Lan Wangji left the pavilion with heavy steps, but he had some tasks to complete now. Xue Yang had already woken up by the time he entered the boy's room. He made sure the boy freshened up and dressed appropriately. Xue Yang's superficial injuries had already fully healed, and the boy looked adorable in his black-and-gray outfit that Wei Ying had picked out for him when they were in Jiang Zhou. His right hand sported a custom-made black leather glove, and his hair was up in a high ponytail. All in all, the ensemble was similar in style to his Wei-ge, and he looked like a miniature version of him.
"Lan Zhan!"
Lan Wangji felt like his heart was beating out of his chest. He looked over at the door from which Wei Ying was running. His lips immediately turned upward, and he walked up to the radiant person. "What happened?"
Xiao Zhan's silver pair of eyes sparkled like jewels, and his cheeks were brushed with a pinkish rouge from all the running he had done. Smiling widely at him, Xiao Zhan threw himself toward Lan Wangji. Lan Wangji caught him as quickly as he could, afraid that Wei Ying could trip or lose his balance and accidentally hurt himself.
Xiao Zhan wrapped his arm around Lan Wangji's neck as he chuckled, "Nothing happened. I'm just happy to see you again."
Holding his partner by the waist, Lan Wangji looked at him quizzically. "Wei Ying, you saw me an hour ago."
Xiao Zhan just grinned. "Was it only an hour?"
Lan Wangji nodded slightly. Finally feeling shy for giving into his uncontrollable state of mind, Xiao Zhan pulled away. "I guess you're right!"
"Wei-ge, what about me?" Xue Yang tugged on Xiao Zhan's sleeve.
Xiao Zhan squatted down and rubbed his head. "Xue Yang! Of course, I'm thrilled to see you too! Did you sleep well?"
"Yes! I've been sleeping very well since I met you." Xue Yang grinned before pulling on Xiao Zhan's sleeve once more. Xiao Zhan couldn't help but smile fondly and hugged Xue Yang for a minute. He let Xue Yang go and grabbed his arm instead. "Xue Yang, you know I have to go back to Gusu soon, right? But I won't leave until I'm sure you're going to be okay here. I'll come back to see you before you know it."
Xue Yang was startled by the sudden embrace, but the gesture of affection made his heart feel warm. For as long as he could remember, no one had held him in their arms like this. However, he understood that he couldn't cling to this kind brother or hold him back. Also, everyone he had met in this place so far had treated him nicely and welcomed him with open arms. It was a life that he had once thought impossible to achieve, but it was happening now. He looked up with a happy expression. "I know. You don't really need to worry about me, Wei-ge."
Xiao Zhan was relieved to hear that. He adjusted the boy's collar while asking, "How do you find this place so far?"
Xue Yang's dimples on his cheeks deepened, his canine tooth was showing. He thought for a couple of seconds before answering mischievously, "That depends on how good the breakfast is."
"You little brat." Xiao Zhan pinched both of the boy's cheeks, "Don't worry, I will make sure you will have your food every day, no matter what happens."
"Okay, okay. Can we go eat now, brother?" Xue Yang rubbed his cheeks.
The three of them walked together toward the dining hall afterward, their hearts filled with spring blooms.
"Da-shixiong!"
"Young Master Wei."
The disciples and servants greeted them with respect and warmth. Some waved, and some bowed to Xiao Zhan. Everyone chatted happily while eating their meals and laughing in between.
Seeing this close-knit environment that truly made anyone and everyone feel welcomed and included, Lan Wangji reminisced on the quiet dining in his sect. How very different it was! The atmosphere in the hall tugged at his heartstrings. He thought to himself, "Is this the family bonding that Wei Ying spoke of? Is this how a happy family would look?"
The breakfast served at Lotus Pier was very different from that at Cloud Recesses. It was full of flavor, with more variety and colorful dishes, and the food itself was delicious. There were lotus and rib soup, steamed buns with lotus bean filling, congee, fried cakes, dumplings, and some vibrant colored vegetable dishes. They also served some fruits and chestnuts as snacks.
Lan Wangji sat across from the two and listened to their conversations while he silently enjoyed his flavorful breakfast. He found himself zoning out because he was enjoying watching the way Xiao Zhan easily mingled and conversed with others who frequently came over to the head disciple's seat to talk with him. He noticed how Xiao Zhan seemed to know everyone and was always ready with witty answers to whatever questions were thrown his way. Also, how beautiful he looked as he talked animatedly and laughed vibrantly. Seeing the head disciple of the Jiang sect so carefree around others almost made him jealous. A small part of him wished that he could spend this time alone with Wei Ying and have him close to him. However, he had to remind himself that the person he was infatuated with was an approachable and friendly person. His amiable and likable nature always attracted others to socialize with him. They had many things to settle within the next few days, and he needed to prioritize those moments when they would have time to be alone later on. As if Xiao Zhan could read Lan's mind, their eyes met, and the former smiled affectionately at him.
"Oh, wow. How handsome he is!" Someone exclaimed loudly as he dropped his half-eaten steamed bun, staring appreciatively with his jaw open, almost drooling over Lan Wangji. The rest of the disciples around them started to take notice and began to gasp as well.
Lan Wangji felt the eyes that were directed at him, and he shifted back to his impassive look once more. Xue Yang simply shrugged and continued ravishing his breakfast in delight, clearly unfazed by the crowd's reactions. The boy had seen more than enough smiles on the mostly deadpan expression whenever his Wei-ge did the same.
"Hey! Hey! Avert your eyes at once! Show some respect for Second Young Master Lan here!" Xiao Zhan thundered as he sprang to his feet. His shouting made the matter even worse. More people were directing their eyes toward Lan Wangji, who looked quite uncomfortable with all the attention.
The junior disciples looked at each other with wide eyes, and their words echoed throughout the area. "Second Young Master Lan? The second Jade of Lan? Lan Wangji??"
Some of them, who had already seen him earlier, could only speculate on his identity. They did not expect it to be the Lan Wangji, the famous prodigy. He was quite well-known. Soon, their eyes began to settle on the slender yet muscular figure. The Second Young Master Lan was dressed in snowy robes with wide sleeves, and his forehead ribbon ends flapped in the soft breeze. He had a pristine face with graceful and elegant features. His light eyes were almost like colored glass, and he had an aura of smooth moonlight that gave off a heavenly-pure feeling. In short, Lan Wangji was an unrivaled beauty who only appeared once in a blue moon. Despite his glacial glare, his regal and peerless beauty never failed to draw people's eyes to him. The disciples now understood why he was ranked number two among the Young Masters.
Crossing his arms, Xiao Zhan raised his voice and shot a deadly glare at the boy who started the trouble before looking at the rest. "Alright, it seems like everyone chose to go against my words this time. Finish eating and clean up the plates in thirty minutes. I want to see each of you on the training field!"
"Hah?? Da Shixiong??" The group turned their heads towards him as if he had just lost his mind.
Xiao Zhan rolled his eyes and ignored the commotion caused by his announcement of attending the training. He waited until the noises died down, then yelled again, "Not a second late!"
Xue Yang had never seen Xiao Zhan act like this before. He swallowed down whatever was in his mouth with difficulty. He looked at the food that was still on the plates and decided he needed to finish it quickly. Lan Wangji watched the young boy stuff himself with his breakfast. "Xue Yang, eat slowly. You will choke if you eat too fast." He told gently.
Xue Yang nodded slightly and immediately slowed down. He looked around the dining hall and swallowed his food, making sure his mouth was empty before he whispered, "Wangji-xiong, why is Wei-gege angry?"
Xiao Zhan plopped his bottom back onto his seat. "I am not angry." He said grumpily.
Xue Yang pouted. He continued eating while he watched the other disciples from Yunmeng Jiang begin their speed-eating race. They had never faced this serious-looking head disciple, and they wondered what kind of training could possibly await them that day.
Lan Wangji spoke gently, "Wei Ying, it's fine. You should finish your meal first."
Xiao Zhan grumbled under his breath, "They shouldn't covet what isn't theirs."
Lan Wangji wanted to make sure that he heard it correctly, so he asked, "What did you just say?"
Xiao Zhan covered his mouth with his hand as the words slipped from his tongue without thinking. He avoided making eye contact. "Ah, it's nothing. Nothing at all."
Lan Wangji furrowed his eyebrows. "Wei Ying, can we talk later? Just the two of us."
Xiao Zhan glanced at him briefly. "Sure. Later."
The dining hall gradually emptied as time passed.
Looking at the empty tray in front of the younger boy, Xiao Zhan spoke, "Alright then. Xue Yang, you've finished your meal, right?"
"Yes!" Xue Yang replied readily.
Xiao Zhan smiled at his eagerness. "Good. Now, here in Lotus Pier, we clear our own trays. I will have someone teach you how to do that. Afterward, I will see you in the training field."
Xue Yang nodded. "Okay."
Xiao Zhan called out to one of the disciples who were still there and instructed him to teach Xue Yang. The disciple was keen to obey the head disciple's order and, in his friendly manner, brought Xue Yang to the kitchen. Xue Yang waved at Xiao Zhan, who nodded at him and followed the older boy, who was happy to chat with him.
Not long after, they tidied up after themselves and walked out together. Lan Wangji set his gaze on Xiao Zhan and asked about the meeting with Jiang Fengmian. "Wei Ying, how did it go?"
"It went well. Don't worry about it." Xiao Zhan reassured him with a sincere smile. He changed the topic as he did not want to sour the mood with the details. "What do you think about Lotus Pier so far?"
Lan Wangji's face was as stoic as it could be as he said, "The people here like to talk. A lot."
Hearing his answer, Xiao Zhan burst into laughter and nodded enthusiastically. "You're right! I can't even hear myself when they start to open their mouths. Lan Zhan, I talk a lot as well. Do you dislike it?"
"Not dislike. Just different from what I am used to hearing." Lan Wangji replied thoughtfully. He had never interacted with anyone besides Wei Ying, and even then, only at sword practice; he couldn't imagine the type of people who would chatter away all day. He added, "And I like to hear you talk."
"Hear me talk? Should I keep talking then?" Xiao Zhan teased lightly.
"Talk. I will listen," Lan Wangji responded smoothly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I like your singing too."
He paused briefly to think of a way to describe, "Your voice sounds nice. I prefer it over anything else."
Xiao Zhan blinked owlishly at him, surprised by Lan Wangji's comment. His eyes traveled down to the lips that had just uttered those words and the lips that he had been thinking about before he left the pavilion. He stared at them for quite a while until he realized that Lan Wangji had noticed what he was doing. He quickly averted his eyes to the training field, feeling as though he had just been caught red-handed. They both silently continued toward their destination after that.
Once they reached the training area, where Xue Yang stood comfortably with the other disciples from the Jiang Sect, Xiao Zhan took a seat on one of the wooden benches, resting his chin against his palm as he watched the disciples working out. Lan Wangji stood beside him, looking at the somewhat hectic field, scattered with some who were doing swordsmanship practice, some groups who were frolicking around and laughing boisterously, while some others were busy with random things.
"Da Shixiong is here!" one of the disciples yelled out. Everyone soon gathered around, forming more organized rows and columns, and in unison, the disciples gave him a proper salutation. Standing in the front row, Xue Yang looked left and right and mimicked whatever the other disciples did.
Xiao Zhan stood up and walked in front of the disciples. Pulling Xue Yang to his side, he said, "All of you already know about Xue Yang, yes?"
"Yes, Da Shixiong!" The disciples replied in unison.
"So, you all know to treat him well," Xiao Zhan reminded them. "Also, let me see how much you all have improved these days! Show Xue Yang our Yunmeng Jiang swordsmanship."
Following his command, the disciples began to move into different positions and, moving in sync, they performed the various sword forms, starting with the basics. Xiao Zhan applauded, encouraging each disciple to perform another one. Once everyone had finished performing their swordsmanship, he commented, "That was good. You all have improved quite a bit. Keep practicing and get even stronger!"
"Thank you, Da Shixiong!" The disciples were relieved that their head disciple did not kick up a stink after the bizarre change of attitude in the dining hall earlier. Somehow, it was like their head disciple was no longer the devious prankster they once knew. The air around him was giving off the same vibe as their clan leader but colder and, dare they say, more powerful. That made them suppress their childlike shenanigans and be more cautious about their mannerisms.
Xiao Zhan called out to the nine-year-old, "Xue Yang, did you get it?"
Everyone turned to stare at Xue Yang, who was standing beside Xiao Zhan and wearing clothing that almost matched the color and style of the head disciple. His eyes widened when he realized he was being stared at by several pairs of eyes. He stammered, "Yes, I understand."
"Good," Xiao Zhan encouraged. "Do you want to try it then?"
Xue Yang hesitated but still nodded. Xiao Zhan led Xue Yang through the steps of a standard Jiang clan form and stance, and Xue Yang followed suit. He made some progress in the moves and asked, "Is this swordsmanship meant to be fast?"
"Yes, that's right. You are very observant, Xue Yang. Very good!" Xiao Zhan praised. He explained, "Jiang Clan techniques are all about agility. All clans have their own styles. For example, the Gusu Lan Sect leans towards powerful strikes and heavy damage."
Xue Yang blinked curiously. "What is the difference?"
"Lan Zhan, I need a favor." Xiao Zhan looked over to Lan Wangji. On that signal, Lan Wangji nodded and went up to the center of the sparring field. Bichen gave off a flash of blue light as it was unsheathed. Everyone immediately fell silent and backed off to give space. No one dared utter a single word or move as they waited to see what Lan Wangji would do next. Their anticipation caused tension to rise as Xiao Zhan leaped in front of him.
"Watch and learn, boys!" he said loudly. As soon as he landed on his feet, he began his offense. Xue Yang watched with wide eyes as Xiao Zhan attacked Lan Wangji with lightning speed and precision, dodging the incoming counterattacks with ease. As expected from the head disciple of the Jiang Sect, his aptitude and dexterity were on another level, perhaps even higher than the disciples were accustomed to seeing before. The red and blue sword glares sparked as the two polished spiritual weapons clashed with each other.
"Wei-ge! Wangji-xiong!" Xue Yang shouted excitedly. The other disciples soon joined in the cheering as well. The field was filled with loud huzzahs and excited clamoring.
After a while, Xiao Zhan and Lan Wangji halted their exchange of blows. Lan Wangji remarked, "You have become quite rusty."
"Huh?" Xiao Zhan raised his eyebrows. Pointing Suibian downward, he argued, "You know very well that I haven't been practicing lately."
"Maybe we need to stop the food hunt," Lan Wangji retorted.
"Wow, you know how to joke now, huh?" Xiao Zhan smirked. "You liked it though, and I was just giving you face."
Lan Wangji returned to his initial position and lifted Bichen up again. "Is that so?"
Xiao Zhan returned to his previous stance as well. Lan Wangji said nothing after that. He kept attacking relentlessly while Xiao Zhan had already calculated his moves and, in swift motions, evaded and counterattacked. Both of the young men had been fighting for a long while and they still drew a tie.
Putting an end to the sparring, Xiao Zhan expressed his approval. "Not bad."
"I think you got better with each passing minute." Lan Wangji stated.
"Of course. I strive to improve all the time." Xiao Zhan grinned as he spoke confidently, winking at Lan Wangji, "I'm that efficient."
"You are very impressive, Wei Ying." Lan Wangji agreed and sincerely complimented him. Without any warning, he then admitted his defeat. "You won this one."
"Huh?" Xiao Zhan was confused by this sudden declaration of loss. "Why so suddenly?"
Lan Wangji gestured at his still-bruised hand. "Your hand is hurt."
"Are you really injured, Da Shixiong?" A young disciple asked from the back.
Xiao Zhan looked at the other disciples who were all waiting with anticipation for his reply. "It's very minor. But it's a tie between us."
"Wei-ge, why is it a tie? Wangji-xiong said you were fighting with an injured hand." Xue Yang was curious about his conclusion.
Xiao Zhan fixed his eyes on the Second Young Master Lan and smirked. "He went easy on me. Right, Lan Zhan?"
Lan Wangji's lips quirked upward a tiny bit. He had indeed been holding back in this sparring. Unable to lie, he could only admit, "Mn."
Xiao Zhan shook his head with a wide grin on his face. "We'll have a rematch once my hand has fully healed then."
Lan Wangji nodded as he walked back to the benches to give the disciples their training space back.
"Alright. The show is over. Now, let's continue with practice." Xiao Zhan ordered. He stood on the same spot as before and started to give commands.
Xue Yang joined in with the others. Lan Wangji watched Xiao Zhan closely and simultaneously noted Xue Yang's progress with each movement.
At the same time, Jiang Fengmian had been watching quietly from a corner with some other elders. His lips curved into a smile, proud and satisfied with his display of leadership and sword skills. The other elders were impressed as well, with his maturity in handling the disciples and especially awed by the showcase of his high cultivation level.
"Young Master Wei could possibly be the leader one day," one of them noted.
Another one agreed, "He's the most suitable candidate."
Before Jiang Fengmian could reply, a loud crash coming from behind disturbed the flow of conversation. Madam Yu strode over in her flowing violet robes. Jinzhu and Yinzhu were armored, following behind her, one on the left and the other on the right. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her voice was harsh. Her brows twitched so much that her personal maids thought she could kill someone at any moment. She forced them to repeat their speeches wrathfully. "Candidates for what? What leader were you talking about?!"
One of them, the eldest, answered cautiously, "We are merely observing that Young Master Wei is possibly a candidate to lead this sect."
"What?!" Madam Yu launched into a tirade and hurled profanities at the elders. It seemed they had finally reached the root of her anger. The elder who had spoken first appeared ready to jump into the lake if it meant saving his life. The others were turning red and purple from the continuous humiliation.
"Enough!" A voice shouted from behind them. All eyes turned toward Xiao Zhan, who stood tall and strong, his posture firm. His eyes met Madam Yu's fiery glare. Her hands fisted around her robes, clearly ready to tear him apart. But he remained unfazed. The entire situation took Jiang Fengmian by surprise as well. He had never seen the head disciple direct such a commanding look at someone.
Xiao Zhan took a step forward, his eyes still focused on Madam Yu. It almost looked like he would start a fight with her. Instead, he let out a breath before speaking again. His tone softened but didn't lose its edge. "Madam Yu, the children are watching. They must feel bad enough having to hear those vulgar words coming from you. Let's not make things worse. Be civil."
"How dare you speak to me in such a manner? I will teach you what happens when you speak so disrespectfully." Madam Yu spat venomously, and the elders immediately stepped back in fear.
As she tried to grab Xiao Zhan's arm and pull him away, Lan Wangji caught the offending hand in a tight clutch that could crush her bones. Madam Yu stared in disbelief at the Lan disciple holding back the force of her fury. "Let go of me now! You arrogant little brat!"
Madam Yu continued shouting even more. Seeing their Master was in distress, her loyal aides unsheathed their swords, ready to attack the Second Young Master Lan.
Lan Wangji didn't move his grip, instead tightening it to keep her hand captive. His eyes could freeze the air around him. He said calmly but deadly, "If you try to hurt Wei Ying again, I will break your hand. Call your maids off."
Madam Yu looked at his sharp glare and swallowed thickly. She knew that he meant every word and her hand would break before her maids could make their moves. "Jinzhu. Yinzhu. Back off."
Xiao Zhan placed his hand on Lan Wangji's wrist, which was holding the nasty Madam's, and whispered softly, "Lan Zhan, let her go."
Lan Wangji loosened his grip and slowly released Madam Yu's hands.
"Thank you, but I can handle this." Xiao Zhan mumbled softly and patted Lan Wangji's shoulder. Lan Wangji remained rooted in place, keeping a watchful eye on the woman. He would not allow anyone to hurt his Wei Ying again.
Madam Yu glared at him as her lips curved into a malicious sneer. "Do you really think this is your household to run? You should be grateful that I am willing to spare your life."
"Spare my life? I rather be dead than be treated like shit for the rest of my life." Xiao Zhan scoffed.
Everyone gasped in shock at Xiao Zhan's declaration. No one expected to see Xiao Zhan speak back to Madam Yu so defiantly.
"My lady, be careful with your words. He is a part of the family whether you like it or not!" Jiang Fengmian warned her, trying to defuse the situation.
"Shut up! Just like you're supposed to shut yours!" Madam Yu snorted angrily at him and turned to look towards Xiao Zhan. "Don't forget that I raised you."
Xiao Zhan narrowed his eyes at her statement and burst into bitter laughter. "That was a good joke, Madam Yu."
"You insolent ingrate!" Her anger began to rise within her when she noticed that he was neither scared nor intimidated by her threats. "Who do you think you are to mock me? I shall send you back to your mother!"
"Well, you don't scare me at all. Not a bit, Madam Yu," Xiao Zhan said in a low, gravelly voice as he stood his ground against her.
"Who do you think you are? You are just a mere wretched orphan who thought he could be the next clan leader. I see, your head has grown bigger now that you have support from Gusu Lan. How conceited you are." Madam Yu's voice dripped with venom as she continued, "Just because you are slightly good with swords, you think you are superior to me? You still nothing but a dust under my shoes. An ingrate and ill-bred troublemaker who brought nothing but shame to the clan!"
Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow and steadily responded to the bombardment of verbal assault with a calm face. "If you continue to spout more nonsense, I suggest you get ready to be incapacitated for the next few months."
Despite her uncontrollable temper, she understood the hidden threat behind Xiao Zhan's words. Madam Yu took a glance at Lan Wangi whose face had grown colder and indignant as if he wouldn't hesitate to end her pathetic existence if she dared say something disrespectful again. The thought made her shiver uncontrollably despite the warm weather.
Xiao Zhan addressed his uncle without turning around. "Uncle Jiang, tell me if I deserved such an insult?"
Jiang Fengmian was startled by the sudden turn of events. But he soon regained his composure after seeing the look on Xiao Zhan's face and quickly nodded. "You did not deserve this. You have done nothing wrong."
With that, he walked toward his wife and took hold of her right arm to prevent her from unleashing her whip. Uncle Jiang yelled at Madam Yu and tightened his grip on her arm. "Stop this nonsense, milady!"
"Let me go!" she yelled, kicking and struggling violently against him. "You...you're despicable man!"
"Ungrateful impudent son of servant! How very similar to your mother!" Madam Yu spat, trying to intimidate Xiao Zhan as she normally would.
Xiao Zhan's body stiffened at the remark. He could feel the boiling anger begin to rise within him as he shared the same sentiment as the original owner of the body. No, he was Wei Wuxian at this moment, and he would not tolerate any more insults toward his parents. "Do not speak ill of my deceased parents! They do not deserve your spiteful words!"
This evil woman! How dare you bring my mother into this??
The air grew heavy with tension, and people began looking nervous. Everyone could see the signs that Xiao Zhan was becoming aggravated. Yinzhu and Jinzhu didn't know what to do in this situation.
Madam Yu struggled against his iron grip and not long after, she scratched the man's face with her sharp fingernails. Three deep lines formed on his cheek and blood slowly trickled down his face and causing him to loosen his hand. She broke free from his grasps and pointed her finger towards Xiao Zhan, "You filthy scum! Son of servant! Ungrateful bastard! I'll cut you alive! Jinzhu, Yinzhu. Don't just stand there. Grab that impudent bastard child! Teach him a lesson!"
At that moment, everyone witnessed how frighteningly adept the head disciple was. The two maids spat out blood when he kicked them directly and mercilessly in their abdomens, and they were sent flying to the ground as soon as they launched their combined assault. Everyone watched in silence, shocked by the display of ferocious retaliation.
When Xiao Zhan pulled his sword out of its scabbard, everyone knew that he was no longer the same child they once knew, and for the first time, they realized how dangerous he was. Red sparks flew around the sharp blade as it left its sheath.
Jiang Fengmian wiped off the red liquid smearing his face, and he noticed the dark aura radiating off his nephew. He had seen Xiao Zhan act with great energy before, but never before had he seen his nephew use it so fiercely.
They watched as Xiao Zhan approached Madam Yu, who stood there, taunting and spewing venomous words at him. The elders tried to stop Xiao Zhan, but to no avail.
"Get out of the way!" His dark gaze pierced through the older men, ready to strike whoever attempted to stop him. He had spiraled down into a paroxysm of anger, and he could only see red. With every step he took, the ground began to shake beneath their feet, and the sound of stones crumbling could be heard.
"Stand back! All of you!" Jiang Fengmian growled loudly at them as well, concerned for their safety. The elders scrambled to get out of the way, as they were afraid of being injured themselves, even if they weren't directly targeted. They ushered the rest of the young disciples to retreat further from the field, leaving only six people in the middle. However, they still continued to watch the unfolding scene from afar. They couldn't possibly miss the interesting spectacle.
Jiang Fengmian looked pleadingly at his nephew, who looked as if he had hit the ceiling. Unlike his usual self, he could no longer control his wife. "A-Ying, stop!"
Xiao Zhan took a few more steps and stopped in front of the supercilious Madam Yu. She was standing with her chest pushed out and her chin jutted out, still assuming that the boy would not have the audacity to lift his weapon toward her. The onlookers watched in horror, their mouths open, as Xiao Zhan pointed his sword at Madam Yu's throat without hesitation. The tip touched her skin, drawing out some blood. Thereupon, her body trembled in a mix of fury and terror.
"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji called out as he took Xiao Zhan's hand. "Calm down."
Xiao Zhan's cold stare fell on Lan Wangji. A worried expression was plastered across his face. His deep voice roused him from the raging fire that was consuming his sanity and his very soul. Like being doused with water and thrown into a lake, a wave of calm washed over him. He began to cool down and the heat dissipated. He regained control of his senses and returned to a state of mind that was not as agitated as before. His eyes remained on Lan Wangji's as he lowered his sword slowly, letting it point back to its rightful home.
Madam Yu gritted her teeth, and her eyes flashed with madness. If her husband were not beside her, she would love to strangle his precious nephew to death and feel his life slip away beneath her fingers. Since she was unable to reach his neck, she beckoned Zidian instead. The whip whistled through the air as it flew toward Xiao Zhan.
As soon as the tip of the whip nearly touched Xiao Zhan, a strong force deflected the purplish-white electrified lash. Once the dust cleared, everyone saw the young man standing in front of Xiao Zhan with his translucent sword vibrating loudly. The entire area fell silent except for Madam Yu's angry shouts.
"Don't block my way you foolish child! You think I care about you Gusu Lan people!" She yelled furiously and raised her whip high above her head.
Xiao Zhan raised his sword once again. He smiled at Lan Wangji and walked to his side. "Lan Zhan, thank you again, but I've got this."
Seeing that Xiao Zhan had recovered his sobriety and level-headedness, Lan Wangji nodded but did not move from his spot, remaining in standby mode. Xiao Zhan then blocked the blow from the second lash with ease. His movements were fast and agile, giving him an intimidating appearance. No matter how many blows Madam Yu threw at him, he always blocked each strike with ease, without even moving his sword out of its defensive stance. His speed and strength surpassed what people usually saw from a teenager who was barely sixteen. His movements looked effortless. Jiang Fengmian shouted endlessly to his wife to stop, but she ignored him.
"Impossible! You want me to stop? In your dream Jiang Fengmian!" She exclaimed as she swung her other whip towards Xiao Zhan. She snarled at him, "You! How dare you! You'll regret this! Your life is mine to use however I want!"
"Says who?" Xiao Zhan responded unemotionally, causing Madam Yu to pause slightly, clearly surprised by his reply. Xiao Zhan continued, "Your words mean nothing to me."
"Then let me show you what will happen to those who disrespect me!" Madam Yu screamed at the top of her lungs. Her eyes filled with madness and vehemence; her expression contorted. She was utterly enraged by Xiao Zhan's response to her provocation. She kept on swerving her whip, leaving several trails of sparks in the air.
The elders and disciples who were watching the battle from afar could feel the tense atmosphere growing thicker as the fighting between the two became more intense. Many of the men were holding their breath as fear gripped their hearts at the thought of being struck by the deadly electric current or the sword glare that was overpowering it. Xiao Zhan wielded Suibian proficiently without unnecessary movements as he stood his ground against her, blocking and brushing off the lashes as if it were child's play.
Madam Yu swung her whip once again, but this time she pushed it to its maximum power. The color of the light had turned almost white. With an elegant flourish, Xiao Zhan spun around as fast as the wind, avoiding the strike. Like taking candy from a baby, he caught the whip with his bare hand. The electrified spiritual tool fizzled in his palm, which was still recovering from the previous burn. He spoke coldly without showing any hint of pain. "Have you had enough yet?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Zhan snatched Zidian from her grasp and tossed it to the ground, where it landed in front of his uncle's feet. Jiang Fengmian picked it up and transformed it back into its ring shape. The crowd held its breath as they witnessed how easily Xiao Zhan defeated the elder and how furious Madam Yu had become. Even their normally composed clan leader had paled considerably, watching how formidable Xiao Zhan had grown in a short span of time. A part of him wondered if his nephew had been purposely hiding his true strength all this while.
Losing her spiritual tool and her sanity, Madam Yu roared as she charged at Xiao Zhan, raising her hands and aiming her sharp fingernails at his throat. As she was about to reach her target, a bright blue energy appeared, and she was knocked backward, nearly falling flat on the ground. She struggled to push herself back up. Lan Wangji could not stand idly by, although he knew that Xiao Zhan was more than capable of protecting himself. He was furious at the fact that his person had been hurt once again in an altercation with Madam Yu.
"Jiang Fengmian, give me back my whip!" Madam Yu yelled angrily.
"No, I don't think I can," Jiang Fengmian replied, taking another step forward. "If you wish to continue behaving this way, I will not hesitate to expel you from Lotus Pier."
Madam Yu scoffed in disbelief. "And leave my children behind?"
Jiang Fengmian shook his head as he gave her an incredulous stare. He scoffed, "Did you ever consider them your children? Or treat them as one?"
His words caused the elders and Madam Yu's servants to gasp softly. Madam Yu yelled at him, "Do you even know what kind of person you are?"
"Yes, I do," Jiang Fengmian calmly replied. "I was a coward, and now I do not intend to tolerate your behavior any longer, Madam Yu."
"What? You're going to throw me out? Are you even human?" Madam Yu said mockingly.
"How about you? Are you human?" Jiang Fengmian asked her in return. Raising his voice, he said, "Even dogs wouldn't treat their young the way you did."
Madam Yu froze slightly as she stared wide-eyed at Jiang Fengmian. Then, she suddenly started laughing hysterically. She laughed until tears began pouring down her cheeks, until a deep sense of pain overtook her and sent her crashing to the floor. After the initial shock passed, she lifted her head. "You're right. I'm just a dog. A substitute for someone you once loved but who left you for someone else!"
Madam Yu rose to her feet, wiping the tears from her face. Her lips curled in a cruel smile and talked with venom dripping from every word. "Let me tell you something, you will regret this. I will make sure that you lose everything that you cherish and have worked so hard to achieve. All because of a worthless trash that you chose over your own flesh and blood!"
Jiang Fengmian clenched his fists tightly at her last words. The veins on his forehead were popping out, and his fists were turning a light shade of green. He tried hard to control his emotions, keeping his cool so as not to show how angry he truly was inside. He shouted angrily at her, "I have never seen someone as malicious and vindictive as you, Yu Ziyuan!"
"You have no idea how easy it is to destroy everything you've built up so far." Madam Yu smirked evilly at him as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "But you don't care, do you? As long as Wei Ying is fully sheltered under your care, you don't care. Admit it! You hated the fact that I bore those children of yours. That's why your own son is incompetent and cannot surpass that wicked boy you treasured so much. He can't even do anything right. Your daughter is too weak and delicate to do anything at all. All of you are useless!"
"Mother?" Jiang Yanli suddenly called out to her, tears dripping off her face. She had come running to the field when she heard the commotion from the main house earlier. She had seen her mother attack her baby brother and now, she was hearing her mother's genuine views about her and her brother. She felt as if she had been stabbed by thousands of swords. "What do you mean by that?"
"Why don't you ask your father?" Madam Yu sneered at her. "Isn't he the reason why you're weak in both mind and body? That's why you've been serving the servant instead of being the mistress, calling him brother, babying him and making your stupid soup all the time?"
A pained look crossed Jiang Yanli's face. She looked down to hide her pain, but she couldn't quite stop the sobs that escaped her lips.
Seeing his martial sister shed tears, Xiao Zhan pulled her into his embrace and murmured to her, "You are not weak, Shijie." Jiang Yanli buried her face in his robes as Xiao Zhan glared at Madam Yu. "Madam Yu, you can direct your anger at me all you want. Say whatever you want and curse at me if that's going to satisfy you. But don't drag your innocent children into this!"
Madam Yu laughed coldly, "Innocent? They are the same as their father! Pathetic and useless!"
"Enough!" Jiang Fengmian yelled at his wife, causing her to halt her words immediately.
"You have insulted our children for years!" He shouted furiously. He was livid, the anger burning within him, "You must leave here today!"
Madam Yu convulsed in hysterical laughter. "So now it's all over?"
"You should be glad that it's over now and not too soon," Jiang Fengmian responded.
Madam Yu yelled loudly, her voice laced with anger and resentment. "I've lived such a happy life, all thanks to Wei Ying, who decided to come and ruin everything. And how dare you blame it all on me!? Why are you blaming me for everything?!"
Jiang Fengmian did not respond to her question. Instead, he looked at everyone in the audience and made his decision as he announced, "From today onward, Yu Ziyuan is no longer a part of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan."
He then pointed at Yinzhu and Jinzhu. "The two of you, take your master away. If she is still here in Lotus Pier by next morning, I will not hesitate to use force to expel her."
The servants of Madam Yu knew it was wiser to obey the order of the Jiang clan leader at this moment, and they bowed their heads. They quickly went over to their Madam's side, each taking one of her hands and gripping it securely.
Madam Yu started screaming, "Don't touch me! Go away! Get away from me!" She pushed Yinzhu and Jinzhu off her, as she wanted nothing more than to strangle them right there and then. The maids stumbled down onto the grounds. She rushed toward her daughter and yanked her viciously from Xiao Zhan's arms. Jiang Yanli let out a pained scream as she ended up crashing onto the ground from the sheer force of her mother's sudden pulling.
"How embarrassingly fragile you are!" Madam Yu scorned as she looked down icily at her daughter, who was weeping on the ground. She motioned to her. "Stop crying like a feeble child! Get up! Your father doesn't want us to be here! Let's go!"
Jiang Yanli felt as if her heart was shattered even further, and she shook her head vigorously, refusing to comply with her mother's words. "No."
Xiao Zhan was seething with indignation once more, his eyes darkening as he reached for the hilt of his sword. Lan Wangji could already perceive that his partner was teetering on the precipice of losing control. He seized a firm hold on his wrist and dug his fingers into the tender flesh, preventing him from succumbing to the abyss of darkness for the second time.
In the nick of time, before Xiao Zhan could do anything and get consumed in the overflowing vexation within him, Jiang Fengmian had already made his move first as he landed a hard slap on Madam Yu's cheek. He growled, "You nasty woman! How dare you do that to A-Li!"
Madam Yu held her reddened cheek; the slap caused her head to ring. She shot a look of shock mixed with anger and pain at her husband. "You... mmph!" Just as she got ready to run her tongue again, she discovered that her lips felt as though they were glued together. Even after making an effort to pry her mouth open and scratching the corner of her mouth until it was red, she could not open her mouth.
Xiao Zhan immediately looked at Lan Wangji, who pretended to know nothing about it. His anger immediately disappeared into thin air. He bit his tongue as he trembled from holding back a laugh from erupting at the wrong time.
Jiang Fengmian was confused by the occurrence, but he did not forget to prioritize the more urgent matter. He signaled to the twins who served Madam Yu, "I repeat again! Get her out of here, or else!"
Jinzhu and Yinzhu scrambled to their feet as they dragged their stunned and speechless madam away, keeping her firmly in their hold. They were afraid of their master's wrath afterward, but they were terrified that Madam Yu would have lost her life there and then if things continued to escalate.
Jiang Fengmian walked towards Jiang Yanli and helped her stand. He put both of his hands on her shoulders and whispered gently to his daughter. "A-Li, I am sorry for all this. Don't worry, from now on, I'll protect you and A-Cheng."
Jiang Yanli wiped her tears away as she hugged Jiang Fengmian. "Father, don't worry. I understand why you're doing this. I promise I'll be fine. We will be fine."
Jiang Fengmian looked over in his nephew's direction with a sad and regretful expression. His nephew was right. He should have done something like this when his wife did something unspeakable to him and his children. He observed Lan Wangji, who appeared to be pacifying and coaxing his nephew tenderly, and how the younger man of the two melted into his arms.
Unbeknownst to him, Xiao Zhan buried his face into the broad pectorals as if to simply hide the fact that he was trying his best to hold in the laugh that threatened to burst out at any moment while Lan Wangji patted his back to shush him for laughing at the most inappropriate time.