. I’ve only seen that kind of ability in things that aren’t human.”

Wei Wuxian disagreed. “What do you mean ‘things that aren’t human’? Is that any way to describe people?” He paused, then added, “It’s not just your Zidian that’s useless against them; my Chenqing doesn’t have much effect either. They are simply very powerful, so losing to them is nothing to be ashamed of.”

It was as if Jiang Cheng had been poked in a sore spot. He shoved Wei Wuxian’s hand away. “Absurd!”

Wei Wuxian laughed and stepped forward again. “Yes, yes, yes. How could the youngest and most formidable Sect Leader of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect lose? You didn’t lose! It must have been Sect Leader Jiang staying his hand.”

Jiang Cheng finally broke into a smile, exasperated. “How on earth does Lan Wangji put up with you?”

Wei Wuxian lifted his head with pride. “That’s where you’re wrong—Lan Zhan loves me just like this.”

Jiang Cheng muttered, “Shameless!”

The small disturbance had finally settled. Both men tacitly avoided bringing up the memories neither wished to revisit. Although things between him and Jiang Cheng could never return to the way they once were, being able to interact like this was good enough.