⚠️Sensitive content in this chapter, which includes strong language, topics of child abuse and neglect, mistreatment, mental health issues, and violence. Please read with caution⚠️
.
.
.
___________

"This has gone on long enough. I have lost count of the amount of times I had to make sure that boy survived so many injuries and infections caused by your abuse," Healer Ànhé declared, "Poor Yanli would run herself exhausted to the bone to make sure A'Ying was fed and taken care of properly. No one else seemed to have cared."

"Is that so?" Wai Po questioned, "honestly, Fengmian if you loved my daughter at all, you wouldn't have let this woman abuse her child. She would probably despise you right now because of your behavior and actions."

"She does," I said, "I spoke to her spirit before leaving the mountain. Mama wanted me to tell Sect Leader Jiang that he better learn to sleep with his eyes open. Even Baba is furious that he wasted so much time helping a man who would resort to hurting his son. Must be really proud of yourselves."

"You can speak with spirits?" Yanli asked.

"Mnn, I spoke with mine, and got some closure. Even some insight. Turns out, Sect Leader Jiang's father wanted my father to run the Jiang Sect but he declined because he wanted to spend his life with my mother and not be affiliated with a sect," I said.

Wai Po seemed stunned by the newfound information. As Elders Kun and Liena were there, they can attest that it was the truth. Jiang Fengmian's own father felt that he was not suitable for being a sect leader. And to be honest, I don't know what to make of this trial, but I know that Madam Yu is getting her ass chewed out by Wai Po. She was furiously telling her off and not sparing any kind words whatsoever. I honestly don't blame her. I wanted to so badly tell the woman how terrible she was as I grew up but I was always afraid to. I knew if I did, I'd get hurt worse and potentially even kicked out of the Jiang Sect.

Honestly, as difficult as it was living on the streets as a child, I'd rather have lived that way than go to Lotus Pier. That is if I were to go back in time and change anything, that would be the first thing to fix. If I did not learn to cultivate, then that is fine as I would just learn to live as a normal human being. Though, from what Baoshan has told me a few times, if I did grow up on the streets I would still have built a golden core. It would have just been formed differently and I would not know how to use the gifts of cultivation.

My thoughts were pulled from me when I heard Yu Ziyuan shouting, "I would abuse that bastard a thousand more times if I had the chance! I wished he were even dead!"

"Mother!" Yanli yelled, "why do you hate A'Xian so much?"

"Because he is a spawn of that ungrateful and selfish bitch Cangse! If not for her, then my marriage would not have suffered so much! Even that bastard father of his! He is nothing but he two was just a myrmidon*!"

* a follower or subordinate of a powerful person, typically one who is unscrupulous or carries out orders unquestioningly; Servant.

"Wow, I had no idea that you had so much resentment towards my parents," I said, "and because I am their child you'd think I'd be just as they were? You have no room to talk. You are what, the third of your family? Your marriage might have been arranged but have you ever thought that at one point in time, Uncle Jiang had actually loved you?"

"I doubt it!" Yu Ziyuan said loudly, "and you dare show your face in front of my family again after all these years?"

"Family? If they had a choice, would they still call you mother?" I asked.

"Of course they would, it's a word you will never get to say too. How precious is that?!" Yu Ziyuan spat.

"Maybe, but I have something that you will never know what it feels like," I said, "I have a few things actually."

"Oh, humor me!"

"I am the heir to Celestial Mountain and grandson to Baoshan Sanren. I spent many years training under her and achieved immortality. You will never know what that will feel like. It is something every cultivator dreams of. The other thing I can say I have that you do not is Love, a soulmate, a person to call mine and for them to call me theirs. I know what it's like to be looked at and treated with love and care. We are bound by fate and that is something very few people get to experience," I explained.

"Love?!" Yu Ziyuan spat, "who in their right mind would ever love you!?"

"Me," Lan Zhan announced as he took my hand.

Yu Ziyuan paled at the sight. She never would have thought that one of the twin jades would actually find a partner in me. I grinned, "see, and it's a different kind of love, but Wai Po loves me, and so does my Shishu. Even the people here in the Lan Sect have come to accept me. They respect me and they are willing to give me a chance here. Lan Zhan here, gave me my life back."

"He is an idiot for loving a man like you!" Yu Ziyuan shouted.

I couldn't help but laugh, "did you just insult one of the most respected cultivators of our generation? He is more respected than you, and you have the nerve to insult him? Especially in front of me!"

"So what, he might turn out to be a dead beat like his stupid father!" Yu Ziyuan spat.

With that, I snapped. I felt the resentful energy inside me stir and start to exude from my body, "if you insult my family one more time, you are going to know exactly what bell feels like!" I warned.

"Wei Wuxian, Mother, can we please do this more civilly?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"Oh now you want it to be civil?" I asked, "after she insulted my family? I do not think so. I am very close to snapping completely. The only reason why I haven't yet is because Lan Zhan is currently holding my hand."

Honestly, I could see everyone was stunned to hear Yu Ziyuan to insult Lan Zhan like that. I could tell Baoshan was wondering how I haven't completely snapped yet but I doing everything in my power to be the better person...no matter how badly I want to rip her head off her shoulders.