Wei Wuxian gripped him. “Can you really?!”
“Yes!” Wen Ning assured. “I, I’m considered a junior of the Wen Clan. There’s a group of sect disciples under my command who will heed my orders.”
“Heed your orders?” Wei Wuxian snapped. “To kill people?”
“N-n-no!” Wen Ning hurriedly explained himself, “The sect disciples under me would never kill people at random! I’ve never killed anyone from the Jiang Clan either. I only hurried here after I heard what happened at Lotus Pier. Really!”
Wei Wuxian stared at him. What is he up to? Is he lying? Or just feigning civility? This is ridiculous; does he think me a fool?!
The frightening thing, however, was that he was honestly beside himself with joy at having found a lifeline.
He harshly cursed himself—foolish, useless, absurd, outrageous, fanciful. However, he was just one person with no sword or spiritual weapons, and there were hundreds and thousands of cultivators from the Wen Clan stationed here. And possibly Wen Zhuliu as well.
He wasn’t afraid to die—only afraid that he couldn’t save Jiang Cheng before he did. He was afraid he’d end up letting down Jiang Fengmian and Madam Yu, who’d entrusted Jiang Cheng to him. With things being what they were, the only one he could pin his hopes on was this Wen he’d met a grand total of three times!
Wei Wuxian licked his parched lips and said, his voice rough, “Then…can you…can you help me…help me retrieve Sect Leader Jiang and Madam’s Yu’s bodies…”
Without realizing it, he had also begun to stammer. He was midway through his sentence when he realized he was still gripping Wen Ning threateningly and hastily released the young man. He had a contingency plan, however—if Wen Ning fled and yelled the moment he released him, Wei Wuxian was ready to immediately split his head open.
However, Wen Ning turned around and said in all seriousness, “I’ll…I’ll definitely do my best.”
His mind in a muddle, Wei Wuxian waited. As he paced in circles, he thought, What’s wrong with me? Have I gone mad? Why is Wen Ning helping me? And why should I trust him? What if he’s lied to me and Jiang Cheng isn’t inside at all? No—it’s best if he isn’t inside!
Before an incense time had passed, Wen Ning re-emerged soundlessly with someone on his back. The person was covered in blood and motionless, their face ghastly pale, and their eyes shut tight. It was none other than Jiang Cheng.
Wei Wuxian softly called out, “Jiang Cheng?! Jiang Cheng?!”
He held a hand under Jiang Cheng’s nose—still breathing.
Wen Ning extended a hand to Wei Wuxian and placed something in his palm. “Jiang, Jiang-gongzi’s Zidian. I’ve brought that too.”
Recalling that he had harbored the intent to kill Wen Ning earlier, Wei Wuxian didn’t know what else he could say. “…Thank you!” he mumbled.
“You’re welcome…” Wei Ning replied. “As for Jiang-xiansheng and Madam Yu’s bodies, I’ve already had them moved and will transport them to you later. It, it’s inadvisable to stay for too long. You should go now…”
Without needing him to say another word, Wei Wuxian took Jiang Cheng and lifted him onto his own back. The first thing he noticed was the bloody whip wound across Jiang Cheng’s chest.
“The discipline whip?!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed.
“Yes,” Wen Ning confirmed. “Wen Chao got his hands on the Jiang Clan’s discipline whip… Jiang-gongzi has other injuries as well.”
Wei Wuxian felt around on Jiang Cheng. He had at least three broken ribs, and who knew what else that couldn’t yet be seen.
“When Wen Chao returns and realizes what happened, he will definitely hunt for both of you around Yunmeng…” Wen Ning added. “Wei-gongzi, if you trust me, I can show you a good place to hide.”
Jiang Cheng was seriously injured and in urgent need of treatment and rest. They definitely couldn’t be on the move and missing meals as they had been before. Wei Wuxian saw no other way out of this impossible predicament than relying on Wen Ning.
Just a day ago, he would never have dreamed he and Jiang Cheng would have to rely on a Wen’s help to escape. He might even have died rather than submit.
But now, Wei Wuxian could only say, “Thank you!”
Wen Ning waved his hands. “No…no need for thanks. Wei-gongzi, this way. I-I have a boat…”
Carrying Jiang Cheng on his back, Wei Wuxian found the boat Wen Ning had hidden and placed Jiang Cheng in the cabin. Wen Ning cleaned Jiang Cheng’s wounds before applying medicinal powder and bandaging them. Seeing him move with such practiced skill, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but recall how the young man had looked back when he’d seen him at the Qishan Grand Symposium.
It was the same symposium where he’d scored in the top four for archery alongside Lan Wangji, Lan Xichen, and Jin Zixuan. Before the archery competition had started that day, he’d been wandering around Nightless City by himself. As he walked, he’d passed through a small garden and suddenly heard the reverberations of a bowstring.
Wei Wuxian had entered the garden through the trees, brushing aside the leaves as he crept along. He’d seen a young man in lightweight white robes standing there, aiming his bow at a target in front of him right before he released the string.
The young man’s side profile was delicate and refined, and his posture as he drew the bow was both beautiful and perfectly correct. The target’s red-painted center was densely packed with arrows, and his latest shot had joined the crowd there as well.
To think he had not missed a single shot!
“That’s some sharp shooting!” Wei Wuxian cheered.
Seeing his shot had flown true, the young man pulled another arrow from the quiver on his back. He had his head down, about to nock the arrow, when he unexpectedly heard Wei Wuxian’s unfamiliar voice. Startled, his hand shuddered and the arrow fell to the ground.
Wei Wuxian walked out from behind the flowerbed with a smile. “Which of the Wen Clan’s young masters are you? That was marvelous. Beautiful. Great shooting there. I’ve never seen anyone from your clan who could shoot…”
Before he could finish, the young man abandoned his bow and arrows and fled from sight.
Wei Wuxian was struck momentarily speechless. Then he stroked his chin. Am I that dashing? So dashing I scared him away?