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Chapter 51 Courage
—Part One
Yunmeng was abundant in lakes. The
Yunmengjiang Sect's "Lotus Pier" the residence
of the greatest sect here, was built near a lake
as well.
Starting from the end of Lotus Pier, after just a
while of paddling, one would see a large lotus
lake, more than a hundred miles in length. The
wide, verdant leaves and the smooth, pink
blossoms brushed shoulders against one
another. As a breeze blew over, the petals and
the leaves swayed as if they nodded their
heads. Amid the purity and grace, one could
also feel a naive sense of clumsiness.
Lotus Pier wasn’t as other-worldly as the other
sects’ residences, shutting their doors and
refusing to let commoners come within a
boundary miles away. The docks right in front
of Lotus Pier's entrance often bustled with
vendors selling seed pods, water chestnuts
and all kinds of pastries. Runny-nosed children
from households nearby could also sneak into
Lotus Pier's fields to watch the cultivators
practice their swords. They wouldn't be
scolded even if they got caught, either. They
could sometimes even play around with the
jiang Sect’s disciples.
When Wei WuXian was young, he often shot
kites at the bank of Lotus Lake.
Jiang Cheng stared fixedly at his own kite,
glancing at Wei WuXian’s once in a while. Wei
WuXian’s kite had already flown high up in the
sky. but he still had no intention of drawing his
bow. With his right hand at his brows, he
grinned as he looked up. as though he still felt
that it wasn't far enough.
Seeing that the kite had almost drifted out of
the area where he was certain he'd succeed in
shooting it down. Jiang Cheng clenched his
teeth. He positioned his arrow and drew the
bow. The white-feathered arrow shot out. The
kite painted like a one-eyed monster was
pierced right through the eye and fell
downward. Jiang Cheng’s brows lifted. “It hit!"
Right after, he asked. "Yours has flown so far
already. You sure you can hit it?"
Wei WuXian. “Wanna guess?"
He finally pulled out an arrow and aimed. As
the bow was drawn to the utmost, he swiftly
let go.
A hit!
Jiang Cheng's brows scrunched up again. A
humph came through his nose. All of the boys
put away their bows and went to pick up their
kites so that they could rank the distances. The
closest kite would receive the lowest ranking.
Every time, the last one was the shidi who was
the sixth eldest. As usual, they'd spend some
time laughing at him. His face was quite thick,
though, so he didn't care at all. Wei WuXian's
was the farthest. The closest one to him. the
one ranked second, was Jiang Cheng s kite.
Both Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng felt too lazy
to go fetch the kites. The boys rushed into the
winding hallway built over the water’s surface.
They were playing around, jumping up and
down, as two young, slender women
appeared before them.
Both of them were dressed as armed maids,
carrying with them short swords. The taller
maid, holding a kite and an arrow, blocked
their path. She asked coldly. "Whose are
these?"
All of the boys silently cursed their luck as they
saw the two women. Wei WuXian touched his
chin and stepped forward. "They’re mine."
The other maid snorted. “You're an honest one.
aren't you?"
They parted and revealed between them a
purple-clothed woman, also carrying a sword.
The woman had creamy skin and was rather
beautiful, though her delicate features
displayed some fierceness. The corners of her
lips lay between a frown and a smile—she was
a natural at sneering, just like Jiang Cheng. Her
flowing purple robes wrapped around her thin
waist. Both her face and her right hand, which
rested on the hilt of her sword, were as cold as
jade stone. A ring embellished with amethyst
was worn on the index finger of her right hand.
Jiang Cheng smiled as he saw her. “Mom!"
Meanwhile, the rest of the boys greeted her
with respect. "Madam Yu."
Madam Yu was Jiang Cheng's mother. Yu
ZiYuan. Of course, she was Jiang FengMian’s
wife, and used to cultivate with him as well.
Naturally, she should be called Madam Jiang.
But. for some reason, everyone had always
called her Madam Yu. Some people guessed
that it was because she didn’t want to take on
her husband’s surname due to her assertive
personality. On this matter, neither the
husband nor the wife in question had ever
argued either.
Madam Yu came from the prominent
MeishanYu Sect. She was ranked third in her
clan, so was also called Third Lady Yu. In the
cultivation world, she went by the name
“Violet Spider". Just bringing up the name could
scare quite a few away. Ever since she was
young, she'd had a cold personality and never
came off as likeable when conversing with
others. Even after she married Jiang FengMian.
she had always been out on night-hunts. not
overly fond of staying at the Jiang Sect's Lotus
Pier. On top of that, where she lived at Lotus
Pier was different from where Jiang FengMian
did. She had her own area, where only she and
a few of the family members she’d brought
from the Yu Sect lived. The two young women.
JinZhu and YinZhu. were both her trusted
maids. They never left her side.
Madam Yu gave Jiang Cheng a sideways
glance. “Fiddling about again? Come, let me
see you."
Jiang Cheng went to her side. Madam Yu
squeezed his arm with her slender Fingers,
then slapped his shoulder loudly, scolding.
“There's isn't any improvement in your
cultivation at all. You’re seventeen already, yet
you’re still like an ignorant child, fooling around
with others all the time. Are you the same as
others? Who knows which sewers other
people will be splashing in. but you’re going to
be the leader of the Jiang Sect!”
jiang Cheng stumbled from the slap, head
lowered, not daring to protest. Wei WuXian
understood—it went without saying that she
was scolding him again, whether obvious or
not. On the side, one of his shidi secretly stuck
out his tongue toward him. Wei WuXian raised
a brow at the shidi. Madam Yu. “Wei Ying.
what trouble are you stirring up this time?”
Wei WuXian stood forward, accustomed to it.
Madam Yu scolded. “You’re like this again! If
you yourself don’t seek progress, then don’t
drag Jiang Cheng along to fool around with
you. You’re going to be a bad influence to him."
Wei WuXian looked startled. "I don’t seek
progress? Why. am I not the one with the most
progress in the entire Lotus Pier?"
Young people were never too patient. They
wouldn’t feel satisfied unless they talked back.
Hearing this, an air of hostility appeared over
Madam Yu’s forehead. Jiang Cheng hastened.
"Wei WuXian. shut up!’’
He turned to Madam Yu, “It's not that we want
to shoot kites in Lotus Pier but. right now. isn’t
it that none of us are allowed to leave? The
Wen Sect assigned all of the night-hunt areas
to itself. Even if I wanted to night-hunt. there
isn’t anywhere for me to go. To stay at home
and not go outside to provoke or fight for prey
with the Wen Sect—isn't this what you
yourself made clear to Father?”
Madam Yu smirked bitterly. "I’m afraid that this
time, even if you don’t want to leave, you’ll
have to anyway.”
Jiang Cheng didn't understand. Madam Yu
didn’t pay them any more attention and
walked through the hallway, holding her chin
high. The two maids behind her shot Wei
WuXian fierce glares, and followed their
mistress away.
When evening came, they finally understood
what had been meant by even if you don’t
want to leave, you'll have to anyway.’
It turned out that the QishanWen Sect had
ordered for envoys to pass out messages. For
the reason that other sects taught badly and
wasted talent, the Wen Sect demanded all of
the sects to each dispatch at least twenty
disciples to Qishan within three days, so that
they could let experts teach them.
Jiang Cheng was shocked. "The Wen Sect’s
people really said this? They know no shame,
do they?”
Wei WuXian. "Well, they think they’re the sun
shining above all sects. It's not the first time
that the Wen Sect is so shameless. Taking
advantage of their large sect and strong
influence, it had been prohibiting the other
sects from night-hunting ever since last year.
Just how much prey, how much land has it
stolen?”
jiang FengMian was sitting at the foremost
seat. “Watch your words and eat.”
There were only five people within the large
hall. In front of everyone was a small, square
table, on top of which were a few dishes of
food. Head lowered. Wei WuXian only had a
few mouthfuls as somebody tugged at the
corner of his sleeve. Turning around, he saw
jiang YanLi pass over a small dish. Inside the
dish was a dozen peeled lotus seeds, soft and
white, fresh and succulent.
Wei WuXian's voice was soft. "Shijie. thank
you.”
Jiang YanLi smiled. Those somewhat mild
features immediately lit up with color. Yu
ZiYuan spoke coldly. "Eat? A few days after
this, when they’re at Qishan. we won’t even
know if they give them any food. Why not go a
few meals hungry starting from now? Let them
get used to it!”
This demand of the QishanWen Sect was one
that they couldn’t turn down. Countless
precedents could prove that if any sect dared
defy their orders, it would be accused of
strange things such as being rebellious’ or
‘destructive.’ And. with these as reasons, they
would wipe it out fair and square.
Jiang FengMian replied in a lukewarm voice.
"Why fret over it? No matter what comes in
the future, today's meal should still be eaten.”
Madam Yu was out of patience. She slammed
the table, “I’m fretting? Of course I’m fretting!
How can you still be so indifferent? Did you
not hear what the person from the Wen Sect
said? A mere maidservant dares to hold up her
head before me! The twenty disciples that are
sent must include a disciple from the clan.
What does that mean? It means that between
A-Cheng and A-Li. one of them must be
included! Sent there to do what? To be taught?
How each sect teaches their own disciples—
since when is it the Wen Sect’s turn to
meddle?! This is sending people for them to
play with, for them to hold against us!"
Jiang Cheng. "Mom. don’t be so angry. I’ll just
go"
Madam Yu scolded. “Of course you’ll go! Or
else would your sister go? Look at her. still
happily peeling lotus seeds. A-Li. stop peeling
them. Who are you peeling them for? You’re
the mistress, not somebody's servant!"
Hearing the word ‘servant’. Wei WuXian didn’t
mind much. He had finished all of the lotus
seeds in the dish all at once, chewing as the
soft, refreshing sweetness filled his mouth.
Jiang FengMian. on the other hand, raised his
head slightly. ‘My lady."
Madam Yu. “What, something I said? Servant?
You don’t want to hear the word? Jiang
FengMian. let me ask you—this time, do you
intend to let him go?”
Jiang FengMian. “It’s up to himself. He can go if
he wants to."
Wei WuXian raised his hand. “I want to go.""
Madam Yu laughed harshly. “How wonderful.
He can go if he wants to. If he doesn’t want to.
it’s definitely possible for him to stay. Why is it
that A-Cheng has to go no matter what?
Raising someone else’s child with such
passion. Sect Leader Jiang, you really are a
very nice person!”
There was resentment within her heart. She
simply wanted to let out the rage, even if it
made no sense. All the rest were quiet as they
endured her temper. Jiang FengMian. "My lady,
you're tired. Why don't you go back and rest?"
Jiang Cheng sat still as he looked up at her.
"Mom."

Madam Yu stood up and mocked. “What do
you want me to do? Like your father, you want
me to hold my tongue? You really are an idiot.
I’ve told you long ago that you’ll never in your
whole life be able to surpass the one sitting
beside you. Not over cultivation, not over
night-hunting, even over shooting kites, you
can't surpass him! It can't be helped. Who
could change the fact that your mom is worse
than another’s? Worse it is. then. Your mom
feels injustice for you. tells you countless times
not to fool around with him. yet you’re still
defending him. Just how did I give birth to a
son like you?!”
She walked out. alone, leaving Jiang Cheng
sitting there, his complexion switching
between purple and pale. Jiang YanLi quietly
put a dish of already-peeled lotus seeds on his
table.
Having sat for a while. Jiang FengMian spoke
up. "Tonight. I’ll count eighteen more people.
You’ll depart together next day."
Jiang Cheng nodded, hesitant on whether or
not he should say anything else. He never
knew how to converse with his father, while
Wei WuXian was proficient. Finishing his soup,
he replied. "Uncle Jiang, don’t you have
anything to give us?”
Jiang FengMian smiled. "I’ve given them long
ago. Your swords are by your side, and the
adage is in your hearts.”
Wei WuXian. "Oh! To 'attempt the impossible’,
right?"
Jiang Cheng immediately warned. "This doesn’t
mean that you should stir up trouble even
though you know that you’ll make a mess!”
The air among them finally lifted.
The next day. before departure. Jiang FengMian
only spoke one sentence after he informed
them of the necessities. "The disciples of the
Yumengjiang Sect aren’t as weak as to crack
under just one of the outside world’s waves.”
Jiang YanLi saw them off, staying with them
road after road. She filled everyone's arms
with all sorts of snacks, afraid that they’d
starve at the QishanWen Sect. Clothes
brimming with food, the twenty boys set off
from Lotus Pier. Within the time that the Wen
Sect had set. they arrived at the appointed
sector of indoctrination located at Qishan.
A number of disciples came from each sect.
whether large or small. All of them were
juniors. Among the hundreds of people, quite a
few of the boys knew one another. In groups
of threes or sevens, everyone conversed
quietly, none of their faces agreeable. It
seemed that they were all gathered here using
not the most pleasant of means. Glancing
around. Wei WuXian remarked. "As expected,
people came from Gusu as well."
He didn't know why. but all of the boys sent
from the GusuLan Sect looked somewhat
pallid. Lan Wangji's face was especially pale,
but his expression was still as frosted as usual,
distancing him from everyone else. The sword
Bichen on his back, he stood alone, with
nobody around him. Wei WuXian had wanted
to go up to him and say hello, but Jiang Cheng
warned him. ‘Don't cause any trouble!"
And so he could only forget about it.
Suddenly, a person shouted commands from
in front of them, ordering all of the disciples to
gather into formation before a tall platform. A
few of the Wen Sect’s disciples came and
chided. "Silence, all of you! Don't talk!”
The person on the platform wasn't too much
older than them, appearing about eighteen or
nineteen. Chest puffed out. he had features
that only barely crossed paths with the word
“handsome ”. But. like his hair, they felt a bit
greasy, for some reason. This was the
youngest child of the QishanWen Sect. Wen
Chao.
Wen Chao really enjoyed showing his face. He
had flaunted himself before the other sects in
quite a number of events, which was why
people weren't strangers to how he looked.
Behind him stood two people, one on the left
and the other on the right. On the left was a
glamorous girl, her stature slim. With long
brows, large eyes, and lips of fiery red. the
only blemish was the black mole above her
upper lip. It sat on an awkward spot, as though
it was always inviting others to dig it out. On
the right was a tall, broad-shouldered man.
appearing to be in his twenties. His face
showed only indifference, surrounded by an
air of coldness.
Standing on the taller half of the hill. Wen Chao
looked down at everyone. Looking quite
pleased with himself, he waved his hand.
"From now on, one by one, hand over your
swords!”
A commotion began among the crowd.
Someone protested. "Swords should always
accompany those who cultivate. Why do you
want us to hand over our swords?”
Wen Chao. “Who was the one that spoke?
From which sect? Stand forward on your
own!”
The person who spoke was immediately too
afraid to speak. The crowd below the platform
finally quieted, and Wen Chao was finally
satisfied. “It’s exactly because there are still
disciples like you. who know nothing of
conduct, of compliance, of humility, that I’m
here to indoctrinate you so that your cores
don't rot away. You’re already so ignorantly
audacious. If your customs aren’t straightened
up now. in the future, there’d naturally be
those who attempt to challenge the authority
and climb above the Wen Sect's head!”
Although everyone knew that he asked for
their swords with ill intentions in mind, with
the QishanWen Sect like the sun at high noon,
all of the sects were treading on thin ice.
daring not to defy it in the slightest way.
Everyone was afraid that if they caused him
any displeasure, they'd be given some
accusation along with their sect. and so they
could only submit to him.
Jiang Cheng held Wei WuXian firmly. Wei
WuXian asked with a lowered voice. "What
are you holding me down for?"
Jiang Cheng snorted. "Don't do unnecessary
things."
Wei WuXian. "You're thinking too much. Even
if this one is so greasy that it’s gross, no matter
how much I want to beat him up. I won't pick
such a time and cause our sect trouble. Don’t
worry.’’
Jiang Cheng. "You want to stuff him into a bag
and beat him up again? I’m afraid that wouldn’t
work. You see that guy beside Wen Chao?”
Wei WuXian. "Yes. His cultivation is high, but
his youth isn’t maintained well enough. Looks
like he was a late bloomer."
jiang Cheng. "His name is Wen ZhuLiu. also
known as the ‘Core-melting Hand'. He's
servant kept by Wen Chaos side, specially to
protect him. Don’t provoke him.’’
Wei WuXian. "The ‘Core-melting Hand ?”
Jiang Cheng. “That’s right. His pair of palms is
quite scary. And he’s an aid to the tyrant.
Before, he helped Wen...”
The two looked straight ahead as they
whispered. Seeing one of the Wen Sect’s
servants approach to take away their swords,
they were silent at once. With confidence. Wei
WuXian unstrapped his sword and handed it
over. At the same time, he couldn’t help but
glance across at the GusuLan Sect’s side. He
originally thought that Lan Wangji would
definitely refuse to hand it over. Unexpectedly,
even though Lan Wangji’s face was
frighteningly cold, he unstrapped his sword
anyway.
The mockery of Madam Yu had become a
prophecy. Receiving the "indoctrination" in
Qishan. the meals everyday really were bland.
All of the snacks that Jiang YanLi had hung
around their bodies were taken away long ago.
On top of that, among the young disciples,
none had practiced inedia yet. One couldn’t
say that it wasn’t difficult.
The so-called "indoctrination" of the
QishanWen Sect included only handing out
copies of "Quintessence of the Wen Sect”
booklets full of the stories and quotes of the
Wen Sect’s past leaders and best cultivators.
Everyone had one. They were demanded to
memorize them well and keep them in mind at
all times. Wen Chan, on the other hand, stood
above them every single day. He’d give a
speech to everyone and request that they
cheer for him. make him the role model to
every word, every action. During night-hunts,
he would bring the disciples with him and
make them run at the very front. They’d scout
the path, distract the demons and beasts, and
battle with all their effort, while he’d appear at
the last moment and easily knock down the
prey that had already been beaten to a pulp by
others. After he cut off its head, he’d go around
boasting that it came from the victory he had
achieved alone. If there were anyone whom he
found especially displeasing, he’d pull them
out and scold them in front of everyone, as
though said person was lower than even
swine.
Last year, attending the Discussion Conference
of the QishanWen Sect. Wen Chao also
entered the grounds along with Wei WuXian
and the others, on the day of the archery
competition. He was completely sure that he'd
win the first place, thinking that it was only
natural for other people to yield to him. As
consequence, of the first three shots, the first
was a hit. the second missed, and the third
shot down the wrong paper mannequin. He
should’ve exited the grounds immediately, but
he refused to, and the others were hesitant of
calling him out. In the end. after the
calculations, the four with the best results
were Wei WuXian. Lan XiChen, Jin ZiXuan. and
Lan Wangji. If it weren’t for having to leave
early. Lan Wangji could’ve done even better.
Wen Chao felt greatly humiliated, and so he
resented these four the most. Lan XiChen
couldn’t come this time, so he was fixated on
the other three, scolding them everyday,
exhibiting his power.
The one who suffered the most was Jin ZiXuan.
He grew up having been cupped within the
palms of his parents. He had never undergone
such humiliation before. If not for how the
other disciples of the Lanlingjin Sect stopped
him and the fact that Wen ZhuLiu wasn’t easy
to deal with, he would have willingly killed
himself along with Wen Chan on the first day.
On the other hand. Lan Wangji seemed to be
in a state of inner peace and absolute
indifference, as though his soul had already
risen out of his body. And. Wei WuXian had
been through years of Madam Yu's diverse
methods of scolding when he was at Lotus
Pier. He began to laugh whenever he stepped
off the platform, hardly blinking an eye to such
moments.
Today, as usual, the group was hustled awake
by the Wen Sect's disciples again. Like a group
of livestock, they were driven toward the next
destination of their night-hunts.
The place that they were going this time was
called Dusk-Creek Mountain.
The deeper they went into the forest, the
thicker the branches over their heads became,
and the larger the shadows below them grew.
Aside from the sounds of leaves and footsteps,
they couldn’t hear anything else. The calls of
birds, beasts and beetles were unusually
perceivable amid the silence.
After a while, the group met with a creek.
Scattered throughout the gurgling water were
maple leaves that floated along. The harmony
of the sound and the sight imperceptibly
diluted the atmosphere of desolation. Bouts of
giggling laughter could even be heard from in
front of them.
Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng walked while
muttering insults at the Wen-dogs in every
way possible. Inadvertently, he turned around,
glanced, and saw a figured clothed in white.
Lan Wangji was not far away from him.
Due to his slow pace. Lan Wangji was toward
the back of the line. Within these past few
days, there were many times when Wei
WuXian wanted to approach him and catch up
on what had been happening. However. Lan
Wangji turned away whenever he saw him
and Jiang Cheng had also beat it into him not to
mess around. Now that they were closer, he
couldn't help but pay more attention. Wei
WuXian suddenly realized that, although Lan
Wangji tried to walk as normally as possible,
one could still see that his right leg contacted





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