Jin GuangYao continued, “Brother, you’ve known me for many years. No matter what, you know how I treat you. I no longer want the position of Chief Cultivator, and I’ve completely destroyed the Stygian Tiger Seal as well. After tonight, I’ll be travelling to Dongying without returning ever again. For the sake of this, let me live, won’t you?”
Travelling to Dongying, in simpler terms, would be to make a run for it. It sounded quite shameless but Jin GuangYao had always been known for flexibility—if he could soften, he’d never face steel with steel. With its forces, the LanlingJin Sect could surpass just a few sects, but if all of the sects joined together to crusade against it, walking the paths of the QishanWen Sect’s destruction, it was only a matter of time. Compared to lingering until then, it was much better to retreat this moment to lie low and conserve energy. In the future, there might be a chance to make a comeback and rise again.
Wei WuXian, “Sect Leader Jin, you said the Tiger Seal had been completely destroyed. Could you take it out for me to take a look at it?”
Jin GuangYao, “Young Master Wei, the restored version isn’t the original one after all. There’s a limit on how many times it can be used. It’s become completely useless already. Besides, you know best just how much dark energy it hosts. Do you think I’d carry with me a piece of scrap that’s lost its use and could only bring disaster?”
Wei WuXian, “I wouldn’t know. Perhaps you could find another Xue Yang?”
Jin GuangYao, “Brother, every word of what I say is true.”
His tone was more than earnest. Ever since he captured Lan XiChen, he’d indeed been treating him with respect. At this point, Lan XiChen wasn’t able to turn against him yet. He could only sigh, “Sect Leader Jin, I have already said, when you went your own way to scheme such havoc at Burial Mound, that there was no longer the need to call me ‘Brother.’”
Jin GuangYao, “What happened at Burial Mound was an accident, a mistake. But, I can’t go back anymore.”
Lan XiChen, “What do you mean you cannot go back?”
Lan WangJi frowned slightly, his voice cold, “Brother, do not engage in excessive conversation with him.”
Wei WuXian reminded him as well, “Sect Leader Lan, do you remember what you said to Sect Leader Jiang? Don’t spend too long talking to him.”
Lan XiChen knew as well just how much Jin GuangYao could do when he opened his mouth. But whenever he heard there might hidden reasons, he just had to hear it. This was exactly what Jin GuangYao aimed at. He lowered his voice, “I received a letter.”
Chapter 106: Hatred (Part Nine)
Translated by K of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Lan XiChen, “What letter?”
Jin GuangYao, “A letter of threat. The letter said… those things would be publicized for the world to see in seven days. They wanted me to either turn myself in and apologize, or… wait for the day of my death.”
Everyone understood. Of course, Jin GuangYao couldn’t just wait for his death to come. Instead of having his name be ruined and his sect be overthrown by the mockery of all the sects, he’d be the one to strike first. At that time, even if the opponent really spread the rumors of all his past deeds everywhere, after the siege, the sects would be drained of the energy to bother him.
Unfortunately, it was all wrecked by Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi.
Lan XiChen, “Even so, you cannot go the entire way and settle on murder! Like this, you…”
He didn’t even give Lan XiChen a reason to speak in favor of him! Jin GuangYao, “Or else what could I do? Wait until everything’s been exposed, wait until the rumors soar above the cities, wait until I’ve become the laughing stock of all the world of cultivation before I kneel down and apologize, begging for their pardon by placing my face under their feet for them to step on? Brother! There is no third path. It is either their death or mine.”
Anger began to appear over Lan XiChen’s face. He stepped away, “Is this not all because you… because you did the things in the letter?! If you never did those things, how could anyone come across the evidence to hold against you?”
Jin GuangYao, “Brother, listen to me. I don’t deny that I did those things…”
Lan XiChen, “How could you deny them? There are both witnesses and proof!”
Jin GuangYao, “And so I said I don’t deny them! But to have killed my father, my wife, my son, my brother—if not because I had no other choice, why would I have done those things? Could it be that I’m really so out of my mind in your eyes?!”
Lan XiChen’s expression calmed somewhat, “Fine. I will ask you a few questions. You can explain one by one.”
Lan WangJi, “Brother!”
He unsheathed Bichen. Seeing how he seemed like he was about to end Jin GuangYao right there, Lan XiChen hurried, “Do not worry. He is injured, and his weapon is confiscated as well. He is at a great disadvantage. With so many people here, he cannot do anything.” On the other side, Wei WuXian gave Su She a kick, stopping his intention to move in secrecy. Lan XiChen, “Go deal with things over there. I will stay here.”
Hearing Su She’s enraged roar, Lan WangJi walked over. Wei WuXian knew that Lan XiChen still had some feelings towards this sworn brother of his. He had some inexplicable expectations of him and just had to give him this chance to speak. Similarly, Wei WuXian wanted to hear a few words from Jin GuangYao’s perspective as well, and so he listened. Lan XiChen, “First, your father, Former Sect Leader Jin, did you really use such a method to…”
Jin GuangYao spoke carefully, “I’d like to answer this question last.”
Lan XiChen shook his head before continuing, “Second, your… wife…” As though he couldn’t say it, he immediately changed his phrasing, “Your sister, Qin Su, did you really marry her while knowing what blood relationship you had with her?”
Jin GuangYao stared blankly at him. Suddenly, tears rolled down his eyes. He answered with pain, “… Yes.” Lan XiChen took in a deep breath. His face was almost ashen. Jin GuangYao whispered, “But I really had no choice.”
Lan XiChen scolded, “How could you have no choice?! It was your marriage! Would it not have been fine as long as you chose not to marry her? Even if you hurt Qin Su’s heart because of it, it would have been better than destroying a woman who loved you and respected you with all her heart. A woman who had never treated you badly!”
Jin GuangYao, “Did I not love her with all my heart?! But I had no choice, that’s all there is to it! Yes! It was my marriage, but could I really not have married her with just my word?! Brother, there has to be a bottom line to your naivety—I spent so much effort, went through such lengths for Qin CangYe to answer my proposal, and as the wedding day approached, I finally satisfied both Qin CangYe and Jin GuangShan, but now you’re telling me I should have called off the wedding just like that? What reason should I have used? What should I have told the two of them?!
“Brother, do you know how I felt when Madam Qin came to me to secretly reveal the truth, just as I thought everything was perfect?! It wouldn’t have scared me more if a streak of lighting sliced through my skull! Do you know why she didn’t go to Jin GuangShan and instead begged me in secrecy? It was because she was raped by Jin GuangShan! That good father of mine, he didn’t even let the wife of the a subordinate who’s been with him for so long go. He didn’t even remember he had a new daughter! For so many years, she didn’t dare tell this to her husband, Qin CangYe. If I suddenly broke off the engagement, they would have noticed what was going on and Jin GuangShan and Qin CangYe would have fallen out with each other. Who do you think would be the one that was shunned by both sides and met the worst end?!”