Even though I accepted his apology I realised that I shouldn't have. Atleast not so soon. The venom inside Jiang Cheng had finally blown up and his target was my Wei Ying.

Fairy's barks could still be heard as Jin Ling ordered "Run and get help!" and he was out of the temple like a wind with Su She following his trail.

 A monk from behind the temple yelled "Sect Leader! We got it! A corner is out already!"

Jin Guang Yao’s expression instantly changed and he smiled "Please be careful and handle it with care. We don't have much time on our hands."

I knew Wei was still pondering over the fact what Jin Guang Yao had just revealed. Wei Ying was unaware as to what transpired between us as he was unconscious back in Lotus Pier but now, as he looked at me, his eyes were troubled. He was not appreciative of the fact that everyone and especially Jiang Cheng knew about his Golden Core. "Lan Zhan, you knew?" kissing him on his forehead I reply "Hm". Sighing sadly he questioned "When did Wen Ning inform you?"

Caressing his back softly, I whisper "While you were unconscious in my arms. Don't be angry with him please. He was concerned for you." But knowing Wei, at the moment he was quite emotional "Lan Zhan, I told him time and again not to reveal the truth to anyone" his eyes glazes and I tuck his unruly hair behind his ear. 

At that very moment Jiang Cheng berates Wei "Not to do what? Tell people what a great human you are? What a sacrificial soul you always strived to be? Wei WuXian, you’re such a great, selfless person. You did the best things possible, and you swallowed all the suffering and didn’t let anyone know. What a touching story. I should kneel down and kiss your feet, shouldn’t I?"

Hearing the mocking tone that lacked any courtesy or warmth, I knew I had my limits with this man. Jin Ling who could see the rage brewing within me and pleaded "Please Hanguang-Jun. Have some mercy". Even though Wei caught hold of my wrist to stop me from hurting the only family he once knew, his expression was even more heart breaking for me to see. His soul was being ripped apart again and with a coarse voice he directed it towards Jiang Cheng "I never once asked you to thank me. Did I?" 

Jiang Cheng who was seated immediately leapt up and let out a harsh laugh "As my father always said you were the only one who truly understood the Jiang Sect’s motto and did things the Jiang way, back when he was alive. You, Wei Wuxian always were meant for greater things. Was always considered the best. You could never disappoint my father but guess what Wei Wuxian, you were the biggest disappointment for the Sect. Had my father not brought you to the clan, they would be still alive" he yelled. 

Rage. I was burning up. How dare he?

Even Wei had could not keep listening to him spouting the venom "Enough" he yelled back. 

Jiang Cheng’s voice grew cold, "How dare you speak to me with such tone! I am the Sect Leader Wei Wuxian not you remember that. You always had to be great, didn't you? You always had to have your spiritual powers above me. Whilst mine was always lower." He looked away but then in few quick strides, before any of us could react he caught hold of my Wei's collar and I had enough. 

Unable to keep my anger under control, I caught hold of Jiang Cheng's wrist and with one twist he left Wei's collar and I pushed him away. Even though my powers were non existent, he still staggered back and I covered Wei's body with mine. "Jiang WanYin, I did warn you! Stay back!" 

My brother knew the weight of my words and thus he was the one who tried to placate Jiang Cheng. 

Just when we thought he gave up the fight, he looked truly exhausted and finally said the piece that was bottled inside of him "How much do we owe you Wei Wuxian? I’m supposed to be the Leader of the Jiang Sect, yet all these years I’ve been outdone by you at every single time. My family adopting you was the best thing. I finally had a friend, a brother and a confidante but Wei Wuxian how did you repay us back?" by now we could hear the anguish in Jiang Cheng's voice "You paid it with your life! Along with your life you took everyones with you".

A moment later he started laughing with tears streaming down at the loss he had always felt "Wei WuXian, who was the one who broke his promise and betrayed the Jiang Sect? Tell me. Didn't you once commit in front of your Shijie and me that just like the way Gusu Clan has Two Jades, the Jiang Sect would have its Two Prides, that you’d never betray me or betray the Jiang Sect!" He looked up at us and continued " but in the end you did betray us. You did leave our Sect and for whom? Those Wen Clan? and now you're saying that the person whose death I was a part of... She was the one who saved my life?  How am I supposed to live with this burden Wei Wuxian? Am I not supposed to hate you? Can I not hate you?! Why is it that now it feels we have wronged you? Why do I have to now live with the guilt that even though you saved my life... Yet I was the reason to take yours?"

I could hear Wei Ying's body shudder quietly. It traumatized him to hear such words and the tears that trailed down, the sadness in his soul seared through me. I placed my hand around his shoulders and tried to shield him from those harsh words but at the end it was all in vain. 

Wei Ying quietly whispered but was heard by everyone "I am sorry" at that Jiang Cheng slumped onto the ground and cried wordlessly. 

Wei threaded his fingers with mine and as if seeking strength from me he looked at Jiang Cheng, his voice had an air of finality "Take it as my repayment to the Jiang Sect."

Jiang Cheng's gaze landed on Wei Ying and with a choked pain he asked "Repayment to my father, my mother, my sister?"

Wiping his tears Wei sighed sadly "Forget it. It’s all in the past now. Let’s not mention it again." Unable to see him in pain I tuck his face into my neck and lovingly caress his back as his body shudders again. I knew how much it would have pained Wei to take this step. Wasn't he just 17 or 18 years old, prime of his life when he decided to forgo his powers? He was indeed the best. No matter how much my Wei Ying lead a carefree life, he paid a heavy price in the end. Above all to be condemned by the same man and be impeached from the Sect for whom be gave up every essence of his being. If not for giving up the Golden Core, he would never have walked the path of the Diabolical Cultivation.  

But that was indeed his past life.

Jiang Cheng turned to look at Jin Ling who was quite shaken up by the words of both his uncles. Even though Jiang Cheng was not a man to comfort another soul with words, he did feel guilty of bringing up the past. 

A moan of pain was heard and we saw  Nie HuaiSang gradually wake up "ZewuJun, Where am I?" as his eyes locked at us, they widened but before he could comment, we heard an explosion and strings of wails following that soon was a stench of a rotting flesh. 

We were all alert as Su She and Jin Guang Yao staggered out from behind the temple. Jin Guang Yao's face was pale as he was supported by Su She. His left hand was marred and crooked. Su She placed a pill on Jin Guang Yao's lips and once he consumed it, he smiled "Thank You". Once he consumed the medicine the pungent smell dissipated gradually. 

As they moved we saw a delicate coffin lay at one side, atop it a black box. Both of the two had been opened already, and thin, white smoke continued to rise from within. It seemed to be some sort of poison. Many who were helping Jin Guang Yao were lying around and moaning in pain.

Once the smoke dissipated Jin Guang Yao and Su She turned to look inside the two boxes only to find them empty and the smile he usually wore immediately faded away. Brother and Nie HuaiSang seemed to recognise the empty boxes and a stretch of pain laced his face as Nie HuaiSang fainted once again. 

What is happening?

"Jin Guang Yao" Wei smirked "could it be that someone played you?" 

"What do you mean Wei Wuxian?" Jin Guang Yao beseeched and Wei winked "Jin Guang Yao, do you still remember the letter Madam Jin brought to you, back in Koi Tower? It was Madam Jin's maid who gave it to her! Question is who gave her the courage to take such a step?  Remember Sisi? Someone saved her too. After all these years! Coincidence? I think not. Someone has planned this carefully for quite a long time and" he looks around "would it be difficult for them to switch what ever was there in that box? I think not" he looks at me and the message is clear. A war was inevitable. 

Soon a monk calls out “Sect Leader, the box seemed to have been moved before. Somebody has definitely tampered this place!" We could hear Jin Guang Yao's yell after the inspection and maybe tonight for the first time we all witnessed fear in his eyes. As Su She was about to throw a snide comment towards Wei, Jin Guang Yao stops him "Don't. Treat your injury first. Let's talk later and remember we cannot stay here for long."

As he removed his robes my eyes landed on his chest and a comand rang out of me "Stop. Turn around!". Perplexed he looks at me and that is when everyone witnesses the mark on his chest. 

The one who caused so much pain to my Wei Ying was him! "It's you!" My voice is filled with icy contempt.