Now, the head of the Jin Clan of Lanling had yet to arrive, leaving his men under the Lan Clan’s command. The Lan Clan of Gusu was still under Lan Qiren’s command, but Nie Huaisang had taken his elder brother’s place. He shrank into the crowd, still wearing the look that said he didn’t know anything, didn’t want to do anything, and was only there to make up the numbers.
Only Jiang Cheng was still the same as ever. Still the same air of hostility, still the same gloomy expression, still the same intense glare.
But…
Wei Wuxian turned his head slightly and saw Lan Wangji there, standing by his side without a hint of hesitation or any intention of backing down.
But this time, he was no longer alone.
Thousands of cultivators eyed him menacingly, like tigers eyeing prey. A particular middle-aged cultivator, unable to contain himself any longer, leapt forward with a shout.
“Wei Wuxian! Remember me?!”
“No,” Wei Wuxian honestly replied.
The middle-aged cultivator sneered. “You don’t, but this leg of mine does!”
He lifted the hem of his robe to reveal a wooden limb. “You maimed my leg that night in Nightless City. I’m showing you this to let you know that I, Yi Weichun, am part of the crowd surrounding you today. What comes around goes around. You’ll get your just deserts!”
Seemingly inspired by him, another young cultivator stepped forward as well and declared in a loud, clear voice, “Wei Wuxian, I won’t ask if you remember or not. Both my parents died at your hand. You owe so many blood debts, I’m sure you don’t remember them. But I, Fang Mengchen, will never forget! And I will never forgive!”
Immediately after, a third person stepped forward—a tall, thin middle-aged scholar with flashing eyes. He seemed supermundane.
This time, Wei Wuxian beat him to it. “Did I maim you?”
The man shook his head.
Wei Wuxian tried guessing again. “Did I kill your parents? Massacre your whole family?”
The man shook his head again.
Wei Wuxian was amazed. “Then may I ask why you’re here?”
“I bear no personal grudge against you,” the man said. “I came here to join the fight in order for you to understand that he who goes against the world deserves to be condemned by all. No matter what despicable methods you use, or how many times you crawl out of your tomb, we will send you back for no reason other than the pursuit of righteous justice!”
The crowd broke into deafening cheers at his declaration.
“Well said, Sect Leader Yao!”
Sect Leader Yao stepped down with a smile. Encouraged, the others stood up one at a time to declare war upon Wei Wuxian.
“Your underling Wen Ning snapped my son’s neck during the Qiongqi Path Ambush!”
“My shixiong died because of your vicious curse, his whole body covered in festering sores from wicked gu venom!”
“I am here for no other reason than to prove that there is still justice in the world. Evil will not be tolerated!”
“There is still justice in the world. Evil will not be tolerated!”
Every single face was alight with righteous ardor. Every single word said was spoken in the name of justice. Every single person was awe-inspiringly upright, impassioned, and brimming with righteous indignation and lofty sentiments.
Everyone had no doubt that what they were doing was a glorious feat, a heroic act of righteousness.
A crusade of “good” versus “evil” that would go down in history, exalted by all!